Vallenar, Chile

Capital City

With a population of just 45,298, Vallenar is a small, isolated city in Chile's arid Atacama region. The main industries are mining and farming, but the local economy has seen an upswing since the 1960s with the opening of several iron mines. However, the city lies in the shadow of a large earthquake in 1922 that devastated much of its historic architecture. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, with the city administered by a municipal council and represented at the national level. While Llanos de Challe National Park provides some natural beauty 37 miles away, Vallenar's remote desert location and limited infrastructure make it best suited for those seeking a quiet, no-frills lifestyle in Chile's interior.