Entry to the Humberstone and Santa Laura saltpeter works costs CLP 8,000 for the general public in 2026, and one ticket covers both sites. The site is open all year except January 1, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. until December 14 and from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in summer, according to the fees and hours page of the Corporación Museo del Salitre, checked on October 28, 2026.
Humberstone and Santa Laura were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2005. That same year they were placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger, because of their fragile buildings and wind damage, and were removed from it in 2019 after almost 15 years of conservation work, Emol reported.
Humberstone entrance fee 2026
| Visitor type | Price |
|---|---|
| General public (18 and over) | CLP 8,000 |
| Seniors | CLP 6,000 |
| Students with ID | CLP 5,000 |
| Children aged 7 to 17 | CLP 5,000 |
| Under 7 | Free |
Source: Corporación Museo del Salitre, fees in force as of October 28, 2026. The Santa Laura ticket is bought at Humberstone and is valid for both sites.
Humberstone and Santa Laura opening hours
| Season | Dates | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Winter | March 16 to December 14 | 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. |
| Summer | December 15 to March 15 | 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. |
| Closed | January 1 | - |
Source: Corporación Museo del Salitre. Visitors with reduced mobility can request vehicle access at the guard office of each museum.
What to see and how much time to allow
Humberstone was the town where the workers and their families lived. You explore it on foot along its streets: the theater, the company store, the school, the hotel, the swimming pool and the houses of laborers and employees, some turned into exhibition rooms with period objects. The museum suggests three routes:
| Route | Length | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Express "Esencia Pampina" | 1 hour 30 minutes | First visit or short on time |
| Intermediate "Vida en la salitrera" | 3 hours 30 minutes | Daily life and how the camp was organized |
| Full "Sumergiéndose en Humberstone" | 5 hours 30 minutes | Daily life and how the industry worked |
Source: Museo del Salitre. At Santa Laura, by contrast, the focus is industrial: the Shanks-system leaching plant, the iodine house, the power house and the mills.
Do you offer tours of the pampa or lodging in Iquique? Reach travelers planning northern Chile.
See advertising optionsThe history of the saltpeter works in five dates
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1872 | Founded as the La Palma works, owned by The Peruvian Nitrate Company |
| 1934 | The Compañía Salitrera de Tarapacá y Antofagasta renames it Santiago Humberstone; it grows to more than 3,000 inhabitants |
| 1960 | It closes for good and its residents leave |
| 1970 | It is declared a National Monument |
| 2005 | UNESCO declares it a World Heritage Site together with Santa Laura |
Source: Corporación Museo del Salitre, which bought the site at auction in 2002 and has conserved it since. The name honors the English engineer James Thomas Humberstone.
Tips for visiting from Iquique
- Getting there: the sites are on the Pampa del Tamarugal, inland from Iquique. You can go by car, on a tour or on buses heading inland; confirm return times.
- Water and sun: the museum's water is not drinkable. Bring your own, plus a hat, sunscreen and closed shoes.
- Stay on the routes: do not enter restricted areas; many buildings are fragile.
- No food in the exhibition rooms and no pets, and smoking is banned throughout the site.
- Combine it: with the Pampa del Tamarugal National Reserve, the most visited in Tarapacá, or with a beach day in Iquique; see things to do in Iquique.
Humberstone lies in the Atacama Desert, the driest in the world, as we explain in Chile's natural records.
Chile's World Heritage Sites
The saltpeter works are one of seven Chilean sites on UNESCO's World Heritage List, and the only one devoted to the industrial history of saltpeter:
| Site | Region | Year inscribed |
|---|---|---|
| Rapa Nui National Park | Valparaíso | 1995 |
| Churches of Chiloé | Los Lagos | 2000 |
| Historic Quarter of Valparaíso | Valparaíso | 2003 |
| Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works | Tarapacá | 2005 |
| Sewell Mining Town | O'Higgins | 2006 |
| Qhapaq Ñan, Andean Road System (shared) | Several northern and central regions | 2014 |
| Settlement and Artificial Mummification of the Chinchorro Culture | Arica y Parinacota | 2021 |
Source: UNESCO World Heritage Centre. If you are touring the north, combine your visit with the Chinchorro mummies of Arica; in central Chile, see the historic quarter of Valparaíso.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to enter Humberstone?
CLP 8,000 for the general public in 2026; CLP 6,000 for seniors and CLP 5,000 for students and children aged 7 to 17. Children under 7 enter free.
Is the Humberstone ticket valid for Santa Laura?
Yes. The ticket is bought at Humberstone and covers both saltpeter works.
Is it open every day?
Yes, all year except January 1.
