4×4 expeditions from Putre and Arica: Lauca National Park, Las Vicuñas National Reserve, Surire Salt Flat Natural Monument and Quebrada de Cardones Natural Monument. Tacora, Pomerape, Parinacota, Guallatiri and Taapaca volcanoes. International tours to La Paz (Bolivia) and Tacna (Peru), stargazing and other destinations. Base of operations: Hotel Las Vicuñas, Putre.
Routes
Altiplano routes
From Putre and Arica we cover the Chilean altiplano, border crossings to Bolivia and Peru, Iquique, cycling and astronomy outings. We quote departures, prices and availability the same day — tick the tours you're interested in below and build your circuit with us on WhatsApp.
Full day
From Putre or Arica
See the full route →The classic altiplano route: wetlands, Parinacota village with its colonial church, Lake Chungará at the foot of the Payachatas. Gradual ascent with acclimatization stop.
Vicuñas · Andean condor · Wetlands
Full day
From Putre
See the full route →Surire Salt Flat Natural Monument, inside the Las Vicuñas Reserve. Three flamingo species, hot springs, salt landscape at 4,300 m.a.s.l. Intense full day from Putre — depart at dawn, return by dusk.
Flamingos · Suri (Andean rhea) · Vicuñas
Full day
From Putre
See the full route →Heritage circuit around the Payachatas snow peaks. Caquena and Parinacota villages, colonial adobe churches, calvaries and pre-Columbian funerary chullpas.
Llamas · Alpacas · Colonial architecture
Half day / Full day
From Putre
See the full route →Tour of Putre, Socoroma and its colonial church, bath at Jurasi Hot Springs. Ideal as an acclimatization day before heading up to the high altiplano.
Aymara terraces · Queñoa · Hot springs
Half day
From Arica
El Morro de Arica with panoramic views over the Pacific, the Museum of the History of the War of the Pacific, the San Miguel de Azapa Archaeological Museum and the Museum of the Sea.
El Morro de Arica · Three museums · Pacific coast
Transfer
From Arica
See the full route →Route 11-CH: from the coast to 3,500 m.a.s.l. in a few hours, with stops at Quebrada de Cardones, candelabro cactus (Browningia) and lookouts. A climb designed so you arrive in Putre in good shape.
Browningia candelaris · Foothills · Lookouts
Full day
From Putre
The far north: Visviri and the Chile-Peru-Bolivia triple border marker, Tacora volcano, border Aymara villages. Deep and empty altiplano.
Triple border · Tacora volcano · Deep altiplano
Program
From Putre
Border crossing to Bolivia via Tambo Quemado. Recommended 2–4 day tailor-made program with La Paz, Valley of the Moon, Tiwanaku and optional Lake Titicaca. Chileans travel with a valid national ID; foreigners with a valid passport.
Valley of the Moon · Tiwanaku · Witches' Market
Full day
From Arica
Border crossing to Peru via Chacalluta. Tacna city tour: Parabolic Arch, Cathedral, Paseo Cívico, Peruvian cuisine. Same-day, or extended (recommended 2–4 days). Chileans travel with a valid national ID; foreigners with a valid passport.
Parabolic Arch · Cathedral · Peruvian cuisine
On request
From Arica
Coastal route south from Arica: Cavancha, Zofri duty-free, Baquedano historic centre and Humberstone saltpeter works (UNESCO World Heritage Site). A solid closing leg after returning from the altiplano.
Humberstone · Cavancha · Zofri
On request
Routes on request · Putre or Arica
See the full route →Ride the altiplano on the routes you choose. We provide guidance, route briefings, road conditions and difficulty ratings, and we ride with you with full logistical support: bike transport, meals and first aid. We also rent basic mountain bikes. You can do basic downhill or simply enjoy controlled descents of 16, 40 and 160 km with our support. We pick you and your friends up in Arica, carry all your gear up, and stay with you until you are back in the city.
Descents of 16, 40 and 160 km · Your bike or ours · Transport and support on the route
See the tour gallery →Full day · On the way to Surire
From Putre
An essential stop on the altiplano route: slopes in ochre, red and pale green formed by the mineralisation of the terrain, with rock formations sculpted by the wind over millennia. It is one of those postcard landscapes that travel the world through visitors and trekking enthusiasts who take on these altitudes under changing weather and atmospheric pressure, with the variation of oxygen according to the height of this magnificent mountain of colours.
Coloured hills · Rock formations · Vicuñas along the way
Suriplaza in photos
Half day · Subject to confirmation
From Arica
Coastal trail through the Anzota Caves, south of Arica: caverns, rock formations over the Pacific, old fishing coves and lookouts. Guided walk with helmet, family-friendly.
Seabirds · Sea lions · Pacific
Full day
From Arica
A full day through Arica's heritage: the coastal Anzota Caves, the San Miguel de Azapa Archaeological Museum — home to the Chinchorro mummies, the oldest in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2021 — and the Colón 10 Site Museum. Includes a drive through the Azapa valley.
Chinchorro mummies · UNESCO Heritage · Azapa valley
Special service · On request
Route-wide coverage
For large caravans — motorhomes, overlanders, multi-vehicle groups — we provide a vehicle from our own 4×4 fleet as a backup guide: suggesting the route, setting the group's pace, and stepping in to assist or rescue if anything goes wrong (breakdown, blocked road, getting stuck). Quoted based on group size and route length.
Backup guide · Route guidance · Roadside assistance
Multi-day · Flexible
Arica Airport → Iquique Airport
Arrival at Arica airport and an expedition across the whole Parinacota altiplano, ending in Iquique or in Arica as you prefer. We coordinate your arrival date at Arica airport and your departure date at the outbound airport with you. Available as 4, 5 or 6 full days.
4, 5 or 6 full days · Ends in Iquique or Arica · Airport transfers included
2 days · Overnight in Codpa
From Arica
See the full route →Two days to the Camarones district, passing Guallatire, the Surire Salt Flat Natural Monument and Laguna Roja, with an overnight stay in Codpa and ending in Arica.
Guallatire · Surire Salt Flat · Overnight in Codpa
Night · new
From Putre
Night outing to the altiplano to observe the southern sky above 3,500 m.a.s.l. Milky Way, southern constellations, visible planets. Service in development — ask about windows and conditions.
Southern sky · Milky Way · Constellations
See what you can observe from Putre →Cycling
Cycling in the altiplano
Real photos from our cycling tours: bikepacking, mountain biking, and the climb up to 5,250 m.a.s.l. Every route is tailored to the rider.
Where to stay
Same house · same family
Our base is not a separate office — it's Hotel Las Vicuñas in Putre. You sleep there before heading up to the high altiplano, have breakfast there, and the 4×4s leave from there. Acclimatization to 3,500 m.a.s.l. included in the plan.
Run by the owners themselves. Home cooking, quiet bar, sunny courtyard — expect to feel looked after at every stage of your trip.
Travellers
Guest reviews
5/5 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
That afternoon at the Surire Salt Flat I will never forget.
I drove up to the altiplano in my own vehicle and the Villa Volcán team accompanied me the whole trip: a guide leading the way, no rush so I could acclimatize properly, and the confidence of travelling with people who know every road. I stayed at Hotel Las Vicuñas and was looked after like family. And that afternoon at the Surire Salt Flat I will never forget.
Roberto Cattán Ananías Chilean guest · own-vehicle trip · accompanied by VVT guides
5/5 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
The warmth of their people was the best part of the journey.
We have done many tours with Villa Volcán — Lauca National Park, the altiplano villages and even an international trip — and on every outing we felt in good hands. We are an older couple and it was never a problem: there was always patience, a good pace and genuine care for us. The hotel is cosy, the food delicious, and the warmth of their people was the best part of the journey.
Siegfrid Laube & Waltraud Timm German guests · living in southern Chile · many tours + an international trip
5/5 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Far exceeds every expectation.
Hotel Las Vicuñas, run by its own owners, far exceeds every expectation… it offers the landscape, the comfort, the inner peace and the serenity that anyone heading to those altitudes is looking for. What's more, if you get in touch, they pick you up at the airport and drive you straight up to Putre. The stunning landscape of Putre and its surroundings connects you with your inner self, with your senses, with your soul and with nature in an unmatched way.
Eduardo Oyarzún Yarza Chilean guest · stay at Hotel Las Vicuñas with pickup from Arica airport
5/5 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
The best experience we could have asked for.
First things first. Can I recommend staying at Hotel Las Vicuñas? YES. We stayed for 4 nights and from the first moment of our arrival we were greeted by the owner and had a great communication throughout our stay… The room got cozy warm through a heater at night and had a big and warm bed. We booked a whole day tour with the brothers and had the best experience we could have asked for. We got many information about the area and the history. Memories that will stay with us! The whole team was very friendly and respectful, even though we had a language barrier they tried to make conversation. If you are coming to Putre: book this hotel.
Johanna Fischer & Nils German guests · 4 nights at Hotel Las Vicuñas + full-day tour
The destination
Sernatur · Chile's National Tourism Service
The Arica and Parinacota altiplano — where we operate — is highlighted by Sernatur as one of Chile's leading tourist attractions. Lake Chungará, the Payachatas volcanoes, the Surire Salt Flat, Lauca National Park (UNESCO Biosphere Reserve) and Aymara villages coexist above 3,500 m.a.s.l. in a region that appears, year after year, in Chile's official campaigns.
The ascent
Your journey in altitude
In a single day you go from sea level to over 4,500 m a.s.l. This is what the road looks like, over the real terrain:
Jump to a stop
Aymara culture
Living tradition · Aymara
What you'll find when you come during festival season: the Andean Carnival "Con la Fuerza del Sol" in Arica, the Anata Andino festival in Parinacota and the Regional Andean Fair (FERAN) in Putre. Aymara music, dance, food and living tradition.
Videos posted by regional cultural organizations and municipalities — not produced by us. For exact festival dates and trip planning, get in touch via WhatsApp.
Photo: Villa Volcán Tours
Stargazing
Stargazing · coming soon
At 3,500 metres, with dry air and no cities around, the sky over Putre shows what you can't see from the northern hemisphere.
In the southern winter the galactic core passes overhead: the densest, brightest part, which barely rises from the north.
Two neighbouring galaxies visible to the naked eye. Never seen from Europe or North America.
The constellation that points south, with Alpha Centauri —the closest star system to the Sun— right beside it.
Tick it in the quote form and we'll write as soon as the first outings open.
When to come
The altiplano year
From April to October it barely rains: blue days and clear nights. From December to February the altiplanic summer rains arrive and everything turns green. Tap a month to see what it's like.
Junio
Temporada secaFestival dates shift every year according to each community’s calendar. Check with us before booking flights.
Get ready
Plan your trip
Everything worth knowing before climbing above 3,500 m.a.s.l. — and some great views of the Chilean altiplano to help you start dreaming up the route.
Putre sits at 3,500 m.a.s.l.; Chungará and Surire are above 4,500 m.a.s.l. Sleeping one night in Putre before the lakes prevents altitude sickness (soroche). Stay hydrated, eat light, coca leaf tea helps.
Sunny days, freezing nights. Layers: thermal base, fleece, windbreaker. Sunscreen 50+, hat, UV sunglasses. Between January and February expect some rain or snow (altiplano winter).
Valid ID for tours inside Chile. For crossings to Bolivia (La Paz) and Peru (Tacna): Chileans travel with a valid national ID and foreigners with a valid passport. Travel notice for minors and notarized permission if applicable.
Putre has 4G and 5G: with a Chilean SIM the connection is stable and only slows at peak hours. Outside the village the signal is intermittent. With a foreign SIM on roaming, check with your operator. There is a BancoEstado ATM in Putre, but it is worth bringing Chilean pesos in case it fails or runs out — especially for craft purchases in the Andean villages. There is Wi-Fi at Hotel Las Vicuñas.
YouTube
Canal 13 · Chile
Francisco "Pancho" Saavedra travels through Putre, Parinacota and the lakes of Lauca National Park alongside their Aymara residents.
Watch episodes on YouTube →
YouTube
Documentaries · Nature
Vicuñas, Andean flamingos and twin volcanoes in 4K. The best way to see why this was declared a Biosphere Reserve.
Explore on YouTube →
Sitio oficial
Sernatur · Official Chile
Chilean government site with routes, Aymara culture, geoglyphs, cuisine and regional recommendations.
Open chile.travel →Gallery
Altiplano postcards
Photos from tours we operate, taken on our own departures.
Questions
Before you go up
The questions we get most on WhatsApp, answered straight. If yours isn't here, just write to us.
The standard advice is to sleep at least one night in Putre (3,500 m) before going up to Lake Chungará (4,500 m). Our expeditions start in Putre, and the family also runs Hotel Las Vicuñas, where passengers acclimatize before the tour.
17 routes operating: Lauca National Park with Lake Chungará and Parinacota volcano, Surire salt flat, Suriplaza, Las Vicuñas National Reserve, altiplano villages, high-altitude cycling, Anzota Caves, Chinchorro heritage, Laguna Roja and Camarones, Arica city tour, Iquique and Humberstone, plus international crossings to La Paz (Bolivia) and Tacna (Peru). Stargazing is in preparation.
From Putre, at Baquedano 80. We can also arrange pickup in Arica.
Yes, we work in Spanish and English. Our guides live in Putre: they know the altitude, the weather and the roads first-hand.
It can be visited all year. Between April and October only one or two millimetres of rain fall per month: clear, cold days with great visibility. Between December and March the altiplano winter arrives, with afternoon rain that turns the altiplano green and full of wildlife. We confirm conditions before every departure.
By WhatsApp at +56 9 5028 1490 or through the quote form on villavolcantours.cl.
Putre sits at 3,500 m; Chungará and Surire are above 4,500 m. Sleeping one night in Putre before going up to the lakes prevents soroche. Hydration, light meals and coca tea help.
Sunny days and sub-zero nights: thermal base layer, fleece and windbreaker. SPF 50+, hat and UV sunglasses. Between January and February there may be rain or snow (altiplano winter).
A valid ID card for tours inside Chile. For crossings to Bolivia (La Paz) and Peru (Tacna), Chileans travel with a valid national ID and foreigners with a valid passport. With minors, travel notice and notarized permission if applicable.
Putre has 4G and 5G coverage. With a Chilean SIM the connection is stable — it only slows down at peak hours. Outside the village, on the altiplano roads, the signal is intermittent. If you travel with a foreign SIM on roaming, check with your operator: coverage may vary. There is Wi-Fi at Hotel Las Vicuñas. On cash: Putre has one BancoEstado ATM, but it is worth bringing Chilean pesos in case it fails or runs out.
Pay in advance
PrepaymentPay in full up front and you get the advance rate. Same trip, same vehicle, same guide — the only difference is that the date is locked and the payment is non-refundable.
Payment methods
Once the link is live, you'll continue to Transbank's Webpay to pay. For now, payment is arranged over WhatsApp.
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Get a quote
Direct quote
Check the destinations you're interested in, add a few details and we'll build the message for you. WhatsApp opens with the text ready — you just hit send.
We operate year-round. Between January and February (altiplano winter) some routes may be affected by rain or snow. For international crossings (Bolivia, Peru), Chileans travel with a valid national ID and foreigners with a valid passport; we recommend 2–4 day programs — let us know when you quote.
