Under $100: La Serena, Chile

Chile’s second-oldest city, La Serena serves as the gateway to the Valle del Elqui, but is worth a stop in its own right.

As a student town, La Serena has plenty to offer young travelers, and its booming economy has led to the foundation of a new wave of restaurants and bars.

Fill up for the day with breakfast at Lighthouse Coffee Shop ($8) before walking around the golden beach toward the compact town center and the markets. Stop in at the archaeological museum (free) to see the only Easter Island statue that has been around Europe, and then go to Jardin del Corazon ($2), a Japanese garden that commemorates La Serena’s links with Japan thanks to the mining industry.

La Serena Lighthouse © Albertoloyo | Dreamstime

Lunch at Porotas Restaurante ($10) looking over the beach, before strolling down to Il Gelatto ice cream shop ($4). Walk down to the beach before getting into a wetsuit, hiring a surfboard ($10) and hitting the waves for the afternoon. The water is cold but the waves are regular and a good size for beginners. Walk along the long stretch of sand as the sun sets before heading back to your hostel to prepare for the night ahead.

After getting showered and changed, go into the middle of town to drink at Boicot (beers cost $3) which also serves burgers, fries and other good drinking food ($6). After getting warmed up, move on to beachfront club Kamanga (beers cost $4) and perhaps onto La Serena’s casino later on if you are feeling lucky.

La Serena © Marcelo Vildósola Garrigó | Dreamstime