Located only 5km away from the city center of Arica, the Azapa Valley grows the famous Azapa olives and a great variety of tropical fruits. One of the major attractions of the valley is the Archaeological Museum of San Miguel de Azapa, which displays ancient relics of the Chinchorro culture.
The Archaeological Museum of Azapa is not only home to the Chinchorro mummies, but also to other original pieces found in the year old indigenous cemetery of “Caleta Camarones” (The Bay of Shrimps).
Other cultural remains found in the valley are the geoglyphs of Cerro Sagrado, located in the Pampa de Alto Ramirez. These ancient stone images and wall paintings represent human figures and animals like lamas, snakes and lizards. Not far away lies the “Pukará de San Lorenzo” (Fort of San Lorenzo), a fortress which was built for defensive purposes in the 12th century.
In the oasis of Azapa, which you can reach in about 30 minutes from Arica, the well-known Azapa olives are produced. Apart from olives, the valley grows lemons and tomatoes in large quantities, and many of the products are also used for export.