Algarrobo
Chile's nautical capital — home to the world's largest swimming pool
Algarrobo is a coastal town in Chile's Valparaíso Region, roughly 100 km west of Santiago, known as the country's "nautical capital" for its long tradition of sailing and water sports in its calm bay. It's a popular summer destination on the Central Coast, with pine-backed beaches and a relaxed, small-town feel just a couple of hours from the capital.
The town's beaches include El Canelo to the south, El Canelillo backed by pine forest, and Algarrobo Norte, known for its sunset views. Offshore near Punta de Fraile sits Islote Pájaros Niños, a nature sanctuary and the northernmost breeding site of the Humboldt penguin, shared with Magellanic penguins and more than 20 other seabird species.
Algarrobo is also home to San Alfonso del Mar, a private residential complex whose centerpiece is a 1-kilometer-long saltwater lagoon holding 250 million liters of water, filtered directly from the sea using Crystal Lagoons technology. At its completion in 2006, it held the Guinness World Record for the largest swimming pool in the world, covering 8.2 hectares with a maximum depth of 3.5 meters — calm, clear, temperature-controlled water without the currents or cold of the open Pacific.
Things to do
- ✓Boat trips to Islote Pájaros Niños to see Humboldt and Magellanic penguins
- ✓Sailing, paddleboarding, and other water sports in Algarrobo's bay
- ✓Swim in San Alfonso del Mar's record-holding lagoon, or rent a kayak or paddleboard for use in it
- ✓Visit Iglesia La Candelaria, a 19th-century church in the town center
- ✓Watch the sunset from Algarrobo Norte beach
- ✓Day trips to the wineries of the nearby Casablanca Valley
Gastronomy
Seafood restaurants line the coast serving the day's catch, alongside casual cafés in the town center and the restaurants inside San Alfonso del Mar itself.
How to get there
About 100 km — 1.5 to 2 hours by car — from Santiago via Ruta 68. San Alfonso del Mar, the town center, and Algarrobo's beaches are all a few minutes apart on foot or by car.
Practical info
- From Santiago
- ~100 km (about 1h30–2h by car)
- From Algarrobo
- in town — a few minutes by car
- Best time to visit
- December–March for beach season, sailing, and penguin-watching boat trips; San Alfonso del Mar's temperature-controlled lagoon is pleasant year-round.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons