Raices Andinas
Day 1. Arica-Putre
Departure of the Tour at 10:30 hrs. We will visit the Agricultural Terminal to see a typical market. We will enter the Azapa Valley, on the way we will observe the La Tropilla Geoglyph. Then we will visit the San Miguel de Azapa Museum. We will cross towards the Lluta Valley where we will have a view of both valleys. We will have lunch in an Ecotruly ecological community. We will appreciate the candelabra cactus and the magnetic zone, we will visit a pre-Inca fortress in Copaquilla and we will visit a foothill town of Socoroma 3000 meters above sea level. We will walk towards this town for approximately 1 hour, a short break (coffee and cookies). Arrival to Putre 3500 masl at 18:30 hrs. approximately. Dinner and accommodation.
Day 2. Putre – Lauca – Putre National Park
Departure from the accommodation in Putre at 08:30 hrs. approx. We will have breakfast in Putre or in the Bofedal de las Cuevas where we will hike for 40 min. On the way we will see wild vicuñas, vizcachas and we will know bofedales, the base of the ecosystem in the altiplano (Mirador Bofedal de Parinacota). We will be able to admire a great variety of birds such as the pitios del norte, guallatas, coots, among others. We will admire the Chungara Lake and the Cotacotani Lagoons where we will hike for approximately 3 hours (optional). We will have a picnic - lunch in the town of Parinacota, we will tour the town. We will enjoy the Jurasi Hot Springs. Return to Putre at approximately 6:00 p.m. Dinner and accommodation.
Day 3. Putre – Salar de Surire – Isluga Volcano National Park – Colchane
Departure from Putre at 08:00 hrs. approx. Breakfast Bofedal de las Cuevas (4310 masl), visiting later Ancuta and Guallatire, two highland towns over 4000 meters above sea level at the foot of the active volcano Guallatire. Arriving at the Salar de Surire at 12:00 hrs. approx. We will visit Chilcaya making a walk of approximately one hour, to photograph the flora and fauna in this National Monument; then we go to the Polloquere Hot Springs at 4270 masl, picnic and bathing in this place. Departure towards Mulluri – Viewpoint of Arabilla and Enquelga. We will visit the Isluga Volcano National Park and the Isluga town, where we will see its church and abundance of bofedales. Arriving in Colchane at 7:00 p.m. approx. Dinner.
Day 4. Colchane-Huara-Iquique
Breakfast at 08:00 a.m. We will visit the giant cacti of the Rio Grande and then we will arrive at the town of Cariquima, famous for its skilled artisan weavers for centuries. We will go down towards the La Felicidad ravine and stop at the Victoria Viewpoint, a beautiful view of canyons and volcanic rocks. Visiting then the Chusmiza and Pachica Viewpoints, the latter on the edge of the Atacama Desert. Then we continue to Cerro Unitas to observe the largest Geoglyph in the area "El Gigante de Atacama". We will have lunch in Huara and then visit the Humberstone saltpeter mines. Arrival in Iquique at 5:00 p.m. approx.
Includes:
Accommodation:
2 nights in a hotel/hostel in Putre (according to availability).
1 night at the Refuge in Colchane.
Feeding:
3 breakfasts in Putre and Colchane.
4 lunches (Ecotruly, picnic in Parinacota and Polloquere, Huara.
3 dinners in a restaurant in Putre and Colchane with wine included.
Soft drinks and mineral water without gas.
Fruits, coffee, cookies.
Guide:
Experienced guide/driver in English.
Vehicle:
Minibus (van) with oxygen equipment.
Others:
Tickets to the San Miguel de Azapa Museum, Termas de Jurasi and Polloquere.
Walks in Socoroma, Bofedal de las Cuevas, Cotacotani Lagoons and Salar de Surire.
Minimum number of passengers per vehicle 1.
Maximum passengers per vehicle 6.