8 Chilean beaches to enjoy this summer

With the relaxation of entry sanitary requirements that came into force last September,

once again became a travel alternative for Argentines, especially in summer, with

With

on the Pacific Ocean, along the Chilean coast there are several

: from those with somewhat indomitable waves to those with calm and turquoise waters, with Caribbean appearances;

from those with lonely sands to the overpopulated ones;

from those that tempt with a calm atmosphere to those that display all the movement, especially for young people.

What are the requirements to enter Chile?

A parenthesis to refresh: you can enter Chile by presenting

-equivalent to the Mobility Pass for non-resident foreign tourists-, while unvaccinated people must present a

made a maximum of 48 hours before the Entrance to the country.

Sports on Las Salinas beach in Viña del Mar. Photo Xinhua/Jorge Villegas

And although it is not mandatory, it is recommended to travel with health insurance that includes coverage for Covid 19.

Now yes, from the south to the north of Chile,

that are a more than attractive option for this summer 2023.

Viña del Mar is the main summer resort in the South Pacific.

Photo Shutterstock

1. Vineyard of the Sea

It is something like the

, the main summer resort on the South Pacific, just 120 km from Santiago by a modern highway.

Of

, Viña adds to its extensive beaches a large city -about 330,000 inhabitants- with beaches with all services, including a wide range of entertainment: casino, restaurants, pubs, discos.

Reñaca, very close to Viña, is the most chosen by Mendoza.

Photo Shutterstock

And in February, the famous

, in Quinta Vergara, where stars from all over Latin America participate.

This year it will be between February 19 and 24 and, among other artists, there will be Karol G, Maná, Los Jaivas, Cristina Aguilera, Camilo and Nicki Nicole.

But Viña is not only its beaches, since very close to the city are the very popular

(7 km) and

(13 km), which defines itself as the "gastronomic capital of Chile" for its large number of specialized restaurants on everything, of course, in fish and shellfish.

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Maitencillo, quiet and familiar.

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2. Maitencillo

A little further north, about 60 km from Viña and

, Maitencillo is

enjoying, for example, a good conger eel stew, a crab chupe or a marinade, since the town has a

of sea products.

And several nearby beaches that have been defining it as a

, since you practice surfing, kayaking, kitesurfing, diving and, on Aguas Blancas beach, also paragliding, to fly over forests and cliffs.

El Abanico, Las ventanas, Los Tebos, Cau Cau, Quirilluca, Laguna and Colchagua are some of the sand strips that invite you to relax and walk enjoying the landscape of mountains and sea.

It is a town of about 1,300 inhabitants, who in summer reach about 10,000 for its offer of accommodation.

Even so, it is a quiet place,

.

www.turismomaitencillo.cl

View of the beach in Zapallar.

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3. Zapallar

Just 15 km from Maitencillo, Zapallar is another world.

From the family beaches and rather accessible prices of the first, to the spa that many define as

, because Zapallar is the summer destination for the upper class, and chosen every summer by

, who even They have summer houses there - some of them mansions.

"To

" is the summary of several descriptions of the spa.

Because the white sand beach of Zapallar is located in a small cove surrounded by hills, so its waters are very calm.

A destination to enjoy the sea, the gastronomy and a walk through a well-kept urbanization with

with large gardens.

Zapallar is elected by politicians and businessmen.

In addition to the fishermen's cove, you can visit traditional points such as the replicas of the Baviera houses, the Zapallar lagoon and Isla Seca.

Or take a getaway to

(4 km away), located in a small bay that opens to the north and is protected from the south wind by steep hills, which is why it is highly chosen for water sports.

www.chile.travel/donde-ir/destino/zapallar/

Aerial view of the peninsula where Totoralillo beach is located.

4. Toralillo

About 450 km north of Santiago and

(27 km south), between Las Tacas and La Herradura, in the Coquimbo region, Totoralillo is on a peninsula that is divided into two beaches, one to the south and the other to the north, both with white sands and

.

This natural feature makes the place offer calm waters on one side, and rougher ones on the other, with good waves for surfing.

That is why surfers come here, who affirm that

, along with those of Iquique in the north and Pichilemu in the south;

in fact, the Totoralillo surf school is a pioneer in Coquimbo.

Although all kinds of sports are practiced, from kayaking to stand up paddle, kitesurfing, kayaking and others.

The crystal clear water of Totoralillo.

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In the small town there are campsites and cabins, and a hotel almost at the tip of the peninsula.

And also a cove for fishermen, who leave every morning and return with fresh fish that they sell on the spot.

And it does not have restaurants, but it does have small stalls where you can enjoy broths or seafood empanadas, ceviches and crabs, among other delicacies from the sea.

As a curiosity, it has the Golden Zone, a

-rock climbing modality- which has become one of the favorite spots in the country among lovers of this sport.

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La Serena is located almost 500 km north of Santiago.

5. The Serena

A little further north, almost 500 km from Santiago,

is the

and one of the most chosen by Argentines every summer.

The most direct crossing is through the Agua Negra pass, in San Juan, although it is not so easy due to the height (more than 4,700 masl) and about 80 km of gravel (in very good condition, yes).

La Serena could be defined as an "urban complex", which in addition to the city includes the neighboring port of

beach

, ideal for families with children due to its calm waters.

In addition, nearby there are a series of smaller beaches, with white sands and much warmer waters than in the Viña area, such as Guanaqueros, Tongoy or the aforementioned Totoralillo.

Historical heritage: La Serena is the second oldest city in Chile.

The city also has a very beautiful old center with various colonial buildings, and

that add to the beach: the Ruta de los

, the Ruta de los

and the Ruta de los

, because the city also stands out for its green areas.

And its numerous

, such as the Outlet, Peñuelas, Aires de Mall, Portal La Serena, Puerta del Mar, Paseo Balmaceda and the immense Mall Plaza La Serena, with all brands, department stores and supermarkets.

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6. English Bay

It is in the

region , in the Chilean northern desert.

400 km from La Serena and 6 from the city of Caldera, the beach of Bahía Inglesa surprises with its beauty and

: white sand and waters that with the sun take on a surprising turquoise color dotted with outcrops of large volcanic rocks black.

Bahía Inglesa, in the Atacama region.

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Between the coast and these large rocks,

are formed that invite you to swim, although setting foot in the water brings us back to reality: due to the Humboldt current, the water is quite cold, far from the Caribbean that appears to be visible. .

Around Caldera -with about 20,000 inhabitants and all services- there are very attractive beaches such as Las Machas, Bahía Loreto and Rocas Negras.

And especially the most famous Chorrillos -very wild, you can reach it on foot along a path- and the small La Virgen, which was chosen by the newspaper El Mercurio as the best beach in the country.

73 km from Caldera is

, which has an airport: an hour and a half flight from Santiago.

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Cavancha Beach, in the center of Iquique.

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7. Cavancha Beach

Right in the center of

, the beautiful Cavancha beach surprises for its beauty, its wide sands, relatively warm waters and its excellent conditions to practice recreational and sports activities such as surfing, kitesurfing, and swimming, because it presents a

.

There are also banana boat rides and you can rent canoes and kayaks.

All of this just a few meters from tall, modern towers in a city of 200,000 inhabitants, with all services, and a

with restaurants, high-class hotels, pubs, bars, and a casino, as well as a large park in a public walk that is worth knowing.

A paraglider flies over Iquique and its beaches, in northern Chile

Due to the climate of Iquique (1,800 km from Santiago, 2h 20' flight) it is a beach that

.

As well as nearby attractions and activities, such as sandboarding in the desert, excursions to the nitrate mines, the Red Lagoon, the Mamiña Hot Springs or the Isluga Volcano National Park.

www.chile.travel/donde-ir/destino/iquique

Passing the center of Arica, the extensive Las Manchas beach.

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8. Las Manchas Beach

Almost on the border with Peru,

is often called "the city of eternal spring" for its pleasant climate throughout the year.

It invites with a very extensive beach of

, which is nothing more than the desert that sinks into the sea.

Very close, towards the south, attract the smaller

, with a lively atmosphere of beach bars, and

, with its particular setting of gardens and palm trees,

ideal for snorkeling and hills that allow paragliding to land. on its soft sands.

Chinchorro Culture: the oldest mummies in the world were found in Arica.

Photo Carlos Chow / Chinchorro Management Center / AFP.

And all this together with a great multicultural city that treasures a rich history and exhibits, among other treasures, the

chinchorro

.

www.chile.travel/donde-ir/destino/arica

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