Español WhatsApp

Full day · From Putre

Payachatas, Caquena & colonial churches tour

A full-day heritage circuit around the Payachatas snow peaks. We visit the villages of Caquena and Parinacota, their colonial adobe churches, calvaries and pre-Columbian funerary chullpas, with llamas and alpacas grazing in the wetlands.

White stone calvaries at the entrance of Caquena
DurationFull day
DepartureFrom Putre

What you will see

Photos from our trips

Eduardo Oyarzún and guests beside the colonial church of Parinacota, a 17th-century National Monument
Parinacota wetland: high-altitude bofedal seen from the viewpoint
Sunset over Parinacota volcano on the altiplano, where the astrotourism outings will start

Before you go

Altitude & acclimatization

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.

Weather & clothing

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).

Best time to go

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.

Yes, we work in Spanish and English. Our guides live in Putre: they know the altitude, the weather and the roads first-hand.

Get a quote for this tour

Tell us your dates and group size and we will reply with departure, price and availability.

Get a quote on WhatsApp

More routes from Putre

See all 17 routes →