Dive deep into La Serena's living culture with a private walking exploration of the colonial La Recova artisan market and the city's celebrated ring of neoclassical stone churches — each one a different architectural gem built from the same local granite.
What to expect
Meeting at the port, your guide walks you into La Recova's two-storey neomoorish market hall, introducing you to artisan vendors of lapis lazuli (mined just hours north), hand-woven textiles, and the region's famed papaya jam. You then set a leisurely pace through the historic centre, entering up to five of La Serena's 29 colonial churches — the Cathedral, La Merced, San Francisco — for architecture, sacred art, and the stories of the priests who shaped the city. The tour ends with a pisco sour tasting at a celebrated bar on the Plaza de Armas.
Good to know
3–4 hours; ideal for a shorter port call or as a morning warm-up before an afternoon beach excursion. Wear comfortable walking shoes — the historic centre is flat but cobbled. Lapis lazuli makes a magnificent and authentically Chilean gift — your guide will steer you to genuine artisans.
Sail there
Luxury cruises that call at Coquimbo (La Serena) — book through us, the fare is identical and your concierge stays on your side.
More to do in Coquimbo (La Serena)
- Elqui Valley: Pisco Distillery, Vineyards & Stargazing
- Mamalluca or Pangue Observatory: Private Astronomical Night
- La Serena & Coquimbo Private City Tour with Lunch & Archaeology
- Isla Damas & Humboldt Penguin National Reserve Full-Day Expedition
- Totoralillo & Guanaqueros: Secluded Bay Luxury Beach Day