Iquique, Chile

Teatro Municipal, Iquique
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Iquique_theater.jpg
Author: Fabolu


Iquique is a port city and coastal town in northern Chile. It is also the capital of Iquique Provinde and Tarapacá Region. The town is located to the west of the Atacama Desert. It covers 2,835.3 sq km (1,094 sq mi) and has a population of 216,000 (2011 estimate).

The area around Iquique has been inhabited for thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans. The tribe living here were the Chango people. Iquique was established following the discovery of various minerals in the Atacama Desert, and it serves as a port for the explore of the extracted ore.

Iquique was originally part of Peruvian territory until the War of the Pacific of 1879. Although it was largely fought between Bolivia and Chile, the outcome of the war was in Chile's favor, for it annexed large portions belonging to Bolivia and Peru, including the town of Iquique.

Palacio Iquique, Iquique
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Palacio_Astoreca_Iquique.JPG
Author: Mircalla22


With its history going back to the 19th century, Iquique has an old town with several fine buildings of post-colonial architecture, especially when it prospered from the wealth generated by the mines. Although mining is now a distant past, the buildings it helped to built are still standing today.

Torre Reloj, Iquique
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:PlazaIquique.jpg
Author: Carlos yo


Today Iquique has reinvented itself as a coastal resort town, cashing in on tourism with its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, and the availability of several good beaches. It has a growing number of high-rise condominiums and resorts, but the town is also getting more congested and polluted as a result.

Visiting Iquique

You can fly from Santiago to Iquique, landing at the Diego Aracena International Airport (IQQ). There are also flights from Peru, Bolivia and Argentina.

Places of Interest in Iquique

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