7 world heritage sites in Chile you should visit
By: Hernan Claro - 28 May, 2024
From the Andean Road System to the Churches of Chiloé, crossing Rapa Nui and the Historic Zone of Valparaíso, visit Chile and be surprised by these places declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
Did you know that Chile has seven places declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO? These are locations of major cultural and natural importance, whose protection and conservation are essential for our present and for future generations.
Visit Chile and discover these seven places recognized as a shared heritage for all humanity.
7 World Heritage Sites in Chile
1. Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works
Photo: Sernatur audiovisual bank
Located in the Atacama Desert, Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works are true ghost towns and tangible evidence of the period when Chile was the major producer of saltpeter in the world in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
To get there, you will have to drive 42 minutes from Iquique, the regional capital of Tarapacá. Furthermore, you will find many tours to visit the works.
2. Rapa Nui and its impressive moai
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Discover Rapa Nui and be amazed by the moai! You have probably seen them in movies or on television, but there is no comparison to the startling feeling of observing one of these colossuses in person.
On Rapa Nui, you will find pink sand beaches, volcanoes, gourmet dishes, horseback riding zones, a museum, and more activities to have a great time. Do this trip at least once in your life.
To get to the island of Rapa Nui, you must take a direct flight from Santiago de Chile.
3. Historic zone of Valparaíso and its colors
Photo: Sernatur audiovisual bank
Valparaíso is a colorful city with unique buildings constructed on various hills, which makes a walk through its streets a riveting experience. No wonder it is known as the ‘Jewel of the Pacific.’
With the sea behind you, between stairways, elevators, and mazes, you can discover how Victorian architecture adapted to the hill and the coast, which shapes the geography in the area. A cultural shock that brought to life one of the most special places in the world.
Valparaíso is located 120 kilometers from Santiago. Driving on Ruta 68, this stretch takes approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes.
4. Sewel Town in the center of the Andes Mountain Range
Photo: Sernatur audiovisual bank
From Rancagua, a 60-kilometer drive into the Andes Mountain Range will get you to Sewell Town. This place is known as the ‘City of Stairs’ due to its unique architecture.
Sewell’s houses and buildings date back to 1905, when accommodation was built for more than 15,000 workers at the copper mine, El Teniente. The town still retains the modern architectural style of the period and is a real journey to the past to visit.
Sewell is located in the district of Machalí. You can get there by driving 2 hours and 30 minutes from Santiago and 1 hour from Rancagua, the capital of the O’Higgins Region.
5. Churches of Chiloé and their diverse designs
Photo: Sernatur audiovisual bank
A land of myths, legends, and a riveting culture, Chiloé demonstrates the religious syncretism of the mid-16th century. The churches on the island are an example of that combination.
Among these temples is one of the oldest buildings made of standing timber in the world, which the technique and materials of Chiloe were mixed with Spanish design in. Authentic wonders that hold beautiful religious celebrations every year.
The fastest way to get to Chiloé is to fly to El Tepual Airport in Puerto Montt and, after that, take a ferry across the Chacao Channel and head to Ancud.
6. Chinchorro culture and the oldest mummies in the world
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The Chinchorros mummies are the oldest mummies recorded. They belong to a culture that resided on the northern coast of Chile more than 7,000 years ago.
In Arica, museums such as Colón 10 and San Miguel de Azapa hold vestiges of the Chinchorro mummies. An unmissable visit if you are traveling to the regional capital known as the City of the Eternal Spring.
To get to Arica quickly, you must fly to Chacalluta International Airport and then drive 18 kilometers.
7. The Inca Road System or Qhapaq Ñan
Photo: @fotografiasyturismo
In Latin America there are countless vestiges of the Inca Empire. Qhapaq Ñan is one of the most important. This ancient Andean Road System stretched more than 30,000 kilometers, crossing what is currently Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Chile.
In Chile, this trail is spread out in several zones, especially in the north of the country. One of its most famous stretches is near Diego de Almagro, close to the route to Copiapó in the Atacama Region.
Atacama Airport is located there, 50 kilometers to the northwest of Copiapó and 20 kilometers from Caldera and its beautiful beach resorts.
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