EXPERIENCIA CULTURAL NUMERO...?

TYPO:  Road Trip
PRESENTE:  Laura, Hulio, Pato, Andrea, y Yo.  


DESTINATION: At woozy heights with snow dusted volcanoes, remote hot springs and glimmering lakes, Parque Nacional Lauca, 160 kilometers north east of Arica is an absolute treasure. 

OBJECTIVO: To get out of town for the weekend and explore some more of this amazing region.  
To visit Lago Chungara, the highlest lake in the world, and Salir de Surir, a salt desert on the border of Bolivia.

It is not just the exaggerated altitude (between 3000m and 6300m above sea level) that leaves visitors to this national park breathless. Lauca is home to some breathtaking altiplano scenery, snow-sprinkled volcanoes, sparkling lakes and isolated hot springs. It's also shelters pretty highland villages and a huge variety of wildlife - not least the nimble-footed vicuña and the rabbit-like viscacha. Lonely Planet

LEYENDA DE AYMARA: The daughter of the local chief was once caught in an intimate embrace with  local lad.  The chief was enraged, and had them thrown into the lake.  They later emerged in the form of volcanos on the edge of the lake, know as the  "Payachatas".

IMPRESSIONS: It was well worth 2 days of driving, the diversity of scenery was incredible.  Leaving a little later than expected due to a city wide power cut, actually worked in our favour, we got to see the sunrise through valley of Utah and watched the colours change dramatically as we wound through the mountains.  As we began ascending through the mountains, we stopped at the small Aymaran Village of Zapahuira, for mate de coca, a medicinal cup of tea to fight off altitude sickness.  We also stocked up on a packet of dry coca leaves which magically relieved any headache and nausea caused by ascending 3500m over just 150 kilometers.   This high above see level, the clean air and crisp light accentuated the colors and contrasts.  After becoming accustomed to the scenery around Arica which is dominated by various shades of brown, the blues and greens of the Parque National de Lauca seemed to have a magical glow.