Copiapo Tourist Information
Copiapó (pop. 100,000) is the capital of the Atacama Region. Located at the southern end of the Atacama Desert, Copiapó lies in the northernmost of the transverse valleys that are the main feature of the stretch of country from here to near Santiago, some 800 km (500 miles) farther south.
These transverse valleys are among the few geographical features in this markedly longitudinal country that run sideways instead of lengthways. This, in turn, offers an invaluable opportunity for a "vertical" exploration of the territory, climbing from sea level eastward to the upper reaches of the Altiplano, the high plateau. It is the best way to see the metamorphosis of the land from the Pacific coast to the volcano-studded high altitude steppes near the Argentine border.
Copiapó is a mining and export fruit production center, as well as gateway to both beach towns such as Caldera and Bahía Inglesa, and to one of Chile's least known Altiplano areas, with the superb Maricunga and Pedernales salt flats. Following the Copiapó valley upstream, not far from the city, there are interesting archaeological sites, in particular those dating from the brief Inca occupation of this territory.
Sunny days are the norm. In summer, highs often exceed 28°C (82°F), with lows hovering between 16° and 19°C (61°F and 66°F). Winter highs stay around 19°C (66°F) and lows dip to some 8°C (46°F). Rainfall is scant. If it rains at all, it will be only in winter.
Copiapó boasts the country's best mineralogical museum, with over 2,000 samples which include some minerals only found in the Atacama Desert … and even farther afield: it preserves a couple of meteorites that fell in the area. Well laid out and interesting, it is located at the corner of Colipí and Rodríguez.
The town's pioneer role in railways is preserved at two locations: in one of the courtyards of the Escuela de Minas of the Universidad de Atacama, where you can see a vintage locomotive built in the U.S. in 1850, passenger cars of various classes, and a luggage car. The other location is the Railway Station (corner of Juan Martínez and Batallón Atacama). Dating from 1854 and restored in 1982, it is now a national monument and it harbors a museum preserving memorabilia of the early railway days. At the other end of the street Batallón Atacama is the Palacete Viña de Cristo, a small palace built in 1860 by mining tycoon Apolinario Soto using material brought from Europe. It now houses the Departamento de Extensión of the Universidad de Atacama.
Plaza Prat, the main square, is shady and pleasant, perhaps the leafiest in Northern Chile. It sports four statues representing the four seasons. On one side of the square is the Cathedral church, another National Monument, and the Casa de la Cultura, formerly the seat of the Town Hall.
On Infante, near the corner of Yerbas Buenas, is the iglesia de Belén, a church built by the Jesuits during the colonial days and reconstructed in the mid 19th century. It now houses the Santuario Santa Teresa de los Andes, a shrine to Chile's sole saint.
At Avenida Matta, an avenue shaded by large trees, there are monuments depicting several local worthies, such as Juan Godoy, at the end of the street next to the San Francisco church (a National Monument), and Manuel Antonio Matta. The latter's family manor is at Atacama 98 and houses now the Regional Museum, which provides an insight into local cultures since prehistoric times.
Lastly, on Los Carrera, about 20 blocks east of Plaza Prat, is the Santuario de la Candelaria, preserving a small statue found by a cattle herder in an Andean salt flat late in the 18th century. On the first Sunday in February, the Fiesta de la Candelaria is held at this place, one of the several Northern religious festivities that mix Catholic and pagan traditions. Thousands of gaily-clad dancers, known as "chinos", come to sing, pray and pay homage to the Virgin.
© by Lanchile S.A.
Copiapo Destination Reviews
Have you visited Copiapo or do you leave in Copiapo? If so, please share your thoughts and knowledge about Copiapo with our community. Tell us about your experience. About these special places that make Copiapo a place worth a visit. Tell us about places that shouldn't be visited in Copiapo. Place your personal destination review about Copiapo and let others benefit from your review.
Want to know more about Copiapo? Want to find out what others experienced in Copiapo? Read what others reported about Copiapo and benefit from our tourist reviews about Copiapo.
Invalid query on hotels