Chile's paleontological and archeological sites offer a unique opportunity to learn about ancient civilizations and prehistoric life in an educational way.
Remember that archeology studies everything related to the human species and its cultures, while paleontology is the science that studies fossils to understand past life forms and their environment.
Where to explore paleontology and archeology in Chile?
Here is a list of must-see places where you can enjoy everything from dinosaur fossils to mummies of the Chinchorro culture. We recommend booking guided tours in advance and always wearing appropriate clothing and footwear, especially for sites in desert or mountainous areas.
San Miguel de Azapa Museum
Located in Arica, the San Miguel de Azapa Archeological Museum houses one of the most important collections of the Chinchorro culture. Here you can admire the Chinchorro mummies, recognized as the oldest in the world, surpassing even the Egyptian mummies with their more than 7,000 years.
- Estimated price: $1,000 to $2,000 CLP per person.
- Website: registromuseoschile.cl
Pintados Geoglyphs
In the heart of the Pampa del Tamarugal, 96 kilometers from Iquique, the Pintados Geoglyphs await you to show you the ancestral art of the desert. These are impressive anthropomorphic, zoomorphic, and geometric figures created on the hillsides between 500 and 1450 AD. The site has a modern museum, an underground visitor center, and an interpretive trail.
- Estimated price: $1,500 to $3,000 CLP per person.
- Website: fgt.cl
Pucará de Quitor
Just 2 kilometers from San Pedro de Atacama, the Pucará de Quitor stands as an imposing pre-Inca fortress. Built by the Atacameño people in the 12th century, this defensive citadel is a National Monument and a living testimony to local resistance against the Inca and Spanish invasions. In addition to its enormous historical value, the archeological site offers impressive views of the Valley of Death.
- Estimated price: $1,500 to $3,000 CLP per person (general admission).
- Website: monumentos.gob.cl
Los Dedos Paleontological Park
Near Caldera, in the Atacama Region, is the Los Dedos Paleontological Park, an impressive open-air museum in the "Bahía Inglesa Formation." This site is world-famous for its incredible concentration of Neogene marine fossils, allowing you to walk among the remains of whales, seals, marine sloths, and the fearsome teeth of the Megalodon, the largest shark in history.
- Estimated price: Free (guided tours recommended).
- Website: www.ciahn.cl
Pichasca Paleontological Park
Near La Serena is the Pichasca Paleontological Park, an essential destination for paleontology lovers. In its 120 hectares, fossilized flora and fauna have been found, including remains of Titanosaur dinosaurs, petrified trees, and ancient human settlements dating back more than 70 million years.
- Estimated price: $2,000 to $3,500 CLP per person.
- Website: monumentos.gob.cl
Monte Verde Archeological Site
Credit: @zikelji
Just 35 kilometers from Puerto Montt, you will find the Monte Verde Archeological Site, considered one of the oldest human settlements in America.
With evidence of human presence dating back more than 14,000 years (and possibly up to 18,500), it is one of the most important sites on the continent. Although the excavations are protected, free guided tours are offered along a path to learn about its history, which must be coordinated in advance.
- Estimated price: Free (with reservation).
- Website: fundacionmonteverde.cl
