Isluga Volcano National Park
It is located at an average of 4000 mts. above sea level, 232 km. northeast of Iquique, and it encompasses 174.744 hectares. The altitude within the park ranges from 2100 to 5530 mts. and temperatures vary between 5°C and 10°C. It is open to tourists all year round.
As you walk along the excursion trails you will be able to appreciate different ecological and vegetable environments, as the Arabilla Lagoon. You can observe fauna like the Chilean flamingo and the great variety of birds that inhabit the area. Another one of the park’s attractions, and in fact the most important one, is the geothermal field Puchuldiza, which consists of geysers and thermal springs with water as hot as 85°C. You can see the fumaroles best at dawn and during the coldest winter months the waters freeze, forming magnificent blocks of ice.
Volcano Isluga has one of the most remarkable snowcapped peaks in the whole sector, towering at 5530 mts. above sea level. As you wander around the area you will be able to enjoy the prehispanic towns that still sell products made by the original techniques of these ancient cultures for example; the alpaca textiles, ceramics and crafts sculpted in stone.
Flora
Vegetable communities, which are types of desert bush, exist in this landscape in the form of cactus, columnares, tolares, llaretales, gueñoales and bofedales.
Fauna
The following animals are characteristic of the park: guanacos, vicuñas, llamas, alpacas, culpeo foxes, vizcachas, bolivian lauchones orejones, suris or ñandúes, jergón ducks, puna crows, harriers, condors and various others.
Thermal springs
Nearby there are thermal springs called Aguas Calientes where the water temperature is anything up to 30°C. Termas de Puchuldiza also offers hot springs and the area has around 10 fumaroles. If you continue on along the surrounding roads, you will also find some more rustic thermal springs.
Check out the CONAF website for more information about your visit (in spanish only).
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