DAY 01: IQUIQUE – NITRATE TOWNS - ISLUGA NATIONAL PARK - ENQUELGA: -COLCHANE

An early departure takes us on a journey to the magical beauty of the Atacama, the most arid desert in the world, where we search the routes followed by ancient civilizations that inhabited this vast area of northern Chile. Visit the nitrate ghost towns of Santa Laura and Humberstone. In Santa Laura, the processing plant and smokestacks are still visible and in Humberstone, the town itself is the main attraction. Notable attractions in Humberstone are its theatre and church, both built of Oregon pine, and its hotel, which boasts a full sized swimming pool, built of iron. It takes only a little imagination to see the splendour of this important period in the Chile’s history. Leaving these ghost towns behind us, we continue on through the desert to the tiny desert Huara village, where we take a detour to visit Cerro Unita and the Atacama Giant, an 86mt high geoglyphs, one of the largest figures made in pre-Hispanic times and illustrating the figure of a man with feathered head dress. Continuing our ascent, we found our self with wonderful geologic formation with the most amazing contrasts of colour. Arrive at the border village of Colchane located at 212 km from Iquique at 3.730 m.s.n.m. Dinner and Accommodation on a basic residential.

DAY 02: COCHANE – ISLUGA - ENQUELGA - LAS VICUÑAS N. RESERVE- SALAR DE SURIRE - PUTRE.

On an early departure the first place to visit is Isluga village, close to the foot of the active volcano of the same name. The most notable feature of Isluga is its 17th Century church, considered by many as the most beautiful church on the altiplano. This area of the park is rich on birds and plant species, creating some truly unbeatable landscapes. Visit the village of Enquelga, an ancient and traditional village in which its inhabitants (Aymaras), keep the same lifestyle as they have done for centuries. We continue through the Andean past small queñua forests and some breathtaking scenery to enter Las Vicuñas National Park and arrive at one of the most stunning areas of the altiplano, the Salar de Surire (Surire Salt Lake). The Salar de Surire shows us a unique panorama, with a number of emerald lagoons and dotted liberally with pink (flamingos) and surrounded by snow capped volcanoes. The salar is a nature sanctuary where you find different animals and bird life such as ñandu (lesser rhea), flamingos, and tinamous. Visit the Polloquere hot springs. Box Lunch on route. After lunch we explore the salar and we have time to see its bird life, especially the flamingos, before continuing our journey, passing the Guallatire village, close to the foot of an active volcano of the same name Arrival to Putre, capital of the Province of Parinacota.