ValparaÃso was an important port, a relevant commercial and logistics hub in the South Pacific Ocean. However, due to the opening of the Panama Channel in 1912, and the earthquakes and fires affecting the port at the beginning of the XX century, ValparaÃso lost its leading position. Nowadays, it has reinvented itself because it was listed as World Heritage by UNESCO; thus, tourism and Chilean boosting economy have helped to its recovery. New hotels, restaurants, art workshops and colorful murals have restored its vitality and colors. Moreover, it became the South American capital of graffiti.
Because of ValparaÃso’s unique geography, the houses and buildings are built climbing up and hanging from the hills and surrounding creeks.
This labyrinthine verticality creates thousands of hideouts and we can find more than one surprise behind every corner. In our half-day tour by foot, we will visit the surroundings of Echaurren Square, the foundation origins of the Port, the old banking area and Concepción and Alegre Hills which gather most of the handicraft and artist workshops. We will get there in the famous elevators and we will visit the house of Poet and Literature Nobel Prize Pablo Neruda, known as La Sebastiana (optional visit, Mondays closed). This house preserves an interesting collection of objects gathered in his trips around the world or during his visits to antiques shops in ValparaÃso. We will complete the tour having a tasty lunch (optional).
Valparaiso
Day 1 Departing from Iquique, you'll drive across the desert to meet the Atacama Giant; the largest human-shaped geoglyph on the planet. From here we start gaining altitude as well as seeing changes in the landscape around us, after a couple of photo stops, we'll get to the lovely Huaviña creek, where you'll get spectacular views of the desert creeks and stop driving for a couple of hours to meet our first Aymara local friend with whom you'll go on a beautiful hike down the creek, watching some desert terrace crops and ruins while listening to the local stories. Enjoy picnic lunch before continuing today's trip, next stop: Chusmiza creek (3400 mosl) where we'll spend the night and if it suits you, you can also enjoy a bath at the local small and rustic hotspring (40ºC). This altitude is perfect to adapt to the lack of oxygen; everything, from the pace, stops, food and beverages has been design to help you avoiding the unpleasant effects of altitude sickness and enjoy your trip. Picnic lunch + dinner included. Lodge at Chusmiza cabins (Double or shared rooms, private or shared bathroom and hot shower).
Day 2 This morning we start our driving through the Chilean Altiplano to reach the town of Cariquima and visit this important Aymara town. Heading south from here we'll reach a stunning landscape with the "Nevado de Cariquima" dominating the views. Stop our driving and hike around a beautiful lagoon where birds feed and nest while llamas feed all around, great place for our next picnic lunch too! Just a bit ahead the road our local host for the next days: Mr. Eugenio Challapa (72) and his family are waiting for us. They speak Spanish and Aymara (and sometimes a mix of both) and they are very friendly and warm people eager to share and show their landscapes and way of life to visitors. Tonight, we'll have a warm authentic Aymara dinner with them and spend the night at an adobe house. Breakfast + Picnic lunch + Aymara dinner included. Lodge at Challapa's family adobe cabin (Cuadruple room, shared bathroom among visitors).
Day 3 After the cold night of the mountains, we are ready to start early and receive the warm rays of the morning sun. Let's get a good breakfast and get to work! You and Eugenio should release the llamas and take them to feed, a great experience to have and a wonderful trail to hike with them towards the bofedal (the green pasture where llamas feed). On the way, let's meet the Puma Canyon where you might be able to found some fresh Puma footprints as they walk around at night. Interesting ruins of the ancesters of our host are everywhere and say a lot of the way of life from this isolated parts of the planet. Soon, you'll help to start the fire and prepare our lunch, consisting mainly in local products produced by the Challapa's; potatoes, quinoa, charqui, Llama and/or Alpaca meat and fresh bread. This is a very peaceful place to have a rest and share interesting talks. We'll continue our hike surrounding the bofedal to meet more ruins filled with history and leyends. Later, we'll join the herd to take them back to town. Breakfast + On site traditional lunch + Aymara dinner included. Lodge at Challapa's family adobe cabin (Cuadruple room, shared bathroom among visitors).
Day 4 This morning, our local Aymara host will lead us to old caves and a little canyon where old ruins where witness of this great culture from its beginnings. Spectacular views, streams and small cascades of water give an excellent setting to get all our questions answered. Back to town, the family has everything ready for our last traditional lunch. From here, we'll say good bye to our new friends and head back to Iquique. Breakfast + Traditional lunch included.
Aymara experience
Day 1:
9:00 A.M. Reception at Diego Aracena Airport and transfer to Pica Oasis (1st wonder), (located 2 hours from Airport). On our way there, we will stop to appreciate the impressive Pintados Geoglyphs (2nd wonder), ancient rock art preserved by the rain dearth at Pampa del Tamarugal. Continue to Pica for lunch at a typical restaurant and at sunset, 1 hour fatbiking downhill in the impressive dunes of Pica! Dinner and lodge.
(Only In July, from 12 to 18th, includes transfer to La Tirana (3rd wonder) to be part of the most popular and crowded religious festivity in Chile, and celebrates Virgen del Carmen. This town with a population of 560 people, gets over 230.000 visitors during this week celebration. Congregations from different places of Chile, Perú and Bolivia get together and performed La Diablada (the devils) the most famous dance among the others pre-Hispanic folk expressions. Some time to walk arround on your own and shoot some pictures. 21:00 transfer back to the Ecolodge.)
Day 2:
09:00 after breakfast, we drive towards Nama, the previus village to get to Laguna Roja next day. On our way, we will visit Humberstone ghost town (4th wonder), declared World heritage by Unesco, Atacama Giant Geoglyph (5th wonder) and Chillayza Petroglyphs at Camiña Valley. Arrive at Nama. This little village is a good place to meet some locals and get used to the altitude. We’ll spend the night at a small and clean accommodation owned and administrated by them.
Day 3:
After our breakfast, we are ready to go on a short drive to the starting point of our hike, there are no routes, trails or marks here, and this land is much pristine. Our hike shows us some great views of a vast territory and beautiful flora. Crossing this rocky territory we’ll feel the effects of the altitude as our heartbeat increases fast, just take a deep breath while checking out this beautiful nature and that’s it! There is a Red water lagoon (6th wonder) in the middle and two small ones on the sides, one green and one yellow. It’s a very unique sight. We’ll stay here a moment resting and admiring the scenery before keep on hiking to our vehicle that awaits us close to a small river. A short but hard 4x4 road is ahead and then we will take the way back to Camiña valley. Back to Iquique. Free dinner.
Day 4:
Early in the morning, walking city tour, including visit to Museo Regional, which contains Chinchorro Mummies (7th wonder), the oldest in the world with more than 6000 years and Teatro Municipal. Free lunch and transfer to airport (for Santiago conection) or bus station (to continue to San Pedro).