The Quebrada de Cardones is located between 2.000 and 2.700m above sea level within the Arica and Parinacota Region, about 65km away from Arica.
What makes the area special is its protected population of cactuses. Also, it forms a biological corridor between the coast and the interior region of the country, providing a habitat for guanacos, tarucas and a number of bird species.
The canyon is home to a Andean spiny forest, a desert thicket of numerous cactuses of the species Browningia candelaris. These plants can reach a height of 2 meters and can only be found in the region around Arica, Parinacota and Tarapacá.
Quebrada de Cardones is a great place to discover the unique flora of the North and explore some of the varied fauna, for example vizcachas and foxes. Don’t forget to take some pictures and immerse in this beautiful scenery in the Northern part of Chile.