Coquimbo

is the port city and capital of the Elqui Province in the Coquimbo Region of Chile. Coquimbo lies in a valley 10 km south of La Serena, forming a metropolitan area of more than 300,000 inhabitants. The average temperature in the city lies around 14° C, and it rains very little. The natural harbor in Coquimbo was taken over by Pedro de Valdivia from Spain in 1550.