Putre is a village in the Arica y Parinacota of Chile.
Understand
Get in
By bus
- La Paloma leaves from Arica, but not from the main bus terminal, daily at 07:00 except 25 Dec and 1 Jan. The bus leaves from the "Market Tucapel", located in the street GermánRiesco #2071 in the city of Arica. Also the way back from Putre to Arica can be realized with "La Paloma", they leave every day at 02:00pm.
- International bus between Arica and La Paz, Bolivia leaves Arica daily and stops at Alto Putre (5 km from Putre village); ask at the bus ticket office.
By taxi
From Arica, the fare is around CLP$70,000.
By car
from Arica is about 140 km on the national highway 11. There are no filling stations in Putre or anywhere else along that road.
Get around
Mr. Oriolf ( 56 9 928 26 194) owns a tour company in town and is very friendly. He takes you through Parque Nacional Lauca (for about CLP$45,000) and to Salar de Surire in groups up to five and shows you some off the track places. Of course, you see flamingos and alpacas as well.Terrace Lodge & Tours , in Putre, takes up to 4 persons to most places in this Region.
See
Parque Nacional Lauca
East of Putre Lauca National Park is one of the most popular attractions in Chile.You can see many mammals and birds: alpacas, lamas, vicuñas, guanacos, viscachas, flamingos, gulls, Andean geese, Andean flickers etc. Sometimes Condors appear.
Within the Lauca National Park there are the "Cotacotani" lagoons, the village of Parinacota with its pretty four centuries old church and the Chungarà Lake, the highest in the world at 4,520 m.To enjoy the park is strongly suggested to spend the previous night in Putre since you will need to acclimatize and will have more time to enjoy the trip.
Do
Walk on the edge of Chungará lake to see a spectacular view of the Parinacota volcano and many birds. Early morning is the best time for visiting.
Walk down to the Cotacotani Lagoons or, if you like long walks (9.5 km), reach the village of Parinacota through the lagoons.Visit the Sector Las Cuevas in the afternoon, when many vicuñas will be at only 15 m from your camera.
Go swimming in a hot pool at Termas de Jurasi (CLP$3000): the access road forks off from the main highway to Lauca National Park at a signposted junction a few kilometres above Putre, see map
Buy
Items in alpaca wool.
Eat
Alpaca meat and "llaita" (fresh water algae) are two local specialties.
Drink
"Mate de coca" and "mate de chachacoma" are local hot drinks to reduce the symptoms of the altitude sickness. Sometimes you can order a mix of these two plants.
Sleep
The accommodation in Putre ranges from basic hostel, with common bathroom, no breakfast and no heating, to more comfortable hostel or lodges. Due to the altitude (3,550 m) most travellers prefer to spend the night in a comfortable room, possibly heated. In autumn and winter the night temperatures are always negative.
- 1 La Chakana, ☏ 56 9 9745 9519. It consists of a couple of bungalows in a quiet setting about 10 min by foot from the village centre. Each has a spacious room with heating and bathroom. The breakfast is unusually rich with different kinds of cereals, marmalade, cheese and sausage plus fruit juice and yoghurt.
- Terrace Lodge & Tours. It has twin and double rooms with heating, en-suite bathroom and other amenities
Stay safe
If you intend to go hiking "off the beaten track" discuss your plans with local people or authorities. There are minefields in border areas.