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Iquique, Chile — South America Overland Guide
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posted by Chris Vasquez
Drive from Arica: approximately 4–4.5 hrs. Follow Ruta 5 through one of the driest landscapes on earth, with ocean to one side and empty desert rising inland. This stage is designed around the expedition rule that we never ask the driver—or our 2001 Toyota Land Cruiser 100 Series—to grind through more than six hours of actual driving in a day. The reward at Iquique is Iquique’s historic center, giant coastal dunes and Pacific viewpoints. The route itself is part of the story: we are watching South America change through the windshield rather than flying over the difficult pieces.
Adventure & stay: Sandboard or hike the dunes, walk the old quarter and watch sunset over the ocean. Our preferred stay is Hilton Garden Inn Iquique or similar upscale waterfront hotel. A modern room, secure parking and a long shower are worth more after hours of desert glare. The idea is never luxury for luxury’s sake; it is recovery that lets us get back outside the next morning. A real bed, a hot shower, a spa or a good meal can be just as important to a long overland expedition as another night under canvas.
Land Cruiser check & daily equipment: Clean air filter, check coolant and tire pressures, and inspect rubber hoses for heat stress. For this leg we want goggles or sunglasses, sun sleeves, extra water, sand recovery boards and a shovel. The 100 Series is being used exactly as Toyota intended—quiet and comfortable on pavement, full-time four-wheel drive ready when the road turns to gravel, and mechanically conservative enough that preventative checks remain more important than dramatic modifications. We leave Iquique only when both the crew and the truck are ready.
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