This area has an extension from the borders of Chile, Peru and Bolivia to the area of La Serena. 500 Kms. (310 milles) north of Santiago, we find the beautiful and exotic north of Chile. The zone is known for having the most interesting geographic cultural and nature tours in the country. The impressive sights of Parinacota, Ojos del Salado and Licancabur Volcano can be appreciated, seen and surely dazzle even the most sceptic. We will visit areas as high as 4.000 meters (13.000 feets) above sea level to admire the turquoise waters of Chungara Lake, Cotacotani lagoon and Surire salt lake.It is important to arrive at right time for the Tatio geysers eruptions There are many excursions to Lauca National Park, and Isluga National Park. These are the natural habitats of our Andean flora and fauna, our camel-like families of Vicuñas, a protected colony now estimated at 25.000, Llamas and Alpacas, Condors, Hawks and Flamingos can be seen in the Atacama salt lake, Foxes and the ostrich-like Ñandu.On the historical side, the reminders of the teotihuanaco civilization of the days of the Inca Empire which dominated the atacamanian culture and the Aymara population right up to the arrival of the Spanish conquers in 1541 are a vivid testimony of the great development these native cultures reached. Also there are important museums such as San Miguel de Azapa in Arica and Padre Le Paige in San Pedro de Atacama.The Andean or near-andean villages of Parinacota, Putre, Colchane, Caspana, San Pedro de Atacama, Toconao, Chiu chiu and Ayquina, have a very particular architecture with some the earliest churches built in the times of the conquers. There are impressive images of these early native cultures shown in buildings such as the huge fortresses called Pukaras that can be spotted throughout the whole area, also the route of gigantic geoglyphs at Pintados, near Iquique.The late 19th century presence of old nitrate and silver mine activities can be appreciated at Humberstone and Baquedano, now ghost towns converted into protected historical museums, which shows the time when Iquique was the main port of all the northern cities. Maria Elena is the last salpetre town. Today mining activities continues at Chuquicamata, the biggest open-pit copper mine in the world, located near Calama, considered one of the main resources for copper mining in Chile, being the main source of income for the Country.