- Desert Interpretation Center was designed inspired by the environmental, cultural, and geographical heritage of the Atacama Desert, particularly the area around the Alto Loa protected area.
- The Center will be used to promote tourism with a focus on the surrounding Atacameño and Quechua communities.
Calama, September 8, 2022 - Enel Green Power has inaugurated a Desert Interpretation Center (CID) near its Valle de Los Vientos wind farm, which it will use to promote local tourism. The facility, located some 10 kilometers from the city of Calama, will be jointly managed by the local communities of Caspana, Toconce, and Ollagüe, which, together with the Rondó Foundation and Enel Green Power, will work to showcase Atacameño and Quechua culture of the Alto Loa region.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Enel Chile’s Sustainability Manager Antonella Pelegrini and several local dignitaries, including Claudio Sánchez, territorial manager for the Loa Province and Regional Government, and Dinka López Duran, Director of Tourism and Productive Development with the Calama Municipality’s Culture and Tourism Corporation. The ceremony also marked the official managerial handover of the Center to the Toconce, Caspana, and Ollagüe communities.
"This Center is a gateway to the Alto Loa region and marks the beginning of a journey that will take tourists to the most isolated communities, off the beaten track of the traditional tourist routes. There, they will be able to experience the natural beauty of the landscape and learn about the way of life in the desert directly from local community guides," said Enel Chile’s Sustainability Manager Antonella Pellegrini. "As it is done in other regions, Enel wants to contribute to the areas where it operates, adding value for both the company and the communities and leading to sustainable growth and progress," she added.
As well as being a place to exhibit the cultural heritage and identity of Alto Loa’s indigenous communities, the Desert Interpretation Center was architecturally conceived to blend in with the desert, adopting features of the surrounding areas and the communities themselves.
Maribel Anza Huanca, legal representative of the Ollagüe Tourism Association, said, "it is a springboard, a stepping stone, to show visitors what we are developing in Ollagüe, the business ventures, and above all, local tourism. This will be a tool, a space where people can visit because the Center is close to the airport. This is a major challenge we have to work on this year. It becomes a permanent fixture that we continue to improve on little by little, first for Chilean tourists and then for the international market."
"Enel is known for its wind projects, and other activities carried out in the municipality, which is very important; to have a public-private connection that enables us to develop. All companies should be socially responsible, but not all those operating in this municipality fulfill that obligation. That is why I am very pleased that Enel has chosen to work with us," said Dinka López Duran, tourism and product development director of the Calama Municipal Culture and Tourism Corporation.
The Center covers an area of 300 square meters. It has four rooms, which will be used for diverse activities and touristic outreach projects, including workshops, craft exhibitions, astronomy, local gastronomy, and trekking circuit design. This is aimed at drawing national and international visitors to learn about the various attractions in Alto Loa.