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.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
1,379 km² (532 sq mi)532 sq mi (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 (532 sq mi)532 sq mi (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 (532 sq mi)532 sq mi (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
- JanCaution
- FebCaution
- MarGo
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunGo
- JulGo
- AugGo
- SepBest
- OctBest
- NovGo
- 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
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VicuñasAll year · In small groups across the park; hard to miss. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Mountain viscachaAll year · Usually several near the start of the Las Cuevas trail. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Chilean and Andean flamingosAll year · Best around the ponds near the Chucuyo police checkpoint and along the southeastern shore of Chungará. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Andean condorApr–Oct · Seen on the wing; not reliable. | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| GuanacoAll year · Less common than vicuñas; larger, with grey faces. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
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
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Chungará basin | The lake, the Payachata volcanoes and the Tambo de Chungará archaeological site. | Open; reached by paved Highway 11. |
| Cotacotani lagoons | A field of interconnected lagoons and wetlands with water birds. | Open; short side road off the highway. |
| Parinacota and Chucuyo | Adobe villages, the 17th-century church and the marshland between them. | Open; the only lodging inside the park is in Parinacota. |
| Las Cuevas | Rock shelter, Incaic chacus and hot springs on a short trail. | Open; easy walking from the roadside. |
| Las Vicuñas National Reserve | The park's remote neighbour to the south. | Open; rough roads, own vehicle needed. |
Sketch map
- 1Putre · Town≈-18.196, -69.559Approximate; 3,500 m, the usual acclimatisation base.Map ↗
- 2Las Cuevas · Trail≈-18.220, -69.450Approximate; rock shelter, chacus and hot springs.Map ↗
- 3Chucuyo · Village≈-18.216, -69.295Police checkpoint and roadside food.Map ↗
- 4Parinacota village · Village≈-18.201, -69.268Church and the park's only lodging.Map ↗
- 5Lagunas de Cotacotani · Viewpoint≈-18.190, -69.240Approximate.Map ↗
- 6Lago Chungará · Viewpoint≈-18.250, -69.150Approximate; 4,520 m.Map ↗
- 7Volcán Parinacota · Summit≈-18.166, -69.1426,342 m.Map ↗
Take the points offline
7 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions along Highway 11 from Putre to Chungará, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry (CONAF) | CLP 0–5,000 | person | 2026 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 Arica | CLP 40,000–90,000 | person | 2026 estimate; includes transport and a guide, not meals. |
| Hostal Uta Kala, Parinacota | CLP 34,000 | person | Per person with breakfast and dinner; reservation only. |
| Fuel, Arica to the park and back | CLP 30,000–50,000 | car | 2026 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
Parinacota village accommodation no permit
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- CLP 40,000–90,000
- CLP 34,000
- CLP 30,000–50,000
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on CONAF — Parque Nacional Lauca before you go.
Park rules
- 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 (7.5 mi) from the park boundary; the standard acclimatisation base.Hotels and guesthouses at 3,500 m, 7.5 mi (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
Cold and wind medium
Stranding without a car medium
Sun and dryness medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
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 (0.6 mi) on uneven ground; the hot springs shack is not step-free.The Las Cuevas loop is about 0.6 mi (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.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go