Things to do in Arica
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Arica
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Warmest sea and air and fullest beaches, but altiplano storms can cut Ruta 11 and Lauca access.
Sea still warm early, beaches empty out, light softens and altiplano storms ease. A best all round window.
Coolest grey mornings with camanchaca cloud, consistent surf swell, kind prices and dry clear Lauca days.
Warming and clearing with strong spring surf, and a good balance of beach weather and open altiplano roads.
What's on
- Carnaval Andino Con la Fuerza del Sol late January to mid February, dates move yearly
Three days of Andean carnival at the foot of the Morro, with over 16000 dancers and musicians.
- Fiestas Patrias 18 to 19 September
Chiles national holidays, lively across the city and a booked up travel peak.
- Virgen del Carmen 16 July
A major northern Chile religious feast day, marked across the region.
Best things to do in Arica
Morro de Arica
The great rock above the port, with the War of the Pacific museum, flag and the citys best sunset panorama.
Museo Arqueológico San Miguel de Azapa
The fullest Chinchorro museum, with mummies older than Egypts in the green Azapa Valley.
Museo de Sitio Colón 10
Thirty two Chinchorro burials preserved in situ under a house at the foot of the Morro.
Museo Momias Chinchorro
The universitys small in town Chinchorro exhibition, ideal for a short stop or a primer before Azapa.
Catedral de San Marcos de Arica
An iron Gothic church from Eiffels workshops, assembled in the 1870s on Plaza Colón.
Museo del Mar de Arica
A family run sea museum of shells and live tanks, explained in person often by the collectors son.
Paseo 21 de Mayo
Aricas pedestrian living room, running to Plaza Colón and best in the late afternoon with locals out walking.
Terminal Pesquero Arica
The working fishing terminal in the morning, with boats, pelicans, sea lions and the market next door.
Where to stay in Arica
Playa Chinchorro and the northern beachfront
leisure, families and surfers
Wake to the beach and promenade, with surf schools, restaurants, the Novotel and Sunny Days at hand.
Centro, around Plaza Colón
logistics, short stops and budget
Walkable to the cathedral, small museums, market and bus terminals, with the Morro at your door.
Southern coast, El Laucho and Comandante San Martín
quiet and the Morro and coves
Facing the sea near El Laucho, calmer than Chinchorro, with taxis needed for centre dinner choice.
Chinchorro edge, Avenida Chile
the full service hotel stay
Home to the Antay flagship, between the centre and the Chinchorro beachfront.
Think twice about
- Blocks around the Terminal Rodoviario and Terminal Internacional
Transient, noisy and tout heavy, and dead at night. Use them for transport and sleep elsewhere.
- Far northern edge beyond Las Machas toward the Lluta mouth
Isolated, unlit and car dependent, and reviewers advise against Las Machas at night.
- Inland highway strip around Asoagro and the Panamericana Norte
Industrial, dusty and unwalkable, with accommodation aimed at truck and wholesale traffic.
- Playa Las Machas after dark
Beach reviews specifically advise against visiting at night. Go for sunset and leave after.
Best restaurants in Arica
Alborada Restaurant
Aricas most decorated dining room, a calm international and Mediterranean menu inside the Antay Hotel.
Medina's Restaurante Gourmet
A house style Peruvian favourite for ceviche, stuffed steak and creative pisco sours, with generous portions.
Rayú Restaurante
Chinchorros smart Peruvian seafood room, for ceviche, lomo saltado, octopus and pisco cocktails by the beach.
Los Aleros de 21
The centres classic Chilean seafood house on 21 de Mayo, the dining room locals use for the days fish.
Restaurant Maracuyá
Peruvian Chilean fusion with Aricas best sunset view, included with a warning that recent kitchen reports slip.
Café del Mar
Aricas best liked café for breakfast, crêpes, coffee and generous casual meals on the pedestrian street.
Restaurant El Abuelo
A small Peruvian room on the Chinchorro avenue that outperforms its size in ratings on both platforms.
La Pica del Muertito
A classic Chilean picada in San Miguel de Azapa, basic, traditional and generous at village prices.
Outdoor things to do in Arica
El Gringo
A world class expert slab barrel over volcanic reef, best experienced by most visitors as a spectator sport.
Escuela de Surf Arica
A top rated surf school teaching beginners on the Las Machas beachbreak, with board and wetsuit provided.
Magic Chile International Surf School
A highly rated surf school for Las Machas lessons, also offering kayaking on Aricas coast.
Playa Chinchorro
Aricas main city beach, a wide promenade strand with warm evening swimming in summer and lifeguarded zones.
Playa El Laucho
A sheltered pocket beach south of the Morro, with palapas, eateries and small waves for families.
Playa La Lisera
A near circular cove reached by boardwalk from El Laucho, where you can swim out to a platform.
Cuevas de Anzota
A coastal cliff and cave trail south of the city, with sea caves and big Pacific views, when open.
Humedal del Río Lluta
A protected desert wetland with over 150 recorded bird species, best early with binoculars from marked paths.
Best hotels in Arica
Antay Hotel & Spa
Aricas flagship hotel, with spa, indoor and outdoor pools, high floor sea views and the Alborada restaurant.
Novotel Arica
A modern beachfront hotel across from Chinchorro, with spacious sea view rooms, a pool and a rooftop terrace.
Panamericana Hotel - Arica
The classic seafront hotel near El Laucho, quieter than the Chinchorro strip and set for the Morro side.
Hostal Sunny Days
A beloved house hostel near Chinchorro beach, with kitchens, a generous breakfast and staff who sort logistics.
Hostal Jardín del Sol
A small garden hostal praised for impeccable personal service, calmer than the surf hostel scene.
Is Arica expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | CLP 40,293 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | CLP 95,403 a person |
| Splurge | CLP 210,038 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Escuela de Surf Arica: a few days ahead
- Magic Chile International Surf School: a few days ahead
- Club de Golf Río Lluta: a few days ahead
- Parque Nacional Lauca: weeks ahead
- Parapente Arica: a few days ahead
- Antay Hotel & Spa: weeks ahead
- Novotel Arica: a few days ahead
- Alborada Restaurant: a few days ahead
- Book beds and splurge dinners weeks ahead for Carnaval week, when the city fills.
- Book a reputable Lauca operator days ahead and a Putre night early, because Putre rooms are few.
- Reserve Alborada and Medinas on weekend nights, book paragliding early with a fallback day, and phone the golf club.
Is Arica safe?
- Use only official colectivos inside the international terminal car park for the Tacna crossing, and carry no fruit into Chile.
- Keep pockets watched in the market and terminals, and never leave belongings in cars at Anzota or beach car parks.
- Use lifeguarded swimming areas, expect extreme midday UV, and take the Lauca altitude advice seriously.
Arica travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Do not book Maracuyá as your one splurge dinner, go for a sunset drink instead.
- Do not take a first surf lesson at El Gringo, beginners belong at Las Machas with a school.
- Do not treat Lauca as a casual day trip, it climbs from sea level to 4500 metres.
Getting around Arica: public transport and more
- Walk the compact centre and use colectivos and radio taxis between Chinchorro, the centre and the southern coast.
- Colectivos for Azapa leave from near the bus terminal, and the airport is about 14 to 18 km north.
- For Lauca and Putre book an operator or a proper rental with a full tank, as there is no fuel on the way.
Who Arica suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Good |
| Couples | Good |
| Bachelor parties | OK |
| Families | Good |
| Bachelorette parties | OK |
Make Arica your trip
Swearby drafts the days from places people swear by. Swap any stop, then invite the crew by text, even friends without the app. Vote on dates, track costs as you go, and everyone gets one number at the end.
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