A few weeks ago, we had two bank holidays in a row, which fell on a Monday and Tuesday. Hello long, long weekend!
So, months before, we booked flights to Arica, a small city in the very north of Chile with a population of 157,000. Arica is right in the middle of the desert, next to the border to Peru, and it actually used to belong to Peru up until a 1840. It can be described as an oasis in the middle of the desert due to it’s coastal location.
The flight from Santiago is about 2hr 30min, which still blows my mind as Chile is just so long! And, we really did arrive in the desert. I mean, I knew it was the desert but it was still a shock to be surrounded by nothing but sand and the colour yellow!
“Why Arica?”, is the question everyone asked when I said what I was doing for the long weekend, as it really isn’t a destination that people go to. Well, Carlos has family there, so we went to see them and enjoy the city of ‘eternal Spring’ as Arica doesn’t have seasons: it’s a pleasant temperature all year around, which accounted for my burnt shoulders, despite the factor 30 I applied.
We spent our four days eating lots of delicious seafood, watching stunning sunsets, enjoying the beach and we even got to see turtles as we went out to the sea on bodyboards. We also took a daily siesta in the spirit of being outside of the capital. 
The perfect way to enjoy a long weekend, and now I am entering into the last few weeks of the school year here in Santiago, ready for the longest summer!
Ever been to the desert?
Marcella xx
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WhatAWonderfulWorld 
Aoww! What a beautiful sunset. I used to live in the desert haha. And though it is also not people’s preferred travel choice, I also find it so endearing!
The sunsets were amazing! I think I would get confused with the lack of change between the seasons, but I’m sure that is something that you can adjust to!
Wow! I’m absolutely in awe! It looks soooo beautiful!!! #WanderfulWednesday
Thanks so much! We had a really lovely time 🙂
beautiful photos!
Thanks!!
I’m a bit confused as to why people asked- “Why arica?” Because this place looks incredible! I’m personally a big fan of deserts, but having a desert that literally ends at the sea is so cool! Beautiful photoa as always! 😀
I think because if people go to the desert, they go to San Pedro as the landscape is much more impressive and there is way more to do there.
People only go to Arica to pass through from San Pedro to Peru… or to visit family, ha!
Gorgeous photos Marcella! As always. 🙂 #WanderfulWednesday
Thank you, Urska!
beautiful pictures! Your summer will be incredible!
Thanks!! It’s feeling so hot already here 🙂
Haha I feel your pain, Norway is incredibly large too! Though I’m sure it might be a bit cheaper to get around in Chile?! Anyway, Arica looks pretty gorgeous!
I love that Chile is so big!! It means it has every type of landscape. And I would love to tell you that travel within Chile is cheap, but sadly not, unless you get good deals that is!
I wrote about the desert as well 🙂 but another desert far far away…
Loved the post!
I have been to the desert here in California but it is totally different from Arica. I guess every desert is unique in certain way. As a matter of fact, since we are moving towards winter in here, it is going to be high season in the desert area. Hope I can visit once or twice. #wanderfulwednesday
Ah nice! I’ve also been to the desert in California and loved all of the dunes 🙂
Getting out of town for the long weekend sounds like the perfect plan! I have to admit, I love visiting the desert! I think that it’s just so pretty even though it’s a lot of sand. I still can’t get over how beautiful that sunset picture is!
The sunset was is just gorgeous, we saw so many great ones! 🙂
I’ve never even heard of Arica, but it looks gorgeous. I’m quite tempted by that house for sale 🙂 It looks like a great place to spend a holiday, and nice to be able to visit family as well. I am quite impressed that you got burned even through factor 30, but then I guess I’ve never been to a real life desert before!
Haha, I actually took that photo because Carlos’ cousin joked about the house for sale! But I couldn’t live somewhere so small, I’m a big city girl, hehe!
Marcella, I love how you find a splash of color (murals or blooming flowers) even in the dessert! 🙂 I’ve been to Dubai and the spread of nothing but sand for miles was truly spectacular. Thanks for hosting another great week of the link-up 🙂
Thanks 😉 I always seek out all of the colours I can find!
This looks like a perfect place for a short trip! Though I gotta say all the pictures of the ocean doesn’t look so desert-y ;). And ooh yes, summer is starting for you! Hope you get a ton of more fun trips in!
Thanks so much, I’m excited for Summer! 🙂 I agree that the ocean definitely helps with the feeling of everything not being too dry.
So cool! It’s my mum’s dream to go visit the north with my dad on their next trip down to Chile! It looks great! And it’s crazy how it’s 2h30 flight! Wow!
Aww! I’m guessing they’d like to go to San Pedro? That’s the best for desert beauty! 😀
Yes I think so! I think they’d like to do a full week up there to see it well 🙂 Do you think San Pedro is the best? I don’t think my dad has even gone there, so I’ll tell them 🙂
Yes, definitely the best!! I am hoping to go again soon as I just spent a day there in 2010, and it’s too beautiful not to go again! 😉
What a cute spot – sounds like the perfect minibreak!