3D/2N Chungará Border (Tambo Quemado), Lauca, Parinacota, Chungará, Vicuñas, Surire, Highland Villages, Arica

The tour starts from the border control Chungara. Our destination is the National Park Lauca with an expanse of 137.883 hectares, a biosphere reserve that covers the foothills and the highlands in the northeastern region of Arica and Parinacota. We start our day with a short hike through the sector of the caves. In this district, you can get to know the paradisiacal landscapes of the highlands, 4.300m above sea level, and you can observe the so-called Vizcachas. What makes this hike special is the mystical ambience that surrounds the region. It is believed that there are men living in this area who are over 9000 years old, and sometimes they are still seen, walking the paths of the highlands. They are said to be the very first visitors who appreciated the beauty of the landscapes.

Our journey continues to the viewing point of Chucuyo, which is located in the center of the National Park Lauca. Take some time to observe and learn about a unique ecosystem and an extraordinary flora and fauna. From here, we continue to the Lagoons of Cotacotani. This lagoon consists of different lakes and volcanic islands, providing evidence of the high volcanic activity of this zone. The viewing point lies in the middle of the wetlands and is the perfect spot to observe the great variety of plants and animals, such as the parinas, ducks, vicuñas, vizcachas and taguas.

We will be moving on to one of the most beautiful attraction of the National Park Lauca, the Lake Chungara, which is located over 4.500 meters over sea level and is one of the highest lakes in the world. It’s magical beauty and the marvelous reflection of the volcano Parinacota amaze thousands of tourists every year. On the other side of the lake, you can see the famous volcanoes Payachata (twin volcanos), about which many legends are told due to their mystical appearance. For example, people say that they house an old treasure of the Inca, and others say that they are a couple in love.

On our way back, we will visit the village of Parinacota which was declared national monument. Here, you can discover the ancient architecture of the highlands. The old houses are all made of adobe and have a great historical value, for they contain relicts of the time of colonialism and are symbols of the Aymara-culture. At the end of our excursion we enjoy a bath in the thermal springs of Jurasi, located in the middle of a small canyon. They are well known for its medical purposes, for example, they are recommended in case of rheumatism.

After enjoying all these different landscapes and regaining our strength with a warm thermal bath, we will arrive in Putre, where the first day of our tour ends. Dinner and accommodation.

The day starts from the beautiful town of Putre, capital of the province of Parinacota in the XV region of Arica and Parinacota. This village, an example of high Andean culture, is an excellent place to stay before taking any tour as it allows you to acclimatize and get used to the altitude.

We leave Putre in direction of the National Reserve of the Vicuñas which, as its name implies, was created to preserve the vicuña. The flora and fauna of this place are very attractive as they include a great variety of species. In the National Reserve Las Vicuñas, you can discover majestic sceneries that are typical for the Chilean Highlands. We will explore the towns of Ancuta, consisting of just 5 houses, and Guallatire, located at 83 km of Putre at the foot of the volcano Guallatiri. Here you can enjoy the beautiful view of its peak covered in snow.

The journey continues, reaching the most captivating destination of this tour, the salt lake Surire. It is located at 4,200 m above sea level. Surire was declared national monument and is a truly magical place. The intensely white salt deposits contrast with the pure blue of the water of the lagoons, without doubt a delight to your eyes. The salt lake of Surire also preserves the existence of valuable species such as the ostrich (ñandu), flamingo, vicuña, alpaca and the llama, among others. And also the precious flamingos find their habitat in this extraordinary ecosystem: three out of the six existing flamingo species are regularly seen around the salt lake.

Around noon, we will have a delicious picnic at the hot springs of Polloquere. Here you can enjoy a relaxing bath. Finally, after having recharged our energies, we will return back to Putre, the place that opened us the door to this incredible world in the altitude.

The third day of our tour starts at 08:00 in the morning, when the sun rises over the impressive mountains. We leave Putre and visit the village of Socoroma, outstanding for its architecture and its beautiful green terraces. It’s beautiful church San Francisco is made of out adobe and together with the cultivated terraces it converts this village into a fascinating corner of the Altiplano.

We will continue our tour to the village of Belén, a lovely town located at 3.240m above sea level. It is one of the oldest settlements in the Chilean Highlands. Belén is characterized by being the only village founded by the Spanish along the Inca Route. The beautiful landscapes that surround it are full aromatic oregano fields. Also, Belén has a little church constructed years ago in the Andean colonial style.

Moving on, we will visit Lupica and Saxamar, small towns in the pre-cordillera of Arica and Parinacota, located at more than 3.000m above sea level. Here, rainfalls allow for the growing of fascinating vegetation that attracts a great variety of altiplanic animals, such as guanacos and vicuñas. The church of Saxamar was constructed in 1986 and it contains all the relicts that once were stored in the old temple which was destroyed more than 100 years ago. The history and beauty of this place makes it an attractive place to visit.

Furthermore, you will get the opportunity to enjoy the peace and majesty of Ticnamar, a place that once was flooded by the river of the same name but is nowadays is restored. It is full of mystical remains that still represent the ancient Aymara-culture. We will finish the last day of our tour and take the Panamericana route to Arica, where our journey ends.