Coquimbo

Coquimbo is the port city and capital of the Elqui Province in the Coquimbo Region, Coquimbo lies close to La Serena, forming a metropolitan area of more than 300,000 inhabitants. It is currently undergoing a process of urban renewal under its mayor, Pedro Velasquez. The city itself, a gritty industrial and shipping center, is growing quickly, registering a 32.8% growth rate from 1992 to 2002. The 2002 population, according to the Chilean census, was 154,316, with 8,720 people living in the countryside directly surrounding the city. Coquimbo is a jumping point for small beach towns to the south, such as Guanaqueros and Tongoy.