museum
Humberstone Saltpeter Works
Abandoned UNESCO-listed nitrate town in the Atacama beside Ruta 16 east of Iquique, preserved as an open-air museum.
37 km · about 45 min drive
South AmericaChileTarapacá
Iquique
Tarapacá, Chile · South America
About Iquique
Iquique sits on the route: 15 minutes from Alto Hospicio, 37km from Humberstone Saltpeter Works.
Iquique is in Tarapacá, Chile, with about 200,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Alto Hospicio, about 8 km away.
Iquique (Spanish pronunciation: [iˈkike]) is a port city and commune in northern Chile, capital of both the Iquique Province and Tarapacá Region. It lies on the Pacific coast, west of the Pampa del Tamarugal, which is part of the Atacama Desert. Its name comes from the Aymara language: "Iki Iki," meaning "land ofRead more
dreams." It has a population of 199,587 according to the 2024 census. It is also the main commune of Greater Iquique. The city developed during the heyday of the saltpetre mining in the Atacama Desert in the 19th century. Once a Peruvian city with a large Chilean population, it was conquered by Chile in the War of the Pacific (1879–1883). Today it is one of only two free ports of Chile, the other one being Punta Arenas, in the country's far south.
Where to Stay in Iquique
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Iquique.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Iquique.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Iquique?
Within an hour or so of Iquique: Humberstone Saltpeter Works (37 km).
Where is Iquique?
Iquique is in Tarapacá, Chile, about 8 km from Alto Hospicio.
Road trip
Drive to Iquique
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Iquique. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 199,587
- Continent
- South America
- Country
- Chile
- Region
- Tarapacá
- Timezone
- America/Santiago
- Coordinates
- -20.2133, -70.1503
Tags
Worth the detour from Iquique
1 notable place within an hour's drive.
When to drive here
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Iquique.
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Iquique.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.