The park was opened in 1965 and is 1,379 km² (532 sq mi) in size.

Alpine tundra and snowcapped mountains, the latter consisting mainly of enormous volcanoes. Some areas are basically deserts, while there are also wetlands and several lakes, with one of the highlights of the park being Lake Chungará.

The flagship large animal here is the vicuñas, which is the closest wild relative of the alpaca (but always slender and short-haired with reddish brown above and white below). They can be seen in small groups all over the park, and are hard to miss if you're looking at all. Herds of domestic llamas and alpacas are also present in the lowest part of the park and near some of the human settlements. Less commonly seen are guanacos, the closest wild relative of the llama, which look similar to vicuñas but bigger, with longer ears and contrastingly gray faces.

Another reliable mammals is the Mountain Viscacha, a rabbit-sized relative of the chinchilla. There are usually several of them near the beginning of the Las Cuevas trail, which is also a good place to see vicuñas relatively close. Also commonly seen here is the very cute Bolivian Big-eared Mouse.

The park is also great for birdwatching. The most accessible highlights are flamingos, mostly Chilean Flamingos with some Andean Flamingos around too. One of the best areas to see them is the ponds around Retén Chucuyo, the police checkpoint west of the Parinacota junctions. There are also usually some flamingos dotted around the southeastern shores of Lake Chungará, which is also good for other water birds like Giant Coot and Silvery Grebe. If you're lucky, you might see a Lesser Rhea (South American ostrich) on the plains. The 140 species of birds found in the park also include Puna Ibis, Andean Goose, Puna Tinamou, Silvery Grebe, Crested Duck, Puna Teal, Andean Condor, and multitudes of high mountain songbirds.

The day temperatures are between 5–20 °C. The nights can be very cold (down to -15 °C), and expect it to feel chilly even under the midday sun due to wind. The weather is usually dry.

• conaf.cl (official website; Spanish only)

In theory, the park is only about a 3-hour drive from Arica, a straight shot up Highway 11, which is also the main route from Arica to Bolivia. However, it is not uncommon to be delayed about an hour for roadwork along the way, and at times the road might be closed all afternoon - try to find out about scheduled work before planning the drive. There is no fuel station between Arica and the park, or in the park itself. If you end up running low, ask around in Putre and someone can probably sell you some from a jerry-can (be aware though that it's reportedly illegal to carry containers of fuel inside your car).

A common plan would be to first drive up to Putre and spend the night there. At just 12 km from the park and 3,500 meters above sea level, this is a good place to get acclimatized to the altitude and an easy base for driving into the park.

All buses heading from Arica to La Paz, which leave from the International Terminal just east of Arica's main bus terminal, pass right through the middle of the park. Most will probably allow you to get off at places within the park itself, but ask the driver first, and be aware that you won't likely be within walking distance of anywhere you can spend the night. On the other hand, if you take a morning bus you'll likely be able to get lots of great views just passing through on the way to Bolivia, especially if you sit on the lefthand side.

A better plan might be to just get to Putre town first, where there are several hotels and guesthouses. The Arica-La Paz buses don't pass right through the town, but will almost always be willing to drop you off at the junction, which they call "Alto Putre". From here it's a 5km, mostly-downhill walk into town. There is also a bus that leaves Arica's regular bus terminal directly to Putre town at 6:50am every day, and leaves from Putre back to Arica at 3pm (April 2025). However, be aware that it's not easy to get into Lauca National Park from Putre without a car (see "Get around").

If you've managed to book accommodation in advance in Parinacota village (see "Sleep" below), that would be an easier place to access by bus, since it's in the heart of the national park and closer than Putre to the main road.

Because the international Route 11 runs through the park you can also try your luck with hitchhiking. There are lots of long-haul trucks driving this route, and some are willing to pull over on the side of the road to pick up a hitchhiker. But be aware that traffic with in the park can be sparse, and you could easily be stranded in very cold weather beyond walking distance of shelter.

You can book a tour from Arica or Putre. This is by far the most practical way to visit the park if you don't have your own car. The tours are from one to three days. Before booking a one day tour be aware that the park is at 4500 m, and a portion of visitors are likely to get altitude sickness if ascending quickly.

Driving is the only convenient way to get around the park. Driving from Putre to the far end of the park takes an hour or so without stops. Remember there are no fuel stations (see "Get in"). Highway 11, which is entirely paved except for a few very short rough spots, will get you to the majority of sites of interest, and there are a few paved side roads going off of it too. Going further afield may require 4-wheel-drive vehicle and careful planning.

The park is too big to walk from place to place, unless you're an experience thru-hiker with cold-weather camping equipment. The park is 55 kilometers across along the main road, and temperatures usually drop below freezing at night. However, there are various routes you might take for day hikes, all the way down to the easy 1km loop at Las Cuevas. And walking along the highway isn't too bad - traffic is sparse and there's a good shoulder - it just won't likely get you anywhere in particular within a few hours.

It is possible to hitchhike into and around the park, but not exactly easy, and potentially dangerous if you don't have cold-weather camping equipment: Even much of the main highway is far out of walking range of shelter, and traffic can be very sparse (sometimes up to two hours at a time with zero vehicles passing). The park is windy, and temperatures drop below freezing night - think hard about it, and give yourself lots of time.

There are no local public buses that run in the park, only tour buses and long-distance Arica-La Paz buses passing through. The latter may drop you off or pick you up within the park, but are unlikely to want to give you a short ride from one part of the park to another (though you can try). They also don't run frequently, usually leaving only two or three times a day from their starting points, and often passing through at night.

Most of the lodging in the area is in nearby Putre town, outside of the park. As of April 2025, there appears to be only one official accommodation inside the park, located in Parinacota village.

• -18.202291-69.268481 Hostal Uta Kala (Don Leo), Parinacota village, ☏ +56 9 8895 3373. By reservation only, 72-hours or more in advance (owner is not always home). Has good reviews. CLP 34,000 per person, including breakfast and dinner. (updated Apr 2025)

CONAF no longer offers beds in its station to visitors (confirmed by phone). You can try and see whether some of the inhabitants of Parinacota village offer private accommodation as well.

As of April 2025, there don't seem to be any official camping sites. There are not signs banning camping either. Make sure you're prepared for wind and below-freezing weather, and have enough water etc.