What is Antofagasta like?

Navigating Chile
1

Someone kind of asked me what Antofagasta was like. They were asking for a friend that might be moving there. Non Chilean person.

The question was basically what could I tell them about Chile in general and how does it related to living in Antofagasta. Different areas are different. :slight_smile:

From what wikipedia says: Antofagasta, it is one of the major mining areas in Chile. It is also located in the Atacama Desert. In 2024, Antofagasta is the fifth most expensive city in Chile as to cost of living. Santiago, Punta Arenas, Puerto Varas and San Antonio have a higher cost of living.

Does anyone have any insight to Antofagasta?

2

Only by reputation, I’ve never been there:

Lots of miners with money. They attract whores and drug dealers.

Antofagasta

En el norte de Chile, Antofagasta enfrenta desafíos significativos en términos de seguridad. Algunos de los barrios más problemáticos son:

  • Centro de Antofagasta: Aunque es una zona comercial, ha visto un aumento en robos y delitos menores, además de desĂłrdenes y riñas callejeras.
  • Villa Primavera: Sector con altos Ă­ndices de delincuencia, incluyendo robos a viviendas y asaltos.

Durante 2023, Antofagasta se posicionĂł como la ciudad con la mayor tasa de homicidios en la zona, representando un gran desafĂ­o en materia de seguridad.

3

I’ve been to Antofagasta a few times in recent years. In fact I have sort of followed its changes since the first visit in the 1970s, during the dictablanda. We actually slept on the beach at Antofagasta in those days. Such a thing today would be suicidal.

Yes, those imaging the usual Mirista accounts of the first years of the Pinochet government will tell you that you couldn’t be caught on the beach in those days, that the carabineros would shoot first and not even ask questions later, but most of that is hogwash. Since we were not chilenos, the Pacos treated us quite decently, if not reverently.

They still treat us well, but these days it’s largely with warnings. And not just about the extraordinary crime. I got caught recently near Antofagasta with expired revisión técnica. The Pacos could have had the vehicle seized (as does happen in much of the country) but instead I just got a warning. Then at the PRT station in Antofagasta itself, I didn’t have all the documents they needed to give me a new inspection, but a polite talk with the manager, tail between my legs and innocent and all that, and they relented. Gave me pass and saved my arse. So the good folks there seem to still be the good folks.

But staying there? The hotel staff were quick to insist on parking the vehicle in their secure lot, with concertina and video surveillance. For a reason. The receptionist claimed that the bad guys would come by any car parked on the street, smash the windows and make off with anything in sight. I heard similar warnings in Iquique.

A few years ago I was working with an Argentine historian on a book about the “Wild Bunch” with Butch Cassidy, and there was mention of some of their chicanery in Antofagasta. And I wanted to see the old railroad and mining artifacts. So the city and its old buildings let me momentarily return to the scenes of those times and crimes. Momentarily. With a weather eye always open.

Funny thing about wood in Antofagasta. Termites. I remember that many of the older buildings with their original wood were being eaten alive by termites.

Cuento corto: I wouldn’t live there. And I would counsel sensible people to avoid living there, unless you are willing to take unreasonable precautions, and accept the risks and probabilities.