Caldera Travel Guide

Tourist Guide
Caldera featuring a marina
After an intense trip through the desert, cool off in the ocean near this port town, a popular Chilean vacation spot.

Caldera is a port city whose oceanfront setting provides relief from the vast and arid Atacama Desert. After viewing the geyser fields and odd rock formations of San Pedro de Atacama, come here for some leisurely beach time. Swim in the ocean, explore the quaint city attractions and stroll through the port.

Learn about the city, whose port was once among the most important in the country. Caldera played a major role in the development of the mining industry in the 19th century and it was also the site of the famous Battle of Caldera Bay, a key conflict during the 1891 Chilean Civil War.

Many travelers arriving from the desert are drawn straight to the turquoise blue of the ocean. Enjoy the region’s warm and dry climate, which varies little year-round. Bring a picnic to Caldera Beach or savor some seafood at one of the restaurants on the shore.

Watch the kids play on the small wooden pier and descend down the steps leading into the ocean. Locals often dive into the water from the pier.

After getting your fix of sand and sun at the beach, visit the Paleontological Museum of Caldera near the water to discover the fossil history of the area. Look for the gigantic skull of a 10 million-year-old whale.

Head into town to take photos of the Iglesia San Vicente de Paul, with its striking yellow-tinted façade. Admire the four white columns at its center and gaze up at the tiered spire, which holds a crucifix.

Find Caldera in the Copiapó region of northern Chile. The city is just 4 miles (6 kilometers) north of Bahía Inglesa, a beach resort area with a selection of hotels and restaurants. Caldera is often seen as a more affordable alternative to Bahía Inglesa. If traveling by air, fly from Santiago de Chile to the Desierto de Atacama Airport and drive 15 miles (24 kilometers) north to Caldera.

Get away from the crowds and the desert in the pleasant port town of Caldera.

Hotel Blanco Encalada
Hotel Blanco Encalada
3 out of 5
Av. Copiapó 514, Caldera, Atacama
The price is Rp1.546.201 per night from 18 Nov to 19 Nov
Rp1.546.201
Rp1.546.201 total
includes taxes & fees
18 Nov - 19 Nov
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Caldera. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Popular attractions Bahia Inglesa Beach and Centro Cultural Estación ...
7.4/10 Good! (17 reviews)
I recommend looking elsewhere
"The hotel rooms seem hacked together and retrofitted, the floor doesn’t meet correctly in places, the blinds don’t cover the windows and were stained, the door was paper thin. The bathroom had an awkward glass window with the room, only having blinds that were mostly transparent, removing any privacy ..."

Reviewed on 7 Oct 2024

Hotel Blanco Encalada
Cabañas Alma Changa
Cabañas Alma Changa
3 out of 5
Av, Pacífico, 1098, Caldera, Atacama
Stay at this 3-star beach cabin in Caldera. Enjoy a beach locale, breakfast (surcharge) and daily housekeeping. Popular attractions Centro Cultural Estación ...
Cabañas Alma Changa
Hotel & Cabañas El Mirador
Hotel & Cabañas El Mirador
3 out of 5
Av. Jorge Alessandri s/n, (sector el mirador de charito), Caldera, Atacama
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Caldera. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Popular attractions Caldera Beach and Centro Cultural Estación Caldera ...
7.4/10 Good! (6 reviews)
Clean, but could use some freshening up
"Located in Caldera, you need a car to see the sites. The room itself was clean but the shower leaked all over the floor and the finishings were rusty and mouldy looking-- this a 2 star room at best. Sheets were clean and bed was comfortable. The breakfast was very good."

Reviewed on 17 Apr 2017

Hotel & Cabañas El Mirador
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Cabañas Aquila D'Arroscia
Cabañas Aquila D'Arroscia
2 out of 5
Valparaíso, 400, Caldera, Atacama
Stay at this cabin in Caldera. Popular attractions Bahia Inglesa Beach and Centro Cultural Estación Caldera are located nearby.
Cabañas Aquila D'Arroscia
Cabañas Alma Changa
Cabañas Alma Changa
3 out of 5
Av, Pacífico, 1098, Caldera, Atacama
Stay at this 3-star beach cabin in Caldera. Enjoy a beach locale, breakfast (surcharge) and daily housekeeping. Popular attractions Centro Cultural Estación ...
Cabañas Alma Changa
Casa Claudia Bahia Inglesa
Casa Claudia Bahia Inglesa
2 out of 5
Las Algas 0239, Bahia Inglesa, Caldera, Atacama
Stay at this apartment in Caldera. Enjoy free parking, laundry facilities and cable TV channels. Popular attractions Bahia Inglesa Beach and Caldera Beach are ...
Casa Claudia Bahia Inglesa
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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