1st day: Arica – Putre
The tour starts at 10:30 a.m. with a visit to
the Terminal Agropecuario (agrarian market) of Arica where you can
experience a typical market atmosphere. Then we enter the Azapa-Valley,
view the Geoglyph La Tropilla and visit the archeological Museum
San Miguel de Azapa. On our way to the Lluta-Valley you have the
opportunity to enjoy the panoramic view over both valleys. After a
lunch break in the ecological community Ecotruly, our tour leads
us to the Cactus Candelabro and the magnetic zone as well as to a
pre-Inca fortress in Copaquilla. We conclude the trip with an one-hour
walking-tour to Socoroma, a traditional village in the
Precordillera at 3000 m altitude, where we take a rest with coffee
and cookies before continuing our trip to Putre. Arrival at Putre
at approximately 6:30 p.m. Dinner and accomodation.
2nd day: Putre – National Park Lauca – Putre
Our second day starts at about 8:30 a.m. Either
we have breakfast in Putre or in 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.
Around noon we arrive at the crystalline Lake Chungara (4510 m
above sea level) and the lagoons of Cotacotani where we offer an
optional 3-hour walking-tour for you to observe both Andean flora
and fauna. After visiting the village of Parinacota with its
typical 17th century church and a picnic – lunch, we enjoy a
relaxing bath in the Jurasi hot springs before returning to Putre
at about 6:00 p.m. Dinner and accommodation
3rd day: Putre – Saltlake Salar de Surire
After breakfast in Putre 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.
Accommodation in the Refugio de CONAF. Dinner.
4th day: Salt lake Salar de Surire –
National Park Volcano Isluga – Enquelga – Colchane
Breakfast in front of the Salt lake Salar de
Surire at the CONAF Refugio. Afterwards we’re driving through the
National Park Volcano Isluga, crossing the Altiplano through
pampas and bofedales observing the scarces flora and fauna.
Further on we are heading towards the village Isluga with its
famous church. You will be able to take some pictures. Aprox. at
5:00 p.m. we arrive at Colchane. Dinner and accommodation.
5th day: Colchane – Cariquima – Salar de
Huasco – Pica
After breakfast at 8:00 a.m. 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. Further on our journey takes us to
Ancuaque with its famous church. We head on to Picavilque, at 5100
m above sea level, and while we are descending we can observe the
Salt lake Salar de Huasco. We also pass the hot springs in Lirima
and the village Collacagua and reach finally the Salar the Huasco,
where we have our lunch. We arrive in Pica at about 5:00 p.m.
Dinner and accommodation.
6th day: Pica – Geoglyphs de Pintados –
Quillagua – San Pedro de Atacama
After breakfast in Pica (1325 m) we walk to the
Cocha de Resbaladero. It is one of the biggest water sources of
the Atacama Desert. The water is famous for its healing abilities.
After a relaxing bath we are heading to the Geoglyphs de Pintados.
There you get the unique chance to see about 400 figures
representing humans, animals, birds and abstract paintings which
were made by humans aprox. 800 years ago. We leave this place
crossing the National Reserva Pampa del Tamarugal arriving at the
small village Quillagua, an oasis next to the river Loa. There we
will pass customs. After that we are driving through the desert to
get San Pedro the Atacama.
