Volcán Isluga National Park

Localization

North Chile; 13 km west of Colchane

Access

Easy

Characteristic

1 747 km²; Mountainous area of Central Andes with elevations ranging between 2,100 and 5,550 meters. Park is formed by plateaus and abrupt relieves which forms different kinds of landscapes. There are several beautiful mountain lagoons. It is named after Volcán Isluga, which at 5,550 m, is the tallest mountain in this park. Typical ecosystems: alpine and volcanic biotopes, desert to semidesert in northern part, lakes and lagoons, high mountains wetlands and salinas.

Fauna + Flora

Mammals:

Rodents - Mice (Muridae): Bolivian Big-eared Mouse

- Chinchillas and Viscachas (Chinchillidae): Northern Viscacha; Plains Viscacha

Carnivores - Dogs (Canidae): Argentine Grey Fox; Culpeo Fox

- Cats (Felidae): Puma

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

- Deers (Cervidae): Taruga

Birds:

More than 140 bird species

Struthioniformes - Rheas (Rheidae): Lesser Rhea

Tinamiformes - Tinamous (Tinamidae): Puna Tinamou

Podicipediformes - Grebes (Podicipedidae): Silvery Grebe; White-tufted Grebe

Pelecaniformes - Cormorants and Shags (Phalacrocoarcidae): Neotropic Cormorant

Ciconiiformes - Herons, Egrets and Bitterns (Ardeidae): Black-crowned Night-Heron

- Ibises and Spoonbills (Threskiornithidae): Puna Ibis

Phoenicopteriformes - Flamingos (Phoenicopteridae): Andean Flamingo; Chilean Flamingo; Puna Flamingo

Anseriformes - Gees, Swans and Ducks (Anatidae): Andean Duck; Crested Duck; Ruddy Duck; Torrent Duck; Andean Goose; Yellow-billed Pintail; Puna Teal; Speckled Teal

Birds of Prey - American Vultures (Cathartidae): Andean Condor

- Hawks, Eagles, Buzzards, Kites and Old World Vultures (Accipitridae): Puna Hawk

- Falcons and Caracaras (Falconidae): Mountain Caracara; Aplomado Falcon

Gruiformes - Rails, Crakes, Coots and Gallinules (Rallidae): Giant Coot; Horned Coot; Red-gartered Coot; Slate-colored Coot

Charadriiformes - Avocets (Recurvirostridae): Andean Avocet

- Wading Birds (Scolopacidae): Wilson´s Phalarope; Baird´s Sandpiper; Pectoral Sandpiper; White-rumped Sandpiper; Puna Snipe; Greater Yellowlegs; Lesser Yellowlegs

- Plovers (Charadriidae): Tawny-throated Dotterel; Andean Lapwing; Puna Plover; Diademed Sandpiper-Plover

- Seedsnipes (Thinocoridae): Grey-breasted Seedsnipe; Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe

- Gulls (Laridae): Andean Gull

Columbiformes - Pigeons and Doves (Columbidae): Golden-spotted Ground-Dove

Piciformes - Woodpeckers, Wrynecks and Piculets (Picidae): Andean Flicker

Perching Birds - Ovenbirds or Horneros (Furnariidae): Cordilleran Canastero; Bar-winged Cinclodes; White-winged Cinclodes; Plain-breasted Earthcreeper; White-throated Earthcreeper; Common Miner; Puna Miner

- Tyrants (Tyrannidae): Salvin´s Negrito; Cinereous Ground-Tyrant; Puna Ground-Tyrant; Rufous-naped Ground-Tyrant; White-fronted Ground-Tyrant; Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant; White-tailed Shrike-Tyrant

- Swallows and Martins (Hirundinidae): Andean Swallow

- Buntings, American Sparrows, Juncos, etc. (Emberizidae): White-winged Diuca Finch; Ash-breasted Sierra-Finch; Black-hooded Sierra-Finch; Mourning Sierra-Finch; Plumbeous Sierra-Finch; White-throated Sierra-Finch; Bright-rumped Yellow-Finch; Greenish Yellow-Finch

- Finches (Fringillidae): Black Siskin; Hooded Siskin

Plants:

Over 400 species of vascular plants

Dicotyledons:

Caryophyllales - Cactaceae: Sweetpotato cactus (Cereus spp.); Pricklypear (Opuntia spp.)

Rosales - Rosaceae: Polylepis tarapacana

Apiales - Apiaceae: Azorella compacta; Laretia spp.

Gentianales - Gentianaceae: Pygmy gentian (Gentiana prostrata)

Lamiales - Verbenaceae: Vervain (Verbena spp.)

Solanales - Solanaceae:  Fabiana spp.

Asterales - Asteraceae: Baccharis tola; Chuquiraga spp.; Mutisia spp.; Parastrephia spp.

Monocotyledons:

Poales - Grasses (Poaceae): Fescue (Festuca acanthophylla); Stipa frigida and S. leptostachya

Possible activities

Very good conditions for easy walkingor difficulthigh mountains trekking (be aware of altitude)

Mountain bikes, horseback riding, mounaineering

Note

The most important attraction of the Isluga Volcano National Park, is the geothermical field of Puchuldiza formed by geysers and hot springs in which the water reaches the 85ºC. In winter the water freezes forming magnificent ice blocks.

The park includes cultural heritage and archaeological sites of the Aymara people and Incas.

Picture - source wikipedia