The Best Day Trips From Arica Chile

For a city rimmed with great beaches, a relaxing vibe, and constant sunshine, it is very easy to spend a few days in Arica in the sand, or seeing the sights in town, at a slow pace. However, if you really want to pack your days, and make them memorable, add at least one of these day trips to your agenda. Your travel photos will also instantly get a lot more interesting.

1. Cuevas de Anzota

This is some of the most ruggedly beautiful coastline you will see in Chile. A short drive, or a relaxing, yet windy, bike ride 12km south of Arica, the road will turn into a path that becomes the entrance to these unique coastal caves. These natural caves have been carved out over millions of years by water, sand, and spray to create huge caves that you can walk through. At the end of the path, there is also a ridge along the sloping coast that will lead you to a secluded beach, La Liserilla.

Av. Comandante, San Martín 2140, Chile

Cuevas de Anzota | Will Lees / © Culture Trip

2. Lauca National Park

Park

An enjoyable 2.5 hour, ascending drive with sweeping corners will take you inland from sea level, towards the Bolivian border, and into Parque Nacional Lauca. You can spend a whole day driving and taking photos, as the drive itself provides great views, and the park is some of the most raw, impressive scenery in all of Chile.

3. San Miguel de Azapa

Museum

Head out into the tranquil Azapa Valley, to visit San Miguel de Azapa, and the Archaeological Museum in town, which explains the history of the Chinchorro people who occupied this region some 3500 – 9000 years ago, and has the oldest discovered mummified human remains in the world on site to marvel at.

Camino Azapa, San Miguel de Azapa, Chile

Chinchorro Mummies | Will Lees / © Culture Trip

Even though it functions as the main accommodation hub in the Lauca National Park, Putre is still a very traditional town located at 3500 meters above sea level in the company of some incredible surrounding views, as it sits at the base of the Taapaca Volcano Complex. The hand-laid stones that make up the main roads, and plaza in town, coupled with the thatched roofs, will be a constant reminder that Putre has not changed in centuries.

Putre, Arica y Parinacota, Chile

4. La Tropilla Geoglyphs

Just outside of Arica, and before the town of San Miguel de Azapa, you can get a view of the ancient symbols, embedded in the rocks that rise up on each side of the road. The geoglyphs, which have survived hundreds of years, are only still visible and preserved due to the lack of precipitation in the area. You can do tours, or receive information from the tourist center within Arica and visit on your own by taxi or rental car.

Valle de Azapa, Arica, Chile

5. Parinacota Volcano

Park

If you plan to challenge yourself when in this part of Chile, taking on the Parinacota Volcano will do just that. The perfect cone-shaped volcano that stands alone in its flat surroundings will take you up to 6,300 meters above sea level and tests your ability to find oxygen in this thin air. It will also take you into Bolivian territory, as the base of the volcano is shared between Chile and Bolivia, but the peak is in the latter.

6. Chungará Lake

If you are not up for the task of climbing Paranicota Volcano, but want to get a view of it, you can double up and also view the glassy, beautiful lake of Chungará. On a clear day, you can get the photo of a lifetime, with Parinacota Volcano in the background reflecting off the lake that acts as a mirror.

Lake Chungará, Putre, Chile

Chungará Lake | © Alberto / Flickr

7. Las Cuevas de Lauca

Park

On your way down Parinacota, you can take refuge in the idea of stepping inside the hot springs at the bottom, known as Las Cuevas de Lauca. Located near the entrance to the park, these hot springs will allow you to relax your muscles if you spent all day dominating the volcano, or even if you spent it on your backside in a car driving out there. Either way, you deserve it!

11, Las Cuevas, Putre, Chile

8. Jurasi Hot Springs

Want to turn up the heat? The Jurasi Hot Springs get sizzling and offer an outdoor pool and two indoor pools for you to enjoy a soak, and also offer some pretty spectacular scenery as you do so.

Termas de Jurasi, Chile

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.