Lauca National Park

Dona Maty's interior may be basic, but the food is good

it's lunchtime and we stop at an Aymara restaurant

this is Lolly the Llama, checking out trucks for food and spitting at you if she feel threatened

an Andean Goose is weathering the wind

Parinacota may be mostly uninhabited but Cafeteria Las Parinas is open for business

the frontside of the small Parinacota church

at Parinacota we check out the signature bell tower

this is an Andean Gull

Lauca National Park is located on the Altiplano in Chile's extreme north where it borders Bolivia's Sajama National Park to the east and Las Vicunas National Reserve to the south.

It is a sparsely populated, rugged area at an altitude of 3000+ meters with snow covered mountains in the background. The skyline here is dominated by towering stratovolcanoes, notably the 6000+ meters high Pomerape andParinacota.
The scenic Chungara and Cotacotani lakes lie at the foot of these majestic mountains.

Lauca is home to many species of birds, adapted to the high altitude environment. Herds of Llamas and Alpacas dot the plains that they share with wild Vicunas.

Life has always been hard at the Altiplano and many have left the area for the coastal cities. Today hamlets like Parinacota with its landmark church and bell tower are mostly uninhabited throughout the year.

Close to the park is the small village of Putre (alt. 3500 m) that provides basic lodging for visiting tourists.

On a sunny but bitter cold winter day in July 2011 we explored a very impressive Lauca National Park.

an outhouse with a majestic view of the Pomerape and Parinacota volcanoes

Vicunas graze along the road, but they keep a wary eye on us

the majestic Volcan Parinacota rises above a partly frozen Lake Chungara

it's a superb spot to take pictures but the freezing wind makes it a bitter cold activity

these black birds do not seem to care about the cold

they are Giant Coot, perfectly adapted to the Altiplano climate

Llamas and Alpacas fit in perfectly with the scenic landscape

Cotacotani Lake sits at the foot of the twin volcanoes