La Serena & Coquimbo City Tour: Cruise Excursion with Lunch
The English Quarter and a 60-meter viewpoint: what La Serena's two cities show in one morning
A La Serena and Coquimbo city tour for cruise passengers includes a bilingual guide, entrance to the Third Millennium Cross, lunch at a local restaurant and air-conditioned transport. The route covers Coquimbo's English Quarter and the Cross's 360° viewpoint, La Serena's neocolonial architecture and Monumental Lighthouse, the Archaeological Museum and a local market. Duration runs 4 to 7 hours depending on the departure time and ship schedule.
Step-by-step itinerary
City tour of Coquimbo and La Serena
- Visit English Quarter in Coquimbo
- See Third Millennium Cross viewpoint
- Photograph Monumental Lighthouse
- Explore La Serena central square
- Tour Archaeological Museum of La Serena
- Shop at local market
What’s included
- A specialized bilingual guide in English and Spanish.
- entrance tickets to the Third Millennium Cross.
- air-conditioned transport.
- lunch at a local restaurant with a full menu of starter, main course, dessert and drink.
- pickup from your cruise ship or hotel.
Times
- Every day 08:30 09:00
Before you book
Operated by La Serena Turismo Chile
Prices and times updated 10 days ago
Traveler reviews
The experience
The tour starts with pickup from your cruise ship or hotel, then moves into Coquimbo's English Quarter: a 19th-century district of heritage architecture that tells the city's history of privateers and trade. From there, the route climbs to the Third Millennium Cross, a religious monument built for the year 2000 jubilee with a viewpoint more than 60 meters high. The platform gives a 360° view across both cities and the coastline that connects them, a vantage most visitors don't find on their own.
La Serena's stops follow: the Monumental Lighthouse, built in the 1950s and now a photo landmark; the central plaza with its neocolonial buildings and oldest churches; the Archaeological Museum, which holds Diaguita culture pieces from the Elqui Valley and sits in a restored colonial house with a baroque portal; and a local market where you can browse regional products. A bilingual guide narrates in English and Spanish throughout, and the vehicle is air-conditioned.
Lunch at a local restaurant is included: a full menu of starter, main course, dessert and drink. The total time ranges from 4 to 7 hours, which lets the tour fit the ship's port schedule. Note that the Archaeological Museum closes on Sundays and Mondays, and the Japanese Garden Kokoro no Niwa is closed Mondays, so those stops depend on your departure day.
Is this one for you?Pickup from the ship or your hotel means you don't need a rental car or local transport to see both cities. The guide handles the route and timing so the tour fits your port schedule without you building it.
Compare the 5 alternatives
Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and Spanish.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (5 to 12 years); Infant (under 5).
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What is the Third Millennium Cross and why is it worth the climb?
The Third Millennium Cross is a religious monument built for the year 2000 jubilee, standing more than 60 meters high with a viewpoint platform at the top. From there you see a 360° view of Coquimbo, La Serena and the coastline between them: a perspective most visitors don't reach without the tour.
Does the tour include entry to the Archaeological Museum?
Yes, entrance to the Archaeological Museum of La Serena is included. The museum holds Diaguita culture artifacts from the Elqui Valley and occupies a restored colonial house with a baroque portal on its façade. It closes Sundays and Mondays, so availability depends on your ship's port day.
What is the English Quarter of Coquimbo?
The English Quarter is a historical district in Coquimbo built from the 19th century onwards, known for its English-style architecture. It is now a conservation area and one of the tour's first stops, showing the city's heritage character and maritime history.
Is lunch included, and what does it consist of?
Lunch at a local restaurant is included and consists of a full menu: a starter, main course, dessert and a drink. The restaurant is chosen by the operator and fits the tour's schedule.
How long does the tour take, and will it fit my ship's port time?
The tour runs 4 to 7 hours depending on your departure time and which stops are open that day. Pickup is included from your cruise ship or hotel, so you can coordinate the return with your ship's departure time when you book.
La Serena & Coquimbo City Tour: Cruise Excursion with Lunch
4h–7h · EN · ES · at your hotel
from US$ 128 per person
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.