Introducing Arica

Things move at a slow pace in Chile's northernmost city, just 20km from the Peruvian border. Best described as a city-cum-beach-resort, Arica enjoys summery weather year-round. It is also blessed with warm sea currents and exhilarating surfing breaks. However, there's plenty here for landlubbers too: an iron church, a dramatically situated battleground and some of the world's oldest known mummies, just to name a few. Arica is also a common jumping-off point for trips up to the heady heights of Parque Nacional Lauca.