This article examines a colonial description of the area known as the Altos de Arica, produced by the Carinelite friar Antonio Vazquez de Espinosa in his Compendio y Descripcion de las Indias Occidentales The text essentially constitutes a sample of 17(th) century scientific literature about the New World which possesses ethical undertones of the spiritual conquest of the Indians Although detailed the chronicler's descriptions have been questioned In spite of its possible limitations Vazquez de Espinosa s observations convey valuable Information regarding the state of Indian conversion in Andean communities of the Corregimiento of Arica. The abandonded state of parochial churches the absence of prelates or high ranking church officials and the deplorable state of Indian conversion show that in spite of the efforts by the colonial church indigenous populations still managed to hold on to their traditional religious practices