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Voykit pocket guide · Chile
Punta de Choros
Spend 1–2 days: see the Humboldt Penguin Reserve, take a boat tour, and enjoy water sports; extra night only for diving.
Punta de Choros is a small fishing village on the Coquimbo coast, best explored in 1–2 days. Highlights are the National Humboldt Penguin Reserve (boat tours, penguins, sea lions, dolphins) and a range of water‑sports. Accommodations are limited, so a single night is usually enough unless you plan multiple dives.
- Country
- Chile
- Best months
- Dec–Mar
- Avoid
- Jun–Aug (cold, fewer tours)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- CLP
- Money
- Currency is the Chilean peso (CLP, $). Cards are widely accepted; carry cash for small shops, markets and rural buses.
- Daily spend
- Budget CLP 5,000–8,000 excl. bed · Mid CLP 8,000–12,000 excl. bed · High CLP 12,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Entel, Movistar, WOM and Claro sell prepaid SIMs; foreign phones may need IMEI registration after a period — check.
- Emergency
- Police 133 · Ambulance 131 · Fire 132
- Plugs
- Types C, L · 220 V · 50 Hz · European plugs fit; Type L is Italian three-pin.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10% suggested on the bill; you may decline.; Guides and drivers: CLP 5,000–15,000 a day.; Supermarket packers: A few hundred pesos.
- Water
- Tap water is safe in most cities; boil or filter in rural areas and on treks.
- Toilets
- Paper in the bin in older buildings; bus terminals charge.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Micro‑bus La Serena ↔ Punta de Choros | 4,500 CLP per person one way |
| Penguin reserve boat tour | 9,000 CLP per person (2023 price, check 2026) |
| Dive (first dive, equipment included) | 35,000 CLP per person |
| Room at El Tío Dogui (double) | 10,000 CLP per night |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- LSC · La Serena Airport
- about 2 h drive; bus or car hire available
Typical fares
- La Serena → Punta de Choros (micro‑bus)
- about 4,500 CLP per person, 2 h (check schedule)
- Penguin reserve boat tour
- about 9,000 CLP per person, 45 min boat ride (check availability)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Town is tiny; walk everywhere. Roads to the village are bumpy; a 4WD is recommended after Ruta 5.
See and do
Known for
- National Humboldt Penguin Reserve
- Sea lions and dolphins
- Kayaking, surfing and scuba diving
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| La Serena | Bus or car, about 2 h each way | ≈4 h round trip |
| Isla Damas (Penguin Reserve) | Boat from Punta de Choros dock, 45 min each way | ≈2 h total |
| Isla Choros (kayak or snorkel) | Kayak launch from town, 30 min paddling | ≈1 h |
Sleep
- El Tío Dogui
- Family‑run guesthouse, double room 10,000 CLP, shared bathroom
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Disculpedisˈkulpe |
| Thank you | Graciasgraˈθjas |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?ˈkwanto ˈkwesta |
| Can I pay by card? | ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?pweˈðo paˈɣar kon tarˈxeta |
| Where is the bathroom? | ¿Dónde está el baño?ˈdonde esˈta el ˈbaɲo |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: One cheek kiss (women) or handshake; avoid: Skipping the greeting
- Politics: Listen; avoid: Opinions on Pinochet with strangers
- Dinner: Eat late (from 21:00); avoid: Expecting 18:00 dinners
- Nature: Carry out rubbish; avoid: Leaving trails or lighting fires
Scams and watch-outs
- Stray dogs can be territorial – use a firm voice to deter them.
- Boat tickets for the reserve may sell out; buy early or ask your hostel to arrange.
- Road after Ruta 5 is unpaved and can be slippery in winter.
Generally safe; watch stray dogs, keep valuables secure, and follow local advice on boat safety.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Punta de Choros yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- National Humboldt Penguin Reserve
- Sea lions and dolphins
- Kayaking, surfing and scuba diving
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- CONAF – National Humboldt Penguin Reserve: www.conaf.cl/
- Wikivoyage: Punta de Choros, revision 5262044 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5262044
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/punta-de-choros). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.