Arica - Putre - Parque Nacional Lauca - Salar de Surire - 
Cariquima - Humberstone - Pica - 
Geoglifos de Pintados - Calama/San Pedro de Atacama
Tour: (Cod. 022) 4 Days - 3 Nights

1st day: Arica – National Park Lauca – Parinacota – Lago Chungara – Putre

We meet you at your hotel at 9:00 p.m and head to the Lluta-Valley to get to the Cactus Candelabro and the magnetic zone as well as to a pre-Inca fortress in Copaquilla. Lunch in Zapahuira. We conclude the trip to Socoroma, a traditional village in the Precordillera at 3000 m altitude and stop at the lookout point Mirador de Putre. We head on to the Bofedal de las Cuevas where we do a 40-minutes walk. During this walk you have the chance to see wild animals like Vicuñas and Vizcachas and get to know bofedales, the basis of the altiplanic ecosystem (viewpoint Bofedal de Parinacota). Furthermore you have the chance to admire a variety of birds like Pitios del Norte, Guallatas and Taguas for example. Later we arrive at the crystalline Lake Chungara (4510 m above sea level) and the lagoons of Cotacotani. After visiting the village of Parinacota with its typical 17th century church, we return to Putre at about 06:00 p.m. Dinner and accommodation.

2nd day: Putre – Salt lake Salar de Surire – National Park Volcano Isluga – Colchane

We leave Putre at 8:00 a.m. and have breakfast at the Bofedal the las Cuevas. We visit Ancuta and Guallatire, two villages located at the foot of the active volcano Guallatire in the altiplano (4000 m altitude). At about noon we arrive at the salt lake Salar de Surire and visit Chilcaya where we give you the opportunity to take pictures of the flora and fauna during an one-hour walking-trip around this natural monument. Afterwards we head for the hot springs of Polloquere at 4270 m altitude where we have a picnic and enjoy a relaxing bath. After the break we head towards the National Park Volcano Isluga, crossing the Altiplano through Pampas and Bofedales, observing the scarce flora and fauna. You will see several altiplanic viewpoints, as those of Arabilla and Enquelga; also small queñua groves. Finally we visit the village of Isluga and reach Colchane at about 7:00 p.m., a small town located at the Bolivian border, 3730 m above sea level. Here we enjoy our dinner and stay overnight.

3rd day: Colchane – Cariquima – Huara – Iquique

After breakfast at 8:00 am our first stop will be at the legendary and gigantic cacti at the Río Grande. After that we’re going to the village of Cariquima which is famous for its traditional needlework. You will be able to experience the life of the locals. Further on our journey takes us through several canyons, for example Quebrada de la Felicidad. There we have a few stops at selected lookoutpoints like Chuzmiza and Pachica where you will be able to take some pictures. Pachica is also the entrance to the desert of Atacama. You will be able to discover the changes in the landscape. Also in the desert you will admire the geoglyph Gigante de Atacama, the largest archaeological human represantion of the world (86 m high). Lunch in Huara. Afterwards we discover the ghosttowns of Humberstone and Santa Laura. Humberstone used to be a nitrate mining town which was abandoned in the 1960s. From there we will arrive in Iquique at about 5:00 p.m. Dinner and accommodation.

Our tour package includes:

Accommodation
1 night in hotel/hostel in Putre
1 night in a Refugio in Colchane
1 night in hotel/hostel in Iquique
Food
3 x breakfast in Putre, Colchane and Iquique
4 x lunch (Zapahuire, picnic in Polloquere, Huara, Quillagua)
3 x dinner in restaurant with wine included in Putre, Colchane and Iquique
Snacks: fruits, coffee, tea, cookies
Guide
Spanish speaking guide/driver with experience
Transportation
Minibus (van) with oxygen equipment
Others
Entrance fees for Humberstone
walks at the Bofedal de las Cuevas, at the Cotacotani Lagoons and Salar the Surire