La Serena and Coquimbo

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The basics

La Serena and Coquimbo are twin coastal cities about 470 kilometres north of Santiago. La Serena is Chile's second-oldest city and the nicer of the two -- it has pleasant colonial architecture, over 10 km of beaches along the Avenida del Mar, and a compact, walkable centre. Coquimbo is the port city next door, more working-class and rougher around the edges, but also cheaper. They are about 12 km apart and connected by public transport.

The big draw here is the climate. This far north, it barely rains. People often describe it as "permanent spring," and they are not far off. If you are coming from a rainy European country and want sunshine without the extreme heat of the actual desert further north, La Serena hits a sweet spot.

Living there

The cost of living is noticeably lower than Santiago. Housing is affordable, and the pace of life is slow -- which is either a selling point or a warning, depending on your personality. La Serena is flat and very bikeable, which is a plus.

The Elqui Valley is about an hour inland and worth mentioning -- it is one of the best stargazing spots on the planet, with professional observatories you can visit. It is also where pisco comes from, if that matters to you.

The downside is that this is a smaller city with less infrastructure than what you would find in Santiago or even Valparaíso. Shopping options are limited, cultural activities are fewer, and you will find very little English spoken. Healthcare exists -- there is a public hospital and private clinics -- but for anything complex, you would likely need to travel to Santiago.

Getting there

You can fly from Santiago in about 1.5 hours, or take a bus which is a solid 6 to 7 hours. If you are working remotely, the internet is adequate but do not expect the same reliability as Santiago.

Who is this for?

La Serena attracts retirees and remote workers, mostly. If you want an affordable, sunny, beach-oriented lifestyle and you do not need a big city's amenities, it is genuinely appealing. But you should be honest with yourself about whether you can handle the slower pace and the relative isolation.

We do not have many expat contacts in La Serena yet, so our first-hand knowledge is more limited than for Santiago or Valparaíso. If you are living there or considering it, we would love to hear from you.