Explore the North of Chile on this 5-day adventure. Discover the magical Altiplano and its flora, fauna, volcanos, lagoons and much more.
The tour starts in Arica and takes you through the Azapa Valley into the Andes, visiting the charming town Putre, the fascinating National Park Lauca, the famous Lake Chungará and the picturesque village of Parinacota. Take a relaxing bath in the Hot Springs of Jurasi before the tour continues to the National Reserve Las Vicuñas where you can enjoy impressive views over the Salt Lake Surire. Travel back in time while exploring the old saltpeter mines of Humberstone and Santa Lauca, and enjoy the drive through the Pampa of Tamarugal. The tour will end in famous San Pedro de Atacama.
We start from your hotel towards the Market Asoagro (typical fruit and vegetable market), then continue to the Azapa Valley where we observe various geoglyphs. Afterwards we visit the archaeological mueseum of Azapa, then cross the fertile Lluta Valley and pass the village of Poconchile. You will see the candelabra cactuses, the fort Pukara of Copaquilla, have lunch in Zapahuira and after visiting the village of Socoroma we finally get to Putre (3.500m).
Early in the morning we depart from Putre towards the National Park Lauca. We realize a small hike at Las Cuevas („The Caves“), appreciating the beautiful landscapes, then we visit the viewpoints of Chucuyo and the Lagoons of Cotacotani, continuing the journey to Lake Chungará. Here we observe the volcanoes Payachatas, visit the village of Parinacota with its adorable colonial church and finish our tour at the Thermal Baths of Jurasi. After a relaxing bath, we return to the village of Putre.
Departure from Putre to the Vicuña National Reserve, passing the villages of Ancuta and Guallatire; appreciating the volcano Guallatire. We arrive at the Salt Lake Surire (4,200 m) around noon where you can enjoy small hikes, photographies and panoramic views. Picknick at the Thermal Baths of Polloquere, then we cross the National Park Volcano Isluga, pass the lagoon Arabilla, the villages Enquelga and Isluga and finally arrive in Colchane at the end of the day.
Breakfast at 08:00 am. We will visit the giant cactuses and later pass the village of Cariquima, known for centuries for its handicraft. Moving on we get to the viewpoints of Chusmiza and Pachica on the border to the Atacama Desert. Then we continue to the Unitas Hill where you can observe the biggest geoglyph of the region, the „Atacama Giant“. Lunch in Huara, then we visit the nitrate mines of Humberstone and Santa Laura. Around 19:00 o’clock we arrive in the village of Pica.
We leave Pica to visit the geoglyphs “Pintados” that contain more that 400 figures in 66 panels representing humans, animals, birds and abstract paintings. From there we move on through the National Reserve of the Pampa of Tamarugal to later on get to the small oasis of Quillagua close to the river Loa. Here we will have lunch, then we cross the desert and make our way to San Pedro de Atacama.
Day 1. Arica – Highlands – Putre
We start from your hotel towards the Market Asoagro (typical fruit and vegetable market), then continue to the Azapa Valley where we observe various geoglyphs. Afterwards we visit the archaeological mueseum of Azapa, then cross the fertile Lluta Valley and pass the village of Poconchile. You will see the candelabra cactuses, the fort Pukara of Copaquilla, have lunch in Zapahuira and after visiting the village of Socoroma we finally get to Putre (3.500m).
Day 2. Putre – National Park Lauca – Lake Chungara – Parinacota – Putre
Early in the morning we depart from Putre towards the National Park Lauca. We realize a small hike at Las Cuevas („The Caves“), appreciating the beautiful landscapes, then we visit the viewpoints of Chucuyo and the Lagoons of Cotacotani, continuing the journey to Lake Chungará. Here we observe the volcanoes Payachatas, visit the village of Parinacota with its adorable colonial church and finish our tour at the Thermal Baths of Jurasi. After a relaxing bath, we return to the village of Putre.
Day 3. Putre – Vicuña National Reserve – Salt Lake Surire – National Park Isluga – Colchane
Departure from Putre to the Vicuña National Reserve, passing the villages of Ancuta and Guallatire; appreciating the volcano Guallatire. We arrive at the Salt Lake Surire (4,200 m) around noon where you can enjoy small hikes, photographies and panoramic views. Picknick at the Thermal Baths of Polloquere, then we cross the National Park Volcano Isluga, pass the lagoon Arabilla, the villages Enquelga and Isluga and finally arrive in Colchane at the end of the day.
Day 4. Colchane – Nitrate Mines – Matilla – Pica
Breakfast at 08:00 am. We will visit the giant cactuses and later pass the village of Cariquima, known for centuries for its handicraft. Moving on we get to the viewpoints of Chusmiza and Pachica on the border to the Atacama Desert. Then we continue to the Unitas Hill where you can observe the biggest geoglyph of the region, the „Atacama Giant“. Lunch in Huara, then we visit the nitrate mines of Humberstone and Santa Laura. Around 19:00 o’clock we arrive in the village of Pica.
Day 5. Pica – Atacama Desert – San Pedro de Atacama
We leave Pica to visit the geoglyphs “Pintados” that contain more that 400 figures in 66 panels representing humans, animals, birds and abstract paintings. From there we move on through the National Reserve of the Pampa of Tamarugal to later on get to the small oasis of Quillagua close to the river Loa. Here we will have lunch, then we cross the desert and make our way to San Pedro de Atacama.
