6 Day Chilean Altiplano And Andes

Today we will head out to the foothills of The Andes, stopping at the Ofragía and Cerro Blanco petroglyphs. We will then head through the towns of Vitor, Tignamar and Belén. In the afternoon, we will make a stop in Chapiquiña and Putre, villages dedicated to livestock farming and agriculture, with fantastic terracing, still used today.

Today we will head out to the Lauca National Park, close to the Bolivian border and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Here we can appreciate a wide variety of Andean flora and fauna. We will stop at the ceremonial town of Parinacota, famous for its 17th century Baroque-Mestizo style church. We will then visit the Cotacotani Lagoons and The Chungara Lake, which is one of the highest in the world. It is also blessed with spectacular views of the Twin Payachatas volcanos Parinacota and Pomerape. You can hike around the lake to take in the magnificent scenery. Jurasi hot springs visit is an optional stop off before we return to Putre for the evening.

Today, we will traverse the northern highlands of The Andes, visiting protected areas such as Las Vicuñas National Reserve, Surire National Monument, Lauca National Park and Isluga National Park. We will make a stop in the towns of Ancuta and Guallatiri next to the active volcano of the same name.  We will then head to the Surire salt flats to see the nesting sites the Andean Flamingos. Then we can enjoy a soak in the Polloquere Hot springs overlooking the Salt flats. In the afternoon, we will visit the Andean towns of Enquelga, Isluga and The Aravilla Lagoon, arriving at Colchane in the early evening.

After breakfast, we will leave Colchane, leaving the altiplano behind us and head to the desert passing through the villages of Cariquima and Chuzmiza, with its unique terraces. We will then head to the Giant of Atacama, an 86 metre high geoglyph, etched into the Cerro Unita and dating back to the Tiwanaku civilization. In the afternoon, we will visit Humberstone and Santa Laura, walking down its now secluded streets. We can visit the theatre, the market and its church. At the end of the day, we will arrive in the city of Iquique, where we will spend the evening. 

After breakfast, we will leave the hotel and take you to the Iquique airport for your onward flight to your next exciting destination!