Chile’s Big North

Chile’s far north is a mixture of ocean, desert and the Andes, starting with Arica, called “The City of the Eternal Spring” because of its almost ideal weather, its rich history, and imposing Morro hill.

The Great North also offers Lauca National Park, with its snowcapped Parinacota, deep blue Lake Chungara and starkly beautiful altiplano landscape. It’s also one of the few places where you can see all four South American camelids in the wild: alpacas, guanacos, llamas and vicuñas.

Among the region’s other top sights are the lush Azapa Valley, the historic core of the coastal city of Iquique, old saltpeter mining ghost towns like Humberstone, and the magical oasis of Pica.

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