Antofagasta Region · Chile
Antofagasta travel guide
Antofagasta is a city in Antofagasta Region, Chile, home to about 349,000 people.
- Best months
- September to April
- Nearest airport
- ANF23 km · Andrés Sabella Gálvez International Airport
- Currency
- CLPChilean peso
- Time zone
- America/Santiago
- Language
- Spanish
About
About Antofagasta
Antofagasta is a port city in northern Chile, about 1,100 kilometres (700 mi) north of Santiago. It is the capital of Antofagasta Province and Antofagasta Region.
The city of Antofagasta is closely linked to mining activity. Half of the copper produced in the country comes from here. There has been a steady growth in the areas of construction, retail, hotel accommodations, population growth, and remarkable skyline development.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Antofagasta
See
- Ruinas de Huanchaca
- La Portada
- Mano del Desierto
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Antofagasta to stay in
Many options in the area near the bus terminals. If you get further inland from here, it can get seedy at night.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Antofagasta
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Antofagasta are September to April. February is the warmest month, with average highs of 23 °C; July is the wettest, with about 1 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Antofagasta: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Andrés Sabella Gálvez International Airport (ANF), about 23 km from the city centre in a straight line.
Getting in
Route CH-5 connects the city with the rest of the country and is part of the Panamerican Highway. This route connects to the city by Route CH-26 in the north of the city, and Route CH-28 to the south. In addition, the city is connected to the north of the country by Route CH-1, a way that also allows access to Andrés Sabella Gálvez International Airport and the natural monument La Portada.
Getting around
The area of interest for most visitors is easily covered by walking. Several lines of minibuses, with a capacity of fewer than 30 people, serve the city. 590 pesos (April 2023). Taxis lines, served by black sedans. make their way through the urban area through fixed routes. Renting a truck in Antofagasta is a great idea if you are 3-5 people and want to explore the region on your own. This will save you a lot of money on expensive tours, especially in San Pedro de Atacama.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
ANF · Andrés Sabella Gálvez International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Antofagasta
Stay safe
Beware of pickpockets at the bus terminals when leaving. They will try to snatch your belongings when you load your bags into the buses. Always park your private vehicle in guarded parking lot (estacionamiento). The free "guarded" parking at supermarkets is not safe.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Antofagasta: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Antofagasta?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Antofagasta are September to April. February is the warmest month, with average highs of 23 °C; July is the wettest, with about 1 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Antofagasta?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Andrés Sabella Gálvez International Airport (ANF), about 23 km from the city centre in a straight line.
What currency is used in Antofagasta?
Chilean peso (CLP).
Nearby
Destinations near Antofagasta
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.