Parinacota

Declared Typical Zone, the Parinacota village has a population of 29 people, 4,395 meters height, and it is one of the most beautiful on the High Plateau.

The whole town consists of 50 houses closed with padlocks, a school and a beautiful church in which surroundings craftwork are sold. The houses, formed in line around the church, are made of stone stuck with mud; the ceilings are mainly made of straw, though some of them are made of pita fiber. As it is a ritual town, the migrating population that lives of shepherding goats and llamas, goes to the town for the religious festivities and the carnival.

The Church of Parinacota is located in the town centre and it is surrounded by a stone wall covered with mud and white paint. The three doors of the wall are roofed with arcs and crowned with pink volcanic stone. A solid bell tower stands out on one of the corners. The original church, from the XVII century was re-built in stone in 1789 and whitened with lime. Its roof is made of mud and straw and its main door is made of carved stone. The inner walls still keep the fresh colors from the XVII century. The silver ornaments and the colonial saints are still kept (mass is celebrated once a month). There is a small square with benches and a traffic circle in front of the main door. Go up to the foothills to enjoy a panoramic view of the town of Parinacota.

The traditional celebrations take place around the church, some of them are:

-San Santiago de Parinacota party: Celebrating the saint who guards the town with dances and decorations, take place in July 25th. The carnaval takes place in February.

-Virgen Asunta: August 15th.

-Virgen de la Natividad: Guardian of the church is celebrated during the second week of September.

-Cristo Rey: is celebrated last sunday of October

-Pachayampe: a party celebrating the potato takes place in the first week of November.

** Information related to Hours, Rates and Dates might change without any previous notice **