Outings and excursions · Arica
Arica and the Chinchorro mummies, the oldest in the world
Photos: Pablo Trincado / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
A World Heritage Site since 2021, the Chinchorro culture mummified its dead some 2,000 years before the Egyptians.
Arica, in Chile's far north, holds one of the most remarkable archaeological treasures on the planet. More than 7,000 years ago, the Chinchorro culture, a society of coastal fishers and gatherers, developed the oldest known technique of artificial mummification, some 2,000 years before the Egyptians.
World Heritage
On 27 July 2021, UNESCO inscribed the "Settlement and Artificial Mummification of the Chinchorro Culture in the Arica and Parinacota Region" on the World Heritage List. The site has three components: the northern slope of the Morro de Arica and Colón 10, both in the city, and the mouth of the Camarones river, about 100 km south.
Where to see them
- Museo Colón 10, in downtown Arica, one of the site's components.
- San Miguel de Azapa Archaeological Museum, in the Azapa valley, with one of the most important Chinchorro collections.
More in Arica
The Morro de Arica, a great headland above the city, offers the best view of the port and coast. Towards the altiplano, Lauca National Park and Lake Chungará, at more than 4,500 metres, make a full-day trip.
Tips
- Museum hours: check before you go.
- If you head up to the altiplano, take it slowly and be careful with the altitude.
