4 Days : San Pedro de Atacama

Tour overview:

A fascinating geological plateau, the Atacama Desert has been likened to a moonscape with vistas that compare to nothing else on earth. Explore this magical expanse for a unique adventure.

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Day 1 - Calama – San Pedro

Welcome at Calama Airport and transfer to the hotel in San Pedro.

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Day 2 - Quitor – Tulor

Half-Day Archaeological Tour: From the Ancestors (Private)

On this Archaeological half-day tour, we visit some of the most important archaeological sites in the area, the Tulor village and Pukará de Quitor. We get to know the history of the indigenous people called Atacameños from their first settlements, the beginnings of agriculture, and the influence of the Incas until the arrival of the Spaniards. Local guides complement the narratives and facilitate a local interpretation and evaluation of the events.

Half-Day Moon Valley & Kari Lookout (Shared Tour)

On this half-day excursion through landscapes that seem from another planet, we will be able to appreciate a spectacular sunset that makes the Atacama Desert the most romantic tourist destination in South America. In the middle of the Salt Mountain Range, we will find the Valley of the Moon, with its rock formations that resemble natural sculptures, and the mantle of salt that covers its originally reddish lands in white. Here we will witness the action of wind erosion on the hills and dunes, which has given way to peculiar figures that resembles the "Las Tres Marias"(The three Mary's),thanks to the effects of light, take on different appearances. While we walk along the trail to reach Tres Marías, the largest dune in the valley, we can take photos that simulate lunar landscapes. Furthermore, heading to Victoria, the old salt mine, we can see caves with stalactites and enjoy a stunning view of the region's volcanoes. The finishing touch is the privileged view of the Kari viewpoint over the Valley of the Moon. From there we will see how the sunset paints the Valley of the Moon and the San Pedro Valley. (B)

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Day 3 - Full Day Altiplanic Lagoons and Chaxa

A day to discover the wonderful scenery of the Atacama Desert. We will ascend until we reach the highlands where we will enjoy nature, history and living culture. On the way to the main destinations of this tour we will pass through the Tropic of Capricorn, some remains of an original Inca trail, the traditional towns of Toconao, with its beautiful orchards, and Socaire. Upon arriving at the Salar de Atacama, we will head to the spectacular Chaxa lagoon, with its surface waters and salt shores that make up a unique ecosystem protected by the Los Flamencos National Reserve. There we will see a natural spectacle made up of the colonies of colorful flamingos that inhabit the lagoon. We will also visit the highland lagoons Miscanti (4,350 m.a.s.l.), the largest in the entire region, and Meñiques (4,100 m.a.s.l.), which are part of the Los Flamencos National Reserve. The calm of this place will allow us to walk its trails while fully enjoy the landscape and the presence of flamingos, parinas, Baird's sandpipers and horned taguas. We can stop for a break along the route with a beautiful view or in Socaire, a community dedicated to traditional activities such as agriculture, livestock and textile crafts. (BL)

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Day 4 - Full Day Tatio Geysers, Machuca & Putana

As soon as the first rays of sun appear, we will set out to discover an area known for its intense volcanic activity. El Tatio or “crying grandfather”, are the largest group of geysers in the southern hemisphere, and the third largest in the world! The tour will be the perfect opportunity to get to know the biodiversity that the Machuca and Putana wetlands house, in addition to getting to know the traditional highland town of Machuca. From the Vado de Putana viewpoint we can admire the wetlands, one of the richest ecosystems in the high Andes and which brings together vulnerable species, such as the puma. It is also an alluring place for bird watching. At 4,000 meters above sea level, we will find Machuca, a small town made of stone, mud and straw that will make us travel back in time. There we will also have a wonderful view of the wetlands, where ranchers take their flocks of llamas and sheep to graze. The Tatio Geysers will be our goal. The waters that permeate from the mountain range and reach this area create a spectacle when they encounter the hot underground rocks: fumaroles that shoot up to 10 meters high. By the end of our tour, we will be ready to enjoy breakfast in an area close to the Tatio geothermal field and with a wonderful view of the geysers.

Upon completion of the tour return to the hotel and at the scheduled time transfer to Calama airport. (B)

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