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
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.
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Inside the South America collection
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Typical weather
Emergency & contacts
Ready-made port days
9 plansSea Lions, the Barrio Inglés and the Old Port Town for Free
A no-spend morning in Coquimbo proper: sea lions at the fish market, painted timber houses and the town square, all on foot.
Fish-Market Lunch and a Boat Round Coquimbo Bay
A cheap little boat ride past the sea lions, then fried fish and seafood stew in the cocinerías above the catch.
The Giant Cross, the Mosque and La Serena's Lighthouse
Ride up to the 93-metre Cruz del Tercer Milenio and Coquimbo's Moroccan mosque, then Uber across the bay to the Faro Monumental.
La Serena: Stone Churches, the Archaeology Museum and La Recova
Colectivo up the bay to Chile's second-oldest city for Diaguita pottery, an Easter Island moai, papaya sweets and a Japanese garden.
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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