Introduction

Parinacota - place of parinas in aymara - owes its name to these graceful birds also called flamingoes of the Puna. Immediately north of lake Chungará, it is the highest mountain of Chile´s first region and forms part of the Nevados de Payachatas range, located within the Lauca National Park (Biosphere Reserve). Owing to its high altitude and low technical difficulty, it is probably the most climbed peak around.

A couple of legends about this volcano and its brother Pomerape.

Version from Luis Urzúa Urzúa:
Parinacota and Pomerape, which rise their peaks above 6000m. of altitude, guard an incaic treasure consisting of: the golden statues of the monarchs, which guarded the niches in the Temple of the Sun, in Cuzco; the silver statues of the queens, from the Temple of the Moon, and many other precious pieces. The inca treasure that was spared from the ransom of Atahualpa is hidden beneath the summit and when the mountain has little snow, the stairs built by the Inca´s servants to bury their masters wealth can be clearly seen in the half truncated cone of the volcano.

Version of Pedro Rosende Hevia:
The Payachatas represent a couple in love: a prince and a princess from two rival tribes who desired to get married. To avoid this union, both were killed, but nature, in revenge, flooded both towns forming two lakes: Chungará and Cota-Cotani. In the place the princes were buried, two beautiful volcanoes rose: Parinacota and Pomerape.