Parinacota Province: Nature and Andean Culture

Parinacota Province brings together striking landscapes, wildlife watching, and Andean culture. Lauca National Park encompasses pre-Cordillera and Altiplano areas and is part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves. More than 130 native species live at Lake Chungará, which lies within the national park. They include rheas, Chilean flamingos, llamas, pumas, and foxes.

Landscapes and Wildlife Watching

Pueblo del Diablo, known in Aymara as Sajaramarka, is a distinctive geological landscape. Its formations were created by rain erosion. The area is at the entrance to Misitune and near the village of Ancuta. Those interested in landforms will find a different focus here than at the region’s lakes and wetlands.

At Las Vicuñas National Reserve, you can observe the territorial behavior of vicuñas, including family herds, groups of young animals, and solitary males. At Bofedal Parinacota, a stop is planned for visitors to observe giant coots, llamas, and alpacas as they feed. At Salar de Surire Natural Monument, flamingos can be observed from the Chilcaya viewpoint and along the main route. Stay on the path there: you must not leave it. There are no excursion or environmental education trails at Salar de Surire; the main road and a camping area near the Termas de Polloquere are open to visitors.

The Termas de Polloquere offer another distinctive feature: the water reaches temperatures of up to 60°C, and there is a picnic area. This describes the water temperature; it does not indicate that bathing is available.

In the wider travel destination of Región De Arica Y Parinacota, the Lauca Biosphere Reserve includes Parque Nacional Lauca, Reserva Nacional Las Vicuñas, and Monumento Natural Salar de Surire. This regional context places the three protected areas within a wider setting without implying that their landscapes or visitor conditions are the same.

Hiking Trails and Practical Planning

Two easy-to-walk trails in Lauca National Park differ considerably in length and time required. Sendero Chungará is 600 meters long and takes 30 minutes in total. Sendero Parinacota is 3.2 kilometers long and takes two hours in total. Both are rated easy. Comparing them helps you estimate how much time to allow for your hike without treating the two trails as a single route.

To reach Las Vicuñas National Reserve, take international highway 11-CH Arica–La Paz, followed by Route A-235. This route is uneven and mostly unpaved; vehicles with high ground clearance are recommended. You can reach Salar de Surire Natural Monument via Routes A-235 or A-31 and international highway CH-11 Arica–La Paz. There is no public transportation there, and private vehicles must have four-wheel drive. Check current road conditions before setting out.

For a visit to Las Vicuñas National Reserve, it is recommended that you first stay in Putre to acclimatize and only climb to higher elevations on the second day. Drinking enough water is also part of this recommendation. If Las Vicuñas is part of your plans, Putre is therefore the suggested first stop for the acclimatization stage.

Churches, History, and Cuisine

In Socoroma, the Iglesia de San Francisco de Asís de Socoroma is at the center of a Catholic-Andean ceremonial complex. The complex also includes a freestanding bell tower, posas, calvarios on nearby peaks, and a cemetery. The church in Parinacota offers a different historical highlight: it was built in 1670 and later rebuilt. Several paintings inside represent Andean Baroque. In the El Trapiche area of Las Vicuñas National Reserve, there are also remains of mining activity from the last century.

Typical dishes in Putre include preparations made with camelid meat, quinoa, oregano with a designation of origin, highland trout, and chuño potatoes. They also include llaita, a freshwater alga that grows in bofedales. These regional ingredients offer another tangible point of reference for planning a trip, alongside the landscapes and cultural sites.

Discover more destinations: Putre

See the wider travel overview: Región De Arica Y Parinacota.