Highland Lagoons & Wool Manufacturing Process of Socaire. (copia)

We travel south, going up to the ´puna´ (highlands) to marvel at its unique vegetation, wildlife, lagoons and salt flats.  Here, Miscanti Lagoon – the largest lagoon in the Antofagasta region – is certainly the one that impresses travelers most. Later, we visit the village Socaire, where the indigenous community still preserves part of the traditional atacameñan lifestyle.

Highland Lagoons

Driving back towards San Pedro for about 50 kms., we will get to the lagoons Miscanti and Meñiques which – administrated by the indigenous community of Socaire together with CONAF (National Forest Corporation) – form part of the Flamingo National Reserve and are located at 4.350 and 4.100 meters respectively. They are magnificent reserves of crystal-clear water that impress with their intense blue color. Surrounded by a mountainous backdrop marked by the volcanoes Miscanti and Meñiques, the lagoons are the natural habitat of many rare and beautiful birds, including Chilean Flamingos, Puna Flamingos, Baird´s Sandpipers and Horned Coots amongst other species.

This visit will allow you to truly enjoy the overwhelming solitude and peace of this sanctuary of nature.

Socaire

We continue our journey towards Socaire, a village at 3.300 m.a.s.l. with around 360 inhabitants who traditionally work in agriculture, cattle-breeding, wool handcraft, mining industry and of late also in tourism. Here we have lunch at the ´Guest House´ (Casa de Huéspedes), a treasure of the indigenous community of Socaire.

After that we take the time to get to know the village´s traditional agricultural system in more detail, as well as the manufacturing process of wool. The agricultural land is arranged in the form of terraces. Remarkable is the cultivation of some peculiar products like horsebeans or purple potatoes that only grow in this area. Over the last few years, the craft production of fine textiles made of alpaca, llama or sheep wool – a process which starts with the breeding of the animals – has increased. The ´Weavers of Socaire´ (Tejedoras de Socaire) sell their products mainly in a local store. Apart from that they receive orders from retail and private parties all over Chile.

The origin of Socaire´s church dates back to the colonial era (). Of special beauty is the picturesque bell tower which is built on cut stone and adobe milled from the local region.

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