Tour Majestic Altiplano

The excursion starts at 08:00am. 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, the Altiplano starts to surprise us as we 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 17^th 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. Accommodation at your hotel. 

On our second day, we will leave Putre at 08:00am and make our way to the Salt Lake of Surire. An impressive scenery awaits you, located within the wide and fascinating National Reserve Las Vicuñas, which, as the name indicates, was created to preserve the species of the vicuña.

The routes takes us through the village of Ancuta, and old Aymara name for “white house”. The name likely was given because of the small white chapel that stands out against the brown colors of the highlands. We then enter the National Reserve Las Vicuñas, a place that allows you to discover and enjoy the incomparably beautiful landscapes and sceneries of Northern Chile. You will be surprised by the diversity of the native flora and fauna. Among the native species is the pretty and elegant vicuña, one of the mammals that inhabit the region.

We will pay a visit to the pre-Hispanic village Guallatire (“place of the guallatas” in Aymara). Like the village Ancuta, this place in the Northern part of Chile is located above 4.000m above sea level and has a charming little church in its center that dates back to the 17^th century. The village lies at the foot of the volcano Guallatire. Around 12:00pm we then reach the highlight of the day, the impressive Salt Lake Surire. It was declared natural monument due to its enormous salt deposits and the important habitat it creates for valuable and rare species like the vicuña, the alpaca, the llama and three different types of flamingos.

You will experience that this place possesses a unique majesty. The contrasting colors of the blue water, the white salt deposits and the brown hills create an indescribable scenery that lucky is still untouched by mankind. It is truly a magical landscape that makes this place a unique destination, not only for nature lovers. Most of the time, a visit to the salt lake will be a solitary experience, allowing visitors a basically private adventure and unforgettable experience.

Around the salt lake, we will visit the wetland of Chilcaya where you can discover more of the local flora and fauna. Then, we make a stop at the Hot Springs of Polloquere. The springs are located at 4.270m above sea level and offer a great spot to relax and take in the beautiful views. Enjoy a picknick at this incredible place above 4.000m and opt in for a relaxing bath in the turquoise thermal waters. The natural pools reach a temperature of up to 66°C and are said to help especially with rheumatic and other pains.

Afterwards we return to Arica, where we arrive around 08:00pm. End of the excursion.