Chile - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 398

RN Pinguino de Humboldt & Copiapó

DOWNTOWN LA SERENA

0 200

R í o E l

metres

N

Capilla de
Santa Inés

Parque
Pedro de
Valdivia

Supermarket

Mercado
La Recova

Talinay
Adventure
Expeditions

Iglesia de
la Merced C A N TO U R N E T

Iglesia
San Agustín

LAN Office

Plaza
de
Armas

Iglesia
Catedral

Museo Arqueológico

Casa Gabriel
González-
Videla

Supermarket
Santa Isabel

Banco de Chile

Iglesia
Santo
Domingo

Jardín El
Corazón

Iglesia de
San Francisco

4

Turismo
Delfines

Colectivos for
Coquimbo

Colectivos to
Valle Elqui

A V . FRAN C I S C O D E A GUI RRE

EATING & DRINKING
Coffee Express
Donde El Guaton
Grill-Bar Serena
Mai Lan Fan
Mercado La Recova
La Mia Pizza
Rapsodia

3
1
5
6
2
7
4

ACCOMMODATION
Hostal Croata
El Hibisco
Maria's Casa
Hostal Matta
Hostal El Punto

1
3
5
2
4

& Bus terminal (500m)

ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION
By plane Aeropuerto La Florida is 5km east of town along
Ruta 41; catch a taxi or micro to the centre (CH$2000-
2500).
Destinations Antofagasta (3-4 daily; 1hr 25min);
Santiago (4-5 daily; 1hr 5min).
By bus The main bus terminal is located on corner
Amunátegui, at Av El Santo, a 20min walk south of the centre.
Destinations Via Elqui serves: Pisco Elqui (6 daily; 2hr) and
Vicuña (8 daily; 1hr); 24hr Elqui Valley pass costs CH$4500.
Other destinations: Antofagasta (8 daily; 13hr); Arica (7
daily; 23hr); Copiapó (8 daily; 5hr); Iquique (7 daily; 19hr);
San Pedro de Atacama (1 direct Tur Bus overnight; 17hr);
Santiago (7hr; 8 daily); Valparaíso (6 daily; 6hr 30min).
By colectivo Coquimbo (frequent daily departures from Av
Francisco de Aguirre, between Los Carrera and Balmaceda;
CH$700, 20min); Elqui Valley (several departures daily from
Domeyko in the centre; CH$1700, 1hr).

The beaches
While reasonably crowded in the summer,
the beaches are quiet for the rest of the
year. The nearest beach area is a half-hour
walk west from the city centre from Jardín
El Corazón along Francisco de Aguirre.
Between La Serena and the town of
Coquimbo, a cycle lane runs beside a
dozen or so wide, sandy beaches lined
with pricey condominiums, hotels and
restaurants - an easy and enjoyable
day-trip. Bikes are available for rent in
the city centre at Vicente Zorilla 990
( T 51 227939; $6,000/4hr). Most of
the beaches are suitable for swimming
and windsurfing, although Playa Cuatro
Esquinas is known to have strong
rip currents.