Things to do in Arica
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Raices Andinas
A respectable little Aymara-run outfit recommended for encouraging better understanding of the local people. Tours into the mountains last from two days (around CH$50,000) to four (around CH$145,000); prices vary according to the number of participants.
reviewed
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Iglesia San Marcos
Arica’s oddest attraction is also its most admired. The Gothic-style Iglesia San Marcos has a threefold claim to fame. First, it was designed by celebrated Parisian engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, before his success with the Eiffel Tower. Second, it was prefabricated in Eiffel’s Paris shop in the 1870s (at the order of the Peruvian president), then shipped right around the world to be assembled on site. Still more curious is the construction itself: the entire church is made of stamped and molded cast iron, coated with paint. That’s everything from its unusually thin walls to its pillars, beams and pointy arches; only the door is wooden. The resulting atmosphere is…
reviewed
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Museo Histórico y de Armas
The imposing coffee-colored shoulder of rock, El Morro de Arica, looms 110m over the city. It makes a great place to get your bearings, with vulture-eye views of the city, port and Pacific Ocean. However, this lofty headland has a far greater significance to Chileans, for this was the site of a crucial battle in 1880, a year into the War of the Pacific. The Chilean army assaulted and took El Morro from Peruvian forces in under an hour. The story is told step by step in the flag-waving Museo Histórico y de Armas, which has information in Spanish and English. Look for plaques placed by ever military-minded Pinochet.
reviewed
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Poblado Artesenal
On the outskirts of Arica, near the Panamericana Sur, is this more full-on shopping experience: a mock altiplano village filled with serious craft shops and studios, selling everything from ceramic originals to finely tuned musical instruments. The village even has its own church, a replica of the one in Parinacota, complete with copies of its fascinating murals. A peña folclórica (folk-music and cultural club) meets here irregularly, usually on Saturday nights. Taxi colectivos (shared taxis) numbers 8, 13 and 18, and U pass near the entrance, as do buses 2, 3, 7, 8 and 9.
reviewed
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Ex-Aduana de Arica
Eiffel’s legacy in Arica does not stop with Iglesia San Marcos. He also designed the grand Ex-Aduana de Arica, the former customshouse. Prefabricated in Paris, it was assembled on site in 1874, with walls made of blocks and bricks stacked between metallic supports. Though it once fronted on the harbor, a century of landfill has left it 200m inland, facing Parque General Baquedano. Restored as the city’s Casa de la Cultura, it hosts a smattering of exhibitions and has an impressive 32-step wrought-iron spiral staircase.
reviewed
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Huntington Surf Shop
The secret's out: Arica's reputation for terrific tubes has spread worldwide. It now hosts high-profile championships and tempts surfing film crews to the area. July sees the biggest breaks. As well as Playa Las Machas, expert surfers also hit the towering waves of El Gringo and El Buey at Isla de Alacrán, south of Club de Yates.
The town's surf shops include Huntington Surf Shop.
reviewed
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Gringo Surf Shop
The secret's out: Arica's reputation for terrific tubes has spread worldwide. It now hosts high-profile championships and tempts surfing film crews to the area. July sees the biggest breaks. As well as Playa Las Machas, expert surfers also hit the towering waves of El Gringo and El Buey at Isla de Alacrán, south of Club de Yates.
The Gringo Surf Shop rents boards.
reviewed
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Govinda
Even nonvegetarians declare this diminutive Hare Krishna restaurant a winner. Hidden away in a quiet residential area, it feels much like eating in somebody’s living room. Imaginative three-course lunch menus (served on a single metal platter) include fresh organic produce and cost laughably little for the quality.
reviewed
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Plazoleta Estación
The 1924 German locomotive that once pulled trains on the Arica–La Paz line now stands in the Plazoleta Estación. On the north side of the Plazoleta is the train station, Estación Ferrocarril Arica-La Paz, which dates from 1913. There are no longer passenger trains to La Paz.
reviewed
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Casa Bolognesi
At the base of El Morro, look for the blue-and-white Casa Bolognesi, which was the command center for Peruvian forces in the War of the Pacific, and later served as a Peruvian consulate for a time. It is currently being renovated and is closed to the public.
reviewed
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Restaurant La Bomba
Pass the shiny red engine to reach this unpretentious café in the local fire station. If you can’t find it, listen for its deafening siren at noon. There’s nothing particularly spectacular about the food, which focuses on Chilean fare, but you can’t beat the setting.
reviewed
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Maracuyá
To treat yourself to a superb seafood meal complete with bow-tie service and sea view, head to this villa-style restaurant, downtown next to Playa El Laucho. Enjoy the salty air mingled with scents of flowering vines and relax to a soundtrack of waves booming below.
reviewed
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Canta Verdi
A fun, youthful ambience permeates this cozy restaurant and bar, which looks out onto a colorful artisans' alley. It's one of the best gringo meeting points for dinners of pizzas, sandwiches, bar snacks, and pitchers of beer and cocktails.
reviewed
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Soho Discotheque
Some of the hippest bars and discos are strung along Playa Chinchorro, including Soho Discotheque and the attached pub Drake, both of which get a variety of DJs as well as live salsa and rock bands.
reviewed
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Schop 21
This plain-faced café hogs a corner of the city's main pedestrian mall, onto which it spills in a haphazardly shaded patio. It offers condiment-heavy sandwiches, pizzas, coffee and lager to keep people-watchers fed and watered.
reviewed
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Tortas y Tartas
Relax on the open-air terrace with a beer or head here for a late breakfast and some of the best coffee in town. The food is surprisingly good, featuring an eclectic mix from teriyaki chicken to a salad topped with fresh salmon.
reviewed
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Coffee Berry
A top spot to watch the world go by, this pint-sized coffee shop serves up all manner of fresh coffee concoctions, each with your choice of syrups, sprinkles and creams. They even make their own chocolates to go with them.
reviewed
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El Arriero
This old-school eatery is perfect for red-blooded carnivores who don’t mind waiting for an old-fashioned parrillada (a mixture of grilled meats). Expect gracious service and an aging steak-house atmosphere.
reviewed
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Taller Artesanal San Marcos
Operated by the Gendarmería de Chile and selling a hotchpotch of prisoners’ crafts. Where else can you get a cotton bikini handmade by Chilean women prisoners? Knock on the door if the Gendarmería cabin is shut.
reviewed
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Chin Huang Tao
A small atmospheric Cantonese chifa (Chinese restaurant), warmly lit and watched over by poker-faced goldfish. Save money by taking your set lunch with you. Hunan beef on the beach – perfect!
reviewed
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Drake
Some of the hippest bars and discos are also strung along Playa Chinchorro, including Soho Discotheque and the attached pub Drake, both of which get a variety of DJs as well as live salsa and rock bands.
reviewed
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Kamikaze
A hopping seafront bar and discoteca (disco) with a macabre WWII theme at the foot of El Morro; although it sometimes opens early for live gigs, the action usually starts after midnight.
reviewed
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Altillo Pub
This buzzing pub has candlelit tables, a lengthy drinks and snacks menu and comfy chairs perfect for some serious 21 de Mayo people-watching. Don’t eat here if you’re in a hurry though.
reviewed
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Naif
Tucked away on an easily missed pedestrian street, this is a funky little café-cum-bar with curly ironwork chairs, sharp art and occasional live music. Happy hour runs from 8pm to 11pm.
reviewed
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Mercado Colón
Small-time restaurants offer cheap and freshly fried corvina (sea bass), cojinova (Spanish hake) and other fish dishes under this bustling little covered market.
reviewed