This is a zone with a lot of historic places. Here you can visit the saltpeter offices and the biggest copper mine of the world,Chuquicamata. Antofagasta has desert, archaeological attactions, salt deposits, national parks and beach of warm and transparent waters. It´s religious tradition can be appreciated on its centennial constructions and typical celebrations.

Chuquicamata
Located 18 km to the north of Calama. It is the biggest open cut mine in the world and it represents the biggest copper production in Chile.
It has been worked from before the Inca denomination. In 1882 the first industrial settlement is established. In 1911 Guggenheim Bros. from the United States begins the construction of the modern mine, producing the first bar of fine copper on May 18th, 1915. The company receives successive names as: Chile Copper Co., Anaconda Co. and Chilex Exploration Co. In 1969 the State of Chile buys 50% of the company and in June, 1972 it acquires the total domain. This mining complex consists of two open cut locations: Chuquicamata and Sur. For the elaboration of the mineral there are two plants for rusty minerals in mine Sur and one for sulfured minerals, electronic refinery, copper foundry, plant for molybdenum and noble metals recovery, and plants for sulfuric acid. It has an important and modern miner-industrial infrastructure. Its elliptic form is 4.5 km long and 2.5 km wide, a "mouth" of almost 8 million meters square and 680 meters deep. You have the possibility of visiting the mine on a complete tour organized by the Department of Public Relationships of Codelco Chile, from Monday to Friday.