Arica Cruise Port
Arica, Chile · South America
Cruise ships dock at Puerto de Arica — Cruise Berths (TPA), Arica.
Plan my port daysCompact commercial port right next to downtown. Plaza Colón, El Morro and the Chinchorro mummy site are walkable; the Azapa Valley museum, the southern beaches and the Lluta Valley need a taxi, colectivo or tour.
At a glance
Port summary
Cruise ships berth inside the Puerto de Arica, a working cargo port run by Terminal Puerto Arica (TPA) that also handles much of Bolivia's trade. You can't walk across the quay, so a free shuttle runs from the gangway to the port gate and the Centro Turístico Integral, a welcome centre renovated in 2026 with Wi-Fi, toilets and a regional craft fair. From the gate it's 10–15 minutes on flat streets to Plaza Colón, where the iron Catedral de San Marcos (prefabricated by Gustave Eiffel's workshops) and the former customs house stand. El Morro, the 139-metre headland that towers over the city, rises right behind: a stepped path from the end of Calle Colón climbs to the top in 20–30 minutes, with a free War of the Pacific museum and sweeping views. At its foot the Museo de Sitio Colón 10 shows Chinchorro burials left where they were found, part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing for the world's oldest artificially mummified bodies. The pedestrian Paseo 21 de Mayo and the Mercado Central are a few blocks inland. Further out, the Museo Arqueológico San Miguel de Azapa, with the finest Chinchorro collection, is 12 km inland (20–25 minutes by taxi, or a colectivo from Chacabuco and Patricio Lynch); the calm southern beaches of El Laucho and La Lisera are a 20–25 minute walk; the sea caves of Cuevas de Anzota are 15 minutes south by taxi. Lauca National Park and Lago Chungará lie at 4,500 m, about three hours' drive away: only go on the ship's tour, and take altitude sickness seriously. Arica almost never sees rain and stays at 18–26 °C all year, but the desert sun is fierce. Chile uses the peso (CLP): get pesos from an ATM in town, as US dollars are rarely accepted.
Cruise dock
🚢 Puerto de Arica — Cruise Berths (TPA)
Cruise ships berth alongside the quays of the Puerto de Arica, a working cargo port operated by Terminal Puerto Arica (TPA). A free shuttle runs to the port gate on Avenida Máximo Lira, 10–15 minutes' walk from Plaza Colón.
📍 Latitude: -18.473949, Longitude: -70.323553
See dock on port map →Getting to Arica
From the cruise terminal to the city centre
Compulsory: walking through the working cargo port isn't allowed. The ride takes about 5 minutes.
📍 Board at the foot of the gangway; the shuttle runs to the port gate and the Centro Turístico Integral.
Plaza Colón, the cathedral and the Colón 10 museum are 10–15 minutes away on flat streets; El Morro's summit is a further 20–30 minutes up a stepped path.
📍 From the port gate on Avenida Máximo Lira, head inland to Plaza Colón, a few minutes away.
Few taxis use meters: agree the fare in pesos before you get in. El Morro's summit costs about $3,000–4,000 CLP; for Azapa or Cuevas de Anzota, hire by the hour and fix a pickup time.
📍 Taxis wait outside the port gate on Avenida Máximo Lira on ship days.
Colectivos are shared taxis on fixed routes, paid in cash to the driver. The Azapa colectivo to the archaeological museum costs about $2,000 CLP; tell the driver 'Museo'.
📍 Azapa Valley colectivos leave from the corner of Chacabuco and Patricio Lynch, about 10 minutes' walk from the port gate.
Uber operates in Arica, with an upfront fare and card payment; handy for the Azapa museum or Chinchorro beach, though waits can be longer when a ship is in.
📍 Request a pickup on Avenida Máximo Lira just outside the port gate, or from Plaza Colón.
Cheap and fine for the beaches, but Spanish only and cash only; colectivos and taxis are easier on a port day.
📍 Micros (city buses) stop along the main avenues near the centre; the route is shown on the windscreen.
Map & things to do
Money & payments
Withdraw a modest amount of pesos ($20,000–40,000 CLP) for museums, colectivos, taxis and markets; use cards for meals and shopping.
Things to do
Morro de Arica
Short stop⭐ Highlight
Climb Arica's 139 m headland for the best views in town and a free War of the Pacific museum.
🕐 Morning, before the midday sun; museum Tue–Sun 10:00–20:00
Plaza Colón & Historic Centre Walk
Short stop🚶 Walk
Loop the palm-shaded plaza, Eiffel's iron cathedral, the old customs house and the waterfront park.
🕐 Morning or late afternoon
Playa La Lisera
Short stop🏖️ Beach
Arica's calmest bay, a sheltered cove with gentle water that's popular with local families.
🕐 Late morning to mid-afternoon
Playa El Laucho
Short stop🏖️ Beach
Small sheltered beach just south of El Morro, with gentle water and seafront restaurants.
🕐 Late morning to mid-afternoon; the water is cool all year
Playa Chinchorro
Short stop🏖️ Beach
Arica's longest beach, with a seafront promenade, cafés and waves for bodyboarding and surfing.
🕐 Late morning to afternoon; swim only where it's flagged safe
Terminal Agropecuario Asoagro
Short stop🛒 Market
Arica's big produce market for Azapa olives, tropical fruit, spices, cheese and street snacks.
🕐 Morning
Mercado Central de Arica
Short stop🛒 Market
Covered city market for tropical fruit, Azapa olives, fresh fish and simple lunch counters.
🕐 Morning, when stalls are busiest
Catedral de San Marcos
Short stop⛪ Church / Cathedral
Gothic-style iron church, prefabricated in Eiffel's workshops and put up in Arica in the 1870s.
🕐 Opening hours vary; mornings are the safest bet
Iglesia de San Gerónimo de Poconchile
⛪ Church / Cathedral
Whitewashed colonial-era adobe church in the Lluta Valley, set against bare desert hills.
🕐 Late morning; the church may be locked outside services
Museo de Sitio Colón 10
Short stop🏛️ Museum
Chinchorro burials left exactly where they were found, under glass floors at the foot of El Morro.
🕐 Tue–Sun 10:00–18:00; closed Mondays
Museo Arqueológico San Miguel de Azapa
🏛️ Museum
University museum with the world's oldest artificial mummies and 10,000 years of Andean history.
🕐 Tue–Sun 10:00–17:00; closed Mondays
Humedal del Río Lluta
🌿 Nature
Protected river-mouth wetland on the city's northern edge, good for pelicans and shorebirds.
🕐 Early morning, when birds are most active
Cuevas de Anzota
🌿 Nature
Sea caves carved by wind and waves, with a free cliffside trail 10 km south of the city.
🕐 Morning; bring water and sun protection
Lago Chungará
🌿 Nature
One of the world's highest lakes at 4,517 m, mirroring the snow-capped Parinacota volcano.
🕐 Only on a full-day tour; mornings are clearest
Paseo 21 de Mayo
Short stop🛍️ Shopping
Arica's pedestrian main street of cafés, bakeries, pharmacies and shops, a few blocks from the port.
🕐 Weekday mornings; some shops close for lunch around 13:00
Geoglifos de Cerro Sagrado
other
Giant pre-Hispanic figures of llamas and people laid out in dark stones on the Azapa Valley slopes.
🕐 Morning, when low sun picks out the figures
Ex Aduana de Arica (Casa de la Cultura)
Short stopother
1870s customs house by the port, also linked to Eiffel, now a cultural centre with free shows.
🕐 Weekdays during office hours; exhibitions change
Build your perfect day in Arica
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Frequently asked questions
- Where does my cruise ship dock in Arica?
- Your ship docks directly at the Arica cruise terminal in Chile.
- Can I walk from the cruise port into Arica?
- Yes. Arica is walkable from the cruise port — many cruisers reach the city centre on foot.
- How do I get from the cruise port to Arica centre?
- Typical options include Shuttle bus, On foot, Taxi, Other transport, Ride-hail (Uber/Bolt), Local bus. Durations and costs are listed in the transport section above.
- How much time do I need in Arica?
- Plan for at least 3 hours ashore to see Arica independently and return to the ship with a safe buffer.
- What currency is used in Arica and are cards accepted?
- Arica uses the Chilean peso. Carry some cash for markets, taxis, and smaller vendors — cards aren't accepted everywhere.
- Is there Wi-Fi at the cruise port?
- Free Wi-Fi is available at the Arica cruise terminal.
- When should I be back at the ship?
- Cruise lines usually require all passengers on board about 30 minutes before scheduled departure. Confirm the exact all-aboard time on your daily programme.
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