Atacama Desert Vacation - Chile

The Atacama Desert is the driest place on Earth and is blessed with otherworldly landscapes. Salt flats, volcanoes and geysers are abundant. From your base in San Pedro de Atacama you will be able to explore the area.

Remember: We custom make this trip to suit you, if you wish to add days or change schedules just let us know, we are here to make it perfect.

DAY 1 - Calama, San Pedro de Atacama and Moon Valley

After your arrival at Calama airport we will transfer you to the town of San Pedro de Atacama. San Pedro is a colourful village located 2.440 m / 8.000 ft above sea level in the middle of a green oasis. During the afternoon you will visit the eirie Valle de la Luna, the famous Moon Valley. At sunset you can see how the light intensifies and changes the spectacular moonscape. You will have the chance to climb to the top of a sand dune to watch this spectacle and then we return to the hotel. Overnight in San Pedro in a hotel of your choice, ask us for the options.

DAY 2 - San Pedro, Toconao and the Atacama Salt Lake

Today you will visit San Pedro de Atacama, centre of a Palaeolithic civilization who built fortresses above this valley surrounded by impressive rock formations. The colonial church was constructed in 1577 and is the largest and most beautiful church in the area. The excellent archaeological museum in the town displays pre-Hispanic artefacts and several amazingly well preserved mummies, including one called "Miss Chile." Following this visit we will drive you 4 km to the pre-Columbian village of Tulor which is around 3000 years old. After this we continue on to Pukara de Quitor, a fortress conquered in 1540 by the Spanish conquistadors. In the afternoon you will start your tour to Toconao, a village where locals carve white volcanic stone sculptures. We will then continue on to visit the huge Atacama Salt Lake, an inland sea formed millions of years ago. This impressive, vast, white salt crust stretches out as far as the eye can see and is one of the most spectacular and dramatic landscapes in the world. After this spectacular day of sightseeing we will return you to your hotel. Overnight in San Pedro. (B, BL)

DAY 3 - El Tatio and Machuca

Today you will have to get up very early to depart from your hotel at 4.00 am in order to reach the El Tatio Geysers at an altitude of 4.300 m above sea level before sunrise. This is the highest geothermal field in the world and offers truely spectacular scenery. Bring some warm clothes because it is very cold in the morning at this altitude. At dawn the blowholes and steaming ponds are encrusted with brilliant salt crystals. You will have time to enjoy this beautiful natural display before we move on to the village of Machuca where ancient llama caravans used to rest from their travels on the "Inca highway". We will then return to San Pedro de Atacama to relax and spend the night. Overnight in San Pedro. (B)

DAY 4 - San Pedro to Calama

After breakfast today your tour ends. This means you will either be taken back to Calama airport for you flight home, or maybe to continue with us to another destination in Chile. The list of options in Chile is endless; the central valleys and Santiago, the Lake District, Easter Island, Patagonia or even Antarctica.

A tour to Chile is easily combined with tours to Peru, Argentina or even Bolivia, just let us know and we can design a fantastic itinerary especially for you to maximise your time here in Latin America.

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