As its name in the Kunza language indicates, Paposo is a fishermen's cove known for its crystal clear waters due to the variety of watersheds in the sector located in southwestern part of the Antofagasta Province, in the Antofagasta Region, and 56 kilometers north of the port of Taltal.
The richness and biological diversity of its coastal cliff, permanently humidified by mist, constitutes one of its main attractions. During the 19th century, it constituted the limits of the territorial claims of Bolivia and Chile.
The Paposo area is classified as a Coastal Desert, which has an exceptional development of plant life, due to the action of coastal fogs and underground water springs. This strip runs along the seaside platform, rising up the western slopes of the Coastal Cordillera, up to approximate heights of 1,500 m.a.s.l.
The coastal sector of Paposo represents an area of special interest. Here, 532 species of flora are reported, a figure that represents 9.8% of the Chilean wild flora, of which 280 species are endemic, that is, 52.6%.
The main activity of its 400 inhabitants is artisanal fishing, divided into shellfish divers and seaweed collectors, the latter being the main economic source since 2015.