Edificio Mirador

Honestly, when I first pulled up to Edificio Mirador on Manuel Plaza, I wasn’t sure what to expect – it’s this tall residential building that doesn’t scream “hotel” from the outside. But you know what? That’s actually part of its charm. You’re staying in apartment 1707, which means you get this incredible high-rise view of Iquique without the touristy hotel lobby scene below.

The location is pretty brilliant if you know Iquique at all. Manuel Plaza puts you right in the heart of things, but not in that overwhelming beachfront chaos where you can’t find parking and everything costs twice as much. I mean, you’re still close enough to walk to Playa Cavancha – maybe fifteen minutes if you’re taking your time – but you’re actually living like locals do in this part of the city. The building itself has that modern Chilean apartment vibe, all clean lines and floor-to-ceiling windows. What really gets me is the view from the 17th floor… on clear days (which, let’s be honest, is most days in Iquique’s desert climate) you can see the Pacific stretching forever, plus the whole city sprawled out below with those dramatic hills rising behind it.

The apartment setup works really well for travelers who want more than just a hotel room. There’s a proper kitchen, which is clutch because eating out every meal in Iquique adds up fast, and the space actually feels like somewhere you’d want to hang out rather than just crash. The 8.6 rating makes sense – it’s not perfect, but the things that matter most are solid. The wifi holds up well (I was working remotely part of my stay), the water pressure is decent, and honestly the bed was more comfortable than I expected. Sometimes these apartment rentals skimp on mattresses, but not here. One thing to know is that it can get a bit windy up there – you’re pretty exposed being so high up and close to the ocean – but that also means it stays cool even when the city gets hot. Check-in was straightforward, though you’ll want to coordinate timing since it’s not like a hotel front desk. The building’s pretty quiet most of the time, which surprised me given how central it is. I guess that’s the advantage of being in a residential tower rather than a traditional hotel. If you’re looking for that authentic “living in Iquique” experience while still having tourist-level comfort, this place nails it.