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Suggestions for shore excursion in Arica

woodley

By woodley,
in South America

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woodley

woodley

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I was looking at the shore excursions for Arica and I do not know which one to go with. None of them looked that interesting to me.

 

Can anyone who has been there let me know if there is anything in the port area worth doing or that we can arrange on our own, Or if there is a beach area nearby. I did a search and nothing really came up.

 

The excursions offered by NCL may be more interesting than they sound so information from someone who has been there may help.

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WorcesterPear

WorcesterPear

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Try Joanne Duncan website www.andeanduncantours.com email joanneduncan@gmail.com. My wife and I took a first rate 8 hour tour in Arica and surrounding countryside with lunch $70, confortable transport and limited numbers. We found the site as a result of reviews from Cruise Critic members. The website gives full details fo the tours available.

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  • 3 weeks later...
suz8483

suz8483

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:)

ARICA tour: Just returned on NCL's Sun fro S.A. Had the MOST wonderful tour with Joanne owner of andean_duncantours@vtr.net. Comfortable van, charming hostess introduces you to the wonders of Arica-------which are many! San Miguel de Azapa Arqueological Museum has the worlds oldest mummies from 6000 B.C. Lunch offered with typical Chilean food; leisurly pace throughout; amazing scenery. Check out the web site. Susie

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bubbachief

bubbachief

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Thankyou this was just what I was looking for.

 

Woodley-- Have you contacted Joanne? If so, would you mind sharing what you found out? Cost,description of tour, length, ect. Thanks, John and Jo

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  • 2 weeks later...
woodley

woodley

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Sorry to take so long to respond Bubbachief, yes I did look into these tours and they do look quite interesting. I also read about the port area on another post and it seems there is quite a lot to see in the port area also.

 

I think we will probably book with them as they do have tours specifically for cruise ship passengers so the timing should be good.

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janisutx

janisutx

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What a unique port. The setting is amazing. The high plains look like mars but the irrigated valleys below grow fruit, vegetables and flowers. Be sure to go to the large market to see the produce and flowers as part of your tour. Surfing competitions are held on the beaches. Enjoy!

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bubbachief

bubbachief

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Sorry to take so long to respond Bubbachief, yes I did look into these tours and they do look quite interesting. I also read about the port area on another post and it seems there is quite a lot to see in the port area also.

 

I think we will probably book with them as they do have tours specifically for cruise ship passengers so the timing should be good.

 

We might be interested in the tour. Don't have anything planned yet. Is the tour a fixed price pp or is it cheaper if more people go?

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woodley

woodley

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I believe that is is a set fee. They did not mention private tours but did say there was a meeting point for all the passengers to gather from the ship so I presume this is a shared tour with other passengers that have booked.

 

I think we will probably do this one as it has good reviews and seems to be quite resonably priced.

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  • 2 weeks later...
bubbachief

bubbachief

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I believe that is is a set fee. They did not mention private tours but did say there was a meeting point for all the passengers to gather from the ship so I presume this is a shared tour with other passengers that have booked.

 

I think we will probably do this one as it has good reviews and seems to be quite resonably priced.

 

What is the name of the tour?

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woodley

woodley

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The oneI am interested in is attached

TOURS OFFERED TO CRUISE PASSENGERS

  • <LI class=Estilo5>Coastline (Anzota Caves & Bird Sanctuary) – 4 hours <LI class=Estilo5>Archaeological Circuit & Azapa valley – 4 hours <LI class=Estilo5>Cruising through Arica – 4 hours <LI class=Estilo5>All Day Tour – City, Coastline and Valleys – 8 hours approx.

  • Sierra Tour (3,500 m.a.s.l.)– Coastline, Bird Sanctuary, Valleys (Lluta & Azapa), Geoglyphs, Unique Cactus Cadelabra, Pre-inca towns, Tambo, Colonial Churches, Terraces, Archaeological Museum, unique flora and fauna – 8 hours approx (If you would like more information regarding this tour please contact us)

Note:
The person who books the tour will be asked to sign a contract which says you have hired our services. This is how we have to proceed to comply with legal requirements when taking tourists from a cruise.

 

Description of “All Day Tour”, in Arica (Programme & Itinerary)

(The tour puts emphasis on the Andean Culture, Pre-Inca Villages, archaeological sites, unique landscape and you’ll get to meet local people)

 

PROGRAMME: From 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. approx (8 hours)

 

Meeting time
:
8:30 a.m
. Your guide will meet you at the port gates where passengers come out. The guide will be waiting for you with a sign with your name. They will point out some National Monuments while you cross the main square like the Railroad Station (Arica to La Paz, Bolivia), the ex Custom House (designed by Eiffel), the Governor´s House (designed by Eiffel) until you get to Saint Mark´s Cathedral (also designed by Eiffel and brought all the way from France), where your van and driver will be waiting for you to start the tour.

The tour begins by the coastline heading south towards the ex-Alacran Island, International Surfing Site and Marina. You pass by some beaches and a big fish meal factory. After this you drive up the Morro (headland & view point) of immense strategic value during the Pacific War where Chileans overtook the Morro and had victory over Perú (1880). After this you come down and drive through Arica passing by the Casino, University of Tarapacá and Regiment which saw its own battlefield up in the Morro. Now you head north by the coastline and drive along the Chinchorro beach, pass by the Wateree (boilers of a an American fluvial ship), continue by las Machas beach until you get to the mouth of the Lluta river (10 km approx) where you will observe the Bird Sanctuary and then continue up the LLuta Valley. On the way you will see the geoglyphs (indigenous drawings on the slopes of the hills) and the colcas (storage deposits of the Incas , 15th Century). Then you will visit a farm and sample delicious goat cheese together with an Aymara Cocktail. After this you will continue to the pre-Inca town of Poconchile and its old adobe church, St Jerome (17th C) the first parish after the conquistadors arrived to Cuzco. Then you climb until you get to a high plateau (pampa) through which you cross to the Azapa valley. You get to the picturesque town of San Miguel de Azapa where you will have lunch and be able to taste typical dishes like “Pastel de Choclo” (corn & beef casserole), humitas, mango sours and good wine.

 

The town is well known for its very old cemetery, 3000 years old and still in use, where there are burial sites called “tumulus” (1000 B.C). This town is right beside the famous archaeological museum where we will later visit the oldest preserved mummies of the world the “Cbinchorro mummies” and other wonderful vestiges and artefacts of the early gatherers, hunters and fishermen of past indigenous civilizations for the last 10,000 years.

After visiting the museum, you will take the archaeological circuit to visit some more geoglyphs like the “Cerro Sagrado” (sacred hill) and the “Tropilla” (llama caravan). On our way back to Arica you will visit the wonderful fruit and vegetable market where you can see all the produces of the valleys and try the olives. Then you shall go back to the port to meet your cruise ship.

 

ITINERARY AND TIME TABLE OF THE PLACES WE SHALL VISIT:

 

8:30 - 9:15
Meeting time. Guide will meet you
at the gates where passengers come out. The guide will point out the National Monuments and after this you head south by the coastline and visit the Ex Alacran Island, Marina, Beaches, Historical Panels, fish meal factory, beaches, historical panels, fish meal plant and then you drive up the Morro.

9:30 – 9:50
The
Morro
(excellent view point) This promontory was of tremendous strategic value during the Pacific War, 1880. You will see the beautiful statue of the Christ of peace (10 mt high) as a symbol of the treaty between Chile and Peru.

(Toilets)

10:10 - 10:20
Drive through Arica passing by the Casino, University of Tarapacá and Regiment. Then by the coastline you will get to see the Chinchorro beach, Las Machas beach, the Wateree (boilers of famous fluvial ship which withstood 2 tsunamis) and Bird Sanctuary at mouth of Lluta river on our way to the Lluta valley

10:30 - 10:50
Geoglyphs and Colcas (panels with drawings of animals, people and geometrical figures (1000-1400 A.C.)

11:10 – 11:30
Visit a farm where you will sample fresh pasteurized goat cheese and shall have an
Aymara Cocktail

TOILETS

11:45 – 12:15
Poconchile (pre Inca town and adobe church 17th C), there is usually a small market with handicrafts, weavings and knitted garments.

TOILETS

12:20– 12:45
Pampa “Quebrada del Diablo” (high plateau) Spectacular view and contrast of green valleys against the desert.

12:50 – 13:40
Town of San Miguel de Azapa –
Lunch
at restaurant with typical Chilean food, at passenger’s expense, US$ 12.00 per menu, includes: Welcoming drink, hors d’ oeuvres, kneaded fresh bread, typical Chilean dishes such as “pastel de choclo” (corn and beef casserole), humitas, beef and accompaniment, typical tomato salad (with & without onions), deserts and drinks (mineral water, soft drinks or wine). (All included)

TOILETS
.

13:50 – 14:30
San Miguel de Azapa Archaeological Museum, (Chinchorro Mummies 6,000 B.C.), ticket at passenger’s expense US$ 3.00 per person.

TOILETS.

14:50 – 15:00
Cerro Sagrado (Sacred Hill) Geoglyphs (1000 – 1400 A.C)

15:15 - 15:25
Tropilla (Caravan of Llamas) Geoglyphs (1000 – 1400 A.C.)

15:45 – 16:05
Agro (Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Market), produces of the valleys and also a great variety of olives (optional)

16: 30
p.m.
approx.
Arrival at port.

 


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Yungay 343 * D-13 Arica - Chile Phone: 56-58-

 

The all day tour is the one i think we would do.

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  • 3 weeks later...
bubbachief

bubbachief

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Hi Woodley.

 

I just received an email from Joanne today saying that this all day tour for cruise passenger costs $70.00. It does not matter whether you have a group or not.

 

Susan

 

Hi all-- We just sent an email to Joanne signing Jo and I up for her tour. $70 for an all day tour is reasonable and It sounds like a good one. Hope to see more of the 11/3 Sun group join us. John

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  • 2 weeks later...
woodley

woodley

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Just got a Email from Joanne stating she was no longer working with the cruise ships as she was in South Carolina now. She did give me the name of someone that worked with her who knew the tours that she reccomended.

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bubbachief

bubbachief

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Just got a Email from Joanne stating she was no longer working with the cruise ships as she was in South Carolina now. She did give me the name of someone that worked with her who knew the tours that she reccomended.

 

Hi-- Can you give us the name, we got confirmation fron Joanne a week or so ago, but given what she told you, we will want to contact the new person. thanks, john

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MightyQuinn

MightyQuinn

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Just got a Email from Joanne stating she was no longer working with the cruise ships as she was in South Carolina now. She did give me the name of someone that worked with her who knew the tours that she reccomended.
We toured with Joanne Duncan in April/09. Her All-Day Tour was well organized with an itinerary that hit all the highlights of Arica & surrounding area. We were fortunate to have Joanne as our guide - she's the real deal. She told our group that she was making a (happy) change in her life & probably wouldn't remain as an active tour guide. And she mentioned that other guides/drivers who worked with her would carry on. Joanne has created a great product & I hope others continue her fine tradition. :):)
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