Why go
- City and Commune in Tarapacá, Chile.
- Served by Diego Aracena International Airport (IQQ).
History
Iquique is a port city and commune in northern Chile, capital of both the Iquique Province and Tarapacá Region. It lies on the Pacific coast, west of the Pampa del Tamarugal, which is part of the Atacama Desert. Its name comes from the Aymara Language: "Iki Iki," meaning "land of dreams." It has a population of 199,587 according to the 2024 census. It is also the main commune of Greater Iquique. The city developed during the heyday of the saltpetre mining in the Atacama Desert in the 19th century. Once a Peruvian city with a large Chilean population, it was conquered by Chile in the War of the Pacific (1879–1883). Today it is one of only two free ports of Chile, the other one being Punta Arenas, in the country's far south.
Where to stay
Restaurants & places to go
33 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Airports
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 3 airlines, 5 direct destinations
- LAN Airlines LA (A320, A319) · 5 routes: Antofagasta, Arica, La Paz, Santa Cruz, Santiago
- Sky Airline H2 (A319, A320) · 3 routes: Antofagasta, Arica, Santiago
- Pal airlines 5P (737) · 1 route: Santiago
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Getting there by ferry
Where things are
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
The warmer, longer-day half of the southern-hemisphere year.
Milder and quieter, with better value.
The southern winter — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Diego Aracena International Airport (IQQ); 2 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: IQQ has direct flights to 5 destinations on 3 airlines (incl. Santiago, Antofagasta, Arica, La Paz, Santa Cruz). By water: 1 ferry terminal within 20 km (nearest: Puerto de Iquique, 5.1 km).
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Iquique, Chile. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Trains & rail
Coaches & shuttles
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.