Mar del Ensueño

La Serena


For instant beach access, it's hard to beat the Ensueño – it's right across the road. A family-friendly place (play equipment, games room etc), it's a reasonable deal for couples too – the bright spacious rooms all face the ocean and there's a decent on-site restaurant.

Families should check out the cabañas, which offer more space, plus full kitchens and small patios.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby La Serena attractions

1. Jardín del Corazón

1.2 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…

2. Iglesia Santo Domingo

1.29 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…

4. Plaza de Armas

1.42 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…

5. Iglesia Catedral

1.46 MILES

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

6. Tribunales

1.47 MILES

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

7. Municipalidad

1.48 MILES

Pop your head inside to check out photos of the city's past.

8. Iglesia San Francisco

1.51 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…