Humberstone


One of the most unusual attractions that you can visit when you are in Chile is Humberstone - an abandoned ghost town. It is considered a museum in the open air, in 2005 it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Humberstone - the history of creation

In the first half of the 19th century, the question of how to increase the fertility of soils was acute, one of the best ingredients for solving this problem was saltpetre. In 1830, on the border of Chile and Peru, places were discovered where it was abundant, it was predicted that the quantities of Chilean sodium saltpeter should be sufficient for the world forever. This was due to the fact that James Thomas Humberstone created a company located 48 km from the ocean, a special town was built nearby for workers engaged in the production of saltpetre.

In the 1930s and 40s, they were noted as the time of the peak prosperity and economic recovery of the town, during this period intensive extraction of saltpetre was carried out. But over time, natural reserves began to be depleted, and in 1958 the work was curtailed. So 3 thousand miners who led a comfortable life before that, were left without work, and Humberstone suddenly became empty. In the 1970s, the authorities remembered the forgotten village and decided to make it a local attraction, and a flood of tourists poured in.

What to see in Humberstone?

Life in Humberstone at that time was interesting because the people employed in these works could lead a rich life in the town. They visited many different institutions and activities:

Tourists who decided to take part in a sightseeing tour to Humberstone, Chile can see with their own eyes the restored buildings that have been preserved in a beautiful form. Every year in November an open-air museum hosts a festival, travelers can settle in local hotels, watch performances and buy souvenirs. These days the theater opens and functions, the orchestra plays on the square, and the town seems to come to life.

At the entrance to the territory of Humberstone is a map with a route on it, which tourists can pass through. You can visit several museums, the largest of which is located in the building of the former shopping center. Here you can see objects of everyday life and interior, feel the atmosphere in which people lived in those times.

How to get to Humberstone?

The ghost town is 48 km from the Chilean city of Iquique , in time it will take an hour's drive. It will be most convenient to book an excursion tour, the organizers of which will provide a trip. Another option is to use the services of regular buses, which follow the routes mostly in the morning. The last bus is sent back at 1:00.