In the Región de Tarapacá, the Geoglifos de Pintados are located in the Reserva Nacional Pampa del Tamarugal: More than 450 figures make this an archaeological destination. Geometric shapes, as well as animal- and human-like forms, can be found across an area of 50,000 square meters and a strip three kilometers long. The reserve encompasses these examples of historical and cultural heritage.
Geoglyphs and Protected Areas
One way to explore this landscape is the Sendero Geoglifos de Cerro Pintados loop trail. It is one kilometer long, takes 45 minutes in total, and is considered easy. The Puquios of the Salar de Llamara are also part of the Reserva Nacional Pampa del Tamarugal: They are a site designated for biological protection. In the wider destination of Región de Tarapacá, self-guided interpretive trails at the Salar de Llamara lead to the Puquios and the local flora and fauna.
Salar del Huasco: Open Spaces and Clear Boundaries
Parque Nacional Salar del Huasco is designated both a Ramsar site and a natural sanctuary. It covers approximately 110,000 hectares and forms a closed drainage basin with a salt flat at its center. The park is a refuge and nesting site for many Andean bird species, including Chilean, Andean, and James's flamingos. One important difference to consider when planning your visit is that, unlike the trails in the Pampa, Parque Nacional Salar del Huasco has no infrastructure or hiking trails on site. The two protected areas therefore offer different nature experiences: one has a designated short loop trail, while the other is a landscape without visitor infrastructure or marked paths.
Festivals, Winemaking History, and the Night Sky
The Fiesta de la Virgen de La Tirana takes place every year on July 16 in the village of La Tirana and honors the Virgen del Carmen. For several days, dancers in colorful costumes and masks, accompanied by typical northern brass bands, fill the festival. Those interested in religious traditions and cultural expression will encounter a different chapter of Tamarugal here than at the geoglyphs and protected areas.
Lagar de Matilla is a Historic Monument and a site museum that preserves material evidence of winemaking in the region. Located in the oasis area of Matilla, the facility was used to press grapes for wine production. Operations ended in 1937 with the last grape harvest; in 1977, the Lagar was declared a Historic Monument. Its significance lies both in its former use and in the surviving traces of regional winemaking.
Pica combines an agricultural identity with an eye to the sky: The oasis is known for its distinctive lemons and mangoes. Pica is also recognized as a Pueblo Starlight; astronomy tourism and the protection of the dark night sky are part of its identity. Depending on your interests, discoveries here range from local produce to stargazing.
More to Explore in the Región de Tarapacá
In the wider destination of Región de Tarapacá, coastal, desert, and Altiplano landscapes meet in an environment shaped by Indigenous cultures. In the Altiplano, Parque Nacional Volcán Isluga lies among volcanoes, lagoons, and sacred mountains of the Aymara people. The park's cultural heritage includes the village of Isluga and its church, protected as a Historic Monument and an important ceremonial center for religious festivals.
The Humberstone and Santa Laura nitrate works also offer a window into the region's history: They are an open-air museum of the nitrate industry's heyday in the early 20th century and were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. Visitors can walk among the former buildings, visit a museum about the nitrate era, and see a hotel, a theater, a school, and an abandoned train. This complements the archaeological evidence at Pintados with a different kind of historical discovery.
Regional cuisine is shaped by Indigenous traditions and caravan routes connecting the Altiplano with the coast. The culinary profile of Región de Tarapacá includes flavorful fish and seafood, as well as mangoes, guavas, and the well-known lemon from Pica. The combination of regional produce and cultural history makes food another way to discover the destination's diversity.
Getting There: Practical Information
Plan your journey to Tamarugal by first heading to Iquique, the capital of Región de Tarapacá, and check the current connections for your travel date. The administration and CEDAM of the Reserva Nacional Pampa del Tamarugal are located along the Pan-American Highway North at kilometer 1787. A route plan from 2021 describes Route A-685 from Pica to Salar del Huasco as a gravel road. Check current road conditions before setting out.
Discover more destinations: Pozo Almonte, Colchane, Huara, Pica, La Tirana, Provincia Iquique.
See the full travel guide: Región De Tarapacá.
