5) Lauca National Park and Lake Chungara – 1 Day Breakfast & Lunch included
(Declared a Biosphere Reserve by Unesco)
6 Ecological Zones: coastline, valleys, canyons, sierra, altiplano & snow capped volcanoes.

(exchange rate US$ 1.00 = $ 500)

Hotel pick up time 7:00 a.m.
We shall head north towards the Chinchorro and Las Machas beach and drive along the coastline for approx 10 km until we reach the mouth of the Lluta river to observe the migrating and resident birds Then we shall enter the Lluta Valley by taking the international route 11 from Arica to La Paz. In the slopes of the hills you will notice the geoglyphs (1100-1400 A.C.) which are big drawings of llamas, monkeys, toads, eagles and people that the indigenous people used to make as signs for the trade caravans that came down from the altiplano, we shall also visit the Colcas de Huaylacan which are underground storage deposits while the Incas were ruling (aprox 1430-1530 ad). We will stop at Poconchile (pre Inca Village), Saint Jerome’s Church (17-C) and old cemetery, Magnetic Zone and Candelabra Cactus (Browningia candelaris - unique species), Pukara de Copaquilla (pre Inca fortress), Tambo de Zapahuira (Inca refuge, storage and tax collection station). Zapahuira, breakfast and Coca tea, view point of Socoroma (pre Inca Village) and guanacos, view point at Putre (capital of Parinacota province), Las Cuevas habitat of the vizcachas (rodent of the Chinchillidae family), Parinacota village famous for its 17th century church and finally the spectacular Lake Chungara (4517 m. a.s.l.) surrounded by snow capped volcanoes and habitat of the flamingos. On our way back we stop at the beautiful lagoons Cotacotani and then go down to Putre (pre-inca village) which is at the foothills of the Tahapaca Volcano 5400 mt high where we will have lunch. We will return to Arica at approx 7:00 p.m.

Note: Because of the high altitude, this tour is not recommended for anyone with heart, respiratory or high blood pressure problems.
Oxygen is supplied for altitude sickness.