Altiplanic Villages - Chungara - Surire and Andean Culture

DAY 01: CITY TOUR & ARCHAEOLOGICAL
Reception and transfer to the hotel. Visit a fascinating city with a colourful past seen through its arquitecture and national monuments such as St. Mark's Cathedral and the ex-Customs Building, both designed and pre-fabricated by Gustav Eiffel. We contunue our tour along the south coast and places of interest such as the "ex" Alacran (Scorpion) Island and the southern beaches where we can see illustrated in murals, a concise history of Arica and the Fishmeal Industry, driving force of the city's economy, then on the Azapa Valley. The site of the Cerro Sombrero prehispanic settlement and its panels of Geoglyphs highlighting a herd of camelids. Cerro Sagrado (Sacred Hill) illustrating ancestral beliefs through its panels of geoglyphs.The Pukara de San Lorenzo, a defensive settlement constructed on artificial terraces. Visit the Arqueological Museum. Part of the University of and illustrating the complete evolution of the area from its most ancient inhabitants up till the arrival of the Spanish, about 10.000 years of history. Here in the museum are examples of the most ancient mummified remains in the world. Visit the Artesans Village and the oportunity to apreciate some of our local art and handicrafts. Visit the Morro of Arica another pice of history , where at the XIX century, remains the Pacific War. Back to the Hotel.
DAY 02: EXCURSION TICNAMAR – BELEN – SOCOROMA – PUTRE VILLAGES
Early departure from Arica to discover the area of the highlands, a myriad of pre-Hispanic villages and pastoral settlements with Andean/Colonial architecture and their homes built of adobe. On route we visit the picturesque and typical villages of Ticnamar, Saxamar and Belen, the only village in the area that was founded by the Spaniards. Belen was selected by the Spanish for its climate and its proximity to the route used to transport silver from Potosi to Arica. Visit Pachama surrounded with fields and eucalyptus trees. We continue through the Chapiquiña village and the Socoroma village, with its 17th century church, to finally arrive at Putre, located at 3500 m.a.s.l and on the foot of the 5800m high ancient volcano, Taapaca. Lunch on route: Box Lunch. Visit Putre. Accommodation and dinner at Las Vicuñas Hotel.
DAY 03: EXCURSION PUTRE – VICUÑAS NATIONAL RESERVE AND SURIRE SALT LAKE - PUTRE
After breakfast at the hotel, we start our journey towards Las Vicuñas National Reserve, where the wide open spaces, colors and overwhelming silence will leave you with a lasting memory. Llamas, alpacas and vicuñas are abundant on the arid plains of this area of the altiplano. Also worthy to see is the wide variety of bird life and the possibility to see the ñandu or lesser rhea. On route we will see a number of isolated shepherds’ settlements and pass through the Andean village of Guallatire with its XVII Century church facing the active volcano of the same name. Soon after we arrive in one of the most stunning areas of the altiplano, the Surire Salt Flats and its immense collection of pink flamingos; where three species are present here in Surire. On the southern side of Surire is the Polloquere hot springs where you can enjoy a rejuvenating soak. Box lunch on route. Return Putre. Dinner and accommodation in Hosteria las Vicuñas.
DAY 04: PUTRE - LAGO CHUNGARA- ARICA:
Breakfast in Putre. Departure towards Lauca National Park and Chungara Lake, located at 4.517m.a.s.l. During the ascent you can see the Andean bogs, with their abundant wild life such as the llareta, a plant that grows at the lightning rate of 1mm per year and the paja brava (straw), a wild spinifex like grass, abundant in areas above 4,000m. Arrival at Chungara Lake, one of the most highest lakes in the world, surrounded by snow-capped volcanoes, some of them with more than 6,000m high and, in the case of Guallatire, with a constant fumaroles. We visit the Parinacota village and its 17-century church, now declared national monument where you will have the chance to meet some of its native people (Aymaras). When leaving to Arica, on the way we will visit many interesting sites such as Tambo de Zapahuira, replenish and resting site, Pukara de Copaquilla, pre-incaic defensive fortress, Quebrada de Cardones ( Cactus Candelabro) , Transfer to the Hotel.
DAY 05: ARICA
Transfer to airport.