Arica, Chile's northernmost city, with its important historical sites which date back to the Pacific War, fought against Peru and Bolivia in the late 19th century, is the gateway to beautiful arid landscapes with their unique wildlife, found in the Isluga Volcano National Park, Las Vicuñas National Reserve, and the Lauca National Park, a declared World Biosphere Reserve (UNESCO) with its impressive Lake Chungara at 14,819 feet above sea level. Just a few miles out of Arica we can also visit the fertile agricultural Valleys of Azapa and of Lluta, which through many geoglyphs, offer us an archeological insight of the primitive pre-Hispanic inhabitants of this area which were strongly influenced by the Aymara culture.
		© Intrans, 2010