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(11) 3958-7071The natural beauty of Putre
It has great attractions in its surroundings such as the Lauca National Park, Lake Chungará, the Surire Salt Flat and the Cotacotani Lagoons. We invite you to discover these beautiful destinations in the middle of the altiplano, next to the border with Peru and Bolivia.
Inside Putre we also find its own attractions, especially its buildings such as the Church of Putre, which was built in 1670, with an interesting adobe facade and mosaics. Its most famous street is O`Higgins, an old road crossed by stone bridges. Here we find mainly buildings with facades carved in stone. It also highlights its square with lots of trees and the presence of Aymara culture that can be found in crafts, religion, culture and traditions.
In its surroundings you can also find vestiges of ancient inhabitants such as the Vilacaurani Cave Paintings, which represent animals, humans and geometric shapes, three hours west of Putre, on foot or on horseback. To the northeast of Putre we also discovered the Incani Paintings, in the Ancolaya ravine, where camelid forms and zoomorphic figures can be seen. Also in the district of Las Cuevas we find very old records, more than 9500 years old, of the first hunters who inhabited the high plateau of Parinacota. It was an interesting whereabouts because of the large number of vicuñas and where, in addition to the paintings, hunting tools and animal bones have been recovered.
Among its main attractions is the Lauca National Park, which belongs to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves. Located at an altitude of more than 3,200 meters, it is a representative ecosystem of pre-mountain range and altiplano vegetation with typical flora such as llaretas, paja brava and queñoa. It is also an important habitat for local fauna such as vicuña, llama, guanaco, puma, Chilean flamingos, among many others.
In its landscape stand out the imposing Acotango and Guallatiri volcanoes; and of course the Chungará Lake, of great beauty for its emerald waters, which is located at the foot of the Payachata twins - complex formed by the Parinacota and Pomerape volcanoes.
Also part of the park are the Cotacotani Lagoons, a water complex located 4 kilometers northwest of Lake Chungará. It is a system of lakes surrounded by snow-capped volcanoes, formed by volcanic material, so they have a large number of islands and islets. The waters of these lagoons drain into the Lauca River to Lake Coipasa, on the Bolivian side.
Next to the lagoons of Cotacotani we find the Bofedal de Parinacota, a wetland rich in local fauna such as giant taguas, flamingos and ducks, as well as vicuñas and alpacas. It has beautiful views of the surrounding area, especially the Parinacota volcano in the background.
Another wonderful attraction is the Salar de Surire, located approximately 120 kilometers from Putre and at an altitude of 4200 meters, with an imposing landscape where the white of the soil merges with the blue of the sky. Here we can find lots of wildlife such as camelids, flamingos and suris or rheas that inhabit between wetlands and small lakes. It has areas for camping and the Polloquere hot springs, two lagoons of waters with a temperature of 60ºC, ideal for renewing strength and revitalizing the body and spirit.
To get to Putre, you must first arrive in Arica and then travel the 149 kilometers to the east that separate it from this city. Here you will find excursions and tours in Putre to know all its surroundings. Remember that all these places are at high altitude, so we recommend arriving a day in advance to Putre and acclimatize before any excursion. Do not overexert yourself or perform sudden exercises, since the higher the altitude, the lower the oxygen supply.
As these are pre-mountain and highland areas, temperature variations within the day are abrupt, from below zero at night to hot in the afternoon. Take warm clothes for the morning and evening and protective gear such as sunscreen, hat, sunglasses and gloves during the excursions. Don't forget to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
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