The city has 109,393 inhabitants and is located 472 km north of Santiago, and 12 km from Coquimbo, with which it forms a joint conurbation.

It is in remarkable natural surroundings, with beaches washed by the warm sea, the nearby Elqui valley, and green areas in the city.
It was founded in 1544, which makes it the second oldest city in Chile. At that time, it served as a land and sea link with Peru.

Three architectural features stand out here: colonial, mining and neo-colonial. The layout of square blocks around the plaza has been preserved; the mining boom triggered the construction of many churches and houses and later, the Spanish style was imposed on public and private buildings.

La Serena is noted for the wide range of tourist services available, especially in the Avenida del Mar sector.