This village, of pre-Hispanic origin, stands at 1,325 meters above sea level, 114 km south-east of Iquique. The land around is planted with a variety of fruits and other plants, such as oranges, lemons, grapefruit and mangoes. They are grown for the production of home-made jams and other similar products.

The village stands on the Inca Road, and it is known that the Spanish discoverer of Chile, Diego de Almagro, passed through this way, and a Spanish settlement soon grew up here. The majority of the houses, businesses and churches date from the Spanish period.