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ALTIPLANO - THE HIGHLANDS
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ARICA & HIGHLANDS:
Season: All year round. Please consider the "Altiplano winter": heavy rains between January and February are possible in the highlands.
Flight hours: Santiago - Arica: 3,5 hours Calama - Antofagasta - Arica: 2 hours Note: Due to the weather and road conditions some itineraries may be changed.
Recommendation: Light, but also warm clothes; trekking shoes; sun-block; sun glasses; swimsuit
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Your journey to natural beauty and environmental extremes starts at the snow-capped Andean volcanoes of the Altiplano - or Highlands - at an average altitude of 4,000 m/13,000 ft above sea level in northern Chile. Here, sand-preserved mummies and pre-Incan artifacts prove human inhabitation dating back to 5,000 BC; pre-Columbian fortresses, settlements and geoglyphs mark the Inca's caravan route from the coast to the highlands. The incomparable beauty of the Lauca National Park forms the setting for this land lost in time with its magnificent scenery of exotic flora and wildlife - vicuñas, alpacas and Andean flamingos, among other species - it is a fascinating travel destination and a birdwatcher's paradise. Breathtaking natural attractions also include clear blue and emerald lakes, extensive steppes, immense sparkling white salt deposits, hidden hot springs and amazing geysers. In the occasional tiny rustic village with a picturesque colonial church, indigenous Aymara shepherds graze their animals and
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grow their crops. Then there is Chungara, the highest lake in the world. Despite its beauty the lands is desolate and arid, difficult living conditions for which both humans and animals have adapted to survive. Iquique, the coastal city south of Arica, was home to one of the most prosperous industries: nitrate mining at the end of the XIX century. Nitrate was an essential element for agriculture around the world - and also played an all-important role in the social, political and economical development of Chile. Humberstone and Santa Laura were two of the main nitrate companies; the homonymous villages - authentic ghost towns - are national monuments today and the ruins still keep a trace of their former splendor. The empty streets and abandoned factories still evoke a memorable atmosphere. The "Far North" of Chile invites you to an unforgettable experience: enjoy the beautiful landscapes of the Andes Mountain Range, the rich local history and culture of its people.
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