Cheap Car Hire Antofagasta

Car hire Antofagasta - experience the desert

In the north of Chile you will find the deserts- and the Harbour City of Antofagasta. Antofagasta is the 5th largest city of Chile and is the most populated area in the desert region.  Antofagasta is situated on a narrow coastal platform that is over 20km (12 miles) long and then merges into the desert covered hills. The name of the Pacific located city means as much as 'Village on the great salt lake.' Up until the second half of the 19th century Antofagasta belonged to Bolivia and not Chile.   

Watch the sunset over refreshing beaches with car hire in Antofagasta

In Antofagasta you can expect a pleasant, dry climate however, in summer the temperatures can rise steeply. The harbour in the city is particularly important for the export of copper. Many workers come from the surrounding areas into the city in order to work at the copper- mine Chucicamata. Antofagasta also has a 20km (12 miles) long beach which brings a breeze of fresh air into the city. Every evening you can watch a beautiful sunset easily from your hire car. Here, you will also notice lots of students that come from both universities to enjoy the beach.

Visit the Antofagasta harbour in your hire car

Antofagasta is very popular for boat trips so at the harbour you will always see ships laden with tourists. Nearby you will find a number of modern buildings in the city but there are still some old buildings that remind visitors of the historical past. Most of these buildings you will find near the centre- Plaza Colon which can be easily reached with cheap car hire in antofagasta. The Plaza is welcoming with flowers and trees. In the middle stands a miniature version of Big Ben with an original chime. Close by you will also see the Music Pavilion. The neo-gothic church that was built between 1906 and 1917 stands in the south east of the Plaza. In the north east part of the plaza you will find the building of the ancient train station where long freight trains arrive still today loaded with copper and other mining products.

Magnificent landscapes in Antofagasta.

The city’s landmark is La Portada, a giant stone arch that rises up from the sea. It is a tower of strength 16km (10 miles) north of the centre. As the bus here runs very sporadically, it would be best to get to the stone structure by hire car. The base of La Portada is made from volcanic rock which has formed layers for over 3 million years. These layers have then been engulfed by the sea. Here you should not attempt to swim because there are extremely strong currents. However, La Portada is a great place to do a spot of bird-watching.

CarDelMar wishes you a pleasant stay with car hire in Antofagasta.