Copiapó

Copiapó is a town of 150,000 people (2017) in Northern Chile. It's a pleasant stop if passing by bus, overlooked by beautiful hills and surrounded by vineyards. Although it's in the southern end of the Atacama desert, the area was once more lush oasis than now, reflected in the town's first name in 1744: San Francisco de la Selva, Saint Francis of the Jungle. In 1854 the first railway line in South America was built here.

Understand
The town is surrounded by the Atacama Desert and receives very little rain. Copiapó is in a rich silver and copper mining district.

The Copiapó-Caldera railway line, built in 1850, was the first one in South America. The original wooden railway station is now a National Monument.

Tourism in Copiapó has been developing since the early 21st century. Some come to see the desert and indigenous monuments, such as the Inca cemetery in the city, which was investigated in the 1930s. In addition, a new casino has attracted domestic and foreign tourists, and hotels have invested in new amenities and structures to satisfy demand.

Get in
Copiapó is about 65 km east of the coastal town of Caldera, and 800 km north of Santiago.

Buses pull in from the north (Antofagasta, Iquique, Arica) and south (La Serena, Santiago) at the terminals south of the city centre. Tur-bus has their terminal on Calle Chañarcillo and Pullman has theirs on Colipi.

See

 * The San José Copper Mine (closed in 2010)
 * Totoralillo, Totoral and the zone of "Travesía" on the coast, wherein after rain, the "Desierto Florido" appears
 * In the Andes, the Ojos del Salado volcano, and the lakes Green and Negro Francisco
 * The San José Copper Mine (closed in 2010)
 * Totoralillo, Totoral and the zone of "Travesía" on the coast, wherein after rain, the "Desierto Florido" appears
 * In the Andes, the Ojos del Salado volcano, and the lakes Green and Negro Francisco
 * The San José Copper Mine (closed in 2010)
 * Totoralillo, Totoral and the zone of "Travesía" on the coast, wherein after rain, the "Desierto Florido" appears
 * In the Andes, the Ojos del Salado volcano, and the lakes Green and Negro Francisco
 * In the Andes, the Ojos del Salado volcano, and the lakes Green and Negro Francisco

Do

 * The Plaza A. Pratt is a very pleasant park in the centre of town, great for reading or just spending a few hours relaxing in the shade. It has a lot of interesting trees and comfortable benches.
 * Tres Cruces National Park in the Andes
 * La Candelaria Festival During the first days of February of each year the Festival of the Virgen de la Candelaria is celebrated, in homage to the patron saint of the miners, the festival includes typical dances from the north of Chile with costumes and groups, thousands of people arrive people from all over Chile and neighboring countries. In addition, a trade fair is held.

Eat

 * A large Lider supermarket on Chacabuco 120 is very close to the centre and the bus terminals. Great for self-caterers or if stocking up before a bus ride.
 * Maspizza, Atacama 671, +56 52 232856. Good pizzas at reasonable prices. Wide variety of toppings, popular. Pizza for two from 3000 pesos.

Sleep

 * Residencial Lendy, Calle Chacabuco 173, +56 52 235990. Basic but very friendly in a family's home. Close to bus terminals. 23:30 curfew, use of kitchen, stores luggage. A twin without bath is 8000 pesos (have exact change at hand).