Algarrobo
A yacht harbour and a lagoon that was once certified the largest swimming pool in the world.
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Algarrobo is a resort town on the central coast with a yacht club and a set of beaches, and the thing that put it into record books is the San Alfonso del Mar complex: a private lagoon about a kilometre long holding some 250 million litres of filtered sea water, opened in 2006 and recognised by Guinness at the time as the largest swimming pool in the world, later overtaken. It is not public - access is for owners and guests of the complex, which surprises visitors who come to see it. The town also has a Humboldt penguin colony on the Isla Pajaros, viewed from the shore.
What you actually see
- A kilometre-long private lagoon - once certified the world's largest pool.
- Filtered sea water - about 250 million litres of it.
- Not open to the public - access is for the complex's owners and guests.
- A penguin colony offshore - on the Isla Pajaros.
When to go
December to March. Half a day.
Honest expectations
The pool cannot be visited on a day trip - this catches people out repeatedly. The town is busy and expensive in January and February. The sea is cold. Parking near the beaches is difficult in season.
Nearby
Isla Negra and Neruda's house are south; Cartagena is beyond.
What to pack for Algarrobo
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.