Museo Arqueológico San Miguel de Azapa

The Museo Arqueológico San Miguel de Azapa displays an extensive collection of artifacts from northern Chile, including textiles, ceramics, and petroglyphs from different periods. The exhibition is organized clearly, allowing visitors to trace the development of cultures in the region.

The institution began in 1957 as Arica's regional museum and was developed into its present form in 1967 by the Universidad de Tarapacá. The university helped the collection expand systematically and established rigorous documentation practices.

The collection displays textiles and ceramics that show how people in the region lived and worked. You can see how these objects were used in daily life and what skills the ancient craftspeople possessed.

The museum is located outside Arica and opens Tuesday through Sunday. Plan enough time to explore the exhibitions at your own pace and learn about the archaeological findings.

The museum preserves Chinchorro mummies in specially controlled spaces, making them older than Egyptian mummies. These ancient remains show unique mummification techniques that few visitors know about.

Location: San Miguel de Azapa

Location: Arica

Location: Arica y Parinacota Region

Location: Arica Province

Inception: 1967

Official opening: 1967

Website: http://masma.uta.cl

GPS coordinates: -18.51643,-70.18125

Latest update: December 11, 2025 11:01