This tour will take you from Iquique to Arica, the City of Eternal Spring, and combines the most beautiful sights and sceneries of Northern Chile and the Altiplano. Make the most of your time and join us for this unforgettable trip!
In 4 days, you will visit the National Park Volcano Isluga, the highland villages of Ancuta and Guallatire and the historical saltpeter mines of Humberstone. Enjoy a picnic at the white shores of the Salt Lake Surire, observe the fauna at the magical Lake Chungará and stroll through the charming town of Putre.
We leave Iquique in the morning to visit the nitrate mines of Humberstone which remind of the prosperity of the export of nitrates in the last century. Lunch in Huara. Afterwards we stop at the geoglyph of 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). Continuin our route we pass the village Cariquima, observe the giant cactuses that reach about 4 to 5 meters and finally get to the village of Colchane.
Leaving Colchane we pass the altiplanic towns Enquelga and Isluga, then we continue to the Lagoon Arabilla. We cross the National Park Isluga where we will have a Picknick. At the Thermal Baths of Polloquere you can realize small hikes, take photographies and enjoy panoramic views. Your will get to know the Salt Lake Surire (4.200m over sea level), afterwards we pass the villages of Guallatire and Ancuta, cross the National Reserve of the Vicuñas and finally get to Putre at the end of the day.
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, we pass the village of Socoroma, lunch in Zapahuira. We visit the fort of Copaquilla, the candelabra cactuses and stop in Pocochile before we continue through the fertile valleys of Lluta and Azapa to get to Arica.
Day 1. Iquique – Atacama Giant – Colchane
We leave Iquique in the morning to visit the nitrate mines of Humberstone which remind of the prosperity of the export of nitrates in the last century. Lunch in Huara. Afterwards we stop at the geoglyph of 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). Continuin our route we pass the village Cariquima, observe the giant cactuses that reach about 4 to 5 meters and finally get to the village of Colchane.
Day 2. Colchane – National Park Isluga – National Reserve of the Vicuñas – Salt Lake Surire – Putre
Leaving Colchane we pass the altiplanic towns Enquelga and Isluga, then we continue to the Lagoon Arabilla. We cross the National Park Isluga where we will have a Picknick. At the Thermal Baths of Polloquere you can realize small hikes, take photographies and enjoy panoramic views. Your will get to know the Salt Lake Surire (4.200m over sea level), afterwards we pass the villages of Guallatire and Ancuta, cross the National Reserve of the Vicuñas and finally get to Putre at the end of the day.
Day 3. Putre – Lake Chungara – Parinacota – National Park Lauca – Putre
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 4. Putre – Arica
Departure from Putre, we pass the village of Socoroma, lunch in Zapahuira. We visit the fort of Copaquilla, the candelabra cactuses and stop in Pocochile before we continue through the fertile valleys of Lluta and Azapa to get to Arica.
