Algarrobo is located in a sheltered bay, and over its hillocks there are summer houses. Its ocean is calm and all aquatic sports can be practiced. Algarrobo is also the headquarters for the main regattas in the coast. It has a yacht club and the Nautical Brotherhood of the Pacific, in an artificial bay.
It’s located at one side of the Pájaros Niños Islet Nature Sanctuary (Santuario de la Naturaleza Islote Pájaros Niños), where a community of migratory birds makes their nests and we can also find Humboldt penguins. From the dock of Algarrobo motorboats sail to make trips to the vicinity of the Pájaros Niños Islet Nature Sanctuary, allowing you to have a glimpse at the penguins.
Algarrobo has a steady population of 5,827 which goes up to 80.000 in summer season. The summer life in Algarrobo is centered on the beaches, and, at sunset, the young people go to the shopping malls and to the oceanside road, while the adults walk around different gores or to the point El Leoncillo, to watch the sunset. During the summer nights many presentations of chamber theater are organized in the House of Culture (Casa de la Cultura).
The town of Algarrobo owes its origin to the production from Lo Orrego ranch that came out through this creek. In 1845 it was implemented as a port of cabotage; soon warehouses and summer houses of the ranch were built. From that time dates the neighborhood called “El Pueblo,” from which today still remains La Casa Roja, from 1860, with a grotto to the virgin on its walls and, on its side, other buildings from that period, such as a public school, currently the House of Culture, with two floors and ample balcony.
The most popular and visited beaches of Algarrobo are San Pedro, along the La Caleta and the Yacht Club, that’s also a center for nautical activities, and the beaches of El Canelo and Cardillo, with great tourist affluence because of its fine and white sands, calm ocean and beautiful woody environment of El Canelo Park (Parque El Canelo). The Los Tubos beach is quieter and has a better view of the sailboats in motion. Two social meeting points and much visited are the beaches of Pejerrey and Las Cadenas. Parking fee is $2,000 from 9 am to 1 pm and $2,000 from 1 pm to 8 pm.
On one side stands out the Iglesia de La Candelaria, declared national monument. Masses are held between January and February, every day at 9 am; between March and December on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 7 pm. The Church of La Candelaria was built in 1837 by the parish priest of Lo Abarca, Manuel Beltrán, and its belfry is a piece of work by fray Pedro Subercaseaux. Saint Teresa of Los Andes (Santa Teresa de Los Andes) used to come here and teach catechism to the children along its corridors. In its interior there’s the image of the Virgin of Rosario (Virgen del Rosario), from the XVII century that has a brown face and black hair.
No comments:
Post a Comment