NORTH REGION

This area of extreme contrasts blends the sea, the Atacama Desert and the Altiplano, just like mixing the Himalaya, the Sahara and the Bering Sea. In the Atacama Desert - the most arid one in the world - and in spite of its rigorous climate, life keeps on developing, in a relationship of mutual respect between Man and Nature. Thus, though hard to imagine if one has never been to this place, animals, plants and human beings live together.

The Cordillera de los Andes or Andes Mountain Range, with peaks of about 5,000 and 6,000 mt. high, has countless volcanoes which, by means of the material expelled by them, have filled its surface, thus forming plain territories that have been aptly named Altiplano. Here, only the sturdiest kinds of flora and fauna can survive the harsh weather conditions imposed over 3,500 mt. high. However, there is a wide biological diversity, samples of which can be appreciated in the National Parks: Lauca, Isluga and Salar de Surire. Nowadays, the Chilean Altiplano is the home of the aymara aborigines, who roam the volcano region riding their tamed llamas and alpacas.

Summing up, this region is the perfect environment for Adventure tourism, going through routes that only powerful four-wheel-drive vehicles can explore, and discovering landscapes of breathtaking beauty and immensity.