Top Things to do in Copiapo
10 Things to Do in Copiapo That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in Copiapo, Chile including Desierto Florido, Laguna Verde, Bahia Inglesa, Parque Nacional Nevado Tres Cruces, Orbicular Granite Nature Sanctuary, Museo Regional de Atacama, Antay Casino Hotel, Catedral de Copiapo, San Jose Mine (Los 33), Volcan Ojos del Salado.
Restaurants in Copiapo
1. Desierto Florido
Overall Ratings
5 based on 116 reviews
Reviewed By Kathleen Cecili... K - Santiago, Chile
We just got back, and covered the area Copiapo, Totoral and the National Park CHALLE. This year the best areas are around Highway #5 and the road from #5 to the National Park via Totoral. Please be careful when you walk around, we should not step on those little plants that are all over.
2. Laguna Verde
Overall Ratings
5 based on 94 reviews
Reviewed By Rowan H - Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Laguna Verde is a saltwater lake located in Bolivia at the base of the Licancabur volcano, just past its remote border with Chile. For many people, myself included it is the first (or last depending on which way you are travelling) of half a dozen lakes in the 3 day 2 night San Pedro De Atacama to Uyuni salt flats tour. It's known as the green lake due to it's suspension of arsenic and other minerals which result in a turquiose appearance.
When we visited I struggled to appreciate this colour. It was extremely windy and very cold. On the northern side is a hot spring which the tour normally stops at to allow people to have a dip. The temperature (heated by Licancabur) is lovely but unfortunately the outside wind is brutally cold meaning you never want to get out! Bring a towel!
3. Bahia Inglesa
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 432 reviews
Reviewed By happytraveler30183 - Sioux Falls
We took the local bus from Copiapo to Caldera and then a collectivo to Bahia Ingress. This is a small town with restaurants and hostels along the street facing the beach. We enjoyed strolling around and sitting in one of the restaurants/bars facing the beach and enjoying a refreshing drink. It is a beautiful beach with some very impressive rocks in the bay.
4. Parque Nacional Nevado Tres Cruces
Overall Ratings
5 based on 64 reviews
Reviewed By happytraveler30183 - Sioux Falls
We visited both the Laguna de Santa Rosa and the Salar de Maricunga areas of Parque Nacional Nevada Tres Cruces. Both are spectacular sights. There were a number of flamingos at Laguna de Santa Rosa site and we also saw numerous vicuna and a couple of foxes. There are so few tourists that get to this area that you practically have the area to yourself. It is an awesome experience. We do recommend that you take a tour or hire a car/driver. The roads aren't the easiest to drive and it is quite a long day trip from Copiapo, but definitely worth it!
5. Orbicular Granite Nature Sanctuary
Overall Ratings
4 based on 63 reviews
This geological rarity, the only one in South America, was declared a Nature Sanctuary in 1981, and is located 11 km from Caldera, north of the Playa de Rodillo. It comprises tens of square meters. Here you can see formations of orbicular granite with circular incrustations. The formations are made up of minerals such as hornblende, orthoclase, biotite and quartz, amongst others. It is a crystal
Reviewed By KannanAT - Santiago, Chile
To my knowledge there are only 12 places in the world where these kind of rock is found. When you travel by road from Caldera to Chañaral, a few kilometres from Caldera, you will find a board pointing you towards the sea, to take you to the Orbicular Granite. This is on the sea shore. A visit is recommend due to its uniqueness.
Orbicular granite (also known as orbicular rock or orbiculite) is an uncommon plutonic rock type which is usually granitic in composition. These rocks have a unique appearance due to orbicular. Almost one third of known orbicular rock occurrences are from Finland. The occurrences are usually very small
6. Museo Regional de Atacama
Overall Ratings
4 based on 66 reviews
Reviewed By expat326 - San Francisco, California
This is a small museum. It is located in a former home that has been saved from the wrecking ball. There are really only four rooms open. The first displays furnishings from the time of the colonization of Chile. The second has some military memorabilia from the Pacific War and photos of early Copiapo. The third has some pottery and ornaments from the early inhabitants of the area. The fourth is a small collection of early mining artifacts. The good news is that it is only 600 pesos for adults and will easily fit your schedule if you have a short time to pass and are interested in the area.
7. Antay Casino Hotel
Overall Ratings
4 based on 36 reviews
Reviewed By guillermo1945 - Concon, Chile
Visité tres días seguidos el casino del Hotel Antay.
El recinto es grande y cómodo.
La atención del personal es buena y rápida.
Hay gran variedad de máquinas tragamonedas .
Es una buena opción de distracción en Copiapó.
Por estar alojado en en Hotel Antay recibí un trago de cortesía. Comprobé que estos tragos los preparan con licores de buena calidad a diferencia de otros hoteles casino que preparan los tragos de cortesía con licores de pésima calidad.
Los felicito por eso
Overall Ratings
4 based on 44 reviews
Reviewed By otolith - Southend-on-Sea, United Kingdom
This church is old, pretty and in a nice location. There is an interesting history attached to it. If you find yourself in Copiapó then it's worth a visit.
9. San Jose Mine (Los 33)
Overall Ratings
4 based on 46 reviews
Reviewed By achubre - Caldera, Chile
We came here from Caldera, which is only 30 minutes away from the mine, and were attended by one of the 33 miners (Jorge Galleguillos). A moving experience, heard directly from one of those who lived it!
Also the route is doubly interesting as you have the "Mar de Dunas" ("Sea of dunes"), with awesome huge dunes, between the mine and Copiapó; and plus you can avoid the toll on the ruta 5 between Caldera and Copiapó, to go either way.
If you are in Copiapó, you can go to the mine and then continue to Caldera and Bahía Inglesa, were you can enjoy some of the best Beaches in Chie and very good seafood! HIghly recommendable!
10. Volcan Ojos del Salado
Overall Ratings
5 based on 33 reviews
Reviewed By ryanar70 - Santiago, Chile
The highest active volcano in the world is located in a starkly beautiful and remote part of Chile. It's an action-packed (in terms of scenery) route from Copiapo just to get to the vicinity - up through the chasm after La Puerta, the Cuesta Codeceo, Salar Maricunga, Nevado Tres Cruces, grazing guanacos at las cascadas (I forget the proper name). Take your photos from the right location and you can compare your snaps with the photos NASA is getting back from Mars!
The view of the volcano from the University de Atacama refugio is one that I can watch for a long time (partly because I'm too unfit to even think about climbing it!).
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