Museo Naval

Iquique


Take in the artifacts salvaged from the sunken Esmeralda at this small museum inside the haughty colonial-style customs house, built in 1871 when Iquique was still Peruvian territory. Peru incarcerated prisoners here during the War of the Pacific, and the building would later see battle in the Chilean civil war of 1891. The museum is currently closed for long-term renovations.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Iquique attractions

1. Edificio de la Aduana

0.01 MILES

A grand old colonial building dating to 1876, the ex-customs house was ravaged by fire in early 2015.

2. Muelle de Pasajeros

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Hour-long boat tours around the harbor leave from Iquique's 1901 passenger pier, just west of the Edificio de la Aduana. The tour floats past the Boya…

3. Museo Corbeta Esmeralda

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This replica of sunken Esmeralda, a plucky little Chilean corvette that challenged ironclad Peruvian warships in the War of the Pacific, is Iquique's new…

4. Torre Reloj

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This 1877 clock tower takes pride of place on Iquique's main square.

5. Casino Español

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The prize for the showiest building in Iquique goes to this Moorish-style place from 1904, on the plaza's northeast corner. The gaudily tiled creation is…

6. Plaza Prat

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The city's 19th-century swagger is hard to miss on Iquique's central square. Pride of place goes to the 1877 Torre Reloj clock tower, seemingly baked and…

7. Museo Regional

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Iquique's former courthouse now hosts the catch-all regional museum, which earnestly re-creates a traditional adobe altiplano village and also exhibits…

8. Centro Cultural Palacio Astoreca

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Originally built for a nitrate tycoon, this 1904 Georgian-style mansion is now a cultural center, which exhibits contemporary work produced by local…