Putre and the Altiplano

Putre - the entrance to Unesco Biosphere site.

We were wondering why it is still so calm and genuine. We have heard some people saying that it is gonna be another San Pedro de Atacama. We do hope it will not be a second "San Pedro". It is so nice not to see tourists anywhere and enjoy these nature wonders on our own.

We went to see most of the parks around: Lauca (UNESCO Biosphere); Las Vicunas (here are the viscachas which you can almost touch); Lake Chungará and Cotacotani Lagoon, where there are flamingos and other bird species - also "nandus" (a ostrich-like bird).

 
Flamingos



Colonial church in Parinacota village (in Aymara: "Parina": flamigo, "cota": lagoon).

No better place to leave behind your troubles.

The Parinacota volcano with the Chungara lake are breathtaking.

The only drawback of this area is that the main road from Putre to the Bolivian has large numbers of roadworks  and vehicles.

 Opuncia, here called: the cushion of mother-in-law.

 

Fumaroles of active volcano - Acotango. Scientists say that he is gonna die soon because he is smoking too much...