Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works Day Trip

In the 19th century, salt was highly sought after in northern Chile. This day trip explores the Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works, iconic factories in Tarapacá that have been recognized as World Heritage Sites.

Description

At the scheduled time, pickup will be from your hotel in Iquique, proceeding east towards the Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works. These former industrial sites hold significant cultural and historical value, leading to their World Heritage Site designation.

The tour will address the importance of this industry, highlighting how Iquique became a central hub for the export of sodium nitrate to Europe. We will learn about the factors that contributed to its high demand.

The first stop is the Santa Laura Saltpeter Works, where we will view the large leaching machine used in production and the Administrator's House, now a museum detailing life within this industry. The economic benefits of nitrate exportation will be discussed.

Next, we will visit the Humberstone Saltpeter Office to explore essential parts of the factory, including old industrial halls and civilian buildings. A small city with a theatre, swimming pool, and church developed adjacent to the factory.

The tour concludes with a return to your hotel in Iquique, totaling a duration of 5 hours.