Museo de Sitio Colón 10
About This Museum
Tucked away on a quiet street in the sun-baked city of Arica, Museo de Sitio Colón 10 feels less like a formal institution and more like stepping directly into the past. The museum is built right over the original archaeological site, so you walk on glass floors peering down at ancient foundations and burial pits. It’s an incredibly intimate experience, connecting you to the Chinchorro culture—the world's oldest mummies—right where they lived and were laid to rest. This isn't a place of dusty relics behind glass, but a vivid, grounded story of a people who thrived in this harsh coastal landscape millennia ago.
Collection Highlights
The undeniable stars are the remarkably preserved Chinchorro mummies, displayed with a profound respect that highlights their intricate mummification techniques. You'll also find a fascinating array of fishing hooks made from shells, delicate bone tools, and other everyday objects that paint a vivid picture of their hunter-gatherer life.
Visitor Information
It's a compact museum, so you can easily absorb it all in under an hour—a perfect cultural stop to escape the midday heat. Just head to Cristóbal Colón 10 in central Arica; it's unassuming from the outside but holds profound history within.
Architecture & Building
The building is modern and minimalist, designed specifically as a protective shell over the excavation site. Its clean lines and use of glass create a stark, respectful contrast to the ancient earth and ruins preserved beneath your feet.
Contact & Location
Address: Museo de Sitio Colón 10, 10, Cristóbal Colón, Edificio Vicuña Mackena, Arica, Provincia de Arica, Región de Arica y Parinacota, 1000000, Chile
Phone: +56 58 220 5041
