Spend the day exploring one of the main towns on the coast of Tarapacá on our day trip to Pisagua. You'll learn all about the War of the Pacific, which was one of the largest conflicts that took place in South America in the 19th century.
Pisagua Day Trip
Between 8 and 9 am, we'll pick you up from your hotel in Iquique and set off northbound for the town of Pisagua.
This coastal town, located in the Chilean region of Tarapacá, was a flashpoint in the War of the Pacific. Between 1879 and 1884, this war saw Chile pitted against a Peruvian-Bolivian alliance.
During our tour of the town, we'll learn about the history of this war and one of its main episodes. This is the Battle of San Francisco (or Dolores), which took place during the Tarapacá campaign. We'll see the traces left behind by this conflict as well as visiting the cemetery by the sea and observing its wooden crosses.
Our tour will then take us to the monument dedicated to the landing and combat of Pisagua, which took place on 2 November 1879. We'll also learn about the history of the tour before taking a walk through the town to learn about its background in the saltpetre industry. As we explore the town, we'll admire the beautiful 19th-century wooden buildings.
We'll pause at a local restaurant to have a delicious lunch, where you'll be able to sample some of the local gastronomy. After lunch, we'll continue discovering the history of Pisagua. While the village was a detention centre in the 20th century, today it's a symbol of the defence of human rights.
It'll then be time to take you back to your hotel in Iquique and drop you off at 7 pm.
View complete description