Sajama National Park

Sajama National Park is the first protected area in Bolivia. It is located in the Department of Oruro Sajama Province on the Chilean border. Located on the Altiplano, it has characteristics typical of the ecosystem: high pools, extensive plains, specific flora and fauna, etc. It hosts glorious Andean landscapes and the highest mountain in Bolivia, the snow capped Sajama Volcano at 6542 meters. As well as wonderful geological formations and stunning vegetation, the park also holds pre-Hispanic cave paintings and and also cultural wonders such as polychromed chullpas pre-Hispanic burial buildings. The indigenous population of this area have worked hard to preserve their customs and religious beliefs in this corner of Bolivia. It was d a natural reserve in 1939 because of its Quenua Polylepis tarapacana that grows on its hillsides and that constitute the highest forests in the world and grows almost exclusively in this area. The main tourist attractions of Sajama National Park are Sajama Volcano snow capped at 6542 meters, high pools, thermal springs, high mountains Pomerape, quenua forests, volcanic geysers, Curahuara de Carangas Colonial city that has a beautiful church known as the Sistine Chapel of the Altiplano, Huajlilla ruins, Tomarapi cave paintings, Changamoko colonial mining structures, lagoons. You can watch a iety of fauna indigenous to this region such as llamas, alpacas, vicunas, armadillos, viscachas, bears, Andean cats, pumas, condors, pink flamingos, coots black ducks, hummingbirds, rheas, etc. It is estimated that around 300 families that raise camellids populate the area. The city of Sajama has small boarding houses where you can eat and camping at the Sajama National Park. You can also rent mules to carry your baggage and hire local guides for mountain climbing.