Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works Day Trip

In the 19th century, salt was a prized product in northern Chile. Explore how salt was extracted at the Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works, iconic factories in Tarapacá recognized as World Heritage Sites, on our day trip.

Description

At the scheduled time, we will pick you up from your hotel in Iquique and travel east to the Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works. These former industrial sites in Tarapacá hold significant cultural and historical value, leading to their World Heritage Site status.

You will learn about the industry's importance, especially how Iquique became a central hub. Ships laden with sodium nitrate docked at its port for export to Europe, a product highly valued for various applications. Our visit will uncover the reasons behind this demand.

We will start at the Santa Laura Saltpeter Works, where the large leaching machine and the old Administrator's House, now a museum about industry life, can be seen. The export of nitrate significantly boosted the country's economy.

Next, we will visit the Humberstone Saltpeter Office, exploring the main factory areas and the civilian buildings. A complete community was developed next to the factory, featuring a theatre, swimming pool, church, and various amenities.

After touring the Humberstone Saltpeter Works, we will return to your hotel in Iquique, concluding a total of 5 hours for the experience.