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| Image: Hoteles Campanario |
La Serena, the capital of the Coquimbo Region, is one of Chile's top tourist destinations. Its historic center stands out for its well-preserved neocolonial buildings with balconies, charming plazas, centuries-old stone churches, and a long stretch of inviting sandy beaches.
Founded in 1544, La Serena is the second oldest city in Chile, after Santiago. It belongs to the Province of Elqui and forms a conurbation with the neighboring port city of Coquimbo. Together, they have a population of over 534,000 according to projections for 2025, making it the country's fourth-largest urban area.
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| Neo-colonial architecture of La Serena |
La Serena is a major tourist destination, especially in summer, when it becomes one of Chile’s most popular vacation spots. The city is renowned for its stunning beaches, well-preserved colonial architecture, lush green spaces, and rich gastronomy. In particular, La Serena is famous for its papaya production and its many by-products.
Beyond tourism, La Serena is also a thriving university hub, home to the main campus of the Universidad de La Serena and several private universities. As the economic center of the region, it also houses the Archdiocese of La Serena, one of the five Catholic archdioceses in Chile.
In this post, we’ll explore some of the top attractions in La Serena, from its historic landmarks and museums to its world-class astronomical observatories.
How to Get There
- By Air
Aeródromo La Florida is a modern air terminal serving La Serena and its surrounding communes. It is located six kilometers east of the city. This airport holds historical significance in Chile, as the first flight to Easter Island departed from here in 1951.
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| Image: aeropuertodelaserena.cl |
Since late 2018, the airport has held international status, offering seasonal flights to cities in Argentina operated by the low-cost airline JetSmart. The airlines currently serving this airport are LATAM Airlines, Sky Airline, and JetSmart.
- Bus Terminal
Address: 107 Amunátegui Ave.
The bus terminal in La Serena is one of the largest in northern Chile, situated in an urban area close to numerous accommodations and shopping centers. Several companies operate from this terminal, offering frequent services to Santiago and various destinations across the country, especially in northern Chile.
Tourist Attractions in La Serena:
Tour along Avenida del Mar
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A stroll along Avenida del Mar is one of the classic activities in La Serena. This scenic waterfront promenade begins at the iconic Faro Monumental (Monumental Lighthouse) on the northern edge of the city and stretches along extensive beaches.
Running parallel to the Pacific Ocean, the avenue offers spectacular views of the beach, the lighthouse, and the apartment buildings that rise above the sand. As you explore, you can appreciate the natural beauty of the coastline, the peaceful and family-friendly atmosphere, and the wide range of dining, recreational, and cultural options available along its four-kilometer stretch.
For extra fun, you’ll find electric scooters, bicycles, and skateboards for rent along Avenida del Mar. No matter your age, you can enjoy the waterfront in a way that suits you.
Discover "The City of Bell Towers"
Before La Serena became known for its beaches and tourism, it was called La Ciudad de los Campanarios ("The City of Bell Towers") due to the numerous churches scattered throughout the city. If you enjoy exploring historic sites, a fascinating activity is visiting the churches in the city's historic center.
Some highlights of this route include La Serena Cathedral, San Francisco Church (one of the oldest in the city, dating to the early 17th century), and San Agustín Church, all significant historical landmarks. Other notable churches include Santo Domingo, featuring a striking stone façade, and La Merced, celebrated for its elegant neoclassical design. Many of these churches have towering bell towers that dominate the urban landscape and can be seen from afar.
The Stunning Beaches of La Serena and Coquimbo
The beaches of La Serena are among the most captivating along Chile’s coastline, featuring long stretches of golden sand and a pleasant climate for most of the year. El Faro Beach, located next to the iconic Faro Monumental, is one of the most visited, perfect for seaside walks and enjoying the ocean breeze. Further south, Cuatro Esquinas Beach offers a quieter atmosphere, ideal for relaxation by the sea.
In the neighboring city of Coquimbo, La Herradura stands out for its calm waters and sheltered bay, making it an excellent choice for swimming and water sports. Another recommended option is Totoralillo Beach, about 17 km south of La Serena, famous for its white sand and turquoise waters, highly appreciated by surfers and landscape lovers.
Between La Serena and Coquimbo, Peñuelas Beach offers a scenic coastal stretch with a mix of golden sand and small waves. Located near the Peñuelas sector, this beach is known for its proximity to seafood restaurants and its relaxed atmosphere, making it a great spot to enjoy a meal with an ocean view.
"La Recova" Municipal Market
- Address: Cienfuegos 563, La Serena
La Recova Market is a historic and cultural landmark in La Serena. The place is known as a cultural and commercial hub, where visitors can find regional products, local handicrafts, and a variety of restaurants serving traditional dishes, fresh seafood, as well as local wines and liquors. The current building was inaugurated in 1981, after the old market suffered significant damage due to the 1975 earthquake and a fire in 1965.
Founded in 1795, it features colonial-style architecture with elegant arches. With more than 100 stores, it offers a diverse selection of handicrafts and regional specialties, including beautifully crafted lapis lazuli jewelry, traditional Diaguita pottery, flavorful papaya jam, and artisanal goat cheese, along with a variety of other locally made products that reflect the area's rich cultural heritage.
On the second floor, visitors can savor traditional regional cuisine in its inviting restaurants. As the cultural heart of La Serena, La Recova is a must-visit for those eager to experience the city's history, craftsmanship, and flavors.
Faro Monumental de La Serena
The Monumental Lighthouse of La Serena is an iconic coastal landmark built between 1950 and 1951 by the Chilean Navy, based on the design of civil engineer Jorge Cisternas Larenas from the University of Chile. The project was part of the La Serena Urban Development Plan, carried out during the presidency of President Gabriel González Videla.
Biblioteca Regional Gabriela Mistral
Address: 782 Juan José Latorre St.
The Gabriela Mistral Regional Library is a major cultural hub and landmark in La Serena, Chile. Named after the acclaimed Chilean poet Gabriela Mistral—the first Latin American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, in 1945—the library occupies a modern building located next to the historic Casa de las Palmeras. This house, now a national monument, once belonged to Mistral and is currently integrated into the library complex.
Its central location makes it easily accessible to both residents and visitors, while its active engagement in promoting literature and the arts reinforces its importance within the city.
Jardín del Corazón Park (Japanese Garden in La Serena)
Address: #336 Eduardo de la Barra Street
Also known as Parque Japonés, this serene oasis was created with support from various mining companies in both Chile and Japan. It was designed to reflect a traditional Japanese landscape, symbolizing the friendship between La Serena and the Japanese city of Tenri—a bond formalized in 1966 through a sister city agreement. Officially inaugurated in 1994 to commemorate La Serena’s 450th anniversary, this is the largest Japanese garden in South America.
Covering 26,000 square meters, Jardín del Corazón features a stunning array of attractions, including a cherry blossom path, bamboo trellises, a traditional Japanese bridge, waterfalls, a peaceful stone garden, and a jetty on an artificial lagoon. Visitors can enjoy walking through small forested areas and observing graceful swans, ducks, and colorful goldfish.
Avenida Francisco de Aguirre: A Historic Avenue
Avenida Francisco de Aguirre is named after the Spanish captain who refounded La Serena in 1549, following an uprising by the local indigenous people that led to the death of nearly all the Spaniards.
This iconic avenue stretches from Balmaceda Street, where you can find the Portada de Mármol (Marble Arch), a historic landmark donated in 1910, all the way to the Faro Monumental (Monumental Lighthouse). Known as the Museo al Aire Libre (Open-Air Museum) or Paseo de las Estatuas (Statue Promenade), Avenida Francisco de Aguirre originated as a public promenade in 1855, lined with poplars, acacias, and oriental plane trees.
Between 1946 and 1952, during the presidency of Gabriel González Videla, a native of La Serena, the famous Carrara Marble statues were donated to the avenue. These replicas of renowned sculptures were imported from Italy, adding to the cultural and artistic significance of this landmark.Museums in La Serena
- Museo Arqueológico, address: on the corner of Cordovez and Cienfuegos streets. Archaeology, Ethnography and Paleontology sections as well as a Bioanthropology Collection. With important archaeological compilation of the Molle and Diaguita cultures. It also houses a magnificent Moai of the Rapa Nui culture in the gallery reserved to Easter Island, donated to the city by the Rapa Nui Council of Elders in 1952, after the first flight between mainland Chile and the island.
- Museo Mineralógico Ignacio Domeyko, Museum of mineralogy with pieces from Chile and different parts of the world located at 980 Benavente St., at the Mining Engineering Department of the Universidad de la Serena. The gallery was founded in 1887, when the Escuela de Minas was created. Remodeled in 2007, today it is very popular with tourists. Its collections of more than 7,000 pieces include fossils, parts of meteorites found in different parts of the country, Brazilian and African diamonds, rubies from India, lapis lazuli gems, the silver rosicler stone from the Chañarcillo mine, jewelry, gemstones and minerals from the area.
- Museo Historico Gabriel Gonzalez Videla, historical museum, location 495 Matta St. in the heart of the city. Its name pays tribute to a former president of Chile, a native of La Serena. The building was bought in 1977 by the State of Chile and declared a National Monument in 1981. It is one of the most visited galleries in the city, its collection consists of more than 3,500 pieces, including contemporary Chilean paintings and elements of regional history, furniture, important objects, documents and historical photographs.
- Domo Cultura Animas, address: Gabriela Mistral Square, very close to the main Square in the neighboring city of Coquimbo, approximately 15 km. from downtown La Serena. It is a small glass structure whose vault contains the replica of 3 out of 36 tombs found in the area during excavations in 1981. These remains belong to the Animas culture, precursor of the Diaguita culture that inhabited this part of northern Chile between 900 and 1200 AD. Cultural events and exhibitions of local artists are also held here.
- Museo de Arte Religioso, museum of religious art in front of the Plaza de Armas, next to the city's Cathedral. A very popular place for tourists, with pieces of great historical value, paintings and liturgical elements.
- Museo de Arte Colonial, address: Balmaceda Ave. at the corner of Eduardo de la Barra, next to San Francisco Church. With more than one hundred pieces of art, most of them belonging to the Cusquenian culture, divided between the two levels of the gallery. Some of the highlights are the images of veneration carved in polychrome wood, objects used in the church and a representation of the face of the Nobel Prize for Literature Gabriela Mistral, a native of this region, who was very close to the Franciscan congregation. Vestments of bishops and cardinals, objects of domestic use but of great emotional value for the religious congregation.
Valle de Elqui
Astronomy Tours
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| Image: European Southern Observatory, Chile |
Isla Damas Tour
Another of the most popular tourist destinations departing from La Serena and available in most of the local Tourism Agencies. Isla Damas is one of the three islands part of the Pinguino de Humboldt National Reserve, at the northern end of the Coquimbo Region, La Higuera Commune, Elqui Province. Of the three islands that make up the Reserve, Damas is the only one that can be visited, the others are Choros and Chañaral. It has an area of 60.3 hectares and its name "Damas" (Ladies), is due to a curious rock formation, which becomes more visible as you approach it from the pier of Punta de Choros. The rock resembles the profile of a woman leaning against the island. There are two beaches, La Poza and Las Tijeras, of white sand and emerald green waters. Damas has a 1800 meters trail and 9 stations with information on flora and fauna in Spanish and English. Pinguino de Humboldt National Reserve is part of the National System of Protected Wild Areas of the State of Chile, administered by CONAF, National Forest Corporation.
Among the seabirds that nest on the numerous cliffs, rocks and beaches of the island are the Humboldt Penguin, Cormorants, Piqueros (Chilean Gannet), Red-legged Cormorants and many others. The rest of the marine fauna is mainly composed of sea otters, seals, bottlenose dolphins, sperm whales, whales.
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