Bahía Inglesa: Chile's Turquoise Bay in the Desert

Bahía Inglesa is a small coastal town in Chile's Atacama Region where pale, shell-rich sand meets calm turquoise water just 6 km south of Caldera. The bay owes its name to English privateer Edward Davis, who anchored here in 1687, and today it draws Chilean families and foreign travelers seeking a beach day in the middle of the driest desert on earth.

The water stays cold year-round due to the Humboldt Current — expect around 15–18°C (59–64°F) even in summer — but the sheltered cove at Playa La Piscina is shallow and free of strong waves, making it the safest spot for children. Access to all public beaches is free; you only pay for parking (roughly 2 USD at the main lot near the beach entrance) and any gear rental or boat trips.

What to See and Do in Bahía Inglesa

The Three Main Beaches

Playa La Piscina is the most famous and the first one you will see driving into town. A natural rock barrier keeps the swell out, creating a pool-like bay that is genuinely calm — rare on this stretch of Pacific coast. It gets crowded between late December and early March, when Chilean holidaymakers arrive en masse; go before 10 AM to claim a spot and enjoy quieter water.

Playa Las Machas stretches north toward Caldera and is better for long walks and sunset watching than for swimming. The sand here is coarser and mixed with broken shells, so beach shoes help. Playa El Chuncho, just south of La Piscina, offers similar calm water with slightly fewer vendors and a more local feel — I found it the most pleasant for a lazy afternoon.

Seafood and Local Flavor

The town is built around scallop farming. Ostiones (scallops) are cultivated right offshore, and the restaurants along the main street serve them raw with lemon, in empanadas, or grilled. A dozen fresh ostiones at a mid-range spot costs around 8,000–12,000 CLP (roughly 8–13 USD). The quality is excellent — this is one of the few places in Chile where you can eat scallops that were in the water that morning.

Beyond the Beach

A few kilometers inland lies the Bahía Inglesa fossil site, one of South America's most important marine fossil deposits. The visitor center (open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 AM–5 PM, entry around 3,000 CLP) displays skeletons of ancient whales and dolphins recovered from the surrounding desert. It is a worthwhile 90-minute stop, especially for families with children interested in natural history.

For a longer excursion, the Mar de Dunas dune field about 50 km inland offers sandboarding and stark desert scenery. Local operators run half-day trips from Bahía Inglesa; expect to pay around 25,000 CLP per person including board rental and transport.

Planning Your Visit

How to Get There

Most travelers fly into Desierto de Atacama Airport (20 km away), which has direct flights from Santiago lasting about 1 hour 15 minutes. From the airport, a taxi or pre-booked transfer to Bahía Inglesa takes 25–30 minutes and costs roughly 15,000–20,000 CLP. If you are driving from Santiago, take Route 5 North for 880 km (about 10 hours) to Caldera, then follow the signs south for 6 km. Buses from Santiago to Caldera take around 12 hours; from the Caldera bus terminal, take a taxi or colectivo for the final 6 km.

When to Go

December through March is peak season: warm air temperatures (25–28°C / 77–82°F), busy beaches, and higher accommodation prices. Outside those months, the town is quiet — many restaurants and rentals close, but the beaches remain free and open. If you want solitude and don't mind cooler air (15–20°C / 59–68°F), April and November are good compromises. Note that the water is always cold; most people swim briefly and then sunbathe.

Practical Tips

Bring cash. Not all restaurants and small shops accept cards, and the nearest ATMs are in Caldera. Shade is scarce on the beach — bring an umbrella or rent one from a local vendor for about 5,000 CLP. Tides can be strong on the open stretches; stick to La Piscina or El Chuncho if you are not a confident swimmer. And take your trash with you: the beach is cleaned daily in summer, but the town's small population (around 135 residents according to the 2002 census) struggles to keep up with peak-season crowds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bahía Inglesa worth visiting?

Yes, if you want a calm, swimmable beach in northern Chile without traveling to the Caribbean. The combination of white shell sand, protected turquoise water, and fresh scallops makes it a memorable half-day or full-day stop. It is less appealing if you expect warm water — the Humboldt Current keeps it cold year-round.

Do I need to book tickets or pay an entrance fee?

No. All public beaches in Bahía Inglesa are free and open year-round. You may pay for parking (around 2 USD) and for optional activities like boat trips or sandboarding, but there is no entry ticket or reservation system. The fossil site charges a small fee of about 3,000 CLP.

How long should I stay in Bahía Inglesa?

Half a day covers the main beach and a seafood lunch. Staying one or two nights lets you add the fossil site, a sunset at Las Machas, and a dune excursion. Most travelers based in Copiapó or Caldera visit as a day trip, which works well given the short driving distances.

What is the best month to visit Bahía Inglesa?

January and February offer the warmest air and liveliest atmosphere, but also the biggest crowds and highest prices. For quieter conditions with pleasant temperatures, aim for late November or early April. The water temperature does not vary much — around 15–18°C (59–64°F) — so swimming is always brisk.