Northern Chile Imposing Highlands

Day 1: Iquique

Arrival at the airport of Iquique and transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon we will do a tour of the city, visiting both the colonial part as well as the beach side areas. Overnight in Iquique.

Day 2: Iquique - Humberstone - Pintados - Puchuldiza - Colchane

After breakfast we will depart from Iquique and stop 45 km / 28 mi outside the city to visit the  Humberstone Saltpeter Works and the accompanying village, both listed in UNESCO "List of World Heritage in Danger." To the south, we will visit Pintados in the National Reserve Pampa del Tamarugal where we'll see geoglyphs spread over 4 km / 2,5 mi.  Our next stop is in Puchuldiza in the Volcano Isluga National Park to enjoy the hot springs (not equipped) and marvel at the geyser. Box lunch will be served on the way. We will arrive in the frontier village Colchane and stay overnight in our small hostel with comfortable but simple rooms and shared bathrooms. (B, BL, D)

Day 3: Colchane - Salar de Surire - Guallatiri - Putre

The road from Colchane to Putre will be the highlight of our tour with the passage through four protected areas - the aforementioned Volcano Isluga National Park, the Salar de Surire Natural Monument, the Las Vicuñas National Reserve, and the Lauca National Park.  Leaving Colchane, we first pass little villages like Enquelga, Arabilla, Vilacoyo, Mucomucone, and others where time seems to be standing still.  Stonebuilt Aymara towns like Viluviom, Guallatire, and Ancuta will give us an idea about local culture and architecture; they are overshadowed by the towering and constantly smoking Guallatiri volcano, one of the prominent Andean volcanoes. We will reach our destination, Putre, located just outside the Lauca National Park. Accommodation in a cozy colonial Andean style hostel at 3.500 m / 11,483 ft above sea level. You will have dinner in a nearby local restaurant.

Day 4: Putre - Lauca National Park - Arica

Morning departure to discover more of the fascinating beauty of the Lauca National Park with its spectacular scenery of exotic flora and wild fauna. We will visit the Parinacota village (4.392 m / 14.409 ft. above sea level) with its beautiful church dating back to the XVII century. After that we will continue to the highest lake in the world, the Chungará Lake. We will have time for a walk and eat our picnic-lunch on the shore of the lake. Drive to Arica in the afternoon. Arrival at hotel and overnight. (B, BL)

Day 5: Arica

Transfer to the airport to board your connecting flight. (B)