Constitucion
Rock stacks on a river-mouth beach, in a town rebuilt to a new plan after the 2010 tsunami.
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Constitucion sits at the mouth of the Maule, and its beach at Piedra de la Iglesia carries a group of sandstone stacks worn into arches and pillars by the sea - the best known being the Piedra de la Iglesia itself, which has a natural opening through it. In February 2010 the earthquake and the tsunami that followed struck the town very hard, with heavy loss of life on the river island where people were camping for a summer festival. The reconstruction that followed included a coastal park along the river as a buffer, designed as protection rather than amenity, and a new plan for the low ground.
What you actually see
- Sandstone stacks on the beach - worn into arches and pillars.
- The Piedra de la Iglesia - the stack with an opening through it.
- Heavy losses in February 2010 - the earthquake and the tsunami.
- A coastal park built as a buffer - part of the reconstruction plan.
When to go
December to March. A full day.
Honest expectations
The 2010 disaster is recent and personal here. The town is a working port and pulp mill centre rather than a resort, and the mill is a visible presence. The sea is cold and the currents strong. Rocks are slippery at the stacks.
Nearby
Talca is inland, reachable by the branch railway; Chanco is south along the coast.
What to pack for Constitucion
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.