What to see in Calama
Calama is a mine workers town. So what can one see here. Miners, Mines and Trucks.
Only 16 km in the north of Calama, there is the biggest open coper mine of the world. A place Che Guevara went to see when he was traveling through South America as a young man.
The tour starts at 13h at the visitor center of Codelco (crossing of Av Granaderos & Central Sur). The best way to get there is by taking the micro with letter D. The tour is free but you are ask for a donation for a ONG at the end. You have to wear long sleeved clothes and closed shoes to take part. A reservation is required or helpful, depending on the season. You can make it via mail (visitas@codelco.cl) or per telephone (322-122). The tour is bilingual in Spanish and English.
First you are going to see the ghost town near the mine afterwards you are heading to the view point of the mine to take some pictures, then you return.
I recommend to bring your sunglasses, as it’s bright and windy, as well as something to cover your nose and mouth for a save breathing.
Next year this mine will close for economic reasons and will continue underground.
Is it vegan?
No animals no problems… Well, it is a fact that mining is destroying the environment (we are stealing the goods of mother earth) and the health of the workers. Yes, but they choose to work here, right? I don’t think so. It is individual of course, but here is one of the stories…
My mum is sick because her father was working in the mine and at some point he needed a new lung. So my mum gave half of her lung. Now she gets worse and I have to take care of her, she gets blind on one eye. I have to get her the medicine and buy the food. That’s why I came back from Valparaíso to help her. I started working in the mine, because we need money. They pay good for the job. I work in shifts. Seven days working, seven days resting. I sleep three of the free days.
