2.4.4. Tourism
According to CONAF, out of a total of 58,161 visitors to the Humboldt Penguin National Reserve in 2017, 85% were Chileans and 15% were from overseas.
Despite the area’s important tourist attractions, this sector’s development is very incipient, except perhaps in Punta de Choros and Chañaral de Aceituno, with their relationship with the Humboldt Penguin National Reserve.
An evaluation by Hoyt and Iñiguez (2008) in the area of the proposed protected area estimated that, in the case of Isla Chañaral, the active operators (fishermen) have eight boats and, in the case of Choros-Damas, 40 boats. The unit price per person is US$12, giving a direct income for Isla Chañaral of US$6,480 (assuming 540 visits per year) and, for Choros-Damas, US$146,820 (12,235 visits per year). According to the authors, indirect and direct income from ecotourism totals US$99,090 per year for the community of Chañaral de Aceituno and US$860,243 per year for the community of Punta Choros-Los Choros.
According to the La Higuera Municipal Development Plan 2014-2017, tourism has great potential in the district, but this not been exploited. Services for tourists are scarce and visitors tend not to stay very long. According to the Plan, the most desirable development hypothesis would imply that: “The La Higuera municipal district is recognized as the platform for coastal tourism and the gateway to tourism in the Coquimbo Region and the north of Chile; there are tourist services in line with the sector’s benefits.” As of 2014, tourism in the Coquimbo Region had created some 7,000 jobs and was visited by large numbers of tourists each year and recognized as one of the most popular destinations in Chile. In the 2017-2018 seasons, more than 2 million tourists are estimated to have visited the Region, up by 10% on the previous season. Out of these, between 20% and 30% are thought to have been Argentines, attracted mainly by the beaches. In the summer of 2018 alone, there were an estimated 1 million visitors and 22 cruises stopped off in the Region. According to the Coquimbo Chamber of Tourism, the Region bases its tourism development on activities related to the sea, valleys and astronomy.99
Environmental and scientific tourism: The area of the proposed protected area offers very good conditions for the development of special interest tourism. This was recognized, for example, by the 2014 CEAZA project,100 the La Higuera Municipal Development Plan and the Chañaral de Aceituno Framework Territorial Development Plan. The main attraction for visitors is observation of fauna (large colonies of seabirds and mammals) and, in the case of the Humboldt Penguin National Reserve, also flora. A particular attraction is observation of the family of bottlenose dolphins that inhabit the area (pod-R, Section 2.2.1), offered by artisanal fishermen.101 Another popular alternative in summer is the watching of fin whales to which attention has been drawn by CEAZA’s activities and platforms.
99 Cámara de Turismo de Coquimbo, 2018. 100 CEAZA, 2014. Related to projects financed by the Innovation for Competitiveness Fund (FIC). 101 DTS Consultores, 2008. Estudio Básico Diagnóstico y Plan de Desarrollo Turístico, Comuna de La Higuera.
However, there is a lack of quality infrastructure for tourism which is, moreover, not adequately regulated and administered, implying a direct threat to the fauna that is, precisely, the object of the visits.
Surfing on the La Ventana Beach: A little north of Punta de Choros, there is a white sand beach with gentle slopes, crystal clear waters and waves that break a long way from the shore. It ends with a rocky formation, which forms an arch under which the waves pass at high tide. On the northern side of this formation, a cove has formed which fishermen refer to as Herradura de las Ventanas. Very close to this, there is also an islet with a colony of sea lions. Advanced surfers like to surf this beachbreak very early in the morning when there is no wind and, hopefully, a northern swell. This beach has camping facilities and offers a view of the islands and an incomparable sunset. Its distance from the light of the town also makes it a privileged place to view the night sky.102
Diving and underwater fishing: According to the Atacama Region Project for Macrozoning of Preferential Uses of the Coastline, which is currently in the process of obtaining approval, the Chañaral de Aceituno sector has been identified by the Fishermen’s Union as a place for underwater fishing and diving.103
102 OUTDOORS, 2018. Desde el interior hacia la costa de Coquimbo. 103 Gobierno Regional de Atacama, 2016. Zonificación de Usos del Borde Costero, Memoria Explicativa 77
