humberstone saltpeter

very interesting to be able to understand how british colonialism works, how workers lived, how nature was changed.

Due to the Paris Dakar rally in Iquique, we decided to hire a car and explore the desert for a few days. Without doubt the best thing we did, this was the first place we saw to stop and as we'd driven we had the whole place to ourselves. We found all the displays really interesting and really enjoyed walking round, with a feeling of total isolation.

Located in the middle of Nowhere, this Ghost Town has been preserved to show how life was before the collapse of the nitrate industry in the 1960's in the Humberstone area. The buildings are clearly marked and are in good shape, from the hotel,to the church, to the swimming pool, etc. The drive to get there is long and the scenery is all sand,so you must want to see a Ghost Town!

A good balance of preservation and interpretation while keeping the sense of abandonment and decay. The pampino lifestyle comes through clearly. Then visit the Palacio Astoreca in town - the contrast is shocking.

If you're at all curious about modern ruins, abandoned buildings or just kind of like the idea of being in a semi-post-apocalyptic town for a few hours, then you will certainly enjoy Humberstone. Built to mine nitrate for fertilizer, this town was extremely advanced for its time with amenities like a theater, basketball court and bowling alley before a cheaper alternative came along and forced the mine to close up, leaving an entire town to lie in waste in the desert. The pool lies empty, showing clearly how it was made from an old ship. The theatre and church have been restored to great condition (which I found disappointing). The industrial areas were the most fascinating to me. Old machines that had rusted in their place. Cars and trains left out to bake in the sun. A giant smoke stack still held up by guy wires as vultures circle overhead. A must-see while in Iquique!To arrive, go to the Mercado Centenario in Iquique at the corner of Santiago Aldea and Barros Araña. Take one of the shared yellow taxis. It costs CL$2,000-$3,000. Bring lots of water, sunscreen and maybe lunch. The food for sale on site is limited to candy and ice cream. To get back, you can hail shared taxis coming back to Iquique or even intercity busses like I did!

Great place to visit if you like to wander through old homes and business buildings. The dry desert conditions have resulted in the natural preservation of the town. Buildings are clearly signposted and are furnished appropriately.

A very interesting and historical place that has to be visited if you're around iquique.I would strongly recommend not to go with a tour there; it seems that they spend only a little time there and do not visit at all the rear of the city which is the most interesting place (house to build locomotives,...) we spent almost 2 hours there at around midday, a pretty good time if you want to avoid most of the tourists.Even with the map, we couldn't locate the toilets..

I never have been in such place, so i found it´s very interesting and adventurous. It´s a little bit far from Iquique but you can use public transportations for reducing costs. This place is really nice to see how living people in mines. I suggest to visit that place even there is not so much attractions in Iquique.

A unique opportunity to make a trip to the past. This "Oficina Salitrera" is very well preserved, and you can see how people lived in this harsh environment. I would say this is the main attraction of the surroundings of Iquique.

There is a wealth of information in the displays; but best is being able to explore through deserted houses, warehouses, a general store, a school, engines, and bits and pieces lying around. It was very hot and windy when we went, so hats and lots of water were required. The cafeteria for lunch and the souvenirs seemed reasonably priced for a tourist attraction.

I certainly did not budget enough time for this outdoor museum. It is a fascinating story they tell. If you are interesting in industrial archaeology, you won't find a better place to spend time.

Industrial archaeology doesn't get much better than this? It's a cross between an old western film set and Blist's Hill in Stourbridge! The best parts are the homes, theatre and shops. The actual nitrate mill has been stripped of a lot of kit but still had enough to show how it worked. More work is promised to stabilise the place and it will be well worth the effort.

We visited in the morning, otherwise it will be too hot. There were nobody! so really felt like a host town, You feel like visiting a old movie :) you can enter even a movie theater , visit dry swimming pool. Strange and a little sad.

Interesting touristic point near Iquique where you have a lot of history about the region and the nitrate industry in the past. Now it is the called "Ghost city", but in the past it was constructed near the nitrate production to provide basic services for the population living and working there. Don't forget sun cream, water and snacks as you can spend more than 2 hours walking around it!

The history of Iquique is strongly related to Humberstone. You can well imagine how hard life here in the desert was.Visit also the production site Sta. Laura..