Historic Monument · Mining heritageChiflón del Diablo
Chiflón del Diablo
Mine.
Descend into Lota’s mining memory and explore galleries extending beneath the ocean.
An underground experienceLota’s history
Lota’s history
echoes through the mine.
The former Pique Carlos preserves the memory of coal mining and the communities that grew around it.
The visit is led by people connected to the mining world, whose stories reveal the effort, organisation and identity built within these galleries.
The descentMore than entering a mine.
More than entering a mine.
It is understanding a way of life.
Get ready
Receive safety instructions and the necessary equipment before beginning the tour.
Descend
Walk through sloping galleries and learn how the chiflón enabled natural ventilation.
Listen
Stories of work, camaraderie and daily life give human meaning to this industrial heritage.
Remember
Return to the surface with a new understanding of Lota and the generations who lived from coal.
Inside the experienceFaces, tools
Faces, tools
and galleries of memory.
Every descent brings together safety, human stories and direct contact with the material traces of mining work.
Industrial heritageCoal, engineering
Coal, engineering
and worker organisation.
During the nineteenth century, demand for coal drove the exploitation of deposits around the Gulf of Arauco. In 1869, depleted seams led mining operations towards undersea deposits.
The mine was notable for its natural ventilation and room-and-pillar system, which created a complex network of interconnected galleries.
Its history is also linked to harsh working conditions, trade-union organisation and coal workers’ struggles. Mining ceased permanently in 1997 and the site was declared a Historic Monument in 2009.
Room and pillar
Coal was extracted while leaving pillars to support the structure. In low sections, miners had to work on their knees.
Natural ventilation
Differences in elevation and the arrangement of galleries allowed air to circulate through the mine.
Literature and memoryThe world that inspired
The world that inspired
Sub terra.
Baldomero Lillo transformed Lota’s mining experience into landmark stories of Chilean literature. “El Chiflón del Diablo” appeared in the first edition of Sub terra, published in 1904.
Discover Sub terra at Memoria Chilena2026 information
Prepare your visit.
Descent times
Tuesday to Sunday
10:0012:0014:0016:00
General admission
$12,000 CLPTickets are sold in person and only in Chilean Pesos (CLP).
Special rates
Youth aged 7–17, students, teachers and people aged 60–65: $7,000 CLP. Valid proof is required where applicable.
Lota Community
General admission and eligible special rates: $5,000 CLP. Proof of birth or residence in Lota is required.
Who cannot descend
Children up to 6 years old, people aged 66 or over, and people with disabilities cannot descend into the mine. Complete Circuit tickets are not sold to these groups.
Before descending
- Arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled descent.
- Wear closed, comfortable footwear suitable for uneven surfaces.
- Follow staff and guide instructions at all times.
- Removing coal or any heritage material is prohibited.
Questions about the descent?