Introducing Iquique
Barefoot surfers, paragliding pros, casino snobs and frenzied merchants all cross paths in the rather disarming city of Iquique. Lots of effort is being made to turn this into Chile's premier beach resort; they've already got the glitzy casino, a large mall, and a pleasant boardwalk that borders excellent beaches. Refurbished Georgian-style architecture from the 19th-century mining boom is well preserved, and a pedestrianized street, Baquedano, sports charming wooden sidewalks. Iquique's main claim, however, is its duty-free status, with a chaotic duty-free shopping zone (zona franca), which uses the ominous sandy hills behind the town as an outlandish nighttime billboard.
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The city, 1853km north of Santiago and 315km south of Arica, is squeezed between the ocean and the desolate brown coastal range rising abruptly behind it.
Last updated: Mar 2, 2009
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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RE: car hire - chile
by roberto1938 12 September 2011
Antofagasta is a bigger city along the coast and closer to SP than Iquique, but Calama will do, closer.
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RE: car hire - chile
by VIZCACHAS 11 September 2011
Car rental from Econorent in either of the below would be reasonable Iquique Calama There is basically nothing and nobody out there,…
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RE: Tacna to Santiago, Chile via bus or train
by jamesbrunker 05 September 2011
Iquique is arguably the most interesting town in N Chile with quite a bit to see and do in the area (search other posts on this forum).…
Hotels & Hostels in Iquique
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La Casona 1920
Iquique
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Hostal Li-ming
Iquique
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Sunset Beach
Iquique
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