Live a magical adventure in the North of Chile. Starting in Arica, this tour will take you through the valleys and up to the Lake Chungará, located in the National Park Lauca. We will cross the National Reserve Las Vicuñas, visit the incredible Salt Lake Surire and stop at the ancient stone image “Atacama Giant”.
Discover the most fascinating landscapes of the North and get to know the Altiplano. Observe the typical flora and fauna while driving through the different national parks, and learn more about Chile’s history on a tour through the old saltpeter mines of Humberstone.
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.
We leave Colchane in the morning to observe the Giant Cactus that get about 4 to 5 meters high. Then we continue visiting the villages of Cariquima and Chusmiza, before we get to the Atacama Giant (representation of a local god). On his right side you can find a reptile (wisdom) and on the left side a scale (justice). Lunch in Huara. Afterwards we make a stop at the nitrate mines of Humberstone which remind of the prosperity of the export of nitrates in the last century. Arrival in Iquique or return to Arica.
Day 1. Arica – Altiplano – 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 – Cariquima – Atacama Giant – Iquique or Arica
We leave Colchane in the morning to observe the Giant Cactus that get about 4 to 5 meters high. Then we continue visiting the villages of Cariquima and Chusmiza, before we get to the Atacama Giant (representation of a local god). On his right side you can find a reptile (wisdom) and on the left side a scale (justice). Lunch in Huara. Afterwards we make a stop at the nitrate mines of Humberstone which remind of the prosperity of the export of nitrates in the last century. Arrival in Iquique or return to Arica.
