Alto Andino Nature Tours

Wildflower trips, Botanical tours, flora & native plants
 Parque Nacional Lauca & extreme northern Chile
Mutisia acuminata near Putre, Chile winter wildflowers

June to August  is not the high season for native wildflowers here in the north of Chile, but even in winter some of the woody plants keep flowering.  This is Mutisia acuminata Ruiz et Pav. var. hirsuta, photo taken by B. Knapton on the 4th of July near Putre.  Giant Hummingbirds, Patagona gigas,  are attracted to this bush; a good way to find a giant hummer is to pick out a hillside of blooming Mutisia, sit quietly and wait for your reward.      

Native plant habitats we visit from sea level to 4,800 m  

- Cactus scrub & pre-puna shrublands from the Atacama Desert to above Putre

- Cushion bogs & altiplano wetlands:  altiplano tundra

- Andean "alpine" rock gardens 

- tola - grassland (resinous shrubs & Festuca/Stipa bunchgrass)

- remnant Polylepis copses

- Atacama Desert arroyos & washes

- "Extreme tropical alpine" slopes near 4,800 masl

- Lluta, San Jose, Lauca, Isluga rivers, Taipicagua gorge (riparian)   
 

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Suggested 3-5 day wildflower  itinerary:


Day 1:  Start in Arica.  Native vegetation of the transverse lowland valleys,  Atacama Desert arroyos, cactus scrub, precordillera pre-puna gorges and pampas.   OV Putre

Day 2:  Parque Nacional Lauca altiplano cushion bogs, tola grassland,  altiplano tundra, riparian.   Lago Chungara, Chucullo bog.   OV Putre

Day 3:  Parque Nacional Lauca "extreme" tropical alpines, then  OV Putre, or take 5 pm bus or tour van back to Arica or take an international bus to Bolivia the next day.  

As usual we suggest an additional day for altitude acclimatization, a "free day" in the pueblo of Putre which would then be day 2 of a 4 day tour.   

 At certain times of the year we extend the tour to Parque Nacional Volcán Isluga to see the many species of cacti there, including Echinopsis, Cumulopuntia, "Lobivia", etc.  Another extention would be a 5th day touring the mid-level desert areas close to the coastal range, Prosopis tamarugo, desert oases, etc.  In other words, we're flexible. 

Resources for studying Andean plants
There are no comprehensive publications for wildflowers that cover the extreme north of Chile, so we have compiled a photographic catalog of the vegetation of the first 2 regions, a long-term project begun in 1996. The catalog will be available on tours.   

We have a very good collection of native-plant oriented books in Putre, available for use by clients.  These and other helpful resources are listed here.  

Please inquire about tours or choose daily guide service in your own rental car.  

Agencies:   add a wildflower or birding component to your scheduled Lauca Tours, please inquire for naturalist guide service from Arica or Putre to Parque Nacional Lauca. 

Itineraries:  birding   nature   wildflowers   cruise ship shore birding       Birds & Fauna:   resources    area birds    Puna Rhea   Diademed Sandpiper-plover   Giant Conebill   Torrent Duck   James' Flamingo   seabirds   Andean Lapwing   Andean Deer    birding in Patagonia     Hornby's Storm Petrel  Markham's Storm Petrel  Mountain Parakeets    Wildflowers:   flora    Lauca's extreme alpines   Parinacota Province pre-puna  flora    alpine cushion bogs   Atacama Desert arroyo    Unique places:   PN Volcán Isluga    Ramsar Site Salar de Surire    Putre     Details:   guiding    home    FAQ   altitude    planning         
  

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