In northern Chile and the extreme southern tip of Peru is the six-hundred-mile strip of land known as the Atacama Desert. It is by far the driest place on the planet, receiving less precipitation than even the polar regions. Very little grows in this desert and some areas can go decades without seeing any measurable rainfall.
Located right in the middle of the Atacama Desert, near Chile’s borders with Peru and Bolivia, is the city of Arica. The city of Arica is a busy port city with over two hundred thousand inhabitants, and if you ever have the chance to visit, you are almost guaranteed to have a sunny stay. You see, Arica is the driest city in the world with an average rainfall of .03 inches.
Despite its lack of rainfall, Arica has a very pleasant climate. Average highs in the months of January, February, and March reach in the upper seventies Fahrenheit. (Chile is in the southern hemisphere so its seasons are the opposite from the north.) And, unlike other desert locales, the temperatures vary little throughout the year, which—along with the constant sun—has made it a popular tourist destination in recent years. Thousands of middle- and upper-class South Americans flock to the town to enjoy the sun, temperatures, and its fifteen-plus miles of nice beaches.
The waves in Arica are sweet too!
Surfers from the United States, Australia, Brazil, and Argentina have all traveled to the city to catch its tubular Chilean waves. The city has even hosted a number of professional surfing events.
But if you ever do make it to Arica, be sure not to wander too far from the city limits. Other than the main road that connects it to Bolivia, the roads in and out of the city are fairly primitive. If you break down in the Atacama Desert, it might be awhile before someone happens to come by, and you definitely can’t count on rain for water.