Raices Andinas
Day 1. Arica-Putre
The tour begins at 10:30 a.m. with a visit to the Terminal Agropecuario (agricultural market) of Arica, where you can enjoy a typical market atmosphere. Then we enter the Azapa Valley, visit the La Tropilla Geoglyph and visit the San Miguel de Azapa Archaeological Museum. On our way to the Lluta Valley, you will have the opportunity to enjoy the panoramic views of the valleys. After a lunch break in the Ecotruly ecological community, our tour takes us to the Cactus Candelabro and the magnetic zone, as well as a pre-Inca fortress in Copaquilla. We conclude the trip with a one-hour hike to Socoroma, a traditional town in the Precordillera at 3,000 m altitude, where we take a break with coffee and cookies before continuing our journey to Putre. Arrival in Putre at 18:30. Dinner and accommodation.
Day 2. Putre – Lauca – Putre National Park
Our second day begins at 8:30 a.m. We can have breakfast in Putre or in the Bofedal de las Cuevas where we will walk about 40 minutes. During this tour you have the opportunity to see wild animals, such as vicuñas and vizcachas, and we will visit bofedales, the base of the ecosystem in the altiplano (Mirador Bofedal de Parinacota). In addition, you have the opportunity to admire a great variety of birds such as Northern pitios, guallatas and coots, for example. Around noon we arrive at the crystalline Chungara Lake (4,510 m above sea level) and the Cotacotani lagoons where we offer an optional 3-hour walk-tour so you can observe the Andean flora and fauna. After visiting the town 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 6:00 pm Dinner and overnight.
Day 3. Putre – Surire Salt Flat
After breakfast in Putre we visit Ancuta and Guallatire, two towns located at the foot of the active volcano Guallatire in the altiplano (4000 m altitude). At about noon we arrive at the Salar de Surire and visit Chilcaya where we give you the opportunity to take photos of the flora and fauna during a one-hour walk around this natural monument. Then we go to the hot springs of Polloquere at 4270 m altitude, where we have a picnic and enjoy a relaxing bath. Dinner and accommodation at the CONAF Refuge.
Day 4. Salar de Surire – Isluga Volcano National Park – Enquelga – Colchane
Breakfast in front of the Salar de Surire lake at the CONAF Refuge. Then we go to the Isluga Volcano National Park, crossing the highlands through pampas and bofedales observing the scarce flora and fauna. Further on we head towards the Isluga town with its famous church. You will be able to take some photos. At 5:00 we are arriving at Colchane. Dinner and accommodation.
Day 5. Colchane
After breakfast at 8:00 am our first stop will be at the legendary and gigantic cacti on the Rio Grande. After that we go to the town of Cariquima, famous for its traditional work. You will be able to experience the life of the locals. In addition, our trip takes us through several canyons, for example the Quebrada de la Felicidad. There we have a few stops at certain points such as observation post-Chuzmiza and Pachica, where you can take some photos. Pachica is also the entrance to the Atacama desert. You will be able to discover the changes in the landscape. Also in the desert you will be able to admire the Gigante de Atacama geoglyph, the largest human archaeological representation in the world (86 m high). Lunch in Huara. Next we will discover the ghost town of Humberstone. It used to be a nitrate mining town that was abandoned in the 1960s. End of tour in Iquique.
The tour includes:
Accommodation:
2 night in a hotel/hostel in Putre (according to availability).
1 night at the CONAF Refuge in Surire.
1 night in a hotel/hostel in Colchane.
Feeding:
5 breakfasts in Putre, Parinacota, Surire (CONAF), Colchane.
5 lunches (Ecotruly, picnic in Parinacota and Polloquere).
4 dinners in a restaurant in Putre, Parinacota, Surire (CONAF), 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.
Humberstone Tickets.
Walks in Socoroma, Bofedal de las Cuevas, in the Cotacotani and Salar de Surire Lagoons.
Minimum number of passengers per vehicle: 01.
Maximum passengers per vehicle: 06.