Tour 1 Day: Lake Chungará
When you hear someone talk about the beauty of the Chilean Altiplano, you will inevitable hear about the spectacular Lake Chungará. This incredible place is one of the most beautiful destinations of Chile. Being one of the highest lakes in the world, it is surrounded by many myths and stories that fascinate travelers. We invite you to explore the fantastic Lake Chungará on a unique adventure.
Itinerary
Day 1._ Arica - National Park Lauca - Lake Chungará - Arica
The excursion starts between 07:00 and 07:30am. We will pick you up from your accommodation in Arica to start the tour through the impressive Lluta Valley. The valley is a rich archaeological treasure and you will be able to spot large geoglyphs dating from 1000 BC. Next, we will stop in the village of Poconchile where you can visit the beautiful little church San Gerónimo. It is one of the most valuable buildings in Poconchile as it contains some of the most ancient artifacts of the village. The church was built in the early 17th century, making it the oldest church of the region. As we continue to make our way up into the highlands you can not only explore historic places, but you will also get to know the singular flora and fauna of Northern Chile. We will cross the Canyon of Cardones, where in the middle of the desert you will find hundreds and hundreds of giant cactus (cactus candelabros).
On this part of the route, we will pass the “magnetic zone”. A small sign lets you know that you enter this mysterious area, just before the road starts to notably climb up a little hill. On this part of the road, although it seemingly takes you up, if you take out the gear of the vehicle it will start to move upwards along the road as if it was a downhill ride. Until today, nobody has provided a valid explanation for this strange phenomenon. However, it is always worth to try it yourself and experience another one of the mysteries of the Chilean Altiplano.
Our next stop will be the Pukara de Copaquilla, an impressive fort that dates from pre-Inca times. From there, the route takes us along the Tambo de Zapahuira. The Tambo used to be a place of rest for travelers during the Inca imperium, and until today it remains a favorite stop to get some food and rest for those who travel the streets of the Altiplano on a daily basis. We will stop at the viewpoint of Putre to enjoy panoramic views of the Socoroma Valley and the picturesque village of Putre, the capital of the province of Parinacota. Take a minute to breath in the pure air of the magical Altiplano and take in the incredible views of the villages and snow covered peaks, the Nevados of Putre.
Continuing upwards we approach one of the most important and fascinating places of this tour, the Lake Chungará. Shortly after passing Putre we enter the National Park Lauca, an area of great natural beauty, incredible landscapes and a wonderful flora and fauna. On an easy hike you can explore the nature of the Altiplano and spot families of Vizcachas, one of the typical animals of the region, living in and around the highland caves. From here, you will also have great views on the majestic twin volcanoes Payachatas. And following the route a little further we finally reach the main attraction of the National Park Lauca, the impressive Lake Chungará, one of the highest lakes in the world (4.517m above sea level). It lies quietly below the two volcanoes Payachatas, creating an unbelievable scenery. Observe the more than 130 different bird species that have chosen the lake to become their habitat, like the Chilean flamingo, the guallata, the Andean condor and the giant tagua, or spot some of the other animals that frequent the area like the alpacas, vizcachas, guanacos, vicuñas, pumas, llamas or foxes.
After having explored the exceptional beauty of Lake Chungará, we will slowly start to make our way back. We will stop at the Lagoons of Cotacotani to appreciate their turquoise waters and visit the village of Parinacota. The church of the village was built on the 17th century and declared national monument. From there, we continue to the village of Putre where you can enjoy a walk through the charming streets and discover the local Aymara culture. A typical lunch in one of the local restaurants will show you the gastronomic traditions and customs of the Chilean highlands.
We then make our way back to the city of Arica, where we arrive around 08:30pm approximately. End of the excursion.
Gallery
Main attractions
Valle de Lluta (Lluta Valley) - Archaeological Treasure in the North
In Aymara “muddy, covered in mud”.
The Lluta Valley is located 10km North of Arica. It developed due to the river of the same name which runs through the valley and terminates in the Pacific Ocean. In the valley of Lluta, you can find huge geopglyphs (ancient stone images and wall paintings) on the flanks of the hills. They are said to date back to the years between 1100 until 1400 a.C., the time in which the region and local culture started to develop. Read more
Poconchile - Precious Heritage of the North
In Aymara “type of pasture land”.
Poconchile is a small village located 37km east of Arica. It developed from a pre-Inca farm settlement on the bank of the Lluta River, surrounded by wide alfalfa fields. Originally, its purpose was twofold: It served as a place of rest for travelers along the route to the Altiplano and at the same time was used a storage place for works on the railway tracks leading to Bolivia. Read more
Pukará Copaquilla (Copaquilla Fort) - Fascinating Archaeology in the Altiplano
In Aymara “relic of the moon (due to the grey color of its soil)”.
This archaeological complex is located in the municipality of Putre, about 100km northeast of Arica and at 3.000m above sea level within the region of Arica and Parinacota. Copaquilla, which in Quechua means “grey dust”, was built during the 12th century for defense purposes. The fort sits on the edge of a cliff, protected by a stone wall. Read more
Putre - Colonial Treasure in the Andean Altiplano
In Aymara “murmuring water”.
Located in the Altiplano about 145km from Arica lies the village of Putre. With its numerous buildings dating back to the 17th century, for example the picturesque church, this place will make you feel like you have traveled back in time. Read more
Parinacota - Legendary Village
In Aymara “Lagoon of Parinas or Flamingos”.
This small settlement in the Andean Altiplano belongs to the municipality of Putre, located in the 15. Region Arica and Parinacota. It is known for the bofedal (typical wetland) that surrounds the village. Read more
National Park Lauca - Nature Paradise of the Chilean Altiplano
The National Park Lauca was created in the year 1970. It covers a surface of 137.883 hectares across the pre-cordillera and the Altiplano. Administratively, it belongs to the municipality of Putre in the province Parinacota, Region of Arica and Parinacota. In 1981 is was declared integral part of the Global Network of World Biosphere Reserves. Read more
Lago Chungará (Lake Chungará) - Unforgettable Landscape in the North of Chile
In Aymara, “moss on the stone”.
The lake is located in the province of Parinacota, Region of Arica and Parinacota, in the extreme Northern part of Chile. Read more
Lagunas Cotacotani (Cotacotani Lagoons) - Magical Reflections in the Water
In Aymara “complex of lagoons”.
The Lagoons of Cotacotani are located in the very North of Chile, within the Chilean Altiplano and close to the village of Putre in the National Park Lauca. Read more