Chile is a country of diversified geography, culture and people and today holds seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, whether for their historical, natural or cultural importance. We invite you to take a walk through these incredible places.
1.- Inca Trail: Qhapac Ñan
Named a World Heritage Site in 2014, this ancient road was part of a system of roads at the time of the Inca civilization that passes through 6 countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Chile. In our country it has 4 sections, one in Arica, two in Antofagasta and one in Atacama. This trail is a living proof of the Inca culture, the vestiges of the time that are found in the place show the use of the area for commercial traffic.
Come to know this ancient place that is part of a global culture, immersed in an arid circuit with typical vegetation of the place, it will captivate you with its historical potential.
2.- Cidade Mineira de Sewell
To the east of the city of Rancagua, in the pre-mountain range between ravines and covered with snow in winter, is "the city of the stairs", which was born as the home of the workers of El Teniente, the largest subway copper mine in the world in 1905.
Today it is a picturesque and colorful village among the mountains, which is structured around a central staircase that starts from the railway station, all this in an intimate enclave, which forced the construction of stairs, hence its name. It ends up being unmissable when visiting Chile, since you will not find an equal and it is one of the most symbolic settlements of the country.
In 300 A.D. a Polynesian community created magnificent and imposing sculptures known as Moai, located in the most remote island of the planet: Pascoa Island. Its charms are infinite, pink sand beaches, volcanoes, fields to explore on foot or horseback, caves to explore and one of the best places to dive in Chile.
Do you need more reasons to decide? This is undoubtedly one of the best destinations in Chile, which has a special mystique that cannot be found anywhere else.
4.- Bairro Histórico de Valparaíso
This picturesque place is reminiscent of the typical architecture of the end of the 19th century, together with a Spanish colonial mixture, which is the reason for much of its popularity. Between sidewalks and stairways, this historic place is located in Cerro Alegre. Of streets with panoramic view to the sea, which makes the walk very pleasant.
This "amphitheater" overlooking the Pacific has a large number of buildings of remarkable architecture, such as: the Igreja da Matriz, the Relógio Turri, the Edifício El Mercurio and the Museu de Belas Artes.
5.-. Humberstone and Santa Laura nitrate plants.
In this place full of history in the Pampa del Tamarugal, thousands of saltpeter workers have been living since 1880, where they have created their own identity. In these places we can appreciate the vestiges of the times of wealth in the region and get to know the history of the country.
In the interior there are iconic places that you cannot miss, such as the market, the theater or the church, places that impress by the strong legacy of the past. It has 3 circuits for the visitor, in the first one you will go through the infrastructure of the place and you will understand how they lived in the camp, in the second one, you will be able to know the machinery of the time and the technology they used to produce saltpeter and in the third one, you will be able to know the process of extraction of the saltpeter, making this way a complete tour in order not to lose anything of this experience.
6.-. Chiloé Churches
Named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000, there are 16 churches in Chiloé that fit into this category. All of them have a similar architecture, rustic and rural, which gives the place an immediate advantage.
All of them immersed in high-impact natural landscapes, among forests, fields and the sea shore, each one has a different charm.
7.- Chinchorro Culture Sites
Characterized for being marine hunter-gatherers who settled and inhabited the coast of the Atacama Desert, the Chinchorro Culture inhabited the northern coast of Chile more than 7 thousand years ago. Today, the settlements they left behind have become World Heritage Sites, after being selected by UNESCO in 2021.
One of the most striking elements of this culture was the way they buried their dead, through a method of mummification that proved to be older than that of the Egyptian mummies. Evidence indicates that over time they developed complex mortuary practices, creating "artificial" mummies that possessed material, sculptural and aesthetic qualities that presumably reflected the central role of the dead in their society.
Know more about the Chinchorro culture here.
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