Lomas de Atiquipa

The Peruvian coast is one of the driest places on earth and Atiquipa gets essentially no rain, but from around August to November a dense sea fog, the garúa, moves inland and condenses on the hills - and that alone supports a seasonal ecosystem: grasses, flowers, cacti, tillandsia and relict stands of tara and myrtle trees that trap moisture on their leaves. The hills go from bare to green and back within a few months. The community of Atiquipa has worked with researchers on fog-capture nets, mesh panels that condense water from the garúa for reforestation and household use, and the project is one of the better-documented examples of the technique. Guanaco, foxes and a substantial bird list use the lomas in season. Outside the fog months there is very little to see, which is the essential planning fact - a dry-season visit finds bare desert hills.

Highlights

• The seasonal green - hills covered in growth for a few months on fog alone.
• The fog nets - mesh panels condensing water for the community and replanting.
• The relict trees - tara and myrtle stands that trap moisture on their leaves.
• The wildlife - guanaco, foxes and seasonal birds using the lomas.

When to go

August to November, during the fog season - outside that the hills are bare desert and there is nothing to see. Arrange a guide in Atiquipa; the tracks are unmarked.

Good to know

Entirely seasonal - a visit outside August to November shows bare desert. Fog means poor visibility and damp cold, which is the condition the place depends on. Tracks are rough and unmarked; a local guide is needed.

Nearby

Chala is north on the Panamericana; Nazca is further north-west.