Hito al Trópico de Capricornio

The Hito al Trópico de Capricornio is a memorial in the Atacama Desert north of Antofagasta that marks the Tropic of Capricorn. Its main feature is a copper-clad steel arch standing 10.4 meters high, flanked by two 12.4-meter-tall walls that form the Sun Gates.

The Rotary Club of Antofagasta commissioned this memorial, which opened on December 21, 2000. The inauguration took place during the final solstice of the millennium, linking a key geographical point with a historically significant moment.

Local communities gather here during the winter and summer solstices to perform traditional ceremonies that connect the site's geographical importance with regional customs. These gatherings give the monument a role beyond its physical structure.

The site is located roughly 70 kilometers north of Antofagasta on the Pan-American Highway near Andrés Sabella Airport. The area is flat and open, making it easy to walk around and view the structures from different angles.

The structure also functions as a sundial and calendar, with sunlight casting precise shadows on the ground at specific times throughout the year. Visitors can observe how the light naturally changes with the sun's movement during equinoxes and solstices.

GPS coordinates: -23.44310,-70.42827

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:45