ITINERARY

Day 2  Lake Chungara. Leave Putre in the morning and drive up to the Lauca National Park (55km, 4.400mt). Here the mighty 6.000 meter high volcanoes Parinacota and Pomerape- sacred gods to the inhabitants of the Andean high plane- dominate the landscape and reflects over the deep emerald waters of Cotacotani Lagoons and Chungara Lake. Wildlife teems all around the lake: the large bluish, flightless tagua-tagua, the chinchilla-like vizcachas, the vicunas, the black and white geese and the pink flamingoes who dwell in the lake's shallows. Onwards to the Chungara Lake we encounter the ritual town of Parinacota, the center for the colorful religious fetes of the Aymara Indian shepherds in the region. Late in the evening return to Putre for overnight at lower altitude. (B, L-, D)

Day 3  Surire. Early departure onwards the Surire salt flat located inside Las Vicunas National Park. After 55 km reach the small village of Guallatire with no more than 50 standing houses crowned by an impressive volcano. On km 95th, at 4.245mt, reach the salt lake of Surire, a breathtaking and solitary scenery, with volcanoes, salt deposits, hotsprings and lakes that have scarcely been explored by man. Surire is a sanctuary for Andean birds. In the world today five species of flamingoes exist, and three of them can be seen here. Late in the evening we explore the salt-lake, the best hour for bird and animal watching. Overnight camping by the Surire Salt flat. (B, L-, D)

Day 4  Surire- Chusmiza. We get up at dusk to admire the sun coming up over this prehistoric lake. After a hearty breakfast we start driving southwards into Volcano Isluga National Park. From the road we will see "quinua" crops (one of the most important foods of the whole altiplano) and "quinoa" trees (the highest growing tree on earth) together with small shepherd's villages. We find, 60 kms after Surire, the village of Enquelga: 90 stone slabs houses with a permanent population, rich traditions and handcrafts and extensive potato and quinua fields. Continue 114 km to Chusmisa hotsprings passing the villages of Isluga (3.900mt) and Quebe. Set up camp near Chusmiza after enjoying the hotsprings. (B, L-, D)

Day 5  Chusmisa- Iquique. Today we will drive approx. 180 km to the seaport of Iquique descending from an altitude of 3.650 mts to the sea level. On the way we visit the archeologic zone of Unita where a giant (86mt long) geoglyph resembling an ancient man is found. Continue to Salitrera Santa Laura, one of the remains of hundreds saltpeper mines opened in the desert with luxury and glory and abandoned today once the nitrate activity came to a halt. They now remain still awaiting the presence of the occasional visitor in humble silence. Late in the evening we reach the city of Iquique (1853km north from Santiago). Iquique was the nitrate capital of the world during 19th century. Nitrate, a natural fertilizer extracted from the Chilean desert exclusively, meant wealth to this country and to many foreign capital investments, but declined abruptly when Germany invented synthetic nitrate in 1917. Today this zone obtains returns from the ocean: Iquique is now the first fishmeal exporter of the world. Overnight in Hotel in Iquique. (B, L-)