In a nutshell

A very unique tour discovering the history of Arica, from the Archaeological Museum with its artefacts and the oldest mummies in the world, to the desert, a treasure chest of ancient civilisations with wonderful geoglyphs from the pre-Columbian era and the imposing manlike sculptures by Díaz Juan Fleming, a tribute to the Andean people.

Main stops

Plaza Colón and St Mark’s Cathedral
Archaeological Museum: artefacts and mummies from the pre-Columbian era
Geoglyphs in the valley Azapa
Pampa de Chaca and the giant "Tutelar Figures"
Small refreshment based on a typical drink

The programme

We will start our tour of Arica by admiring Plaza Colón and St Mark’s Cathedral, with its unique iron structure, built by French engineer Gustave Eiffel and opened in 1876 after the old church was destroyed by a rogue wave in 1869.
Our next stop is the Archaeological Museum, which boasts a significant collection of pre-Columbian artefacts and mummies preserved in the sand and dating back to 5000 BC. These are the oldest mummies in the world and they are truly unique because of the artificial preparation method used.
Our excursion will continue to the surroundings of Arica as we discover the fantastic geoglyphs along the slopes of the hills of Azapa valley. They are drawings carved into the land by the pre-Columbian people using stones or scratching the salty surface of the desert soil, which reproduce human and animal shapes and pastoral scenes.
Then we will head to the area of the desert known as Pampa de Chaca, where one of the best Chilean sculptors, Díaz Juan Fleming, created some impressive giant sculptures called the Tutelar Figures, which consist of two groups: "The Ancestors" and "The origin of the race", the shape of which is an abstraction of the human body. These sculptures pay tribute to the Andean people that crossed the mountains and the desert. According to Andean tradition, these people have divine roots and descended from the sun and the moon.
To cool down after our visit to the desert, we will be offered a pisco sour, the official cocktail of Chile and Peru, along with soft drinks, water and fresh fruit.
After our excursion in the desert, we will return to the port and the ship.

Good to know

Flash photography is not permitted inside the Archaeological Museum and there is an extra charge for video recordings.
The desert is a protected area so it is prohibited to leave rubbish or smoke.
Appropriate clothing for places of worship is recommended; avoid shorts and vests.
The bus may not have air conditioning