Altiplano

Altiplano is a Spanish name that means a high plain. The high plain is situated in western-central South America at a point where the Andes are at their highest. The star attraction of the Altiplano is Lake Titicaca.

The Altiplano is a region of an inland drainage found in Northern Chile, Argentina, Western Bolivia and South Peru. The Altiplano, Bolivia / Chile / Peru have an average height of 12,300 feet above sea level. The region is characterized by myriad active volcanoes. These are Parinacota, Cerro Paroma, Illampu, Guallatiri, Cerro Uturuncu, Tutupaca, Cordillera Real, Huayna Potosi, Licancabur, Illimani and Ancohuma. The other major attraction in Altiplano is the Atacama Desert which is reputed to be the world’s driest desert. In contrast, the other star attraction at Altiplano, Bolivia / Chile / Peru is the Amazon Rainforest which is one of the world’s wettest area.

The Altiplano is home to Lakes Poopo and Titicaca which are remnants on the vast pluvial lakes of the Pleistocene era. The Poopo is a salt lake that is very extensive covering and extending southwards to Oruro. The largest salt plains created by the Altiplano include the Salar de Coipsa and Salar de Tunupa.

The climate at the Altiplano, Bolivia / Chile / Peru varies from semiarid to arid but with cool temperatures of 3 to 12 degrees Celsius annually. The rainfall also ranges from less than 200 mm to more than 800 mm of rain annually. The coldest months at the Altiplano are during the months of June and July; rainfall is concentrated from December through to March. The best time to visit would be the months not mentioned above.