The City of Arica (Spanish) is a safe, quiet, relaxed sunny seaside resort town with several beautiful beaches. Called by some the “city of eternal spring,” it is a gateway to both Bolivia and Peru. Visitors will want to check out these sights.

El Morro, a high cliff at the end of the mountain range, offers breathtaking panoramic views of the city and the Port of Arica. Bring your own water and snacks, and allow for a ten minute walk. Aside from the magnificent views, you will find a war museum with cannons and uniforms from the 1800s. The San Miguel de Azapa Archaeological Museum (Spanish) houses more than 20 thousand artifacts and information about the area’s 10-thousand-year history. When the weather is right, you can find petroglyphs from the times of fishers and hunters.

The Cathedral San Marcos de Arica was built in the early 1870s. Designed by Gustavo Eiffel, it replaced the church that was destroyed in the 1868 earthquake.

For outdoor adventures, the Port of Arica offers miles of beautiful beaches where you will want to lie in the sun (the water is cold). Surfers love the beaches of the Port of Arica. Beginners use the waters north of town, and seasoned surfers go south of El Morro.

The nearby valleys of Azapa and Rio Lluta are home to many beautiful olive tree plantations. The Olive Route includes visits to bodegas where olives are seasoned, and you can learn about how olive oil is made. Local museums offer insight into the local Aymara culture.

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