Copiapó is the capital of the Atacama region, the 3rd region of Chile, and a city renowned for having the country’s first export of grapes from its valley which offers the most beautiful flowering desert, after every rain.
The city was officially founded on December 8, 1744 by Governor José Manso de Velasco, under the designation of San Francisco de la Selva de Copiapó.
In the last decades of the 19th century, with the decline of the Copiapó mining cycle, a period of less urban development began, which was reflected in the demographic decline of the city. However, in the mid-20th century, with the establishment of the Paipote smelter and the renewal of the small mining industry, the economy was reactivated and Copiapó entered a process of sustained urban development, amounting to more than 40,000 inhabitants in 1970 and nearly 70,000 in 1982.
Years later, and as a result of the enormous growth achieved by export grape plantations, the city has consolidated its development and the landscape of the valley has been transformed from a desert sandy area to a beautiful and continuous vineyard, with its green colors contrasting with the surrounding aridity.
During 2020 the construction of the Campos del Sol photovoltaic power plant began, located approximately 70 km away from the city of Copiapó, and just a few km from the Carrera Pinto solar power plant currently in operation. Campos del Sol will be the largest photovoltaic power plant in the country, with an installed capacity of more than 370 MW, through around 974,000 bifacial panels. Its construction is expected to be completed and its energy contribution to the national matrix will begin towards the end of 2021. Within the framework of the community relations program, among other initiatives, a program is developed to promote sustainable tourism in the Colla territory of the commune through the training and qualification of services that contribute to the tourist offer of the communities.