Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works Day Trip

In the 19th century, salt was a highly sought-after product in northern Chile. Discover how salt was extracted at the Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works, two iconic factories in Tarapacá, now recognized as World Heritage Sites, on our day trip.

Description

We will pick you up from your hotel in Iquique at the indicated time and travel east to the Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works. These former industrial sites in the Chilean region of Tarapacá hold exceptional cultural and historical significance, earning them the World Heritage designation.

During the visit, we will explore the importance of the saltpeter industry, which positioned Iquique as a key hub. Ships transporting sodium nitrate, primarily exported to Europe, utilized its port. We will visit the two old factories situated in the desert of the Tamarugal pampas.

The tour begins at the Santa Laura Saltpeter Works, where we will examine the large leaching machine and visit the Administrator's House, now a museum focusing on industry life. The export of nitrate significantly boosted the economy.

Next, we will proceed to the Humberstone Saltpeter Office to explore key factory areas. Aside from the old industrial halls, we will observe the civilian buildings that comprised a city, featuring a theatre, a swimming pool, and a church.

After completing our tour of the Humberstone Saltpeter Works, we will return to your hotel in Iquique, concluding the trip after approximately 5 hours.