Departures: All year round, private departure. Rainy season: Feb - Mar

The Altiplano is a flat plateau located on top of the Andes at an average altitude of 4,000m/ 13,000ft. Its extraordinary natural attractions include active and dormant slender coned volcanoes, clear blue and emerald lakes with abundant bird life, extensive steppes supporting diverse populations of cameloids (Llama, Vicuna, Guanaco, and Alpaca), immense sparkling white salt deposits, hidden hot springs and, occasionally, the tiny rustic villages with picturesque colonial churches.

Day 1: Arica

Upon arrival in Arica a Spanish speaking driver will pick you up and transfer you from the airport to your hotel. He will let you know when and where to meet your guide later that afternoon for a guided tour of Arica, known as the city of eternal spring. As Chile's northernmost sea-port Arica has always been an important trading point and a crossroads of cultures - and at times also a site of conflict and war. Overlooking the town, a memorial on Morro Hill commemorates a major battle that took place here during the Peruvian War (1879-83). Arica is also famous for its 'San Marcos de Arica' church, designed by Gustav Eiffel, of Eiffel Tower fame. When you are tired of sight-seeing and shopping in town, you can find a sandy beach to relax on.
Overnight at Hotel Azapa Inn or similar.(L)

Day 2: Arica - Putre

After breakfast your guide will meet you for an excursion to the nearby fertile valley of Azapa and a visit to the excellent archaeological museum 'Museo Arqueologicó San Miguel de Azapa'. Among its fascinating exhibits are a collection of ancient mummies that have been extremely well preserved by the arid sands of the Atacama Desert. Afterwards we will start our journey towards Putre, located about 90 miles away at 11,500ft. Along the way we will pass through Lluta valley, the site of some amazing pre-historic petroglyphs. Here we'll stop for our box lunch and get a chance to enjoy a first impression of the characteristic Andean flora and wildlife of the Altiplano. We will reach Putre in the afternoon and check in at our hotel. At dinner time we'll have briefing with the guide. Overnight Hotel Q'ANTATI or similar. (B, L-,D)

Day 3: Putre - Chungara Lake

After an early breakfast we'll start our drive to Lake Chungará, situated at 14,500ft beneath the towering volcanic peaks of Parinacota and Pomerape that reach 20,000ft into the sky. The lake offers an oasis for birds and teems with wildlife: tagua-tagua, vizcachas, vicunas, black & white geese, flamingos, all dwell in the lake's shallows. We'll enjoy our box lunch in Lauca National Park. In the afternoon we'll visit the small hamlet of Parinacota with its interesting ancient church and take a walk around the lakes. Parinacota plays an important role as a ceremonial town for the local indigenous communities. We'll return to Putre for dinner and overnight at Hotel Q'ANTATI or similar. (B, L-,D)

Day 4: Putre

After breakfast we will take a ride south towards the vast expanse of the Surire salt flat. Along the way we will pass below Guallatiri volcano. Its ice-capped peak belies its inner heat - Guallatiri volcano is one of the most active volcanoes of Chile. Surire National Park is a world renown sanctuary for Andean birds. Worldwide there are five species of flamingos - three of them can be found here, along with ducks, suris (Lesser Rea), and Andean avocets. Vicunas, foxes and Vizcachas are also commonly seen. After a day of watching the fascinating wildlife and avifauna at this Altiplano Oasis we'll return to Putre for dinner and overnight at Hotel Q'ANTATI or similar. (B, L-,D)

Day 5: Putre - Arica

After breakfast we will start heading back to Arica on time for the outbound flight or, depending on your itinerary, continue with an extension to the Atacama Desert or Patagonia. (B)

Lauca National Park

Located in the northeaster region of Tarapaca in norther Chile, Lauca National Park comprises of a surface area of 137,883 hectares (303,342 acres). A UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, it is set up to protect the flora and fauna of a pre-Andean mountain chain and the high plateau of the Tarapaca region known as 'the Altiplano'. The climate here is dry and marked by great temperature variations between night and day. Despite the harsh conditions, this habitat supports a wealth of wildlife and has long been home to some of the oldest Andean cultures with a history that pre-dates Incan times. There is a serene beauty in this powerful, untamed nature, marked by wide open spaces, towering volcanoes, surprising clear blue and emerald lakes at high altitudes, hidden hotsprings and a wealth of wildlife: vicuñas, vizcachas, alpaca and llamas as well as over 130 species of birds, including the Andean Condor and several species of flamingoes all find sanctuary in this remote wilderness.

Salar de Surire National Monument

This National Monument is also located at high altitude at 4,200 m (13,776 ft) above sea level. It is set up to protect a vast salt flat with its characteristic altiplano ecosystems. The area comprise of 11,298 square hectares (24,855 sq. acres) and guards the home of many rare species of birds and animals including the ñandú, flamingos, Andean avocets, crested ducks, and several species of llama including vicuñas and alpacas. Temperatures vary between -15°C (5°F) at night and 5°C (41°F) during the day. The geography here is marked by the salt deposits. The area is a world famous birdwatching paradise, rich in endemic species adapted to this bizarre habitat. The name Surire derives from the word "suri" o ñandú, a rare species of Chilean ostrich also known as American Rhea that lives in the region.

Rates valid through 2008

Rates my vary due to currency exchange rate fluctuations.

Minimum number of participants: 2

Included:

3n Hostería in Putre half board, 1n Hotel in Arica, breakfast incl, City walking tour in Arica, Half day tour to Azapa Valley & Museum, Full day Lauca NP excursion box-lunch & park fee incl, Full day Surire NP excursion box-lunch & Park fee incl, Private ground transport, bilingual driver/guide, 1 assistant if 6 or more paxs.

Not Included:

Dinners, tips and gratuities, items of a personal nature, insurance, domestic flights to Arica

For further information and booking inquiries please send us and e-mail.

Pre-Departure Information

Accommodation

In Arica we spend one night in a comfortable 3star hotels in twin rooms with private bathrooms on a bed & breakfast basis. Single and double bed rooms are also available. Most used options are Hotel El Paso, Azapa Inn or similar; In Putre we spend 3 nights at Hotel Q’Antati or or similar on a half board basis. Rooms are twin or double standard with private bathroom;

Transport

Beyond Putre the roads in the Altiplano are all dirt tracks, which may get into very bad shape after the summer rains and floods. For 1-3 passengers we use a 5 seater Toyota Land Cruiser 4WD vehicle. For 4-9 paxs we use strong Ford Econoline 12 seater Minivans. For 10 or more participants we use two minivans.

Weather

Come prepare for summer and winter. At sea level temperature may reach 30°C and at nights in the Altiplano it may drop below -20°C.

Physical Demands

The excursions in this itinerary are gentle walks at Lauca and Surire National Parks which do not demand special fitness. However oxygen deprivation (altitude sickness) or "puna" will affect everyone to some extent. Special precautions must be taken by participants suffering from heart problems.

What you need to bring

This trip demands winter and summer outfit. Arica is hot during Nov-Mar although cool in the evenings due to the ocean breeze. Summer clothing and comfortable light shoes are required here. Altiplano climate can be very tough especially during the so called Bolivian Winter (Jan-Mar) when thunderstorms bring heavy rains. Basic gear for the Altiplano will consist of:

• one duffel bag or backpack (60l),
• one small daypack;
• warm heavy jacket or parka,
• wind protection;
• polar fleece jacket;
• capilene underwear;
• wool-socks;
• trekking or hiking boots;
• sun protection for eyes and skin.
• Photography and wildlife watching are is essential attractions at the altiplano, therefore a good camera with zoom and binoculars are highly suggested.
• Please never come with heavy hard Samsonite type suitcases, these are very hard to stuff in the vehicles trunk or upper rack.

Participation

This is a non-participation trip and guides will take care of fixing the box lunches and setting things. You must be responsible for carrying your luggage and the guides will be happy to help. You also will be responsible of shouldering a small daypack with your camera, sunglasses and other personal items.

About the Itinerary

Reasonable changes may be made in the itinerary because of the weather conditions or if judged to be in the best interest and well being of the participants. The two main considerations in this trip are altitude sickness and weather; both may threat physical integrity of trip members. If some person is suffering altitude sickness then the only solution is to bring him/her down at lower altitude, this may obviously change the itinerary. Same thing with the weather, especially if a Altiplano storm breaks it is very feasible that rivers of silt and grave come down from the mountains sweeping roads and anything in between. We will avoid storms and creatively propose a different route out of the storm area.

Itinerary Modifications

We reserve the right to change the order of activities in any itinerary at the sole discretion of the trip guide and based on operational considerations. The trip guide can also modify, change or eliminate part of the itinerary due to safety/weather considerations.