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, which were once a thriving industrial complex and are now listed in the 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. After that we return north and begin our ascent to the Andes and the highlands. On our way we make a stop 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. All these areas are of spectacular natural beauty and contain a diverse wildlife. Leaving Colchane, we first pass little villages like Enquelga, Arabilla, Vilacoyo, Mucomucone, and others where time seems to be standing still and the main source of income is growing llamas and alpacas. "Bofedales" - swampy alluvial grasslands

and "queñoas" wood - native trees adapted to the cold and dry Highland weather will line our way to the Salar de Surire. This place is a popular nesting ground for flamingos and a natural habitat for a lot of Andean birds; American ostriches (ñandú) and mammals like the vicuñas can frequently be seen throughout our journey. 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. (B, BL, D)

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)

Please Note: Due to weather conditions this program can be modified without previous notice.