Tarapacá Region · Chile
Where to stay in Iquique
Iquique is a city in Tarapacá Region, Chile, home to about 188,000 people.
- Best months
- September to May
- Nearest airport
- IQQ36 km · Diego Aracena International Airport
- Currency
- CLPChilean peso
- Time zone
- America/Santiago
- Language
- Spanish
About
About 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. Copper mining is also an important industry in Iquique.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Iquique
See
- Baquedano Street
- Astoreca Palace
- Gigante de Atacama
- Oficina Humberstone
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Iquique
6 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Gran Cavancha Hotel & Apartment | 1.2 km | |
| Gran Cavancha Suite | 1.6 km | |
| Holiday Inn Express Iquique | 2.9 km | |
| Hotel Gavina Iquique | 1.0 km | |
| Ibis Budget Iquique | 0.7 km | |
| Iquique Beachfront | 1.5 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Iquique
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Iquique are September to May. February is the warmest month, with average highs of 23 °C; February is the wettest, with about 0 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 Iquique: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Diego Aracena International Airport (IQQ), about 36 km from the city centre in a straight line.
Getting around
Micros run along the major streets in the center and takes you from the center to the Zofri in no time. Walking is the most convenient mode of transport for getting to and from the beaches. You can share a taxi for 500 pesos and or get a private one for 2000 pesos. Faster than taking the bus.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
IQQ · Diego Aracena International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Iquique
Eat
Iquique's Chinese immigrants that arrived during the 19th century as slaves to work in saltpetre extraction, have had a distinct influence on the local food. The area around the Mercado is Iquique's Chinatown. You will find a large number of Peruvian influenced "Chifa" restaurants here, all pretty expensive. The smaller restaurants between them are cheaper, and serve sandwiches and burgers for 800 pesos and up. McDonald's, Domino's, KFC, and other fast food chains can be found in malls. For dessert you can try the chumbeque invented by Chinese descendants. It's prepared with layers of fried thin dough filled with different fruity caramels.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Iquique: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Iquique?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Iquique are September to May. February is the warmest month, with average highs of 23 °C; February is the wettest, with about 0 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Iquique?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Diego Aracena International Airport (IQQ), about 36 km from the city centre in a straight line.
What currency is used in Iquique?
Chilean peso (CLP).
Nearby
Destinations near Iquique
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.