Despite its religious importance, there is little life in this desert town for most of the year. It lies 72 km southeast of Iquique, 20 km from Pozo Almonte and 1,773 km north of Santiago, at an altitude of 995 meters above sea level. With its population of something over 560 inhabitants, it has been declared a Typical zone, and it enjoys a privileged climate with sunshine throughout the year.
It springs to life each year between July 12th and 18th, when thousands of visitors arrive to witness the fiesta in veneration of the Virgin del Carmen. The spectacle reaches its highest pitch on July 16th.
The village, of great cultural importance, is distinguished for its church, which stands on the Plaza de Armas. On one side is the Museum of the Virgin of La Tirana, in which are kept the offerings made to the virgin and other articles used in the fiestas held in her honor.
The most striking thing about the people are the dances performed on feast days, with groups coming for the most part from Arica, Iquique, Tocopilla and Chuquicamata. The dancing is accompanied by varied instruments such as trumpets and whistles, and the dancers dress in brightly colored costumes. According to researchers, these dances are said to come from the ancestral rhythms of Inca ceremonies, with traces from other Andean cultures.
The church of La Tirana was built at the beginning of the 20th century, after the previous building had been destroyed by two earthquakes, which occurred in 1868 and 1877. The parish priest Friedrich was responsible for the construction. The old church has been reconstructed and today is used as an alternative on feast days.
To reach this picturesque village from Santiago, Iquique or Arica, travel to Pozo Almonte on Ruta 5, either by public transport or in a private vehicle. From Pozo Almonte, go south on the same highway, then at km 9 take the turning to Pica and go 11 km to La Tirana. There is good, regular public transport from Pozo Almonte to La Tirana during the fiesta.
**I didn't write this, just so you know. But I thought that this was a better explination than I could ever write. I got it from this website http://www.turismochile.com/guide/la_tirana/
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