Discover Chile - Atacama

Calama – San Pedro de Atacama (-)

Reception at Calama’s airport and transfer to the hotel in San Pedro de Atacama (1 hr 20 min drive).

H/D Archaeological tour: The first stop is at Tulor, one of northern Chile’s oldest archaeological sites (3,000 years old). It was inhabited by a community that raised cattle, grew maze and had trading relationships with other settlements, paving the way for the later development of sedentary groups. Next comes a visit to the indigenous Pukará de Quitor (Quitor fortress), built by Atacama settlers more than 700 years ago to defend themselves from other communities in South America and declared a National Monument in 1982.

H/D Moon Valley: We depart towards the Cordillera de la Sal (Salt Mountain Range), a group of attractive natural stone and sand sculptures that millions of years ago formed part of a large lake. The next stop is the awesome Valle de Marte (valley of Mars) also known as the Valle de la Muerte (Death Valley) with its peculiar stone formations and absolute desert landscape: no vegetation or insects to be seen in what is considered one of the country’s most barren regions. Next, the tour ventures on to Las Tres Marias (the three Marys), an interesting geological formation near an old salt mine. At sunset, the exploration ends atop a giant sand dune in Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley), named this way because of its moon-like landscape where an amazing spectacle of different colors can be admired when the sun slips below the horizon.

Return to San Pedro de Atacama and overnight.

San Pedro de Atacama (B/L) Breakfast at the hotel.

F/D Atacama Salt Flat, High-Plateau Lagoons and Toconao: We will start by visiting the Atacama Salt Flat, which is Chiles biggest Salt Flat and among one of the largest in the world. Here we will find Chaxa Lagoon, where three different species of flamingoes live and breed. We will also have the chance of visiting the picturesque village of Toconao, where the most important attraction is its Bell Tower constructed in the classical atacamenian way. Afterwards, we will visit the village of Socaire and the High Plateau Lagoons of Meñique and Miscanti, located at 4,500 meters above sea level (14,850 feet above sea level). This area is part of the Flamingos National Reserve. These lagoons are surrounded by impressive volcanoes that were formed when the Andes Mountain Range rose from the sea through millions of years of evolution. Lunch included at Socaire. Return to San Pedro de Atacama and overnight.

San Pedro de Atacama (B)

Departure at dawn (4:30 Am) to the Tatio Geysers. Breakfast box in the Geysers before a gentle guided walk around the geothermal field with observation of the natural phenomenon of the steam columns, which are viewed at their best as the sun rises. Continue towards Caspana, a village located at 3,300 m a.s.l. in a fertile valley surrounded by an arid environment, located on the slopes of a deep ravine which is known for its terrace farming system. Then, continue to Chiu Chiu. The imposing church of San Francisco is the icon and symbol of this settlement, dating back to the 17th century, with an amazing structure that was declared a National Monument and is Chile’s oldest church, built in 1611. A visit to the Pukará de Lasana comes next, a pre-Columbian fortress and remarkable national monument built in the 12th century with an amazing construction technique. Made of uncut rocks with 110 structures built into it, its layout includes several rooms connected by narrow interior passages. Return to San Pedro de Atacama and overnight.

San Pedro de Atacama – Calama (B)

Breakfast at the hotel.

At the agreed time, transfer to the airport in Calama to board your next flight.