Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(Plaza de Armas 212; admission by donation; 9am-5pm)
Named for a local historian
born in 1903, this place is more convincing as a cultural center than a museum (though
there's a handful of old photos and exhibits). Check out the posters inside for upcoming
music and art shows.
Museo de Zela
(Zela 542; 8am-noon & 3-5pm Mon-Sat)
The small, musty Museo de Zela provides a
look at the interior of one of Tacna's oldest colonial buildings, the Casa de Zela. It houses
a motley collection of 19th-century paintings of stately folk.
MUSEUM
Museo Histórico Regional
(Casa de la Cultura, Apurímac 202; admission S5; 8am-noon & 1:30-5pm Mon-Fri)
Patriotic like everything in Tacna, this museum above the town library broadcasts a grand
somewhat triumphant air. Five huge canvases adorn the walls and busts of erstwhile her-
oes such as Zela, Bolognesi and Ugarte sit among old swords, yellowed letters and details
about the War of the Pacific against former foe Chile.
MUSEUM
Sleeping
There's no shortage of hotels catering to Tacna's cross-border traffic. That said, almost all
are overpriced and fill up very fast, especially with Chileans who cross the border for
weekend shopping trips.
Dorado Hotel $$
( 41-5741, 42-1111;
www.doradohoteltacna.com
; Av Arias Aragüez 145; s/d/tr incl
breakfast S100/130/165; )
Posing as Tacna's grandest hotel, the Dorado is the sort
of place where the curtains are heavy, the lobby sports shiny balustrades, and a bellboy
will carry your bags to your room. While it can't emulate the classy exclusivity of a
European city hotel, it makes a good job of trying.
HOTEL
Gran Hotel Tacna $$
HOTEL
