Beach Hotels in Antofagasta, Chile

One of the most visited cities in Chile, whether you come for Antofagasta’s beautiful beaches, arid desert or its history, this port town has something to offer everyone.

Located in northern Chile’s Atacama desert, Antofagasta is known for its mining history and the huge open pit mine that dominates the local landscape. A major exporter of copper, the city has become an important hub for mineral mining.

Perhaps Antofagasta’s most popular natural attraction, the Salar de Atacama, is a salt lake located at the heart of the Atacama Desert. The desert is known for its extreme climate—the driest non-polar desert in the world. Salar de Atacama is one of the most important tourist destinations in Chile, with more than 150,000 visitors annually.

The salars are formed when water from nearby rivers evaporates and leaves behind large deposits of salt. Over hundreds or thousands of years, these deposits build up into large salt flats that can be many miles wide and several feet deep. The salt lakes have been mined since pre-Colombian times by indigenous people who used it as an important source of sodium nitrate (which they traded throughout South America).

Today, Salar de Atacama attracts tourists who come to see its remote landscape and its wildlife, which includes flamingoes and a variety of birds. Its stunning colors and textures are carved out due to varying weather conditions; while some parts may be covered in snow or ice during certain times of year, others will have bright yellow flowers growing on them instead.

Not to be missed is the majestic La Portada. This towering natural arch in the Pacific was formed from years of marine erosion. Within the sandstone are fossilized shells dating back to 35 to 2 million years ago! Easily accessible from beach hotels in Antofagasta, plan ahead for this one, as flocks of tourists are the norm.

When staying at a beach hotel in Antofagasta be sure to head downtown and visit the Plaza Colón, or Columbus Square. This leafy oasis in the middle of downtown is easily found by spotting the replica of London’s Big Ben, donated in 1910 from British immigrants. Originally a saltpeter mine, today it’s a popular respite from the crowds downtown. The buildings surrounding Plaza Colón date back to the 19th century and are still used today as administrative buildings.

At first glance, the Huanchaca ruins resembles something akin to an ancient indigenous settlement, but in fact dates only from the turn of the 20th century. A former foundry and refinery, it dates back to the late 1800s and produced raw material shipped in from the Pulacayo mine in Bolivia.

Perhaps the best photo op nearby is the Mano del Desierto or “Hand of the Desert”, a man-made sculpture of a hand emerging 36 feet out of the ground. Located in the Atacama desert, it’s the most talked about of Chilean art installations and is popular with influencers, so be sure to plan ahead and get out there early for your shot!

With its historic sights and natural wonders, Antofagasta is a great place to visit. Discover all this and more when you book your stay at Antafogasta beach hotels today.

Don’t forget to check out our beach hotels in Peru.