Arica: how to get there and around
Airports, stations, ports, where the hotels are and what the numbers say, from public data rather than a brochure.
Arica is a city of 241,653 people in Chile (Arica y Parinacota Region), 80 m (262 ft) above sea level. The nearest large airport is Chacalluta International Airport (ARI), 15 km (9 mi) from the centre. It has 1 railway station on record, including Estación de Pasajeros y Administración de Arica. It is a port city: Port of Arica.
Key facts
Daylight in Arica runs from about 11 h 4 min a day in late June to 13 h 17 min in late December (computed for -18.48° latitude), which matters more than the forecast when a day is built around one flight or one crossing.
Getting there
Arica is served by 2 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Chacalluta International Airport (ARI), 15 km (9 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 9,186 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft. The alternatives are Coronel FAP Carlos Ciriani Santa Rosa International Airport (TCQ, 47 km).
Flights to Arica: every airport, routes and times
By rail: stations on record include Estación de Pasajeros y Administración de Arica. Trains to Arica
Buses to Arica · Driving and car hire · Ferries
Nearby cities, and how to get between them
- La Paz, 317 km (Bolivia) — flights · trains · buses · car rental
- Arequipa, 266 km (Peru) — flights · trains · buses · car rental · tours
- Tacna, 51 km (Peru) — buses · car rental · tours
- Juliaca, 331 km (Peru) — flights · buses · car rental
- Oruro, 343 km (Bolivia) — flights · buses · car rental
- Iquique, 194 km — flights · buses · car rental · tours
- Alto Hospicio, 200 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Puno, 295 km (Peru) — trains · buses · car rental · tours
Twin towns and sister cities: Eilat, La Paz, Artigas, Bressuire, Arequipa, Tulcán, Tacna.
Common questions
Which airport serves Arica?
Chacalluta International Airport (ARI), 15 km (9 mi) from the centre, plus 1 other airport with scheduled flights within 100 km.
How big is Arica?
About 241,653 people live in Arica, across 44 km² (GeoNames and Wikidata).
What time zone is Arica in?
America/Santiago, currently UTC-3.
What currency is used in Arica?
The Peso (CLP). Traffic drives on the right.
Which cities are near Arica?
La Paz (317 km), Arequipa (266 km), Tacna (51 km), Juliaca (331 km), Oruro (343 km).
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.