Arica - Putre

The tour starts at 10:30 am. Visit of the agrarian market of Arica , getting to know the typical market atmosphere. In the Azapa–Valley we will observe the Geoglyph La Tropilla , visit the Archeological Museum San Miguel and, crossing towards the Lluta–Valley , enjoy the view over both valleys. Lunch at the ecological community Ecotruly. Appreciate the candelabra cactus and the magnetic zone and get to know the pre-Inca fortress of Copaquilla. One hour walking-tour to the traditional village Socoroma and little break with coffee and cookies. We arrive at Putre at 6:30 pm approximately. Accommodation

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Putre - Lauca - Parinacota

Today we start at 8:30 am. Breakfast in Putre or outside in Las Cuevas , surrounded by the bofedales, the bases of the altiplanic ecosystem, with its wild animals like Vicuñas and Vizcaches. 40-minutes walk through Las Cuevas. Admire the variety of birds like Pitios Del Norte, Guallatas and Taguas among others. We will arrive around noon to the crystalline Lake Chungará ( 4.510 m above sea level). Walk through the lagoons of Cotacotani with time to observe both Andean flora and fauna. Arriving to the village of Parinacota we will make a picnic- lunch. Walk through the village and visit of its typical 17th century church. Overnight stay in the house of Leonel Teran.

Parinacota - Surire - Isluga - Colchane

Breakfast in Parinacota. On our way to the Surire Salt Lake we will see several shepherd villages like Ancuta and Misitune , and arrive at Guallatire , a village at the foot of the smoky volcano of the same name.
Appreciate three types of local flamingos and observe the famous Suri, or Ñandú at the Surire Salt Lake . Lunch and bath at the Hot Spring of Polloquere. After this break we will leave towards the National Park Volcano Isluga , crossing the Altiplano through pampas and bofedales, observing the scarce flora and fauna. You will see several altiplanic lagoons, as those of Arabilla and Parinacota ; also small queñua groves. Visit of the villages of Isluga and Esquelga ; and Colchane , small town located at the Bolivian border, 3730 m above sea level. Overnight in Colchane.

Colchane - Cariquima - Huara - Pica

Crossing gorges that for hundred of years have deposited their scarce waters in the sterile desert of Atacama we will begin the descend from the altiplano. After getting to know some very old and very big cacti (till 4 m height!) we will have a short stop in the city of Cariquima , famous for its artisan needlework. Enjoy the spectacular view over canyons and volcanic rocks from the lookout points Mirador de Chuzmiza and Pachica on the border to the Atacama Desert . You will admire the “ Gigante de Atacama ” geoglyph, the largest archaeological human representation of the world ( 86 m high). Lunch in Huara . Visit of the ghost town of Humberstone , vestige of the glorious times of nitrate mining. Arrival about 8 pm in the village of Pica , an oasis in the desert.

Geoglifos de Pintados - Quillagua - San Pedro de Atacama

After our breakfast in Pica we will walk to the Cocha de Resbaladero , one of the sites used to extract water from the Atacama Desert . Those waters are semi-thermals and the people of the region say that it possesses curing properties. After this relaxing bath we will start to travel towards Pica to visit the geoglyphs de Pintados which contain about 400 figures on 66 panels representing humans, animals, birds and abstract paintings. We will leave this place crossing the National Reserve Pampa del Tamarugal arriving at the small village Quillagua , an oasis next to the river Loa with agriculture and an interesting church, train station and custom building. Driving through the desert we will continue towards San Pedro de Atacama. End our services