Concon
A dune field on the edge of a town, an oil refinery beyond it, and the coast's best fried fish between them.
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Concon sits where the Aconcagua river meets the sea, and its best known feature is the dune field on the southern edge of town - a sand system climbing the coastal slope, protected as a natural sanctuary and squeezed hard by the apartment blocks that have been built up to and, in disputed cases, onto it. The town is also the eating stop of the coast: the caletas and the road above them are lined with places selling fried fish, empanadas de marisco and machas a la parmesana, and Chileans drive up from Santiago for that specifically. An oil refinery operates north of the town, which is the other half of the local economy.
What you actually see
- A dune field on the town edge - protected, and under building pressure.
- Fried fish and shellfish - the reason Santiago drives up.
- The Aconcagua river mouth - where the valley reaches the sea.
- A refinery to the north - the town's other industry.
When to go
Year round; weekends are when the eating places are at their busiest. Half a day.
Honest expectations
The dunes are damaged and encroached on, which is visible. The refinery is a large presence. Restaurants are crowded at weekends and prices have risen. Sea fog is common in the mornings.
Nearby
Renaca and Vina del Mar are south; Maitencillo and Zapallar are north.
What to pack for Concon
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.