Iquique & Humberstone: The Nitrate Ghost Town
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Port
Iquique, Chile
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Activity Level
Moderate Activity
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Excursion Type
12,All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At (prices in USD)
$140
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 4½ Hours
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Meals Included
Meals included
From Iquique it is about an hour's journey through the coastal mountain range to the nitrate town of Humberstone. Founded in 1862 at the junction of the Pan-American Highway and the road to Iquique, today Humberstone is a ghost town after mining operations ceased here in 1960. You will see the remaining buildings around the square, including the theater, a general store, administration buildings and even a swimming pool.
Returning to town, enjoy a panoramic drive through Iquique. You will view the Municipal Theater (1890) -- an attractive Renaissance-style building which served as an opera theater and stood at the heart of the refined cultural life of this desert outpost during the nitrate era.
At Centro Español, established in 1904 for the resident Spanish community, see the beautiful Moorish-style building features a series of large oil paintings depicting scenes of Don Quixote's life.
Please note:
The theater is undergoing restoration; views of its façade may be obscured. Your guide will do his/her best to speak English, but please keep in mind that the limited tourism infrastructure of Iquique is part of the city’s charm, and bear with any language difficulties he/she may encounter.