Parinacota Province: Nature, Wildlife and Andean Culture

Parinacota Province combines Altiplano landscapes with wildlife watching and cultural sites in the Andes. Lauca National Park encompasses both precordillera and Altiplano areas; the park is part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves. When planning your trip, you can decide whether to focus on shorter walks, longer hikes, nature watching or cultural discoveries.

Landscapes and Special Places

At Lake Chungará in Lauca National Park, wildlife is a defining feature: the lake is surrounded by more than 130 native species. These include rheas, Chilean flamingos, llamas, pumas and foxes. The formations of Pueblo del Diablo, called Sajaramarka in Aymara, reveal another side of the landscape. They were formed by rain erosion. The area is located at the entrance to Misitune and near the village of Ancuta.

Another natural area is Las Vicuñas National Reserve. It covers 209,131 hectares and is part of the Lauca Biosphere Reserve. There, visitors can observe the territorial behavior of vicuñas, including family herds, groups of young animals and solitary males. If you are especially interested in these animals, you can take this into account when choosing your destinations.

Trails and Nature Watching

Lauca National Park has two described trails that differ considerably in length and duration. The Sendero Chungará is 600 m long, easy to walk and takes 30 minutes in total. The Sendero Parinacota is also easy to walk, covers 3.2 km and takes two hours in total. You can plan your day around the time available and the distance you want to cover, without treating the two routes as equivalent.

At Salar de Surire, the focus is on wildlife watching and staying within the permitted areas. The Chilcaya viewpoint and the main road are used to observe flamingos; visitors must not leave the road. The natural monument has no excursion trails or environmental education trails. Only the main road and a camping area near the Termas de Polloquere are open to visitors. There, the water reaches temperatures of up to 60 °C, and there is also a picnic area.

Planning Your Visit and Stay

To reach Las Vicuñas National Reserve, take the international highway 11-CH Arica–La Paz and then Route A-235. This road is uneven and mostly unpaved; vehicles with high ground clearance are recommended. The routes listed for the Salar de Surire Natural Monument are A-235 or A-31 and the international highway CH-11 Arica–La Paz. There is no public transport there, and private vehicles must have four-wheel drive. Consider these different access conditions when choosing your destinations and accommodation.

Visitors to Las Vicuñas National Reserve are advised to stay in Putre first to acclimatize, and to ascend to a higher altitude only on the second day. They should also drink plenty of water. If you are looking for a vacation rental in Parinacota Province, this recommended itinerary can help you plan your stay.

Churches, History and Regional Cuisine

The churches also tell of the area’s cultural diversity. The Iglesia de San Francisco de Asís de Socoroma is the center of the Catholic-Andean ceremonial complex in the village of Socoroma. The complex also includes a freestanding bell tower, posas, calvarios located on nearby peaks, and a cemetery. The church in Parinacota was built in 1670 and later rebuilt; its interior contains several paintings that represent Andean Baroque. In the El Trapiche area of Las Vicuñas National Reserve, remains recall mining activity in the last century.

The Ruta de las Misiones is an artistic and cultural route that begins in Arica and passes through Codpa, Belén, Socoroma and Putre on its way to Visviri. In Putre, typical local dishes include preparations made with camelid meat, quinoa, oregano with a designation of origin, high-altitude trout and chuño potatoes. They also include llaita, a freshwater algae that grows in bofedales.

For the broader travel overview: Arica and Parinacota Region.