La Serena, Chile.....do tell

[FlaMariner]

Port stop in March.....

 

Not much intel about La Serena, Chile.....Appears to be a relaxing beach and stroll thru the town day.  

 

Anyone been there and can enlighten me on what we should do/see at La Serena, Chile......

 

 

[GeorgeCharlie]

We were in Coquimbo (La Serena), Chile in the early part of last December.

 

When researching the port stop, we found there were basically two tours normally taken. One is driving inland, along with visiting La Serena, on a full day tour, or taking a half-day tour of La Serena. 

 

Besides the opportunity to see some of the countryside, the full day tour normally includes a visit to a Pisco Distillery, and a visit to see the City of Vicuna's square and church. With a number of the sites being closed on Mondays (day we were there), we saw little value taking the full day tour, so we opted for the half-day La Serena tour.

 

I am in the process of doing a review of our cruise and will be reviewing our stop in Coquimbo fairly soon.

 

You can see my review at:

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2902718-‘just-back’-from-31-day-south-american-cruise-on-the-oosterdam/#comment-64566093

 

[FlaMariner]

Thanks @GeorgeCharlie!

[edinburgher]

Although it was some time ago, that is exactly what we did .  At Coquimbo port there were many taxis waiting with one person in charge organising tours at fixed prices.

 

We shared with another couple, drove through the Elqui Valley to Vicuna, had some free  time there, visited a pisco distillery and enjoyed a few tastings, then down to la Serena where we had more free time to explore a little of the cetral area.  We used some of it to visit inside the small Archaeological Museum to see the #1 exhibit, an original Easter Island moai(sp?) one of only a small number to be found anywhere other than on Easter island itself.  It was an enjoyable day.

Edited January 28, 2023 by edinburgher

[FlaMariner]

good info folks.  thanks for passing it along.

[Moche1]

Another possible tour is one that I have done a couple of times (most recently a year ago).  It involves about an hour's drive south (on a four lane divided highway) along the coast to the Ovalle area to visit an interesting archaeological site and a local winery.  Very worthwhile.

[FlaMariner]

Here is the tour we booked.....should be a fund day....Any comments from those who have gone before me?

 

 Elqui Valley Tour + Pisco Distillery + Recova Market + Monumental Lighthouse
we visit:
-City of Vicuña (which includes a walk through the main square, the Bower Tower and the Temple of the Virgin Immaculate Conception)
- ABA distillery and sales room (which includes a tour of the facilities and vineyards, where you can taste excellent artisanal pisco)
- Visit to the artisan farm of the papaya factory and sales room.
- The Recova Market (Back to La Serena, we will visit the most important and well-known artisan market) and
- The Monumental Lighthouse
******Lunch is not included but if you need lunch it would be in solar cookers in the town 

[BassettMom]

We plan on doing this port on our own.  Here are the notes I have listed on our itinerary (with backup information printed out in my trip book) (I'm "old school" with a formal printed itinerary and trip book complete with tabs).  Not sure if we'll see/do all of these, but gives us a good start on things to do (we've also been known to just find a nice sidewalk cafe to eat or drink and people watch).

Visit La Serena on own     -     Taxi is ~$7.00 to La Serena     -     La Recova Market (9:00am-1:00pm)     -     Museo Historico Casa Gonzalez Videla (history museum housed in an 18th century mansion); located on Plaza de Armas; admission is free     -     Visit La Serena Archeological Museum (with Easter Island “Moai”—one of the few outside Easter Island     -     La Serena Lighthouse; open to visitors who can climb to the top; located at the end of the city’s main road, Avenida del Mar, running along the beachfront (or rambla)     -     Catedral De San Bartolome De La Serena     -     Jardin del Corazon or Kokoro No Niwa Garden:  largest Japanese garden in South America with koi, pagodas, waterfalls, curved bridges

Visit Coquimbo on own (after La Serena)     -     Cruz del Tercer Milenio (83 meters tall; elevator to the top provides fantastic views)     -     Fuerte Lambert, Mosque of Coquimbo-Centro Mohammed VI para el Dialogo de las Civilizaciones     -     Main shopping street and downtown is less than a mile from the port

[FlaMariner]

Paying it forward for those looking for a tour when at the port of Coquimbo:

 

We used these folks in March 2023 and had a fantastic independent tour of the area.  Went to a Pisco distillery, local market, guava farm and ate lunch cooked with a solar stove.  Just an all around good day of touring.

 

We were a group from cc.  Carmen (the owner) was super responsive and helpful.  The guide was a young guy who also works as a mining technician.  He was very knowledgeable and proud of his area.  

 

Use them.  We are glad we did. 

 

https://www.travelturismocochiguaz.cl

 

 

[dawnvip]

Were you able to communicate with owner and guide in english? I see their site is only spanish, so wondered whether it was worth the effort!

[FlaMariner]

7 hours ago, dawnvip said:

Were you able to communicate with owner and guide in english? I see their site is only spanish, so wondered whether it was worth the effort!

 

Yes, Carmen did respond in English.

[murphysmom0416]

On 3/15/2023 at 1:41 PM, BassettMom said:

We plan on doing this port on our own.  Here are the notes I have listed on our itinerary (with backup information printed out in my trip book) (I'm "old school" with a formal printed itinerary and trip book complete with tabs).  Not sure if we'll see/do all of these, but gives us a good start on things to do (we've also been known to just find a nice sidewalk cafe to eat or drink and people watch).

Visit La Serena on own     -     Taxi is ~$7.00 to La Serena     -     La Recova Market (9:00am-1:00pm)     -     Museo Historico Casa Gonzalez Videla (history museum housed in an 18th century mansion); located on Plaza de Armas; admission is free     -     Visit La Serena Archeological Museum (with Easter Island “Moai”—one of the few outside Easter Island     -     La Serena Lighthouse; open to visitors who can climb to the top; located at the end of the city’s main road, Avenida del Mar, running along the beachfront (or rambla)     -     Catedral De San Bartolome De La Serena     -     Jardin del Corazon or Kokoro No Niwa Garden:  largest Japanese garden in South America with koi, pagodas, waterfalls, curved bridges

Visit Coquimbo on own (after La Serena)     -     Cruz del Tercer Milenio (83 meters tall; elevator to the top provides fantastic views)     -     Fuerte Lambert, Mosque of Coquimbo-Centro Mohammed VI para el Dialogo de las Civilizaciones     -     Main shopping street and downtown is less than a mile from the port