Arica, Chile cruises

As well as being blessed with amazing archaeological treasures, including the oldest mummies in the world, Arica attracts international acclaim for its fine wines and truly world-class surfing waves.

Known by Chileans as ‘city of the eternal spring’, Arica has been an important port since Spanish colonial rule in the 1500s, and has plenty to offer in terms of historic sites and places to visit.

With warm, dry summers and long, cool winters, the city's delicious and imaginative cuisine reflects the abundance of fresh, local ingredients from the exotic fruit-filled valleys and olive groves of Azapa and Lluta.

Less than 11 miles south of Peru, Arica is the northernmost city in Chile. Its miles of sandy beaches, backed by the Andean plateau, are best viewed from the Morro de Arica national monument, over 400 feet above sea level. A top spot on the surf circuit, Arica hosts the annual international body boarding world tour event. The famous “El Gringo” wave is on a par with locations like Hawaii, Tahiti and Fiji.

Around Arica, immerse yourself in the great outdoors with a visit to Lauca National Park. The 8,000 year old lake on the pointed mountain of Chungarà has its own volcanoes, Parinacota and Pomerape. The Thermas de Jurasi underground thermal waters, said to have medicinal properties, are a popular healthy highlight.