Route through the Azapa Museum, Morro, and the beautiful Anzota Caves
Update date: 31 August 2021
San Miguel de Azapa Archaeological Museum, Morro de Arica, Anzota Caves
Day 1
To get to the San Miguel de Azapa Archaeological Museum you must travel 12 kilometers by bus, cab, or car to the Azapa Valley. Here you will see vestiges of the Chinchorro Culture, the Pre-Columbian Room with a chronology of the arrival of its inhabitants 10,000 years ago, the Tiwanaku Culture, and a brief section on the Incas. Lastly, you can see the oldest mummies in the world in the Chinchorro room.
The museum is open Monday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Adults pay an entrance fee of $2,000 per person and children $1,000.
Day 2
The tour stops at the Morro de Arica. This particular geographical feature has been icon and reference of the northern city with its 130 meters in height and 500 meters in length; you will get outstanding panoramic views of the city. At the top there is also a museum that includes historical details of events that took place in the XIX century, cannons, and the monument to the unknown soldier are also featured.
The temperature in Arica is always between 23 - 27 °C with abundant clouds.
Day 3
Another unmissable site on Arica’s coastline is the visit and tour of the Anzota Caves. These caves are 10 kilometers from the city’s historic center with a 2-kilometer outdoors tour, opened to the general public, and excellent views of ancient rock structures. There are also several lookouts and stairs with different levels of complexity.
Schedule to visit the Anzota Caves is from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Admission is free.
Plan your perfect trip
- Remember to always bring cash and have documents on hand, sometimes ATMs are scarce in some areas.
- All the routes or circuits are standard and do not require major physical effort.
- For visitors who have never visited northern Chile, Arica is always hot, so remember to stay hydrated at all times.
- Don't forget your sunglasses, sunscreen, and a loaded camera because you will get great pictures.