Code: NOR-010
Level: Moderate
Levels Explained
Departures
Private departures
Price :
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Accommodations:
2 nights camping
3 nights hotel

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Altiplano Overland (Arica-Chungara-Iquique)
The Altiplano is a flat terrace placed on top of the Andes at an average of 4.000-mt/ 13,000 ft above sea level. 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 hotsprings and amazing geysers, and occasionally the tiny rustic villages with picturesque colonial churches where Aymara Indian shepherds graze their animals and grow their cultives.

Despite of its beauty it is a desolate and arid land where life conditions are extreme. Oxigen contained on the atmosphere above 4.000m is half than at sea level, temperature can drop 30ºC from day to night and there are areas that have never registered rain. All wildlife and natives here have adapted to survive and modern travelers can very well appreciate this by venturing into this silent land.

ITINERARY
Day 1: Arica- Putre. Morning reception (around 11AM) in Arica Airport. 2: Lake Chungara. Leave Putre in the morning and drive up to the Lauca National Park (55km, 4.400mt). 3: Surire. Early departure onwards the Surire saltflat located inside Las Vicunas National Park. 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 Volcan Isluga National Park. 5: Chusmisa- Iquique. Today we will drive approx. 180 kms to the seaport of Iquique descending from an altitude of 3.650 mts to the sea level. 6: Iquique- Santiago.