Around Tacna travel guide

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To the northeast is the fruit-growing valley of the Río Caplina, known as Valle Viejo, where tacneños go for comida típica at weekends. It is 23 km to the thermal baths at Calientes (open 24 hrs, US$1 for pool, US$2.50 per person for tubs) which has clean individual hot tubs and a tepid outdoor pool, popular with locals and crowded at weekends. There’s a restaurant and simple accommodation ($) on site. One hour’s walk through the desert from Calientes is the archeological site of Miculla (daily 24 hrs, entry US$0.30) set in the rocky valley of the Río Palca. Many excellent petroglyphs from various periods may be seen as well as two rope suspension bridges over the river (rebuilt with a steel cable core) and a fragment of ancient road. It’s a good spot for stargazing at night from June to September. There is a caretaker at the entrance but the site itself is vast and desolate; do not take valuables or go alone.

Along the Tacna seashore are several fishing villages and beaches, popular with locals from January to March. Playa Los Palos to the south, as well as Pozo Redondo, Tres Cuevas and Punta Brava further north, are among the favourites; beware of strong undertow. Transport leaves from the Terminal Bolognesi.