Coquimbo Cruise Port
Coquimbo, Chile · South America
Cruise ships dock at Sitios 1 & 2 — Terminal Puerto Coquimbo (TPC), Coquimbo.
Plan my port daysSmall, central cruise port in a working harbour town. The fish market, sea lions and Barrio Inglés are walkable; the Cruz del Tercer Milenio and the mosque are a short taxi ride; La Serena is 25–30 minutes by Uber, taxi or bus, and the Elqui Valley makes a full day.
At a glance
Port summary
Coquimbo sits on a sheltered bay 460 km north of Santiago and is the port for La Serena, Chile's second-oldest city. Cruise ships tie up at berths 1 and 2 of Terminal Puerto Coquimbo, the town's own small port, so you step out almost into the centre: the Terminal Pesquero fish market, where sea lions and pelicans wait for scraps and little boats run trips round the bay, is a few minutes along the Avenida Costanera, and the wooden 19th-century houses of the Barrio Inglés and the Plaza de Armas are about 10 minutes' walk. Two hilltop landmarks overlook the town: the 93-metre Cruz del Tercer Milenio on Cerro El Vigía, with a lift to a viewing deck in its arms, and the Moroccan-style mosque of the Centro Cultural Mohammed VI. Both are steep climbs, so take a taxi or Uber up. South of the centre, the steel Iglesia de Guayacán and the calm, sandy Playa La Herradura make an easy half day. La Serena is 13 km north: its colonial core has more than 20 stone churches, the Archaeological Museum, La Recova market and the Kokoro No Niwa Japanese garden, and the Avenida del Mar beachfront runs 6 km to the Faro Monumental lighthouse. Uber, taxis, colectivos and frequent micros link the two cities in 25–40 minutes. The Elqui Valley, with the pisco distilleries and Gabriela Mistral museum around Vicuña, is 75 minutes inland and needs a full day; the Humboldt penguins of Isla Damas are two hours north and only work on a long call. Chile uses the peso (CLP); cards work widely, but carry cash for buses, colectivos, boat trips and market stalls.
Cruise dock
🚢 Sitios 1 & 2 — Terminal Puerto Coquimbo (TPC)
Cruise ships berth alongside at berths 1 and 2 of Coquimbo's small multipurpose port, run by TPC. The port gate opens onto the Avenida Costanera, about 10 minutes' walk from the Plaza de Armas and the Barrio Inglés.
📍 Latitude: -29.948616, Longitude: -71.335063
See dock on port map →Getting to Coquimbo
From the cruise terminal to the city centre
Coquimbo's centre, fish market and Barrio Inglés are all within 10 minutes' walk of the berth; the hilltop cross and mosque are steep climbs, so ride up.
📍 Walk out of the port gate onto the Avenida Costanera; turn left for the fish market and uphill for the Barrio Inglés and Plaza de Armas
Uber works well in Coquimbo and La Serena and is usually cheaper than a street taxi; pay by card in the app.
📍 Request a pickup at the port gate on the Avenida Costanera
Most taxis are cash only and don't always use the meter, so agree the fare first. About $4,000–6,000 to the Cruz del Tercer Milenio.
📍 Taxis wait by the port gate on cruise days; more at the Plaza de Armas
Colectivos are shared taxis on fixed routes: cheap and quick, but cash only and with little room for bags.
📍 Colectivos to La Serena leave from the streets around Aldunate and the Plaza de Armas; the destination is on a roof sign
Frequent local buses run between Coquimbo and La Serena; pay the driver in cash and ask for the Plaza de Armas or the centro.
📍 Micros to La Serena stop along Aldunate and the Avenida Costanera near the Plaza de Armas
Map & things to do
Money & payments
Withdraw about $20,000–30,000 CLP for buses, colectivos, boat trips and market snacks; use a card for restaurants, museums and distilleries.
Things to do
Cruz del Tercer Milenio
Short stop⭐ Highlight
A 93-metre cross on Cerro El Vigía, with a lift up to a 360-degree viewing deck.
🕐 Clear late mornings, once the coastal cloud has burnt off
Barrio Inglés Heritage Walk
Short stop🚶 Walk
Stroll the painted timber houses of Coquimbo's 19th-century English Quarter.
🕐 Morning or late afternoon, when the light is best for photos
Avenida del Mar & Playa Grande
Short stop🏖️ Beach
Walk or cycle the long beachfront promenade between Coquimbo and La Serena.
🕐 Afternoon, when the morning cloud has cleared
Playa La Herradura
Short stop🏖️ Beach
Calm horseshoe beach with fine sand, kayaks and seafood restaurants.
🕐 Early afternoon, when the sun is out
La Recova Market
Short stop🛒 Market
Two-storey market for papaya sweets, pisco, lapis lazuli and regional crafts.
🕐 Late morning; upstairs restaurants open for lunch
Terminal Pesquero Fish Market & Sea Lions
Short stop🛒 Market
Watch sea lions and pelicans beg at the fish market, then eat fried fish upstairs.
🕐 Late morning, when the catch is in and the cocinerías are open
Centro Turístico Capel
🎯 Activity
Tour and tasting at Chile's biggest pisco cooperative, just outside Vicuña.
🕐 Daily 10:00–18:00; arrive before lunch to beat the tour groups
Coquimbo Bay Boat Trip
Short stop🎯 Activity
Short motorboat loop round Coquimbo Bay to see sea lions, pelicans and the port.
🕐 Late morning, before the afternoon wind picks up
La Serena Plaza de Armas & Cathedral
Short stop⛪ Church / Cathedral
La Serena's main square, with the 19th-century stone cathedral and regional museum.
🕐 Late morning, when the churches are open
Centro Cultural Mohammed VI
Short stop⛪ Church / Cathedral
A Moroccan gift on the hill: mosque, cultural centre and a minaret with bay views.
🕐 Late morning; check opening hours on Friday prayer days
Iglesia de Guayacán
Short stop⛪ Church / Cathedral
A prefabricated steel church from the 1880s, a national monument in old Guayacán.
🕐 Any time; it is often only viewable from outside
Museo Arqueológico de La Serena
🏛️ Museum
Diaguita pottery, mummies and a moai from Easter Island in a free national museum.
🕐 Tuesday to Saturday; closed Sundays and Mondays
Museo Gabriela Mistral
🏛️ Museum
Free museum on Nobel poet Gabriela Mistral in her home town of Vicuña.
🕐 Tuesday to Sunday; closed Mondays
Faro Monumental
Short stop📸 Viewpoint
La Serena's red-and-white lighthouse at the end of the Avenida del Mar.
🕐 Late afternoon, when the light is warm
Fuerte Lambert
📸 Viewpoint
Ruined 19th-century gun battery on the headland north of the port, with sea views.
🕐 Morning, before the wind gets up
Kokoro No Niwa Japanese Garden
Short stop🌿 Nature
South America's largest Japanese garden, with ponds, bridges and koi.
🕐 Morning, before it gets busy; closed Mondays
Isla Damas & Humboldt Penguin Reserve
🌿 Nature
Boat trip past Humboldt penguins and sea lions, landing on white-sand Isla Damas.
🕐 Morning, when the sea is usually calmer
Build your perfect day in Coquimbo
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Frequently asked questions
- Where does my cruise ship dock in Coquimbo?
- Your ship docks directly at the Coquimbo cruise terminal in Chile.
- Can I walk from the cruise port into Coquimbo?
- Yes. Coquimbo is walkable from the cruise port — many cruisers reach the city centre on foot.
- How do I get from the cruise port to Coquimbo centre?
- Typical options include On foot, Ride-hail (Uber/Bolt), Taxi, Other transport, Local bus. Durations and costs are listed in the transport section above.
- How much time do I need in Coquimbo?
- Plan for at least 3 hours ashore to see Coquimbo independently and return to the ship with a safe buffer.
- What currency is used in Coquimbo and are cards accepted?
- Coquimbo 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?
- Wi-Fi isn't reliably available at the Coquimbo cruise terminal. Consider a local SIM or your cruise line's data package.
- 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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