{"schema_version":1,"title":"Arica","type":"portabout","url":"/p/chile/arica/","collected":"2026-10-18","alternates":{"markdown":"/p/chile/arica/index.md","json":"/p/chile/arica/index.json"},"data":{"portPath":"/p/chile/arica","country":"Chile","guidance":[],"months":[{"value":"2026-12","path":"/p/chile/arica/timetable/2026-12"},{"value":"2027-03","path":"/p/chile/arica/timetable/2027-03"}],"totalCalls":2,"aliases":[],"month":"2026-12","page":1,"rows":[{"date":"2026-12-31","ship":"Vasco da Gama-Nicko","arrival":"07:00","departure":"18:00","departure_date":null,"berth":"","tender_status":"unknown","sources":["cruisemapper-itinerary"],"ship_url":"/s/mystic-cruises/vasco-da-gama-nicko","voyages":[{"url":"/v/mystic-cruises/vasco-da-gama-nicko/20261103-20270122/","label":"80 nights \u00b7 Hamburg to Papeete \u00b7 2026-11-03"},{"url":"/v/mystic-cruises/vasco-da-gama-nicko/20261103-20270309/","label":"126 nights \u00b7 Hamburg to Yokohama \u00b7 2026-11-03"},{"url":"/v/mystic-cruises/vasco-da-gama-nicko/20261103-20270515/","label":"193 nights \u00b7 Round trip to Hamburg \u00b7 2026-11-03"},{"url":"/v/mystic-cruises/vasco-da-gama-nicko/20261202-20270104/","label":"33 nights \u00b7 Bridgetown to San Antonio \u00b7 2026-12-02"},{"url":"/v/mystic-cruises/vasco-da-gama-nicko/20261217-20270104/","label":"18 nights \u00b7 Panama City to San Antonio \u00b7 2026-12-17"}],"anchor":"call-877635437bd224e7"}],"rowStart":1,"rowEnd":1,"monthTotal":1,"pagination":[{"number":1,"path":"/p/chile/arica/timetable/2026-12"}],"timetablepath":"/p/chile/arica/timetable/2026-12","about":{"currency":"CLP","currencyurl":"https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/?Amount=1&From=CLP","portmap":"https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=-18.4746229295618,-70.3268659114838","facts":[["Getting ashore","Ships dock alongside at the commercial port near the centre; no tendering"],["Into town","About 15 minutes' walk to the centre, or a short taxi ride"],["Best starting point","El Morro and the Plaza Col\u00f3n"],["Currency","Chilean peso \u00b7 CLP"]],"sections":[["Getting ashore","Ships dock alongside at the commercial port near the centre of Arica rather than tendering. Passengers usually leave through a secure transit route, and access through the working port can be restricted, so follow the ship's and port's instructions to the passenger exit. Shuttle vans carry passengers from the pier to the port exit. Allow extra time to re-enter the port and meet the all-aboard deadline. The only call listed is Vasco da Gama on Thursday 31 December 2026, run by Nicko Cruises for Mystic Cruises, arriving at 07:00 and leaving at 18:00. Celebrity does not currently sail to Arica, so other operators supply the calls. Listings vary, so check the live schedule before you plan."],["For walkers and architecture fans","Arica is a seaside town at the northern tip of Chile, close to the Peruvian border, and is known as the 'city of eternal spring'. Chile took the city from Peru in 1880, and Bolivia has a free-port arrangement there. The San Marcos Cathedral was built in the 1870s to a design by Gustave Eiffel, and the former Customs House and Plaza Col\u00f3n sit near the port exit. Tap water is not recommended for drinking, so carry water, sunscreen and a hat, since the desert heat is strong by day."],["For beach lovers","El Laucho and La Lisera beaches are about 2 to 3 km south of the centre, and a taxi is the easiest way to reach them. Swimming conditions and lifeguard cover vary. The Anzota Caves lie about 12 km south of the centre, with a coastal trail past cliffs and sea caves. Public transport is unreliable on a cruise day, so book a taxi with waiting time or an organised tour, and use registered taxis or operators arranged through the ship or port."],["For nature and outdoor fans","El Morro is a hill above the town and a national historic monument, with an open-air museum about the War of the Pacific. Its summit gives views over the city, the ocean and the Atacama. The Azapa Valley tour takes 3 to 4 hours and includes geoglyphs and archaeological sites. Lake Chungar\u00e1 and Lauca National Park are long drives into the highlands, with rapid climbs to high altitude, so they need a long port call and a reputable operator. Shade is limited on the hill, so allow for the heat."],["For shoppers","Llama sweaters and musical instruments are popular, and the main shopping street is 21 de Mayo, in the centre.Markets and artisan shops sell Quechua and Aymara handicrafts. Lider Supermercado at 18 de Septiembre 401 is useful for bottled water before a tour. Prices change, so check on the day before you buy anything. Tour sellers work the central pedestrian streets, and their Lauca trips may cost more than a bus to Parinacota, so compare a few operators before you book."],["For eaters and drinkers","Chifa Maxi, at Baquedano 494, serves authentic Chinese food with vegetarian options, but service is slow. La Casa del Coctel, at San Mart\u00edn 495, is known for cheese empanadas, with fast food from about 500 pesos. La Nanu, at Avenida Santa Mar\u00eda 1182, offers 21 varieties of empanada plus pizza. Restaurant La Gran Familia, at Los Pelicanos 2060, serves fish and seafood, but it opens only on Sunday lunchtime. Opening times may have changed, so confirm them first. The empanada and fast-food options suit a quick lunch between excursions."],["Getting around and money","Local microbuses run between the terminal and the city. Shared taxis, called colectivos, run often and cost less than private taxis. The main bus terminals are Terminal Rodoviario and Terminal Internacional. A radio taxi trip costs about 550 pesos, and a bus along the main avenues about 320 pesos, though fares may have changed. Taxis are the simplest choice for the southern beaches, so agree the fare and the return plan first. The currency is the Chilean peso (CLP). Carry pesos, as cards are less widely accepted in smaller towns. A 2024 rate was 712 pesos to the US dollar, so check the current rate."],["Walking guide: port to El Morro","Start at the port exit by the former Customs House. Walking from the exit to Plaza Col\u00f3n, the San Marcos Cathedral or the Customs House takes 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the drop-off point. Continue through Plaza Col\u00f3n to the San Marcos Cathedral, then climb the steep, exposed path to the summit of El Morro. Many visitors take a taxi up and walk down. Return the same way to the port exit, and allow time to re-enter the port before all-aboard. The full walk is 3.5 to 4.5 km and takes 60 to 90 minutes."]],"access":"El Morro has a steep, exposed climb, and taxis are the practical option for the summit. The sources read do not describe step-free access at the terminal or along the walk from the exit.","links":[{"label":"WhatsInPort: Arica port guide (2024 archive)","url":"https://www.whatsinport.com/Arica.htm","detail":"Archived port guide, captured 22 February 2024"},{"label":"CruiseMapper: Arica port (wiki)","url":"https://cruisemapper.com/ports/arica-port-436?tab=wiki","detail":"Port schedule and walking guide"},{"label":"xe currency converter (CLP)","url":"https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/?Amount=1&From=CLP","detail":"Chilean peso conversion rate","currency":"CLP"}],"maps":[{"label":"Google Maps: Arica port","url":"https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=-18.4746229295618,-70.3268659114838","detail":"Port location near the centre"},{"label":"Wikivoyage: Arica","url":"https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Arica","detail":"Town sights and transport outline"}]}}}