Lauca National Park (in the Aymara language "lawq" means "water grass") was created in Chile in 1970 on the basis of the Forest Reserve Lauca. Its area is 137,883 hectares. The park includes steppe, foothills of the Cordillera, and also called Titicaca plateau - vast plain, located in the eastern part of Arica Parinacota. In 1981, Park joined the list of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves.

Before reaching the lake Chungara in the surrounding wetlands, which are fueled by the waters of Lake Cotacotani (4495 m above sea level) can put a tent in the morning to meet a wonderful sunrise. In the background will be seen the snow-covered volcano double Nevados de Payyachata (in the Aymara language "?% 8yachata" means "the twins or twins") - two volcanoes: Pomerape (6265 m) and Parinacota (6348 m). You can also see Guallarite (6060 m) and Acotango (6050 meters), which are also the highlight of the park. This kind of gives an idea of ​​the beautiful landscapes that are waiting for you when you reach the large lake Chungara (4517 m above sea level).

On the way to Emerald Lake Chungara can see the historical monument Tambo de Chungara - checkpoint, built in 1695 (a national monument of Chile since 1983). Walk through the streets of the town of Parinacota (colonial architectural ensemble of XVII century) - it was declared a national monument of Chile in 1979. Among its tourist and cultural attractions you can see the church built in the early XVII century of volcanic materials and museum (they also are national monuments). You will be able to explore the ancient city Chukuyo (in Aymara "chukuñuyo" means "a place to corral"), through which in the XVI and XVII century, caravans of the gold mine of Potosi in the port of Arica. He was also a sales center alpaca and Checkpoint Carabinieri Corps Chile.

You can also explore the cave at the base of rocky slopes in Las Cuevas, served as dwellings for the Inca-chakus - this place is also an archaeological monument. You can warm up by the hot springs of Las Cuevas (arising from swamps water warmed to 31 ° C), walk along the river Lauca, which originates from the lake and observe the life of the inhabitants of the wetlands Bofedal de Parinacota (Bofedal de Parinacota) . In other words, can adequately assess the spectacular landscape of the park Lauca in its greatness and historical heritage.

Park Lauca characterized not only by places of cultural and historical heritage and great natural beauty, but it is also rich in flora and fauna of his. This park is home to more than 230 different species of animals and birds. It is easiest to see in the vicinity of the park: the puma, the Peruvian deer, llama, alpaca, vicuna, southern viscacha (it is called giant chinchilla), Andean fox, northern llama (guanaco), the Andean avocet, Chilean flamingos, Andean seagull, the Andean goose, and the Andean ostrich.

The main representatives of the flora in the steppes and in the areas of "wetlands" of the park - fescue, gentian, ragwort strelkonosny, movies - psevdozernovaya culture, was one of the most important kinds of food the Indians. The civilization of the Incas quinoa belonged to three major types of food, along with corn and potatoes. The Incas called it "the golden grain." In rocky areas at high altitudes of the park is growing evergreen Yareta amazing, life expectancy is up to 3,000 years. On the mountain slopes, from 3200 m to 3800 m, low growing shrubs.

The park is very dry climate with large variations in temperature per day. The average temperature ranges between + 12-20 ° C during the day and -3-25 ° C at night.