Lauca National Park is an 1379 km² protected area in Northern Chile. It's in the Andean range and is characterized by volcanic mountains. It's also a good place to spot many typically Andean animals, from alpacas and llamas to flamingos and – if you're lucky – condors.

Understand

The park's highlights include Lake Chungará, an emerald-green lake framed by the snowy peaks of Payachatas; the Tambo de Chungará, an archaeological site; Parinacota, a 17th-century indigenous colonial architectural ensemble; the Cotacotani lagoons, interconnected waters; Chucuyo, a village of adobe houses with thatched roofs; the Rocky Refuge and Incaic Chacus Las Cuevas, archaeological sites; Las Cuevas hot springs, bubbling waters at 31°C; the Lauca River, near the Chapiquiña and Milagro hills; and the Parinacota marshland.

History

The park was opened in 1965 and is 1,379 km² (532 sq mi) in size.

Landscape

Mainly altoplano and mountains, the latter consisting mainly of enormous volcanoes. There are also several lagoons and one of the highlights of the park is the lake Chungará.

Flora and fauna

Vicuñas

Vicuñas, vizcachas, alpacas, llamas, guanacos. There are 140 species of birds like puna ibis, Andean goose, giant coot, puna tinamou, silvery grebe, crested duck, puna teal, Andean condor and Chilean flamingo.

Climate

The day temperatures are between 5–20 °C. The nights can be very cold (down to -15 °C).

Visitor information

• conaf.cl (official website; Spanish only)

Get in

Vicuña crossing

By road

A popular way to enter the park is to head for Putre first. At just 12 km from the park, this is a good place to get acclimatized to the altitude.

If you want to go on our own, you can take a Bus Arica-La Paz and hop off at the CONAF station at the Chungará lake close before the Bolivian border.

By thumb

Because the international Route 11 runs through the park you can also try your luck with hitchhiking.

By tour

You can book a tour from Arica or Putre. The tours are from one to three days. Before booking a one day tour be aware that the park is at 4500 m.

Fees and permits

The park is free.

See

Chungara Lake and Sajama Volcano

• 1 Lago Chungará. One of the highest lakes in the world (4,520 m). It offers a spectacular view and has plenty of wildlife. (updated Jul 2023)
• 2 Laguana de Cotacotani. A group of very nice lagoons. (updated Jul 2023)
• Volcanoes – There are several volcanoes inside the park and most of them are higher than 6,000 m (20,000 ft). The highest and most spectacular one is 3 Vulcán Parinacota (6,342 m).
• 4 Parinacota. Visit this small village with its nice old church. (updated Jul 2023)

Do

Hiking, climbing, enjoying the landscape and the silence (a bit off the road of course).

Eat

There is a restaurant at the international road in a village called 1 Chucuyo. It serves basic menus, mainly for the truckers.

A second option is the restaurant in the village of Parinacota, but it might have closed.

Sleep

Lodging

• The CONAF-station at the lake offers 4 basic beds (5,000 pesos).
• There is a hospedaje in Parinacota, but don't count that it is open for sure. Some of the inhabitants of the village offer private accommodation as well.

Camping

There is a small camping site just near the CONAF-station.

Go next

• 1 Las Vicuñas National Reserve. Its neighbour to the south, for further exploration. (updated Jul 2023)