Tacna: Railway History, Andean Landscapes, and Culture

Tacna combines a remarkable railway history with Andean landscapes and cultural sites. The region offers a range of starting points for planning a trip: a cross-border railway line, a protected area in the Andean ecosystem, hiking experiences, and historic sites. If you’re looking for a vacation rental, you can first consider whether you want your stay to focus on culture and railways, architecture, or nature.

A railway line between Peru and Chile

The tourist Ferrocarril Tacna-Arica connects Tacna in Peru with Arica in Chile over a distance of 62 kilometers. Built in 1856, the railway is Peru’s second-oldest railway still in operation and the country’s only international railway connection. The route passes through desert areas, crosses bridges over ravines, and offers views of the Pacific Ocean. A ride thus combines varied landscape impressions with a long railway history.

You can explore the railway heritage further at the Estación de Ferrocarril Tacna-Arica, which houses the Museo Ferroviario Nacional de Tacna. Three halls each have their own focus: historical documentation, Peru, and the Tacna-Arica connection. Comparing the railway route with the museum can help you decide whether you’re more interested in the ride itself or the history of transport.

Andean landscapes and hiking

The Área de Conservación Regional Vilacota Maure is a state-protected area in the Tacna region. It was established on August 27, 2009, by Decreto Supremo N° 015-2009-MINAM and is administered by the Tacna regional government. Its main objective is to protect the natural resources, biological diversity, and cultural heritage of the region’s Andean ecosystem. The Valle de los Géiseres lies within the protected area, in the Tacna region and the Candarave District.

The Garganta del Diablo offers a different kind of landscape experience. The route starts at Cotapampa and involves a one-hour hike of low to moderate difficulty. Activities there include interpretive hiking, birdwatching, and photography. The hike provides a specific time and fitness framework for planning, making it quite different from visits focused primarily on history or architecture.

Cultural sites and architectural heritage

The Centro Cultural Casa Basadre features permanent exhibitions on Tacna’s history and the life of Jorge Basadre. It also hosts workshops and discussions about literature and cultural heritage, and has a screening room and an outdoor area for community events. The building has been protected as a Historical and Artistic Monument since April 5, 1978. Its themes range from regional history and a prominent historical figure to literature and cultural heritage.

Tarata offers a different focus: cobbled streets, colonial stone houses, and historic temples shape the town. Iglesia San Benedicto is located in Tarata’s main square. From Tacna, you can reach Tarata via paved roads by public or tourist minibuses; the listed services go to the church in the main square. The Museo Histórico Regional de Tacna is another attraction in the province and the Tacna District.

For those interested in archaeology, the Complejo Arqueológico de Miculla is a distinct point of interest in the province of Tacna and the Pachía District. Iglesia San Juan Bautista is located in the province and district of Candarave. These sites add archaeological and religious cultural heritage to the railway and museum themes, though they offer different kinds of visits.

Choose your accommodation focus

When looking for a vacation rental, it helps to first identify the places you want to visit and what you’d like to focus on: railway and the history of Tacna, Tarata’s architectural heritage, Miculla in Pachía, or landscapes and hiking in Candarave. This way, you can choose a location based on the experiences that matter to you rather than relying only on a general impression of the region. The places appeal to different travel interests—from a train ride and museum galleries to hiking and historic buildings.

Discover more destinations: Tacna, Pachía District, Moquegua, Lima, Madre De Dios, Piura, Loreto, Apurímac.

For an overview of the wider region: Peru.