Rio Lauca is a remarkable high-altitude river originating in the Chilean Altiplano of the Arica and Parinacota Region, flowing from the Parinacota wetlands at an elevation of approximately 4,350 meters (14,270 feet) above sea level. This binational waterway stretches roughly 225 kilometers (140 miles), beginning its journey through the dramatic Andean landscape of northern Chile before crossing into Bolivia and ultimately emptying into Coipasa Lake. The upper reaches of the river flow through the protected boundaries of Lauca National Park in Parinacota Province, offering anglers a truly remote and pristine high-altitude fishing experience set against one of South America's most spectacular landscapes. The river's headwaters are fed by the Parinacota wetlands — a network of marshes and converging streams — with flow rates in this area ranging from 100 to 560 liters per second and averaging around 260 L/s. The broader Lauca system is also connected to a group of lakes known as Quta Qutani through the Desaguadero River, contributing to the river's overall hydrology and character.