Arica

Arica sits on Chile's northern coast where the Pacific meets the Atacama Desert, and locals call it the City of Eternal Spring for its year-round mild weather. El Morro de Arica, a dramatic cliff with a military monument on top, is the city's most visible landmark and offers wide views of the coastline from the summit. The waterfront and nearby beaches have a relaxed coastal feel, and the port is close to the centre. The San Marcos Cathedral, an iron structure designed by Gustave Eiffel's workshop and shipped from France in pieces, is a short walk from the port. The old customs house, also by Eiffel, now hosts a cultural centre. The Chinchorro mummies at the Museo de Sitio Colón 10 predate Egyptian mummies by thousands of years. Local markets sell olives, fresh fish, and Peruvian-influenced street food. Colectivos (shared taxis) are the cheapest way to get around town.