Fishing in Arica y Parinacota

Arica y Parinacota sits at Chile's northern tip, where the Atacama Desert meets the altiplano. It's a region of extremes — Pacific coast on one side, high-plateau wetlands and volcanic lakes pushing above 4,500 metres on the other.

The fishing scene reflects that geography: saltwater action along the coast near Arica, and a completely different world once you climb into the interior. Up on the altiplano, Lago Chungará is the centrepiece.

Sitting inside Parque Nacional Lauca at high elevation, it holds introduced trout that have adapted to cold, clear water surrounded by volcanic peaks.

Access is via the road corridor that runs east from Arica — the same route that passes the Lagunas de Cotacotani, another high-altitude wetland worth knowing.

The air is thin up here and the light is intense; give yourself time to acclimatise before fishing hard. The rivers draining off the altiplano cut through dramatic quebradas before reaching the coast.

Río Lauca flows through the national park and is closely tied to the same protected landscape as Chungará. Río Lluta and Río San José are the main watercourses reaching the Pacific near Arica itself.

These desert rivers run through arid terrain and carry limited freshwater — they're not the productive trout systems you'd find further south in Chile, but they mark the transition zones between environments.

The quebradas — Quebrada Cardones, Quebrada Culiculine, Quebrada Gualqueverini among them — are seasonal drainages that can hold water and fish depending on the time of year.

They're worth exploring if you're already in the area, though they're secondary to the main altiplano waters. Sport fishing in Chile requires a licence issued by Sernapesca (Servicio Nacional de Pesca), which is personal and non-transferable.

Check with Sernapesca directly for current rules on species, seasons, and any restrictions that apply to protected areas like Parque Nacional Lauca — regulations in national parks can differ from general continental water rules.

This is remote, high-altitude country. The fishing is part of a larger experience that includes the landscape, the wildlife, and the silence. Come prepared for the elevation and the desert conditions, and treat the altiplano waters with the care they deserve.