Outings and excursions · Iquique
Pintados Geoglyphs: giant figures in the Tarapacá desert
Photos: Diego Delso / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Hundreds of figures of animals, people and geometric shapes on the hills of the Pampa del Tamarugal, about 95 km from Iquique.
About 95 km from Iquique, in the commune of Pozo Almonte, the hillsides hold one of South America's most impressive collections of rock art: the Pintados Geoglyphs.
What they are
Hundreds of figures (between more than 450 and nearly a thousand, depending on the count) made by pre-Hispanic peoples over a strip several kilometres long: animals, human figures and geometric shapes that marked the desert caravan routes.
Protected
They were declared a National Monument in 1939 and since 1988 have been part of the Pampa del Tamarugal National Reserve, managed by CONAF.
Tips
- Do not walk on the slopes or touch the figures: they are easily damaged.
- Bring water, a hat and sunscreen: this is the open desert.
- Visiting hours: check before you go.
