Copiapó Province: Volcanoes, Dunes and Discoveries
Accommodation in Copiapó Province
Visitors planning a holiday in Copiapó Province will find a wide variety of things to discover: a high-altitude border volcano, a wetland with migratory birds, dune landscapes, and places with a history shaped by mining and railways. There are also water sports, a park preserving traces of prehistoric marine life, and a rural tourism route. When choosing your holiday rental, it is worth first considering which of these themes you want to shape your stay.
Mountaineering at Ojos del Salado
Volcán Ojos del Salado is a 6,891-metre-high stratovolcano on the border between Argentina and Chile. Climbing it is a goal for climbers, and mountaineering is recommended at the volcano. Adventurers visit the area during the climbing season, from October to March. If the mountain is the focus of your trip, this seasonal information provides a practical reference for your planning. Its elevation and location on the border give Ojos del Salado a special place among the province’s landscape highlights.
Migratory birds and dune landscapes
The Humedal Desembocadura Río Copiapó is an important habitat for migratory birds. Around 20 species arrive from the Río Loa wetland. These include the coscoroba swan (Coscoroba coscoroba), the many-coloured rush tyrant (Tachuris rubrigastra), the black-necked stilt (Himantopus mexicanus), the tricoloured blackbird (Agelasticus thilius) and the grey-hooded sierra finch (Lessonia rufa). The diversity of species makes this a particularly interesting place if you are passionate about birds and wetlands.
The Mar de Dunas extends across the municipalities of Chañaral, Caldera and Copiapó. Its dune slopes are suitable for sandboarding and off-road driving. Wildlife watching at the wetland and outdoor activities in the dunes cater to different interests: decide whether you would rather watch wildlife or experience the dunes actively during your trip.
Water sports and prehistoric marine life
Bahía Inglesa offers kitesurfing, windsurfing, kayaking and diving. The choice includes a range of activities on and in the water. If you are planning a trip with your family, you can discuss which of these options would be most appealing for your stay, rather than structuring the whole trip around just one type of activity.
The Parque Paleontológico Los Dedos is located near Caldera. It preserves the remains of marine life that became extinct millions of years ago and is of scientific and cultural-historical value. The park includes interpretive trails, an open-air museum with reconstructions and a visitor centre. The combination of fossil remains and interpretive features makes it a discovery in its own right, alongside the region’s landscapes and activities.
Routes and regional history
The Ruta Copayapu is a rural tourism route more than 55 kilometres long in the valley of Copiapó Province. It passes through Toledo, Chamonate, Piedra Colgada and Hacienda San Pedro. Its focus is rural tourism, setting it apart from the individual activities offered at Bahía Inglesa or in the Mar de Dunas. If you enjoy exploring several places and aspects of a region, you can consider this route as a focus in its own right.
Caldera also has a history of infrastructure: its port was established in connection with the construction of the first railway by the Compañía de Ferrocarriles de Copiapó. The railway was used to transport minerals. In 1978, the Museo Regional de Atacama moved into the restored historic building known as the Casa de los Hermanos Matta Goyenechea. The history of the railway and museum thus adds cultural insights to the region’s nature and activity highlights.
Choosing the right focus for your accommodation
When searching for a holiday rental, it helps to weigh up the experiences you want: mountaineering at Ojos del Salado, birdwatching at the wetland, activities in the dunes, water sports at Bahía Inglesa, or cultural and natural history in Caldera. This lets you tailor your search to the kind of trip that matters most to your family. For more information about specific towns, you can also visit the pages for Copiapó and Tierra Amarilla; the history of the park near Caldera leads to the page for Caldera.
For the broader travel overview: Atacama Region.
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