Andean Adventure in Chungara - Surire and Isluga Park

DAY 01: CITY TOUR & ARCHAEOLOGICAL.
Reception and transfer to the hotel. Visit a fascinating city with a colourful past seen through its arquitecture and national monuments such as St. Mark's Cathedral and the ex-Customs Building, both designed and pre-fabricated by Gustav Eiffel. We contunue our tour along the south coast and places of interest such as the "ex" Alacran (Scorpion) Island and the southern beaches where we can see illustrated in murals, a concise history of Arica and the Fishmeal Industry, driving force of the city's economy, then on the Azapa Valley. The site of the Cerro Sombrero prehispanic settlement and its panels of Geoglyphs highlighting a herd of camelids. Cerro Sagrado (Sacred Hill) illustrating ancestral beliefs through its panels of geoglyphs.The Pukara de San Lorenzo, a defensive settlement constructed on artificial terraces. Visit the Arqueological Museum. Part of the University of and illustrating the complete evolution of the area from its most ancient inhabitants up till the arrival of the Spanish, about 10.000 years of history. Here in the museum are examples of the most ancient mummified remains in the world. Visit the Artesans Village and the oportunity to apreciate some of our local art and handicrafts. Visit the Morro of Arica another pice of history , where at the XIX century, remains the Pacific War. Back to the Hotel.
DAY 02: ARICA – CHUNGARA LAKE - PUTRE
Morning departure towards the altiplano. During our ascent we have the chance to enjoy a wide variety of landscapes, flora and fauna. We soon pass by geoglyphs on the yellow slopes that flank the route, some depicting figures of llamas and humans. Other highlights along the way are the village of Poconchile and its XVII century church, the Cardones Canyon with it’s up to 4 meters high cacti, before we reach Pukara de Copaquilla, one of the ancient fortresses built by native Indians. Visit at the Socorromo village and its Andean/Colonial architecture and its pre-Hispanic farm terraces. Panoramic view of the Villages of Putre. Next come the Lauca river and the Cotacotani lagoons, myriad interconnected emerald-green ponds that bear testimony to the effect of the interruption of water flow by volcanic activity., We the continue to the Lauca National Park, and its spectacular scenery, exotic flora surrounded by show capped mountains and volcanoes with their eternal fumaroles such as the Parinacota, Pomerape and Guallatire and wild fauna including Guanacos, Vicuñas, lamas (belonging to the camel species) and Vizcachas. Our next stop is the beautiful village of Parinacota, declared a national Monument. This is one of the altiplano`s most important ceremonial sites, although nowadays the activities are limited to religious festivities. The houses are built from stone, using clay as mortar and have thatched roofs. They are huddled around the beautiful church of the XVII century. Return to Putre. Dinner and accommodation at the Hosteria in Putre.
DAY 03: PUTRE– VICUÑAS NATIONAL RESERVE AND SURIRE SALT LAKE NATIONAL PARK VOLCAN ISLUGA – ENQUELGA – COLCHANE
After breakfast at the hotel, we start our journey towards Las Vicuñas National Reserve where the wide open spaces, colors and overwhelming silence will leave you with a lasting memory. Llamas, alpacas and vicuñas are abundant on the arid plains of this area of the altiplano. Also to be seen is a wide variety of bird life and the possibility to see the ñandu or lesser rhea. On route we will see a number of isolated shepherds’ settlements and pass through the Andean village of Guallatire with its XVII Century church facing the active volcano of the same name. Soon after we arrive in one of the most stunning areas of the altiplano, the Surire Salt Flats and its huge collection of pink flamingos; the three species are present here in Surire. On the southern side of Surire is the Polloquere hot springs where you can enjoy a rejuvenating soak bath. Box lunch on the route. In the afternoon we will head to the Colchane frontier control, while we visit the Enquelga and Isluga villages, both built in rocks, adobe and thatched roof. The inhabitants in the National Park of Isluga still keep their Aymara beliefs and traditions. Arrive at Colchane. Accommodation in a residential only with the basic needs.
DAY 04: COLCHANE - GIGANTE DE ATACAMA – SALITRERAS – IQUIQUE:
08:00 On a early departure we begin our descent towards the desert and the nitrate territory, so important to Chile around the turn of the century. We make a slight detour to visit the Atacama Giant, the largest geoglyph in north of Chile with an altitude of 86m. On route to Iquique we pass a number of abandoned nitrate offices and visit Humberstone, a nitrate ghost town where it is possible with a little of imagination see the splendor of this period of the Chile’s history. Arrival to Iquique at 18:00 and transfer to Hotel.
DAY 05: IQUIQUE
Transfer out to airport.