1^st day: Arica – Putre

The tour starts at 10:30 a.m. with a visit to the Terminal Agropecuario (agrarian market) of Arica where you can experience a typical market atmosphere. Then we enter the Azapa-Valley, view the Geoglyph La Tropilla and visit the archeological Museum San Miguel de Azapa. On our way to the Lluta-Valley you have the opportunity to enjoy the panoramic view over both valleys. After a lunch break in the ecological community Ecotruly, our tour leads us to the Cactus Candelabro and the magnetic zone as well as to a pre-Inca fortress in Copaquilla. We conclude the trip with an one-hour walking-tour to Socoroma, a traditional village in the Precordillera at 3000 m altitude, where we take a rest with coffee and cookies before continuing our trip to Putre. Arrival at Putre at approximately 6:30 p.m. Dinner and accomodation.

2^nd day: Putre – National Park Lauca – Putre

Our second day starts at about 8:30 a.m. Either we have breakfast in Putre or in Bofedal de las Cuevas where we do a 40-minutes walk. During this walk you have the chance to see wild animals like Vicuñas and Vizcachas and get to know bofedales, the basis of the altiplanic ecosystem (viewpoint Bofedal de Parinacota). Furthermore you have the chance to admire a variety of birds like Pitios del Norte, Guallatas and Taguas for example.

Around noon we arrive at the crystalline Lake Chungara (4510 m above sea level) and the lagoons of Cotacotani where we offer an optional 3-hour walking-tour for you to observe both Andean flora and fauna. After visiting the village 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 about 6:00 p.m. Dinner and accommodation.

3^rd day: Putre – Saltlake Salar de Surire

After breakfast in Putre we visit Ancuta and Guallatire, two villages located at the foot of the active volcano Guallatire in the altiplano (4000 m altitude). At about noon we arrive at the salt lake Salar de Surire and visit Chilcaya where we give you the opportunity to take pictures of the flora and fauna during an one-hour walking-trip around this natural monument. Afterwards we head for the hot springs of Polloquere at 4270 m altitude where we have a picnic and enjoy a relaxing bath. Accommodation in the Refugio de CONAF. Dinner.

4^th day: Salt lake Salar de Surire – National Park Volcano Isluga – Enquelga – Colchane

Breakfast in front of the Salt lake of Surire in the CONAF´ Refugio. Afterwards we’re driving through the National Park Volcano Isluga, crossing the Altiplano through pampas and bofedales observing the scarce flora and fauna. Further on we are heading towards the village Isluga with its famous church. You will be able to take some pictures. Aprox. at 5:00 p.m. we are arriving at Colchane. Dinner and accommodation.

5^th day: Colchane – Humberstone – Huara – Pica

After breakfast at 8:00 a.m. our first stop will be at the legendary and gigantic cacti at the Río Grande. After that we’re going to the village of Cariquima which is famous for its traditional needlework. You will be able to experience the life of the locals. Further on our journey takes us through several canyons, for example Quebrada de la Felicidad. There we have a few stops at selected lookout-points like Chuzmiza and Pachica where you will be able to take some pictures. Pachica is also the entrance to the desert of Atacama. You will be able to discover the changes in the landscape. Also in the desert you admire the geoglyph Gigante de Atacama, the largest archaeological human represantion of the world (86 m high). Lunch in Huara. Afterwards we discover the ghosttowns of Humberstone and Santa Laura. Humberstone used to be a nitrate mining town which was abandoned in the 1960s. From there we head to Pica and arrive at about 7:00 p.m. Dinner and accommodation.

6^th day: Pica – Geoglyphs de Pintados – Quillagua – San Pedro de Atacama or Calama

After breakfast in Pica (1325 m) we will walk to the Cocha de Resbaladero. It is one of the biggest water sources of the Atacama Desert. The water is famous for its healing abilities. After a relaxing bath we are heading to the Geoglyphs de Pintados. There you get the unique chance to see about 400 figures representing humans, animals, birds and abstract paintings which were made by humans aprox. 800 years ago. We leave this place crossing the National Reserva Pampa del Tamarugal arriving at the small village Quillagua, an oasis next to the river Loa. There we pass customs. After that we are driving to the desert to get to Calama or San Pedro the Atacama.

Our tour package includes:

Accommodation:
 2 night in hotel/hostel in Putre.
 1 night in the Refugio de CONAF in Surire.
 1 night in hotel/hostal in Colchane.
 1 night in hotel/hostal in Pica.

Food:
 5 x breakfast in Putre, Parinacota, Surire (CONAF), Cariquima and Pica.
 6 x lunch (Ecotruly, picnic in Parinacota and Polloquere, Huara, Quillagua).
 5 x dinner in restaurant with wine included in Putre, Parinacota, Surire (CONAF), Cariquima and Pica.
 Beverages: table water, juices, soft drinks.
 Snacks: fruits, coffee, tea, cookies.

Guide:
 Spanish speaking guide/driver with experience.

Transportation:
 Minibus (van) with oxygen equipment.

Others:
 Entrance fees for the Museum San Miguel de Azapa, the hot springs of Jurasi, Humberstone and Cocha de Resbaladero.
 Walks in Socoroma, Bofedal de las Cuevas, at the Cotacotani Lagoons and Salar the Surire.