Maria's Casa

La Serena


The cottage-style rooms at this family-run spot are simple and cozy, and there's a garden in back where you can camp (CH$5000 per person). Other backpacker-friendly amenities include well-scrubbed shared bathrooms, a quaint country kitchen with free tea and coffee, laundry service and bike rental.

You can arrange tours here or learn how to make your own pair of sandals.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby La Serena attractions

1. Iglesia Santo Domingo

0.49 MILES

The dainty-looking bell tower of Iglesia Santo Domingo looks as though it should have a twirling ballerina inside. The tower is a later addition, only a…

2. Iglesia San Francisco

0.5 MILES

The granddaddy of all La Serena's churches is a colonial marvel, two blocks southeast of the plaza and built in the early 1600s. It's a stone construction…

3. Jardín del Corazón

0.51 MILES

With its trickling brooks, drifting swans and neatly manicured rock gardens, this Japanese garden makes an idyllic escape from the city bustle. Don't miss…

5. Iglesia Catedral

0.56 MILES

The handsome neoclassical Iglesia Catedral dates from 1844; it also has a sobering museum of religious art.

6. Plaza de Armas

0.56 MILES

The heart of the colonial center is the palm-filled Plaza de Armas. The picturesque square makes a fine place for a stroll with a bit of people-watching…

7. Tribunales

0.61 MILES

Tribunales was built as a result of González Videla’s Plan Serena.

8. Patio Colonial

0.61 MILES

Tucked off Balmaceda, this small, picturesque lane is dotted with shops and eateries. The patio in back feels like a secret getaway from the city-center…