The emblem of Coquimbo's soccer team, Coquimbo Unido, is the face of a ferocious pirate. According to local legend, several such characters crossed the Strait of Magellan to the beaches of Coquimbo to bury their treasure. Whether the stories are true or not, the city's inhabitants have held on to the adventurous, boisterous spirit of those seafarers of old, who hobbled ashore on their peg legs, cutlasses in hand.

Coquimbo attracts many travelers with long, beautiful beaches like La Herradura, the area's most famous seaside destination. The city is also an ideal base for visitors who plan to take day trips to other destinations along the coast like Coquimbo Fort or to the region's valleys. If you are here in September, don't miss La Pampilla, one of Chile's largest Independence Day celebrations. This is Coquimbo's traditional festival and is extremely popular, lasting anywhere from four days to an entire week depending on which day of the week Independence Day, September 18th, falls that year. The celebrations are held on an esplanade in the southwest part of the Coquimbo peninsula, which fills up with revelers, some of whom bring their tents to camp.

The best beaches in Coquimbo where camping is permitted are Las Mostazas, Morrillos and Guanaqueros bay. Guanaqueros is a very popular resort and a great place to spend a few days relaxing and practicing water sports.

On the way into the city from the South you'll see the Cruz del Tercer Milenio (The Cross of the Third Millennium), one of Coquimbo's most impressive religious monuments together with the beautiful Mohammed VI mosque and cultural center, which was built by Moroccan builders and craftsmen and inaugurated in 2007.

You can try the local cuisine in districts like Barrio Ingles, which is also a center for cultural events, live music, and nightlife, or head to the casino and see whether you can beat the house in this pirate port.

Like the nearby city of La Serena, Coquimbo was settled by several pre-Columbian groups including the Diaguita and the Las Ánimas culture, which inhabited this region between 900 and 1200 AD. If you're interested in learning about them, head to the Domo Museum on Gabriela Mistral square.

How to get there

By Air. There are daily flights from Santiago to La Florida Airport in La Serena (1 hour).

By Bus. From Santiago, buses leave from:

• Terminal Los Heroes: Located at the corner of Tucapel Jimenez and Alameda near the Los Heroes Metro Station. Several companies provide service to northern Chile. Telephone: (56-2) 4200099

• Terminal San Borja (formerly Terminal Norte): Located at the corner of San Borja and the Alameda, near Estación Central. This terminal provides service to northern Chile and destinations within the Metropolitan Region. Telephone: (56-2) 7760645

Buses depart Coquimbo and La Serena for Ovalle, Monte Patria, Pisco Elqui and Vicuna.

By Car. From Santiago, take Route 5 north to Coquimbo (458 km) and La Serena (470 km).

Activities and Attractions

You'll find Las Tacas and Puerto Velero, two exclusive resorts with white sands and turquoise waters, south of La Serena. Stay in a luxury hotel or rent a beachside condo and make sure to leave time to practice water sports.

Coquimbo has great "picadas" (budget eateries popular with the local crowd), but if you want to buy fresh ingredients to cook for yourself, head to the harbor area. Fresh fish and seafood are brought in during the day, and you can even make special requests of fishermen on their way out to sea.

If you take one of the paved roads that head east out of Coquimbo, you will reach Andacollo town, which is home to one of Chile's best known religious festivals, Fiesta de la Virgen de Andacollo. The traditional dancing and music similar to those you'd see during the festival at La Tirana last from December 23 to 27.