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Weather in Iquique
Paragliding above the Atacama and Pacific
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About Iquique
A remarkable destination worth exploring.
Best months to visit
January, February, March, April, November, December
Things to do in Iquique
Explore
Dine
Culture
Nature
Shopping
Day trips
Weather by month
Click any month for detailed weather information and travel tips.
Recommended
January
25C
Warm and pleasant, and mostly sunny skies.
Recommended
February
26C
Warm and pleasant, and mostly sunny skies.
Recommended
March
25C
Warm and pleasant, and mostly sunny skies.
Recommended
April
23C
Mild and comfortable, and mostly sunny skies.
May
21C
Mild and comfortable, and mostly sunny skies.
June
20C
Mild and comfortable, and mostly sunny skies.
July
19C
Mild and comfortable, and mostly sunny skies.
August
19C
Mild and comfortable, and mostly sunny skies.
September
20C
Mild and comfortable, and mostly sunny skies.
October
21C
Mild and comfortable, and mostly sunny skies.
Recommended
November
22C
Mild and comfortable, and mostly sunny skies.
Recommended
December
24C
Mild and comfortable, and mostly sunny skies.
Iquique is a strange and wonderful mix — a colonial-era port city with grand wooden buildings from its nitrate boom days, perched between the vast dunes of the Atacama Desert and a wide Pacific beach famous for paragliding. Pilots launch from the towering Cerro Dragón dune right behind the city and soar over the high-rise skyline before landing on the sand at Playa Cavancha, a sight that sums up Iquique's unlikely combination of desert, sea, and city.
Best areas to stay in Iquique
Playa Cavancha
The main city beach, lined with restaurants and hotels, and the usual landing spot for paragliders.
Barrio Histórico
The historic centre around Plaza Prat, with ornate wooden Georgian-style buildings from the nitrate era.
Cerro Dragón
The enormous sand dune rising directly behind the city, the main paragliding launch point and a sandboarding spot.
Playa Brava
A wilder, more dramatic stretch of beach with strong surf, popular for walks and surfing rather than swimming.
Getting to Iquique
✈
Flights
Fly into Diego Aracena Airport (IQQ), connecting via Santiago (SCL) from the UK.
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From London
~20-22 hours from London including connections via Santiago.
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Getting around
Taxis and colectivos (shared taxis) cover the city cheaply; the centre and beaches are also walkable.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Iquique?
Iquique has a mild, dry climate year-round thanks to the desert coast, though December to March is warmest for beach time and paragliding conditions are good most of the year.
Is paragliding in Iquique suitable for beginners?
Yes — most flights are tandem with an experienced pilot, launching from Cerro Dragón and landing on Playa Cavancha, no experience necessary.
What else is there to see near Iquique?
The abandoned nitrate ghost towns of Humberstone and Santa Laura (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) are a short drive away, as are the dunes of the Atacama.
How do I get to Iquique?
Iquique has its own airport (IQQ) with frequent flights from Santiago, around a 2.5-hour journey.
Is Iquique a duty-free zone?
Yes, the Zofri free-trade zone is a major draw for Chileans and Bolivians for duty-free shopping on electronics and goods.
Traveler reviews
★★★★★
Paragliding off Cerro Dragón and landing right on the beach in the city was one of the coolest things I've ever done, highly recommend.
Catalina S. · November 2023
★★★★☆
Didn't expect much from Iquique but the old town architecture is really charming and the beaches are great for an afternoon.
Owen B. · January 2024
★★★★★
Day trip to Humberstone ghost town was fascinating, eerie walking through the old nitrate mining town frozen in time.
Valentina P. · April 2024
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