La Serena (Coquimbo), Chile
The port of Coquimbo is the gateway to La Serena, founded in 1544. Located in the transition zone between Chile's austere Atacama Desert and the country's fertile central valley, La Serena is a popular holiday resort. The nearby Elqui Valley is an agricultural center famed for grapes, papaya and cherimoya. The region was also home to the pre-Columbian Diaguita and El Molle cultures, noted for their fine ceramics and jewelry.
La Serena's central Plaza de Armas is home to superb colonial buildings and a 19th-century cathedral. La Recova - the artisan's marketplace - features copper and silver jewelry, glass works and ceramics.
Points of Interest
- Tololo Observatory
- Elqui Valley
- Pisco District
- Archaeological Museum
- Petroglyphs
- Vineyards
- La Serena
- La Recova Market
La Serena On Your Own
- La Serena
Explore the La Serena on your own with this leisurely, self guided excursion that drops you off in central area of the city. Then enjoy free time to shop for or enjoy a delicious meal at one of the areas many fine restaurants.
Easy Activity
$69.95
Best of Coquimbo: La Serena & La Recova Market
View the old lighthouse and the historic Plaza de Armas, take photos at La Herradura Beach and shop for souvenirs at the La Recova Market. This easy half-day tour provides a fascinating introduction to Coquimbo and the regional capital of La Serena
Easy Activity
$79.95
Best of Coquimbo: La Serena & La Recova Market (Guided in German)
- La Recova Market
View the old lighthouse and the historic Plaza de Armas, take photos at La Herradura Beach and shop for souvenirs at the La Recova Market. This easy half-day tour provides a fascinating introduction to Coquimbo and the regional capital of La Serena.
Easy Activity
$79.95
Pisco Distillery & Elqui Valley (Guided in German)
- Elqui Valley
- Pisco District
Explore the scenic Elqui Valley to Vicuna, the hometown of Nobel Laureate Gabriela Mistral. With captivating beaches and historical landmarks in Coquimbo and La Serena, a Pisco distillery tour and tasting, and shopping at La Recova Market for local handicrafts, you'll enjoy a moderate full-day tour filled with adventure.
Moderate Activity, Includes meal
$179.95
Pisco Distillery & Elqui Valley
- Elqui Valley
- Pisco District
Explore the scenic Elqui Valley to Vicuna, the hometown of Nobel Laureate Gabriela Mistral. With captivating beaches and historical landmarks in Coquimbo and La Serena, a Pisco distillery tour and tasting, and shopping at La Recova Market for local handicrafts, you'll enjoy a moderate full-day tour filled with adventure.
Moderate Activity, Includes meal
$179.95
Petroglyphs, Viña Tabali Winery & Wine Tasting
- Petroglyphs
- Vineyards
View the "Enchantment Valley's" petroglyph-marked boulders, and sample the wines of a noted Chilean winery while learning about the country's acclaimed wine industry. This strenuous full day-tour includes a barbeque lunch with Pisco Sour at a restaurant in the foothills of the Andes Mountains and sightseeing on the Pan-American Highway.
Strenuous Activity, Includes meal
$179.95
Tololo Observatory
- Tololo Observatory
- Elqui Valley
.Feel like a professional astronomer at the sixth-largest astronomical observatory in the Southern Hemisphere. Ascent to the 6,000-foot-level of Mount Tololo. Engage in a special guided visit of the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO). View several telescopes and auxiliary instruments and enjoy an informative talk about the nature of the universe.
Moderate Activity
$194.95
Tololo Observatory & Elqui Valley
- Tololo Observatory
- Elqui Valley
Feel like a professional astronomer on a special guided tour of the sixth largest astronomical observatory in the Southern Hemisphere. The views from Mount Tololo are worth the trip alone! And you'll visit Vicuña, the birthplace of Nobel Laureate Gabriela Mistral and enjoy lunch on this moderate full-day tour.
Moderate Activity, Includes meal
$209.95
Coquimbo by Private Vehicle - Car Class (Half Day with Guide)
Car class vehicle with a driver and an English-speaking guide on a half-day basis. A perfect solution for passengers who wish to tour privately or who want the flexibility of designing their own itinerary.
Easy Activity
$549.00
Coquimbo by Private Vehicle - Car Class (Full Day with Guide)
Car class vehicle with a driver and an English-speaking guide on a full-day basis. A perfect solution for passengers who wish to tour privately or who want the flexibility of designing their own itinerary.
Easy Activity
$749.00
Coquimbo by Private Vehicle - Van Class (Half Day with Guide)
Minivan class vehicle with a driver and an English-speaking guide on a half-day basis. A perfect solution for passengers who wish to tour privately or who want the flexibility of designing their own itinerary.
Easy Activity
$799.00
Coquimbo by Private Vehicle - Van Class (Full Day with Guide)
Minivan class vehicle with a driver and an English-speaking guide on a full-day basis. A perfect solution for passengers who wish to tour privately or who want the flexibility of designing their own itinerary.
Easy Activity
$999.00