Pichilemu combines a surf coast, historic sites and salt production. When choosing your accommodation, you can consider whether beaches and surfing, architecture and monuments, or salt production and fishing should be the focus of your trip. The destination and its surrounding area offer different ways to explore these themes.
Getting there and finding your way
From Santiago, the route to Pichilemu follows Ruta 5 Sur and then Ruta 90. The 210-kilometer journey is estimated to take three to four hours; travel time may vary depending on traffic. Allow for this flexibility when planning your arrival.
Architecture and historic sites
Parque Ross, also known as Parque AgustĂn Ross, is a National Monument on Avenida AgustĂn Ross and is a pleasant place for a walk. Barrio Ross is known for its European-influenced architecture and has been designated a Zona TĂpica. Both places give an exploration of Pichilemu a historical focus, without requiring a fixed itinerary.
Centro Cultural AgustĂn Ross is located in the former Casino Antiguo de Pichilemu. The building was constructed between 1906 and 1909 and declared a National Monument in February 1988. The former railway station building is also part of the town’s history: it was declared a historic monument in 1993. The different dates refer to different buildings and monument designations.
Surfing and the coast
Playa Principal, also known as Las Terrazas, offers good surfing conditions. Surf schools, including La Ola Perfecta and Lobos del Pacifico, are located at Playa La Puntilla. Nearby is Punta de Lobos, a coastal area designated a World Surfing Reserve. Surf schools there offer beginner lessons in surfing, bodyboarding and windsurfing.
The facilities designated at Playa Principal are also useful when finding your way around: there are two access points with ramps, reserved parking spaces, all-terrain wheelchairs with ergonomic designs, and an amphibious wheelchair for access to the sea. Before your trip, check whether the facilities you need for your visit are available.
Salt production and fishing
The Ruta de la Sal begins in Pichilemu and takes visitors to areas where salt is produced. These include Cáhuil, Barrancas, La Villa, El Bronce, La Palmilla and La Plaza. At the nearby Salinas de Cáhuil, visitors can learn about the artisanal salt-making process. The route and this insight into the salt flats offer two specific ways to explore the subject of salt: a journey through several production areas and an introduction to the artisanal process.
Local fishing includes the Caleta de Pichilemu, a fishing village run by artisanal fishers in the main seaside resort. The fishers sell their seafood products directly there. This makes it a different focus for a visit than salt production: here the focus is on fishing and direct sales, while the salt flats are about salt production.
Landscapes in the surrounding area
Infiernillo lies on the southern edge of the city. There, rock formations shape the coastline, where the surf breaks. The Humedal Cáhuil wetland is near the village of Cáhuil, about 13 kilometers from Pichilemu. It formed at the mouth of Estero Nilahue and is home to around 40 different species. The rocky coast and wetland offer contrasting landscapes around Pichilemu; the approximate distance to the wetland helps you locate this excursion destination.
Discover more destinations: Marchihue, El Manzano, Paredones, Navidad.
For the broader travel overview: Cardenal Caro Province.
