The third edition of the fiesta del loco in Caleta Hornos was a huge success

Organizers hailed the third edition of the “Fiesta del Loco” in Caleta Hornos as a “complete success”, drawing over 5,000 attendees, including local residents, regional visitors, and tourists, who were able to taste the goodness of the sea through exquisite seafood dishes.

“We are thrilled with how the festival was a total success. Everyone who attended had the chance to enjoy the rich culinary traditions of our region, known for its exceptional seafood. Organizing this event has been a major undertaking, but we are proud to showcase our fishing cove, our community, and our star product: the loco (Chilean abalone),” said Mario Flores.

“We have developed strong collaboration with the artisanal fishing sector community, and we are confident we will continue moving forward. Contributing to productive development and the sustainability of fishing and local entrepreneurship is one of the main goals of our social and environmental strategy, and we are very grateful to have been invited by unions and organizations to this great popular festival, which is now a tradition in the commune,” highlighted Francisco Villalón, Corporate Affairs and Sustainable Development Manager at Andes Iron.

“It’s a great honor to represent artisanal fishing at this major celebration. My father, Marcelo Godoy, was the one who started this initiative, as well as many other efforts to support artisanal fishing. I’m sure he would be very happy with the organization and the number of people who have visited us today,” said Ivana Godoy, councilor of La Higuera.

“This great celebration is a reflection of the entrepreneurial and hardworking spirit of the commune, and it shows that when we have the opportunity and work together, we can achieve great things,” added Andrea Flores, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Tourism of La Higuera.

As part of this traditional celebration, which is being held in Caleta Hornos for the third time, attendees were able to delight their palates with local products offered at stands and dance to the rhythm of folklore and popular music. The most eagerly awaited performance was that of local urban singer Niko Og, who sparked euphoria among the audience, particularly the younger members.
Gastronomy, beach, and artisanal fishing.

Caleta Hornos is located just 30 kilometers north of La Serena, right alongside Route 5 North. Home to more than 300 fishermen and sea workers, this coastal village specializes in loco (Chilean abalone), their main resource cultivated in managed fishing areas. In addition to loco, they also extract a variety of seafood such as limpets, clams, razor clams, sea squirts (piure), as well as rockfish like conger eel, pomfret, jack mackerel, vieja, and rollizo, among others.

More than 5,000 people are expected to gather at the Caleta Hornos Pier on Sunday, February 23, for the third edition of the Fiesta del Loco — an all-day celebration kicking off at 10:00 AM. Dominga, in partnership with local fishermen’s unions and community organizations, warmly invites both tourists and residents to attend this beloved event and savor the finest preparations of the region’s flagship product: the loco.