Iquique is a port city in Chile's far north, sandwiched dramatically between the Atacama Desert and the Pacific Ocean. The city sits on a narrow coastal strip beneath an enormous sand dune — the Cerro Dragón — that looms over the southern end of town and is one of the largest urban dunes in the world.
The city grew wealthy in the 19th century from the nitrate mining boom, and the legacy is visible in the handsome Georgian-style wooden buildings along Calle Baquedano, now a pedestrianised national monument. The old nitrate ghost town of Humberstone, about 45 kilometres inland, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Chile's most evocative historical attractions.
Iquique is also Chile's duty-free zone (the Zofri mall draws shoppers from across the north), and the strong coastal winds make it one of the best paragliding destinations in South America — launching from the cliff above Playa Cavancha with the desert behind you and the Pacific below is an unforgettable experience. The beaches are good, the seafood is excellent, and the year-round sunshine is virtually guaranteed.