Llullaillaco National Park

Localization

North Chile; 275 km southeast of Antofagasta

Access

Moderately easy

Characteristic

2687 km²; High mountainous region between the eastern slopes of the Cordillera Domeyko and the international border with Argentina. In the park there are several important mountains that culminate at the summit of Llullaillaco volcano (6739 m). Typical ecosystems: extensive steppe and semi-desert plains, alpine biotopes

Fauna + Flora

Mammals:

Rodents - Chinchillas and Viscachas (Chinchillidae): Long-tailed Chinchilla

Carnivores - Dogs (Canidae): Culpeo Fox

Even-toed Ungulates - Camels and Lamas (Camelidae): Guanaco; Vicugna

 

Plants:

126 vascular plants species including 21 endemic ones

Dicotyledons:

Ranunculales - Ranunculaceae: Buttercup (Ranunculus exilis)

Caryophyllales - Caryophyllaceae: Catchfly (Silene mandonii)

Malvales - Malvaceae:  Nototriche estipulata; Tarasa pediculata

Rosales - Rosaceae: Acaena (Acaena magellanica)

Fabales - Fabaceae: Milkvetch (Astragalus pusillus)

Apiales - Apiaceae: Azorella trifoliolata

Boraginales - Boraginaceae: Cryptantha (Cryptantha diffusa)

Lamiales - Verbenaceae: Mock Vervain (Glandularia origenes)

Solanales - Solanaceae: Jaborosa (Jaborosa caulescens)

Asterales - Asteraceae: Baccharis santelicis; Polyachyrus carduoides; Ragwort (Senecio haenkei)

Monocotyledons:

Poales - Grasses (Poaceae): Barley (Hordeum comosum); Annual Meadow-grass (Poa annua); Reedgrasses (Calamagrostis chrysostachya, C. crispa, C. deserticola, C. eminens and C. velutina ); Rice Grass (Jarava frigida); Saltgrass (Distichlis spicata)

 

Possible activities

High mountains trekking - network of footpaths, quite difficult

Mountaineering; off road excursions

Note

Park has no touristic infrastructure

Archeological sites - a part of the Inca road system is found in Río Frío area; mummies of Inca children on the summit of volcano

Picture - source wikipedia