Tacna was in Chilean hands from 1880 to 1929, when its people voted by plebiscite to return to Peru. It is an important commercial centre and has a free-trade zone. There are good schools, housing estates, a stadium to seat 10,000 people, an airport, many military posts and a hospital. Chileans cross the border for cheap medical and dental treatment, to shop and to play the slot machines. Around the city the desert is gradually being irrigated. The local economy includes olive groves, vineyards and fishing. The waters of Laguna Aricota, 80 km north, are now being tapped for further irrigation and hydroelectric power for industry.
Get tips from your friends! or register to see the favorite places of your friends in Tacna and around
Tacna and around information
Sources:
Dangers & Safety
The city centre is generally safe and pleasant, but be careful outside banks and cambios and watch for pickpockets in markets. Drug smuggling is rife in this border area, so only ever transport your own possessions. If they are just passing through, visitors can leave their bags with the Tourist police (Jr Callao 103, next to the Comisaría Central, T052-414141 ext 245) ; who will also escort groups on request.
Many hotels, restaurants and cafés are in the city centre, within easy walking distance. Otherwise the town is quite spread out and you will need to catch a bus or taxi to see much. City bus costs US$0.15; taxi minimum US$0.60.
is 156 km south of Moquegua by the Pan-American Highway, 36 km from the Chilean frontier and 56 km from the international port of Arica, to which there is a railway. It is 1292 km from Lima byroad. As this is the nearest town to Chile, transport links are good. The airport (T052-314503) is at Km 5 on the Panamericana Sur, on the way to the border. A taxi from the airport to town and the bus terminal costs US$2-3. It is also possible to take a taxi from the airport to Arica, US$30, but the cheapest way is either to take a taxi to Tacna bus station, then take a colectivo, or to call the bus terminal and request a colectivo to pick you up on its way to the border, US$4.
1Create your personal travel guide:
Give a title and description about where you plan to go and what you plan to see throughout your trip!
2Plan and organize your trip:
Browse tripwolf and click the (+ add to my trip) button next to any location that you find appealing. Add sights, restaurants, bars, hotels - whatever you like! Arrange the location in any order by dragging and dropping them.
3Print and share your guide:
Finish planning and download your personal printable PDF guide for your trip and share it with your friends. (Soon you will also be able to download your trips to your tripwolf iPhone application!)
