Tours and Activities:

A Treasure to be Discovered

We toured around the city in search for its main attractions. Walking down its streets took us back to various moments in the history of this emblematic metropolis.

The legend goes that the English privateer Francis Drake buried an important treasure somewhere in Coquimbo. Along with the many other corsairs that visited this region during colonial times, this story has generated a “pirate” tourist image in the area.
It was under this theme that we resolved to tour around the city streets. Maybe we were fantasizing a little, but we thought we could find some clue as to where Drake had buried the gold coins.

We started walking along the seafront promenade, known as Costanera Avenue. Undoubtedly, this important artery is one of the emblematic initiatives carried out in the city. This 5-kilometer-long road joins the Community of Coquimbo with Avenida del Mar at La Serena and has been built for tourist and commercial purposes. It displays the port, the beaches and the stores located in the surroundings.

Following the directions provided by the signs standing along the seafront, we finally reached Fort Coquimbo, on Mount del Carmen, opposite Pelícana Point. A 150-pound cannon was settled in this spot in 1876. It was aimed at strengthening the defense, especially at Port Coquimbo. This site, rebuilt today, features a privileged landscape where family recreation stands out.

We left the fort and headed for the city center. We passed by the English Neighborhood. In this area, buildings raised during the mining zenith, between the XIXth and XXth century, featuring an English style have been restored. Today, it concentrates the cultural activity and recreation and gastronomical venues at the Port of Coquimbo.

Once at Gabriela Mistral Square, we entered Domo Cultural Las Ánimas. This site museum displays vestiges of the ánimas culture from 900 to 1200. The remains were found in 1981, during the excavations made in order to restore the Plaza de Armas. The show includes 3 graves which present the burial rituals of this ancient culture. Besides, pictorical samples by outstanding regional figures may be appreciated.

As we left the museum, we went towards the Cross of the Third Milenium. We had thought that we could visualize another place to visit in this nice Chilean city from the heights. The monument stands on Mount El Vigía at Coquimbo, 157 m.a.s.l. and it is reached through Juan Pablo II Street. It was built on the 2000th anniversary of Christ’s birth. It is 83 meters high and it is considered the highest monument in South America. Visitors can catch a 360º view of the Coquimbo Bay and access the statue arms using the elevators.

After the panoramic view, we headed towards the Mohammed VI Cultural Center to approach the Islamic culture. It was built with the contribution made by the King of Morocco and the porteño municipal authorities. It features a mosque (a site for prayer), a library and a meetings room where lectures about this interesting culture are presented.
By now, we had already toured around half the city and we were still listening to stories about Drake without having found anything.

We went out in search for the beaches of Coquimbo. On the area known as La Pampilla, we came to Los Navegantes vantage point where we enjoyed a panoramic view of La Herradura Bay and Guayacán Pier. To both sides, we found the vastness of the Pacific. This vantage point was built to pay tribute to the people of Coquimbo, to the countless sailors that visited these shores in the past centuries.

Feeling quite tired, we resolved to stop our quest. The truth is that almost before we could notice, he had found another treasure, much more significant than the first one. As we toured around the streets of this bustling seaside city, we discovered its colors and shapes, its aromas, its crafts and the most important spots where the history and the idiosyncrasy of a great people were shaped.

See also: Hotels in Coquimbo and other accommodation venues