In a nutshell

A tour that will take us back in time, to the places and cultures that have marked the north of Chile, discovering the famous geoglyphs, the pre-Columbian site of Pucara de Copaquilla, declared a National Monument, and the town of Putre, where every corner and every house reflect the ancient past.

Main stops

Lluta river valley: large geoglyphs
Pucara de Copaquilla pre-Hispanic archaeological site: remains of the 12th-century fortress
Town of Putre
Lunch in a local restaurant
Main square and Putre church (free time)

The programme

We will begin our tour leaving the port of Arica on our coach and head towards Lluta river valley, which is famous for its large geoglyphs along the slopes of the hills that border the valley. They are drawings carved into the land by the pre-Columbian people using stones or scratching the salty surface of the desert soil, which depict human and animal shapes and pastoral scenes.
We will stop for photos here and then continue our journey to Pucara de Copaquilla, a pre-Hispanic archaeological site in the Arica and Parinacota region declared a National Monument, where we can find the remains of an ancient fortress dating back to the 12th century, built to protect the valley.
Then we will continue our journey to the town of Putre, the capital of the Parinacota province, situated 3,500 metres above sea level and considered the ideal starting point for a visit to the plateaus of Lauca National Park. Of pre-Hispanic origins, Putre’s urban structure dates back to 1580. We can still see the influence of the last century on its streets and buildings thanks to the presence of Potosí and Coquelimpie gold and silver mines near the village.
We will get off the coach and enjoy a guided tour of the town, walking through its typical streets and admiring the houses made from adobe (clay bricks dried in the sun).
Then we will head to a local restaurant for lunch and, afterwards, we will have some time left to explore the town on our own, perhaps stopping in the main square where we can find Putre church, considered the oldest in the north region, dating back to 1670. The façade is made from stone and the bell tower is separated from the central body of the church.
After visiting Putre, we will board our coach again to return to Arica and the ship.

Good to know

This excursion is not recommended for guests with mobility problems, wheelchair users or those who suffer from high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes or vertigo.
Pregnant women and people with back and neck problems are not advised to take part in this excursion.
Minimum age: 8 years old
The itinerary for this excursion reaches an altitude of 3,500 metres above sea level.
No internal visit of the church of Putre.