Historic centre
Churches, busesAround the Plaza de Armas, with restaurants and buses to the valley.
City guide
Things to do in La Serena
A colonial city of stone churches by long Pacific beaches, and the gateway to the Elqui Valley: vineyards, pisco distilleries and some of the clearest night skies in the world.
7
Hostels in the city
8.6
Average, from 2,792 reviews
1544
Founded, one of Chile's oldest cities
4–5
Days with the Elqui Valley
Beaches, stars and pisco
La Serena is one of Chile's oldest cities, founded in 1544, around 470km north of Santiago. Its centre is full of stone churches and colonial-style buildings, and a long avenue leads down to the Avenida del Mar, a seafront lined with beaches stretching to the neighbouring port city of Coquimbo.
The city is pleasant for a day or two, but the real draw is inland. The Elqui Valley, a green ribbon of vineyards in a dry, mountainous landscape, is the heartland of pisco, Chile's grape brandy, and home to small villages like Vicuña and Pisco Elqui. With hundreds of clear nights a year, the valley is one of the best places in the world for stargazing, with observatories open to visitors.
On the coast to the north, the Humboldt Penguin National Reserve protects islands where penguins, sea lions and dolphins live, reached by boat from the fishing village of Punta de Choros. Give La Serena and the Elqui Valley four or five days.
Where to base yourself
Stay in the historic centre for churches, restaurants and buses to the Elqui Valley, or by the Avenida del Mar for the beach. Vicuña and Pisco Elqui are bases in the valley.
Avenida del Mar
BeachesThe seafront, busy in summer.
Vicuña
Elqui Valley baseA small town in the valley, near observatories and distilleries.
Pisco Elqui
Laid-back valley villageA village deep in the valley, with distilleries and dark skies.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 5 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in La Serena
In the city, walk the historic centre, with more than a dozen churches, many built of stone, and visit the Japanese garden, Kokoro No Niwa, in Parque Japonés. The beaches along the Avenida del Mar stretch for kilometres, and the Cruz del Tercer Milenio, a giant cross on a hill in Coquimbo, has views over the bay.
In the Elqui Valley, visit pisco distilleries for tastings, see the Gabriela Mistral museum in Vicuña, dedicated to Chile's Nobel Prize-winning poet who grew up in the valley, and spend a night in the laid-back village of Pisco Elqui. Above all, book a night at one of the observatories, where guides show you planets, nebulae and galaxies through telescopes.
On the coast, boat trips from Punta de Choros visit Isla Damas and the islands of the Humboldt Penguin National Reserve, with penguins, sea lions and often dolphins and whales.
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
The beaches along the Avenida del Mar are free, with a long promenade for walking and cycling. The historic centre's churches, squares and the busy Recova market are free to explore.
The lighthouse at the end of the Avenida del Mar is a symbol of the city and a good spot for sunset.
In the Elqui Valley, the night sky itself is free: away from the lights, the Milky Way is spectacular.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
Seafood is excellent on this coast, from fried fish at the Coquimbo fish market to ceviche and machas a la parmesana, razor clams baked with cheese.
The region is known for its papayas, small and fragrant, made into juices, jams and desserts, and for goat's cheese from the valleys. Pisco is the local spirit, and a pisco sour made with Elqui pisco is the drink to try.
In the Elqui Valley, some restaurants cook with solar ovens, using the strong sunshine.
Nightlife
Going out
La Serena's nightlife is busiest in summer, with bars and clubs along the Avenida del Mar and in the centre.
The student population keeps some bars busy year-round. Coquimbo has its own bars by the port.
In the Elqui Valley, nights are for stargazing rather than partying.
Getting around
Getting around
The centre is walkable, and colectivos and buses run along the coast and to Coquimbo.
La Florida airport is a short taxi ride from the centre, with flights from Santiago. Buses from Santiago take around six to seven hours. Buses and colectivos run to Vicuña in the Elqui Valley in around an hour.
For Punta de Choros, tours or a hire car are the easiest way, around two hours north.
Costs
What La Serena costs
La Serena is good value by Chilean standards. Dorm beds run from around €8 to €16, with prices rising in January and February, when Chileans flock to the beaches.
Observatory tours, pisco tastings and the penguin boat trips are the main extras, all fairly priced.
Cards are widely accepted.
Safety
Safety and scams
La Serena is generally safe. Take normal care with belongings on the beach and at night, especially in Coquimbo's port area.
The sea is cold and can have strong currents; swim where there are lifeguards. In the Elqui Valley, the sun is strong, so use sun cream and drink water.
The area is seismically active, as is all of Chile; follow tsunami evacuation signs on the coast. In an emergency, call 133 for police or 131 for an ambulance.
Worth leaving the city for
Stars, pisco and penguins.
Elqui Valley
Pisco distilleries, Gabriela Mistral's home and observatories.
Coquimbo
The port, the fish market and the Cruz del Tercer Milenio.
What's on
What is on while you are there
From film festivals to concerts by the sea.
Staff pick
21–24 October
International Film Festival of La Serena (FECILS)
The La Serena International Film Festival (FECILS) in La Serena, Coquimbo, Chile, is the region’s leading film event, dedicated to showcasing and supporting audiovisual…
15 October
Illapu
Illapu celebrates 55 years of musical journey with a special night in La Serena. The event "Historia Viva" invites you to experience songs that…
1 November
7th Asian Fest: Spooky Stage
K-pop performances, cosplay, and a Halloween twist come together at this seventh edition of Asian Fest. The afternoon event runs from 1:30 PM to…
18 October
Denisse Malebrán
Denisse Malebrán is a respected and influential figure in Chilean music, known for her work as the lead singer of SAIKO and her solo…
29 October
Mario Reyes
The event begins with a flamenco tablao and dancers, setting a vibrant atmosphere. Mario Reyes, a legend of the Gipsy Kings, will perform both…
30 October
Los Cantineros
Los Cantineros bring the soulful sounds of Valparaíso's bohemia to 12 Lunas Restobar. You'll hear a mix of boleros, baladas, valses, cuecas, and cumbias…
30 October
Huachaca Jazz: Cuti Aste
Huachaca Jazz brings a blend of Chilean popular jazz, La Negra Ester music, and a repertoire rich in identity and tradition. Cuti Aste performs…
30 October
República de la Impro
República de la Impro invites you to an evening of improvisational theater at the Teatro Municipal de La Serena. The show starts at 7:40…
Hostels
Where to stay
The highest-rated hostels in La Serena, straight from Hostelworld. Prices and availability are live on each property page.
Hostal El Punto
Dorms from €11 a night
See dates and book
Hostal El Arbol
Dorms from €11 a night
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Eco lodge El Arbol
Rooms from €13 a night
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Aji Verde Hostel
Dorms from €14 a night
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Hostal Balmaceda - La Serena
Rooms from €16 a night
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When to go
La Serena is mild all year. Summer is busy with beachgoers; the Elqui Valley has clear skies most of the year, best for stargazing from spring to autumn. Coastal mornings are often cloudy.
Jan
Summer, busy beaches
Feb
Summer holidays
Mar
Warm, calmer
Apr
Mild
May
Cooler, some cloud
Jun
Winter, coastal cloud
Jul
Winter holidays
Aug
Cool
Sep
Spring, Fiestas Patrias
Oct
Clear skies
Nov
Warm
Dec
Summer begins
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs, rounded. Morning coastal cloud is common.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on La Serena prices.
Treat these as a guide. Summer costs more.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
La Serena questions
The ones we get asked most.
Is La Serena worth visiting?
Yes, especially for the Elqui Valley's stargazing and pisco, and the Humboldt penguins nearby. The city itself is pleasant for a day or two.
How do I get from La Serena to the Elqui Valley?
By bus or colectivo to Vicuña, around an hour, or on a tour.
Can I visit an observatory?
Yes. Several observatories in the Elqui Valley run night tours with telescopes. Book ahead.
Where can I see penguins near La Serena?
At the Humboldt Penguin National Reserve, by boat from Punta de Choros, around two hours north.
How do I get to La Serena from Santiago?
By bus, around six to seven hours, or a short flight.
When is the best time to visit?
September to April. January and February are busy with Chilean holidaymakers.
What is pisco?
A grape brandy, and the Elqui Valley is its heartland. Try it in a pisco sour or on a distillery tasting.
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