SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA (4 days / 3 nights)

Day 1 | SANTIAGO / CALAMA / SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA

Transfer from the hotel in Santiago to the airport to board flight towards Calama.

CALAMA

Assistance at the airport and transfer towards San Pedro de Atacama. En route we will ee wonderful landscapes, cross Llano de la Paciencia (Patience flat).

Farther we will cross the Cordillera de la Sal, where we will have an amazing view of a salty cordillera create by the folding of the upper strata of the earth’s crust; caused by the continuous movement of the Nasca platform.

Lunch will be served at a local restaurant, afterwards a visit to meet the famous church of San Pedro, and the arqueological museum Death Valley, between sand dunes, hills and mountain cuttings produced by water and wind erosion. Then continue to the Moon Valley, a place with beautiful shapes and colors, where we can walk and enjoy a great geological spectacle that it has been repeatedly compared with the Moon surface. A visit the salt caverns, the Salt statues, before climbing the mayor sand dune with wonderful colors that appear over the Andes at sunset time. Return to San Pedro de Atacama to the hotel.

Accommodation at selected hotel.

Day 2 | ALTIPLANIC LAGOON / SALAR DE ATACAMA

Departure from the hotel for a full day excursion towards km 38 we arrive to the interesting little village of Toconao, well known because of building in Liparita, a volcanic stone quarried nearby. Close to the quarry is the Jerez valley, a stunning, green contrast to the surrounding desert landscape.

Arriving at Chaxa Lagoon, we have the opportunity to observe the wide variety of birds that inhabit the lagoon, especially pink flamingos, to visit the national reserve, the sunset is an spectacle with all the pink colors of the sky that match the flamingo colors that makes these scenario a real poast card.

Out of the Salar, continuation to Miscanti and Miñinques lagoons located at 4.220 above sea level. This area is part of the national reserve of the flamingoes and administrated by the Indian community of Socaire. The eruption of the MIñiques volcanoe occurred 1 million years ago originate the detention of the water that covered the Salt, giving birth to this 2 altiplanic lagoons with blue waters and white.

Lunch will be served on route.

We continue our travel, heading into the center of the Salar de Atacama, the largest salt flat in Chile, located at the National reserve Los Flamencos at 7.562,34 ft.a.s.l. Salar de Atacama. Considered the center of the Atacameno culture, San Pedro has experienced an extraordinary growth in recent years due to its attraction for tourists from all over the world. The archeological museum bears the name of its founder, Padre Gustavo Le Paige, and with its expansive collection on exhibits must be placed on the “must be seen” list for all visitors to the area. Cross the “Plaza” made on stone, and visit the oldest church in the area, also considered one of the most attractive on the area.

Returning back from San Pedro we passed by Socaire a pre-Columbian village today recognized for its typical atacameña cuisine. This is the last atacameño village before crossing the border with Argentina.

Back to the hotel. Accomodation at selected hotel breakfast included.

Day 3 | TATIO GEYSERS

Departing very early from the hotel at 4:30 am towards the impressive scenery and arid beauty, the Tatio Geysers is a geothermal field of volcanic origin, where water and steam spring up violently from deep inside the Earth. Breakast will be served at the Geysers.

El Tatio is supposed to be the highest geyser field in the world at 4321m (14043 feet).

The air is very cold before daybreak there are several small geysers, fumaroles, hot springs and one very nice mud pot. There is an area where visitors can soak in one of the hot pools.

Day 4 | SAN PEDRO / CALAMA / SANTIAGO

After breakfast departing towards the city of Calama to board flight back to Santiago.

NET PRICES IN US DOLLARS IN PRIVATE SERVICES

INCLUDED:

• Private transportation in buses accompanied by bilingual local guides.

• Daily breakfast, other meals only where indicated.

• Transfer hotel/airport in Santiago (Pre-tour: on arrival in Santiago or Post-tour:

Departure from Santiago).

• Rooms paid from check-in (14:00 hrs.) until check-out (12:00 hrs.)

• Entrance at the museum, national parks and places of interest.

 

NOT INCLUDED:

• Air Tickets

• Tips for guides and drivers.

• Extras at the hotel (laundry, telephone calls, meals, alcoholic drinks, etc.

• Any item not mentioned in the itinerary.

INCLUDED:

• Private transportation in buses accompanied by bilingual local guides.

• Daily breakfast, other meals only where indicated.

• Transfer hotel/airport in Santiago (Pre-tour: on arrival in Santiago or Post-tour: departure from Santiago).

• Rooms paid from check-in (14:00 hrs.) until check-out (12:00 hrs.)

• Entrance at the museum, national parks and places of interest.

NOT INCLUDED:

• Air Tickets.

• Tips for guides and drivers.

• Extras at the hotel (laundry, telephone calls, meals, alcoholic drinks, etc.

• Any item not mentioned in the itinerary.