EXPLORE CHILE'S HIGH DESERT

Arica Unlimited will take you on an amazing adventure!  - My partner and I booked a tour for 4 days in the altiplano, looking to learn about the geography, wildlife and culture of the region. Ivan took us to some... read more amazing spots, starting at the wetlands at sea level, crossing through the desert and the pre-Andes, reaching the altiplano. Ivan has 20 years experience as a guide in the Andes, and it shows! He indulged us into the local culture, told us many stories about his past adventures, and provided deep insights into the history of the region. Especially for wildlife sightings, Ivan is highly recommended. We were able to see a lot of bird species, as well as mammals, each accompanied by insightful explanations. We were able to visit some of the most remote and hard-to-reach locations thanks to Ivan’s excellent off-road driving skills (approx. 400km off-road covered), adding to the sense of adventure. What’s unique about Arica Unlimited is that the tours are completely customisable according to interests (archeology, fauna/flora, culture, geography, ). On top of that, Ivan is a great chef. He cooked us a delicious alpaca dish during an overnight stay at a llama/alpaca farm. Ivan will make sure that your experience will be unforgettable. Overall, we had a great time and highly recommend Arica Unlimited for your next adventure in the altiplano!

Thank you for two great days! - I was very impressed with Ivan Guerra from the first time we messaged on WhatsApp. I could tell he really had a passion for Arica and the Altiplano Del Norte.... read more I had only two days available for tours in the Arica area and he accommodated me by putting together a one-day tour to the Altiplano, and one day in Peru. Ivan took us to 5000m in beautiful Parque Nacional Lauca. In the few hours that I was there, I could tell Ivan has a very deep understanding and in-depth knowledge of the human, plant, animal and physical ecology of the Altiplano. He also arranged a one day tour to Peru the following day with another guide. That was also very rewarding.

Incredible 4-day adventure with Ivan to explore the Arica region  - We have been recommended Ivan of Arica Unlimited by three different persons when looking for a great guide to take us to discover the Arica region.
We were so glad... read more to meet Ivan who is probably the most knowledgeable guide of the area and has a real passion for the region and its fauna and flora (he can also organise birdwatching tours).
We went on a 4-day trip with him, starting from our hotel in Arica (Apacheta hôtel) from where he picked us up on the first day.
His new jeep wangler was ideal to discover the region (don’t self drive in the region as the roads and not easy to drive on and you are likely to miss out in the many secret places only a local guide can take you to) and Ivan has plenty of stories, anecdotes and interesting facts about the Andes’ nature, history, the Aymara people and their traditions, etc.

Here is a short overview of our tour: on day 1 we went to pick up fresh fruits and vegetables at the Arica market, went to see the museum were you can find the oldest mummies of the world (7000 years old!), went birdwatching in the wetlands before properly hitting the road and reaching the Reserva Nacional Las Vicunas to reach Putre at the end of the day where we spent our first night in a nice local hotel.
On day two, we crossed the Parque Nacional Lauca, stopped by the Lake Chungara and its impressive surrounding volcanoes, took a nice walk on Diablo marka crater - stopped by many little mountain villages, and discovered the impressive Salar de Surire Salt Lakes where we had a lovely lunch in the sun! We then drove through the Parque Naciona Volan Isluga and spent the night in a nearby village.

On day 3 we started by visiting an area with giant cactus, then we went to a nice place where we swam in thermal waters and got to see the geysers. It was only the three of us which made it really special! We then drove into the desert where we spotted some ancient Inca hieroglyphics and visited the abandoned city of Humberton.

On the last day, we went to the Red Lagoon where we had breakfast before taking a great walk in the canyon following the river. We then started making our way back to Arica.

It was a fantastic and really off the beaten tracks journey full of history and nature and that we are not ready to forget! Thanks again Ivan for your awesome service and good mood during the entire trip!