Coquimbo Region · Chile
Where to stay in La Serena
La Serena is a city in Coquimbo Region, Chile, home to about 195,000 people.
- Best months
- November to March
- Nearest airport
- LSC5 km · La Florida Airport
- Currency
- CLPChilean peso
- Time zone
- America/Santiago
- Language
- Spanish
About
About La Serena
La Serena is a city and commune in northern Chile, capital of the Coquimbo Region. Founded in 1544, it is the country's second oldest city after the national capital, Santiago.
The city is an important tourist site, especially during the summer, where people make it one of the most important vacation destinations in the country, mainly for its beaches, architecture, green areas and gastronomy. It is popularly recognized for the production of local papayas and their derivatives. During the rest of the year, its activity focuses on being a place for university studies, as it is the headquarters of the University of La Serena and the headquarters of several private universities.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in La Serena
See
- Cathedral of San Bartolomé de La Serena
- Church of San Agustín
- House of Providence
- Archeological Museum
- Monumental Lighthouse
- Gabriel González Videla Historical Museum
- Church of La Merced
- Outdoor museum
- Jardin del Corazon
- Museum of Religious Art
Do
- Cinema
- Valle de Elqui
- Observatorio Mamalluca
- Observatorio La Silla
- Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of La Serena to stay in
There are loads of options in the town. The area from the bus station throughout the center has at least one hostal on every block, and many fancier options, including package tour hotels along the beach.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in La Serena
12 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Apart Hotel Colors | 0.9 km | |
| Hostal Avenue | 0.8 km | |
| Hostal Valle Mistral | 0.5 km | |
| Hotel Boutique Suri | 0.6 km | |
| Hotel Boutique Terra Diaguita & Spa | 0.2 km | |
| Hotel Campanario Del Mar | 4.5 km | |
| Hotel Canto del Mar | 2.7 km | |
| Hotel Club La Serena | 2.3 km | |
| Hotel Costa Real | 0.4 km | |
| Hotel Diego de Almagro La Serena | 2.0 km | |
| Hotel Francisco De Aguirre | 0.2 km | |
| Hotel La Serena Plaza | 2.0 km |
All 12 hotels in La Serena, with their history and operators
When to go
The best time to visit La Serena
The most comfortable months for a city stay in La Serena are November to March. February is the warmest month, with average highs of 22 °C; June is the wettest, with about 32 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 La Serena: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is La Florida Airport (LSC), about 5.3 km from the city centre in a straight line.
Getting around
Buses leave several times every hour from La Serena to Valle del Elqui. The trip takes 1–2 hr. Ticket price: 2,000-3,000 pesos depending on where you go. They leave every hour from the bus station.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
LSC · La Florida Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in La Serena
Eat
The densest cluster of restaurants and fast food joints is around the intersection of O`Higgins and Eduardo de la Barra.
Drink
Loads of bars near the intersection of O`Higgins and Eduardo de la Barra. At least a couple of them will be busy even on a Monday night thanks to the town's students.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
La Serena: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit La Serena?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in La Serena are November to March. February is the warmest month, with average highs of 22 °C; June is the wettest, with about 32 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to La Serena?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is La Florida Airport (LSC), about 5.3 km from the city centre in a straight line.
What currency is used in La Serena?
Chilean peso (CLP).
Nearby
Destinations near La Serena
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.