Lauca is 160km northeast of Arica, between 3000m and 6300m above sea level. Visitors should adapt to the altitude gradually do not exert yourself at first, and eat and drink moderately. If you suffer altitude sickness try the herbal tea remedy chachacoma; for more on altitude sickness, see Health in the Regional Facts for the Visitor chapter. You'll need sunblock against the brutal tropical rays, but it can also snow during invierno boliviano (Bolivian winter, the summer rainy season).
The park has been under siege from regional authorities and mining interests who want to reduce its size by a third for a highly speculative, destructive gold extraction project. At the same time, courts have ruled that roughly 80% of the park belongs to Aymara residents.
Places to Stay
Refugio Las Cuevas
Refugio Parinaeota
Refugio Chungara
Parque Nacional Lauca is a 138,000-hectare Altiplano biosphere reserve with vicuna, vizeacha and 150 bird species, plus cultural and archaeological landmarks. The PaIlachata volcanoes behind sprawling Lago Chungara are dormant, but nearby GuaIlatire smokes ominously.
