Travel Guide Huara

Located 75 km north of Iquique, in the heart of the desert of the Pampa de Tamarugal, Huara («star» in Aymara) is still a village that only knows summer. It was founded in 1885 with the saltpeter boom. The proximity of a salitre of salitre will result in an incredible growth in the city, with great restaurants, hotels, exchange houses, large commercial houses, and close to 7 000 inhabitants at its peak. Currently it has only 1 000. The terrible earthquake of 13 June 2005 destroyed the village almost entirely.Continue your road towards Chusmisa and the border (the road is almost entirely asphalted until Colchane). 14 km from Huara, you arrive at Cerro Unitas, the Atacama giant. This mount is a perfect cone that distinguishes the Atacama giant, which represents an indigenous authority with a wreath of feathers and a feline mask. On the left, there is a muan that connects it to the «world of the bottom», the land and the Pachamama. On his right is his command stick and, at the height of his knees, you can see ornamentations of feathers. This is the year 900 feline figure. With 86 m wide, it is probably the largest of the géoglyphes. Note that it is difficult to find it by its own means.Not far from Huara, it is still possible to find remnants of old oficinas. Large plants and artificial mountains are testimony to the passage of man in this area and a considerable economic boom. If the heart tells you, or if you go to Bolivia, you can continue your road towards Taracapá.