The Mamiña hot springs, in the middle of the Atacama desert are an ancient pre-Inca Indian settlement. Relax and benefit from the therapeutic waters that are born of the Chilean altiplano.
According to archaeological studies, the Mamiña Hot Springs are located in what is believed to be an ancient pre-Incan settlement in the North of Chile. These springs are an excellent choice for those who enjoy being around nature and adventure, under the sun and immersed in desert landscapes. Placed high above a valley, visitors have a privileged overview of the hills that provide the lovely backdrop for the ravine below.
There is a legend that tells the story of the only daughter of an Inca chief whose vision was restored upon bathing in these waters, famous by its therapeutic properties. To honor this miracle, the father demanded that the valley was named "Niña de mis ojos" (Girl of my Eyes), or "Mamiña". This region has been occupied by settlers since before the Inca domination and, up to this day, constructions that date back to the Colonial Spanish era are still standing.
Farming in this region is still done in the traditional Andean style with staircase terraces, where vegetables, alfalfa and fruits are mostly grown. The region's inhabitants are descendants of the Aymarás and Quechua people of long ago, and are very attached to their ancestral customs and traditions.
When to go: Year round
Facilities: The Mamiña Hot Springs are made up by a group of several thermal water fountains, some that are conditioned for public use and others that are untouched, flowing just as nature intended.
The most important sources of thermal water are the Ipla and Tambo.
Los Baños de Iplaa, the most well-known of the two, features bathing facilities and individual pools of natural thermal water. Average temperature around 113°F (45°C).
El Tambo Baths, near Ipla, boast the area's hottest waters at 134°F (57°C).
La Magnesia Spring provides water suitable for drinking and features the Radium Spring, the one that serves as the origin for the legend of the Inca Chief's daughter and which is recommended for ocular illnesses.
-If you want to delight in a mud bath, the Chinese Baths are ideal. It's a radioactive mud spring recommended for skin conditions.
Water Type:
Hyperthermic (134°F and 113°F/57ºC and 45ºC.)
Oligominerals
Hypertonic
SulfatedC
Chlorides
Sodium
Silica
Radioactive
Indications
Respiratory illnessesI
llnesses of the Nervous System
Skin conditions
Rheumatism
Fatigue
Sciatica
Joint illnesses
Neurological illnesses
Contraindications
Serious heart conditions
Applications
Outdoor thermal baths
Individual thermal baths
Mud baths
Gastronomy
The cuisine in the North of Chile is characterized by a variety of legumes and cereals, due to the arid climate. Within the most common ingredients are quinoa, a staple in the Inca culture, also is the potato, carrot and various tropical fruits like mango, passion fruit and guava.
Among typical dishes are roast alpaca cooked on firewood, chuño which is a soup-based Popes alpaca, onion, wheat and other vegetables. Also you can find al types of seafood and fishes to make differents dishes.
Further to the North, a typical sweet is the chumbeque this fact of flour, lard and layers of Orange, mango, passion fruit jams. There are also the pululos, which are a kind of very common puffed rice in the north end.
Tour: From Iquique/Pozo Almonte to Mamiña Hot Springs.
Recommendations
Since this traveling destinations is a coastal zone, the weather is desertic and very dry. There aren’t any extremes temperatures in the coastal area during the day or night. The average annual temperature is 18 ° C.
Many of the excursions and tours that are done here take you to visit places that are in the Chilean plateau, 3,500 above sea levels. This means that people may experience altitude sickness. It is important that people drink lots of water so they keep their body well hydrated. People shouldn’t make sudden or harsh movements, and let their body get used to the heights and the altitude.
Stores in rural areas are open all day, but they close between 13.00 and 15.00. We advise you to carry local currency (Chilean pesos), since it isn’t possible to pay with debit or credit cards in kiosks and rural stores.
Do not throw garbage on the beaches, parks or streets. To take care of our environment is everyone's responsibility. Avoid fines by following the rules.
Mamiña Hot Springs map
Come and discover Mamiña Hot Springs
What to do in Mamiña Hot Springs
These are the best day tours in Mamiña Hot Springs