EXPLORE CHILE'S HIGH DESERT

Incredible 4-day adventure with Ivan to explore the Arica region  - We have been recommended Ivan of Arica Unlimited by three different persons when looking for a great guide to take us to discover the Arica region.
We were so glad... read more to meet Ivan who is probably the most knowledgeable guide of the area and has a real passion for the region and its fauna and flora (he can also organise birdwatching tours).
We went on a 4-day trip with him, starting from our hotel in Arica (Apacheta hôtel) from where he picked us up on the first day.
His new jeep wangler was ideal to discover the region (don’t self drive in the region as the roads and not easy to drive on and you are likely to miss out in the many secret places only a local guide can take you to) and Ivan has plenty of stories, anecdotes and interesting facts about the Andes’ nature, history, the Aymara people and their traditions, etc.

Here is a short overview of our tour: on day 1 we went to pick up fresh fruits and vegetables at the Arica market, went to see the museum were you can find the oldest mummies of the world (7000 years old!), went birdwatching in the wetlands before properly hitting the road and reaching the Reserva Nacional Las Vicunas to reach Putre at the end of the day where we spent our first night in a nice local hotel.
On day two, we crossed the Parque Nacional Lauca, stopped by the Lake Chungara and its impressive surrounding volcanoes, took a nice walk on Diablo marka crater - stopped by many little mountain villages, and discovered the impressive Salar de Surire Salt Lakes where we had a lovely lunch in the sun! We then drove through the Parque Naciona Volan Isluga and spent the night in a nearby village.

On day 3 we started by visiting an area with giant cactus, then we went to a nice place where we swam in thermal waters and got to see the geysers. It was only the three of us which made it really special! We then drove into the desert where we spotted some ancient Inca hieroglyphics and visited the abandoned city of Humberton.

On the last day, we went to the Red Lagoon where we had breakfast before taking a great walk in the canyon following the river. We then started making our way back to Arica.

It was a fantastic and really off the beaten tracks journey full of history and nature and that we are not ready to forget! Thanks again Ivan for your awesome service and good mood during the entire trip!

Ivan is the greatest tour guide ever!  - We came to Arica wanting to have a really good tour, that was just for a small group and would get us to places off the beaten track. Ivan knows... read more all the most beautiful places, and we saw some fantastic unusual sites. His knowledge of the area meant we were always in safe hands even in the remotest spots. You will be so glad you chose to book through him!

Highly recommend a tour with Ivan!  - Ivan showed us interesting highlights of Arica. He explained exactly the right stuff, no random Google facts whatsoever, just the information we think made everything we saw even more interesting.... read more Ivan speaks English very well, so I highly recommend him whilst in Arica.