Chiu Chiu
An oasis village with a seventeenth century church whose roof is tied together with leather.
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Chiu Chiu is an Atacameño village on the Loa river, and its church of San Francisco, built in 1675, is among the oldest standing in Chile. It is adobe with walls over a metre thick, a beamed cactus-wood roof, and - the detail everyone is shown - joints lashed with leather thongs rather than nailed, because iron was scarce and the technique held. There are no windows in the side walls. Near the village is the Laguna Inca Coya, a deep circular sinkhole lake with local stories attached, and the Chiu Chiu petroglyphs and the Lasana fortress are a short drive further up the valley.
What you actually see
- A church of 1675 - among the oldest standing in Chile.
- Roof joints lashed with leather - iron was scarce, so thongs held it.
- Cactus wood beams and thick adobe - the local building method.
- Laguna Inca Coya nearby - a deep circular sinkhole lake.
When to go
Year round. Two hours.
Honest expectations
The church is usually locked and opening it means finding the keyholder. The village is very small with almost no services. Photography inside may be restricted. It is a short stop on the way to Lasana or Ollague.
Nearby
Lasana pukara is up the valley; Calama is south-west.
What to pack for Chiu Chiu
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.