Discover Iquique by Hire Car
Iquique is the capital of the de Tarapac region in northern South American Chile. To the west of the Atacama Desert, it sits directly on the Pacific Ocean and looks out to the Cordillera Mountains to the east.
Iquique is rather a small town, with a population of around 165,000, but it has a very unusual charm of its own.
Sights in Iquique
In the centre of Iquique, the splendour from the city’s heyday at the beginning of the last century is still clearly visible. Magnificent buildings such as the Belle Epoque theatre or buildings of the former European trade offices in the style of the Gründerzeit dominate the townscape of Iquique.
The town, which was founded in the 16th century, first came to wealth and prosperity through large silver deposits that were exploited by the Spanish. Later, discoveries of saltpeter made the port of Iquique one of the most important in the entire region.
In recent years, tourism has been gaining more and more importance in Iquique. This is primarily due to the beautiful coastline with its fantastic beaches, which are not yet overrun by mass tourism.
One of the most popular shores along the Pacific Ocean in Iquique is the beach Cavancha, from which you have an impressive view of the skyline of the city, which reminds here very much of a smaller edition of Miami.
Also, the bustling beachfront, might as well be found on American shores. Ideally, one explores the region around Iquique with a hire car. Especially a detour into the barren mountain landscape of the Cordillera, is highly recommended.
Discover the surroundings of Iquique
However, destinations such as Machu Picchu in neighbouring Peru and Lake Titicaca are also within easy reach.
The best possible time to travel to Iquique and the Chilean north is European autumn, when spring begins in the region.
hire car price comparison Iquique
Advisor Articles
How to protect yourself from potential hire car rip-offs!
Wet roads, new car: here are helpful tips!
Tips & tricks for hire car. What to look out for!
Extreme heat - Often a particular challenge for hire cars.
Is it possible to rent the hire car without a credit card?
Choosing the right rental vehicle from the hire car company.
How to protect yourself from a hire car theft
Many off-road hire cars have their special features.
Break down with your holiday car? Here's how best to respond.
What to look for in a hire car accident
What insurance coverage you need when renting a car
Chile from north to south by hire car