** New Itinerary Beginning January 1, 2025 **
Day #1
Flight from Santiago to Calama
Private transfer to hotel in San Pedro de Atacama – (Duration: 1.5 hours)
The town of San Pedro de Atacama is an oasis in the desert situated at an altitude of 7,900 feet (2,407 meters) above sea level and has a population of approximately 5,000. The town is encircled by active and inactive volcanoes, salt flats and many other extraordinary, natural geological phenomena. There are a variety of restaurants and handicraft markets. San Pedro de Atacama has been the home of the “Atacameños” (indigenous people of the Atacama region) for millennia, with a rich anthropological history dating back as far as 10,000 years ago.
You will have the afternoon to adjust to the altitude and explore the town at your leisure.
9:00 p.m. – Star and Fire: Traditional Scientific and Andean Astronomy Private Tour – (Duration: 2.5 hours)
Maximum Altitude: 2,400 meters (7,870 feet)
The night in the Atacama Desert with its infinite sky, the fire and the stories, gives life to a unique and unrepeatable sensory experience of the Andean cosmos.
Your guide will combine traditional scientific astronomy with the ancient Andean vision that the first astronomers in the area had, long before the first telescope was used. You will observe the beauty and solemnity of celestial bodies in a unique environment: in the middle of the driest desert of the world.
The Atacama Desert has one of the most star-spangled skies in the world, which can be observed thanks to the extraordinary clarity of the desert air. In the Andean culture, astronomy is essential in the daily life of their agropastoral societies, and it integrates and influences their architecture, art, music and dance. To get even closer to the ancient experience, you will sit around a fire and listen to the stories, myths and legends related to heaven, in the way that their ancesters did.
This activity offers gazing the night sky with the naked eye, admiring constellations, plantets and the moon to interpret and share modern and ancient knowledge about the great beyond. As a complement, you will also have the possibility of observing the stars through a modern telescope.
Note:
(1) The departure time of this excursion may vary depending on the season and climatic conditions. The final itinerary will be confirmed upon your arrival in San Pedro de Atacama. This activity may be moved to another evening during your stay based on the weather, as it requires clear to near-clear skies.
(2) It is important to consider that during moonlit nights the possibility of gazing planets and stars decreases considerably, especially on full moon nights when very few stellar objects can be observed. Nonetheless you will still enjoy viewing the incomparable brightness of the moon in the desert.
(3) We recommend you wear warm clothing as the evening can be quite cold in the desert any time of the year. A cocktail and hot beverage will be served during the experience.
Day #2
6:30 a.m. – Moon Valley, Ayllus and Atacameño Tasting – (Duration: 4 hours)
Maximum Altitude: 2,500 meters (8,200 feet)
We drive up the Salt Mountain Range. Its landscape makes you feel as though you are traveling to another geological time. With an incomparable view during sunrise, your guide will prepare a fresh, healthy and tasty breakfast.
After breakfast you visit Moon Valley with its impressive main dune and the salt caves. Getting there early means that we are nearly the only ones in this other worldly place. The tour includes little hikes that allow us to get an in depth impression of the place.
When the sun gets stronger, we leave the Salt Mountain Range and head towards the Ayllu of Coyo where we will enjoy a tasting of typical Atacameñan foods. An “Ayllu” is an Andean indigenous community.
Following the morning tour, you will return to your hotel where you will have time to stroll the town of San Pedro de Atacama and have lunch before the afternoon tour.
Note:
We recommend wearing comfortable clothing and walking shoes and bringing a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and lip balm.
2:00 p.m. – Yerbas Buenas Petroglyphs, Rainbow Valley, and Sunset Cocktail – (Duration: 4 hours)
Maximum Altitude: 3,200 meters (10,500 feet)
During this tour, you will visit two sites of cultural and geological importance. To the northwest of San Pedro de Atacama, Yerbas Buenas is a sector of artistic manifestations that include petroglyphs, pictographs, dry engravings and paintings or pictoglyphs, being the main concentration of rock art in the Atacama Desert.
Then, Rainbow Valley will be our geological laboratory where you will appreciate millions of years old rocks that reach the surface in strata of diverse colors. The mountains are different shades of red, green, white, and brown. Add to it a bright blue sky and the glistening salt on the ground and this becomes one of the most beautiful attractions in the Atacama region.
With a delicious wine and cheese snack we end the tour watching sunset over the Salt Mountain Range, enjoying incomparable views of the oasis of San Pedro de Atacama, the Andes Mountains and the Domeyko Mountain Range.
Note:
(1) We recommend wearing comfortable clothing and walking shoes and bringing a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and lip balm. We also recommend dressing in layers as it may be warm in the afternoon, but cold (and windy) around sunset.
(2) The departure time may vary depending on the time of year and sunset. Your guide will advise during the morning tour the departure time for the afternoon tour.
Day #3
8:30 a.m. – Andean Highlands and Lagoons – (Duration: 7.5 hours)
Maximum Altitude: 4,200 meters (13,780 feet)
Today, you will journey deep into the “Altiplano” (Andean Highlands) towards the border with Argentina, gaining altitude as you go.
We will visit the Atacama Salt Flat, the largest in the country. In the middle of a fantastic natural landscape, the salt flat protects important archaeological records and an impressive geology. Under the salt flat there is a lake hidden by a thick and rough crust of sooty salt that contains the largest reserves of lithium in the world. In the middle of this salt flat is Chaxa Lagoon were on its surface you can see floating crusts of salt, coming from the evaporation of underground waters with saline and mineral load and a varied birdlife, including flamingos. We will walk along the trails to observe the impressive salt formations and lagoon with its special color, as well as spot flamingos and other species of birds.
Then, we visit the jewels of the Atacama, Miscanti and Meñiques Lagoons, which are part of the Los Flamencos National Reserve. They are magnificent lagoons of crystalline waters that impress with their intense blue color. Surrounded by mountains, where the Miscanti and Meñiques volcanos rise, the lagoons are the habitat of Chilean flamingos, little parinas, Baird’s sandpipers and horned taguas, among other species. They are managed by the Socaire Indigenous Community in conjunction with Conaf (Chile’s National Park Service). You will be able to enjoy this true sanctuary of nature where the stillness and silence of the place are overwhelming.
Your guide will provide a box lunch in the village of Socaire, situated at an altitude of 3,300 meters (10,800 feet) with a population of around 360 inhabitants. The village is traditionally dedicated to agriculture, farming, wool crafts, mining, and also tourism. Agricultural work takes place on terraces and especially highlights the production of some curious crops such as papa morada (purple potato) which only grows in this area. In recent years, the artisanal production of fine fabrics made from alpaca, llama and cordero has increased. The village’s Church of the Pueblo dates back to colonial times.
On the way back to San Pedro de Atacama, you will pass through the Tropic of Capricorn and the village of Toconao, where local indigenous communities still preserve part of the traditional Atacama way of life. We will visit the main square where you can see an old bell tower, as well as the Church and artisan shops.
Note:
We recommend wearing comfortable clothing and walking shoes and bringing a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and lip balm. We also recommend dressing in layers as it may be warm in the salt flat, but cool (and windy) in the higher altitudes.
Day #4
6:00 a.m. – El Tatio Geysers and Puritama Hot Springs – (Duration: 8 hours)
Maximum Altitude: 4,320 meters (14,170 feet)
Today, We travel north to the El Tatio Geysers. El Tatio has over 80 active geysers, making it the largest geyser field in the Southern Hemisphere and the third largest in the world. Its geysers erupt to an average height of 75 centimeters, with the highest eruption observed being around 6 meters. Water boils at a temperature near 85°C (185°F).
On the way back, we will enjoy vast and varied landscapes. We also will witness the ancient activities of the inhabitants of the plateau; the sulfur mining, the gathering of the “llareta” (a native plant), and the raising of llamas. We pass the Putana wetlands, brimming with animal life, including vicuña, and a variety of birds and flamingos. We will then see the tiny village of Machuca with an ancestral church. On the descent, we will have a panoramic view of the Atacama Salt Flats.
We then arrive at the Puritama Hot Springs. This is possibly the most incredible oasis in the Atacama Desert. Between rock formations and a canyon that defies the limits of nature, the Puritama Hot Springs are an irresistible invitation for travelers to relax and recharge their batteries.
When talking about the most arid destination on our planet, it is hard to imagine a place like the Puritama Hot Springs. While the dry desert landscape envelops the area on the one hand, the thermal waters that spring up in this region form a perfect paradise on the other, revealing a gift for any traveler.
The Puritama Hot Springs, which means Water (Puri) and Hot (tama), have a temperature between 28° and 31° celcius (82° and 88° fahrenheit). Its water has a significant concentration of minerals, including calcium, magnesium, sodium and boron, all revitalizing elements for the body and mind.
This is the perfect place to end your visit to the Atacama Desert!
Note:
(1) The geysers are situated at 4,320 meters (14,170 feet) above sea level. This is the highest point of the entire trip. We visit the geysers on the final day allowing your body to adjust to the altitude in San Pedro de Atacama and the surrounding area. Considering the extreme altitude of this particular tour to the geysers, older persons, pregnant women, infants, and those who suffer from high blood pressure or who have general health problems should consult their doctor before going on this trip. We recommend going to bed early and not drinking alcohol the night before this tour.
(2) We recommend wearing comfortable clothing and walking shoes and bringing a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and lip balm. Please dress for cold weather due to the high altitude of the geysers. Also, please bring a bathing suit and towel from your hotel for bathing in the hot springs.
Day #5
Private Transfer to Calama Airport for flight to Santiago – (Duration: 1.5 hours)
Please note:
(1) The order of sites visited may vary.
(2) If you are prone to motion or altitude sickness, we recommend that you take preventive medication for these ailments prior to departing on this tour.
(3) Although this is a private tour with your own vehicle and guide, there may be other visitors joining you at the various sites.
(4) During the Chilean summer vacation months of January and February, the region is particularly crowded. Your guide will try to avoid the crowds as much as possible.
(5) The Chilean Government has handed over management of the different attractions visited during this tour to the local indigenous communities. However, when conflict arises between these communities and the government, the indigenous communities may close the sites as a form of protest and with little or no notice. This situation is beyond our control and we will do our best to find alternative sites to achieve a similar experience.
