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National park · Chile

Lauca National ParkParque Nacional Lauca

Go only if you sleep at 3,500 m first: one night in Putre, then drive Highway 11 to Chungará and Parinacota in a single morning; skip the Arica day tour, which climbs 4,500 m in three hours.

Not field-verifiedSome areas permit-onlyChecked Sep 2026
Map to the park
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Directions
From where I am

Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.

Area

1,379 km²

approximate

Established

1965

Best months

Apr–May, Sep–Oct

UNESCO

None

Rules in force · 6Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the fir…
  • South America ↗Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the first day light; sleep lower where you can (Sacred Valley before Cusco) and descend if headache comes with vomiting or confusion.
  • South America ↗A yellow fever certificate is required on arrival in French Guiana, and asked for on some routes into Bolivia, Paraguay, Suriname and Guyana, or when arriving from Amazon areas — vaccinate at least 10 days before travel and carry the card.
  • South America ↗Overnight buses are the norm in Argentina, Chile and Peru, but pick top-tier companies and keep valuables on your body; on-board thefts from overhead racks are the common loss.
  • Chile ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Chile's National Migration Service or a Chilean consulate; keep the entry slip or digital record you receive.
  • Chile ↗Torres del Paine: campsites and refugios on the W and O treks must be booked in advance, and the park requires an entry ticket bought ahead; check the official park (CONAF) channels.
  • Chile ↗Chile strictly controls food imports: declare fruit, meat, dairy, seeds and honey on arrival, or throw them away before customs.

At a glance

Country
Chile
Area
1,379 km²
1,379 km² of high altiplano, roughly 55 km across along Highway 11; figures vary slightly by source and boundary revision (check).
Established
1965
Best months
Apr–May, Sep–Oct
Permits
For some areas

Lauca sits on the Andean altiplano in far northern Chile, on the road from Arica to Bolivia. Lake Chungará lies at 4,520 m under the Payachata volcanoes, and the park holds vicuñas, viscachas and flamingos at close range. The catch is the height: almost everything worth seeing is above 4,000 m, and the standard day tour from Arica climbs there in about three hours. Sleeping one night in Putre (3,500 m) first is the difference between a good day and a lost one.

Decide

Why go, which months, and what lives here when

At a glance

Status

  • No UNESCO listing; national park since 1965.

Size and age

1,379 km² · national park since 1965

1,379 km² of high altiplano, roughly 55 km across along Highway 11; figures vary slightly by source and boundary revision (check).

Why go

  • Lake Chungará at 4,520 m, green water under two snow-capped volcanoes.
  • Vicuñas, viscachas and flamingos within a few metres of the road, with no walking required.
  • The 17th-century church and adobe village at Parinacota, inside the park.
  • Highway 11 is paved the whole way, so a normal car reaches the main sights.

When to go

12-month verdict
  1. JanCaution
  2. FebCaution
  3. MarGo
  4. AprBest
  5. MayBest
  6. JunGo
  7. JulGo
  8. AugGo
  9. SepBest
  10. OctBest
  11. NovGo
  12. DecCaution
  • JanWet season; afternoon cloud and hail
  • FebWettest month; some tracks muddy
  • MarRain easing; greener altiplano
  • AprClear, dry, cold nights
  • MayDry and clear; very cold at night
  • JunDry; strong wind, sub-zero nights
  • JulDriest skies; coldest mornings
  • AugDry; wind and dust
  • SepClear; wind picking up
  • OctDry, mild days, fewer people
  • NovCloud building; first rain
  • DecWet season starts; afternoon storms

Wildlife and nature calendar

Seasons shift by weeks each year
Wildlife and nature calendar for Lauca National Park
WhatJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
VicuñasAll year · In small groups across the park; hard to miss.yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes
Mountain viscachaAll year · Usually several near the start of the Las Cuevas trail.yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes
Chilean and Andean flamingosAll year · Best around the ponds near the Chucuyo police checkpoint and along the southeastern shore of Chungará.yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes
Andean condorApr–Oct · Seen on the wing; not reliable.nononoyesyesyesyesyesyesyesnono
GuanacoAll year · Less common than vicuñas; larger, with grey faces.yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes

Arrive & move

Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are

How to get there

From Arica

Drive Highway 11 north; paved throughout, no fuel after Arica. Roadworks can add an hour and the road is sometimes closed in the afternoon — check before setting out.

3–4 h

From Putre

Drive Highway 11 to the park boundary, then on to Chungará and Parinacota. Putre is the usual acclimatisation night.

1–1.5 h

From Arica by bus

International buses to La Paz pass through the park and will usually drop you inside it if you ask the driver; they do not run short hops within the park.

3–4 h

From Arica by tour

One- to three-day tours are the practical option without a car; a one-day tour climbs to 4,500 m in about three hours.

Full day

Zones and sectors

Zones of Lauca National Park
ZoneWhat is thereAccess
Chungará basinThe lake, the Payachata volcanoes and the Tambo de Chungará archaeological site.Open; reached by paved Highway 11.
Cotacotani lagoonsA field of interconnected lagoons and wetlands with water birds.Open; short side road off the highway.
Parinacota and ChucuyoAdobe villages, the 17th-century church and the marshland between them.Open; the only lodging inside the park is in Parinacota.
Las CuevasRock shelter, Incaic chacus and hot springs on a short trail.Open; easy walking from the roadside.
Las Vicuñas National ReserveThe park's remote neighbour to the south.Open; rough roads, own vehicle needed.

Sketch map

Approximate — not for navigation
Sketch map of 7 approximate points in Lauca National Park, north up1234567
Approximate positions along Highway 11 from Putre to Chungará, for orientation only.
  1. 1Putre · Town≈-18.196, -69.559Approximate; 3,500 m, the usual acclimatisation base.Map ↗
  2. 2Las Cuevas · Trail≈-18.220, -69.450Approximate; rock shelter, chacus and hot springs.Map ↗
  3. 3Chucuyo · Village≈-18.216, -69.295Police checkpoint and roadside food.Map ↗
  4. 4Parinacota village · Village≈-18.201, -69.268Church and the park's only lodging.Map ↗
  5. 5Lagunas de Cotacotani · Viewpoint≈-18.190, -69.240Approximate.Map ↗
  6. 6Lago Chungará · Viewpoint≈-18.250, -69.150Approximate; 4,520 m.Map ↗
  7. 7Volcán Parinacota · Summit≈-18.166, -69.1426,342 m.Map ↗

See & do

Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking

Top experiences

TrailsEasy30–45 minLas Cuevas loopAbout 1 km from the roadside; viscachas are usually near the start and the hot springs sit inside a small shack.
TrailsEasy1–2 hChungará shoreline walkFlat walking along the southeastern shore for flamingos, Giant Coot and Silvery Grebe; wind is constant.
CultureEasy1 hParinacota village and churchAdobe houses and a colonial church inside the park; the village is the only place to sleep in the park.
ViewpointsEasy30 minCotacotani lagoons viewpointShort drive off Highway 11; the lagoons and volcanoes are the classic photograph.
WildlifeEasyHalf dayWildlife watching from the roadVicuñas, llamas and alpacas graze close to the highway; stay in the car for close views.
ViewpointsExpert1–2 daysVolcán Parinacota6,342 m; a serious mountaineering objective with a guide, not a hike.

Practical

Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong

Entry fees and permits

CLP ranges · check
Fees for Lauca National Park
ItemRangePerNote
Park entry (CONAF)CLP 0–5,000person2026 estimate; Chilean nationals and residents usually enter free, foreign adults pay a small fee — check the current rate at the gate.
Guided day tour from AricaCLP 40,000–90,000person2026 estimate; includes transport and a guide, not meals.
Hostal Uta Kala, ParinacotaCLP 34,000personPer person with breakfast and dinner; reservation only.
Fuel, Arica to the park and backCLP 30,000–50,000car2026 estimate; no fuel station between Arica and the park.

Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.

Park entry permit or guide

Pay at the CONAF checkpoint on Highway 11; no advance booking.

Parinacota village accommodation no permit

Book Hostal Uta Kala by phone at least 72 hours ahead; the owner is not always home.

Park rules

Drones, guides, camping and more
Altitude
Most of the park is above 4,000 m. Sleep in Putre (3,500 m) for a night before going higher, and turn back if you get a bad headache.
Fuel
There is no fuel station between Arica and the park, or inside it. Fill up in Arica.
Camping
No official campsites; wild camping is not banned but you need windproof gear and water for below-freezing nights.
Wildlife
Do not approach or feed vicuñas and flamingos; watch from the vehicle and keep to the roadside.
Road closures
Highway 11 roadworks can delay you an hour and the road is sometimes shut for the afternoon; ask in Putre before driving up.check

Where to stay

In the park

Hostal Uta Kala (Don Leo), Parinacota

The only official accommodation inside the park; per person with breakfast and dinner, reservation only, 72 hours or more ahead.

Near the park

Putre

Hotels and guesthouses at 3,500 m, 12 km from the park boundary; the standard acclimatisation base.

Near the park

Arica

Sea-level city with the widest choice of beds, three to four hours below the park.

Safety

Altitude sickness high

Sleep in Putre first, ascend slowly, drink water, skip alcohol, and descend to Arica if symptoms get worse rather than better.

Cold and wind medium

Days run 5–20 °C and nights drop to about −15 °C; bring a windproof shell, hat and gloves even in the dry season.

Stranding without a car medium

Traffic can be absent for two hours at a time and much of the highway is far from shelter; do not rely on hitching.

Sun and dryness medium

High-altitude sun burns fast; use sunscreen, sunglasses and lip balm, and carry more water than you think you need.

Accessibility

  • The main sights — Chungará, Cotacotani and Parinacota village — are reached by paved road with short, flat walks from parking.
  • The Las Cuevas loop is about 1 km on uneven ground; the hot springs shack is not step-free.
  • There is no public transport inside the park, so a vehicle or a tour is required.

Visiting lightly

  • Take all rubbish back to Arica or Putre; there are almost no bins in the park.
  • Buy meals and fuel in Putre so the money stays in the villages below the park.
  • Keep to the road for wildlife viewing; leaving the track damages altiplano turf that recovers very slowly.

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to enter Lauca National Park?

A small CONAF fee, in the low thousands of pesos per foreign adult (2026 estimate); Chilean nationals and residents usually enter free. Check the rate at the checkpoint on Highway 11 — there is no online booking.

What are the best hikes in Lauca National Park?

The 1 km Las Cuevas loop, where viscachas and vicuñas are usually close to the trailhead, and the flat walk along the southeastern shore of Lake Chungará for flamingos and water birds. Both are easy; the park is too big and too cold to cross on foot.

When is the best time to visit Lauca National Park?

April to October for dry, clear skies, with April, May, September and October the best balance of weather and comfort. December to March is the wet season, with afternoon cloud, hail and muddy side tracks.

Do I need to acclimatise before visiting Lauca?

Yes. Almost everything is above 4,000 m and Lake Chungará is at 4,520 m. Sleep one night in Putre at 3,500 m first, and avoid a same-day Arica-to-Chungará run if you can.

Can I visit Lauca National Park without a car?

Only with difficulty. There are no local buses inside the park; international Arica–La Paz buses pass through and may drop you off, but they will not move you between sights. A tour from Arica or Putre is the practical option.

Is there anywhere to sleep inside the park?

One place: Hostal Uta Kala in Parinacota village, per person with breakfast and dinner, by reservation at least 72 hours ahead. Otherwise stay in Putre, 12 km from the park boundary.

Is there fuel or food in the park?

No fuel between Arica and the park or inside it. Food is limited to a couple of basic roadside places around Chucuyo, open mainly for breakfast and lunch; carry your own supplies.

Related

Chile travel guide

Deep dive

Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go

Sources