Bahía Inglesa is a beach resort in the Caldera district of the Atacama Region, 6 km south of the town and 20 km from Desierto de Atacama airport, which has direct flights from Santiago. It is famous for turquoise water and white sand in the middle of the desert, which Chile Travel calls "an oasis on the Atacama coast". Its main beaches, La Piscina, El Chuncho and Las Machas, have gentle waves, and a few kilometers away lies one of South America's most important marine fossil sites.
This guide covers Bahía Inglesa's beaches, things to do, how to get there and the weather, with information checked on November 5, 2026.
View the data as a table
| km south of Caldera | 6 |
| km from Desierto de Atacama airport | 20 |
| average February temperature (2016-2025) | 19.6 °C |
| million years: age of the Bahía Inglesa Formation fossils | 7-8 |
The beaches of Bahía Inglesa
| Beach | What it's like | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| La Piscina | A rock-enclosed cove with still, clear water | Children and calm swimming |
| El Chuncho | No surf and a very gentle slope, next to the boardwalk | Families; the artisans' fair sets up here |
| Las Machas | The longest beach, with a seafront promenade, benches and accessible facilities | Water sports and walks |
| Playa Chorrillos | Wilder, surrounded by cliffs | Those seeking solitude; take care |
| Playa La Virgen (to the south) | A bay of great scenic beauty, outside the resort | Day trip |
Source: Chile Travel (page updated in January 2026). Solar radiation in the north is high: wear sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat, and drink water. On October 31, 2026 a preventive red tide emergency began in 15 regions, including Atacama; it does not ban swimming, and in Atacama "we have no health alert," an expert quoted by Nostálgica said. If you plan to buy shellfish, see our note on what the red tide emergency means.
| Playa El Chuncho | Beach | 0.1 |
| Playa Las Machas | Beach | 1.6 |
| Caldera | Resort or town | 5.3 |
| Los Dedos Paleontological Park | Protected area | 6.4 |
| Desierto de Atacama airport | Airport | 19.2 |
Things to do in Bahía Inglesa
- Visit Los Dedos Paleontological Park, about 8 km south of the resort, next to Route 5 (Chile Travel). The Bahía Inglesa Formation holds remains of whales, sharks, crocodiles, marine sloths and giant birds from seven to eight million years ago, according to La Tercera. Until November 14, 2026 there is a free exhibition from Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 18:00, with scientific guides (El Dínamo).
- Try water sports at Las Machas, the beach Chile Travel highlights for experiences on the water; in season, boat trips leave from Caldera bay.
- Explore Caldera, 10 minutes away: its pier, Plaza Condell and the fishing cove.
- Head to Pan de Azúcar National Park and the Mar de Dunas, two nearby attractions Chile Travel recommends combining with Bahía Inglesa. If you travel between September and November in a rainy year, you may catch the flowering desert.
- Watch birds: the blackish oystercatcher, a red-billed shorebird, is common along the shore (see the photo below).
The planned paleontology museum in Bahía Inglesa
Next to Los Dedos park, Chile's first paleontology museum and park complex is being planned by the Atacama Paleontology and Natural History Research Corporation (CIAHN), with government backing and the collaboration of the Smithsonian Institution and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles. The museum would cost US$40 to 50 million and the park upgrades more than 5 billion pesos, La Tercera reported on November 5, 2026. It is still being designed and is seeking funding.
- Oct 14 to Nov 14, 2026Free exhibition at Los Dedos park, Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 18:00
- 2026-2027Final designs for the museum center
- February or March 2027Museum preliminary design
- 2027-2028Funding and approvals (a US$40-50 million museum)
- 2029Construction begins
- 2030Upgrades to Los Dedos park
- 2032Full complex completed
Groups of more than 15 people can arrange a visit by email with CIAHN Atacama, which places the park 12 km south of Caldera on routes C-354 and C-302. On coastal real estate development, see our note on the tender for 420 hectares of public land in Bahía Inglesa.
How to get to Bahía Inglesa
| From | Distance | How |
|---|---|---|
| Desierto de Atacama airport (CPO) | 20 km (about 20 minutes) | Taxi, transfer or rental car |
| Caldera | 6 km (about 10 minutes) | Taxi or shared taxi (colectivo) |
| Copiapó | 85 km (about 1 hour) | Bus or transfer on Route 5 |
| Santiago | Direct flight to CPO | LATAM flies Santiago-Copiapó (LATAM); there are also buses from Santiago to Copiapó and Caldera |
Source: Chile Travel. In the January-February high season the resort's lodging fills weeks in advance. If you want to continue south, about 400 km on Route 5 separate you from the Coquimbo Region (things to do in La Serena and Coquimbo).
Bahía Inglesa weather: when to go
Bahía Inglesa has a dry, mild coastal desert climate. At the DMC's Desierto de Atacama station in Caldera, the average temperature was 19.6 °C in February and 12.1 °C in July between 2016 and 2025, according to Chilean Meteorological Office data (average calculated by Viajando Chile). Mornings often bring camanchaca, the coastal fog, which clears around midday.
View the data as a table
| Caldera (Bahía Inglesa) | Santiago | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 19.1 °C | 22.0 °C |
| Feb | 19.6 °C | 21.7 °C |
| Mar | 18.2 °C | 19.5 °C |
| Apr | 16.2 °C | 15.5 °C |
| May | 14.0 °C | 11.8 °C |
| Jun | 12.8 °C | 9.0 °C |
| Jul | 12.1 °C | 8.8 °C |
| Aug | 12.7 °C | 10.4 °C |
| Sep | 13.1 °C | 12.8 °C |
| Oct | 14.1 °C | 15.5 °C |
| Nov | 15.7 °C | 18.6 °C |
| Dec | 17.2 °C | 20.8 °C |
| Month | Average temperature in Caldera (2016-2025) | Season |
|---|---|---|
| January | 19.1 °C | High |
| February | 19.6 °C | High |
| March | 18.2 °C | Shoulder; fewer people |
| July | 12.1 °C | Low; cool and foggy |
| October | 14.1 °C | Shoulder; possible flowering desert |
| December | 17.2 °C | High season begins |
Source: Chilean Meteorological Office, Desierto de Atacama station, Caldera. To compare with other regions, see when to travel to Chile by season and our Atacama Desert guide.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Bahía Inglesa?
In the Caldera district, Atacama Region, northern Chile: 6 km south of Caldera and 85 km west of Copiapó.
Which Bahía Inglesa beach is best for children?
La Piscina, a rock-enclosed cove with still water, and El Chuncho, with no surf and a gentle slope.
What is the nearest airport to Bahía Inglesa?
Desierto de Atacama airport (CPO), 20 km away, with direct flights from Santiago.
Is the water in Bahía Inglesa warm?
It is calmer and milder than on the central coast, but it's still the Pacific: refreshing even in February. What's warm is the air, with averages of 19 to 20 °C in summer.
