Travel guide

La Serena

Colonial coast and starry skies

🗓️ Best time: November–March💰 Budget · ~$80/day📍 Chile

🏨 Find hotels ✈️ Search flights 🎫 Tours & activities

About La Serena

Chile's second-oldest city on the northern coast — neocolonial churches and a long sandy beach, the pisco-producing Elqui Valley behind, and some of the clearest night skies on earth for stargazing.

⭐ Things to do in La Serena

Avenida del Mar beachElqui Valley & pisco tourObservatory stargazingHistoric churches walkJapanese GardenPisco Elqui villageMamalluca observatoryValle del Encanto petroglyphs

🍽️ What to eat in La Serena

Signature local dishes worth seeking out.

Fresh seafood & cevichePapaya sweetsPisco sourPastel de choclo

✈️ Know before you go

🚕 Getting around

Walkable centre and beach; a car for Elqui Valley.

💡 Local tip

Drive up the Elqui Valley for pisco distilleries and a night at an observatory under brilliant stars.