Tour High Plateau Trek – Chile & S Atacama

Guide

Trekking guide

Meals

Meals as specified in the program

Transport

Return private airport transfers throughout

Others

Entrance fees and national park fees Private Transfers, sightseeing and tours with English speaking local guides Water, oxygen, satellite phone, Radio VHF and UHF

Accommodation

Not included:

Insurance

Insurance is not included.

Others

International and domestic flights Visas Travel and medical insurance All services, meals other than those indicated above Any changes to the proposed and confirmed program. All items of a personal nature e.g. drinks, laundry, telephone calls, tips etc

Flights

Flights are not included.

Optional

Other activities and services are not included.

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: San Pedro And Moon Valley
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: San Pedro And Moon Valley

Welcome to the Atacama Desert! You will be met on arrival at Calama Airport and will be transferred to your hotel. This evening at around 5pm, take a 15 minute transfer into the famous Valle de la Luna, or Valley of the Moon. Spend a few hours exploring its stunning sand dunes, ancient salt mines and extraordinary rock formations, before walking up to a perfect vantage point to witness what must be one of the world’s most beautiful sunsets. Watch as the colours of the valley and the Andean peaks beyond, change from deep red, to purple and then pink, as the sun slowly sinks in the sky; a truly unforgettable experience. (D)

3 nights Terra Luna Atacama or similar

Walking Time: Approximately 30minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Distance and Journey Time: 1hr drive, Tour approx. 3-4hrs
Day 2 Day 2: San Pedro De Atacama
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: San Pedro De Atacama

Today you will trek through a canyon with several water crossings. Be sure to wear shoes that can get wet! Hiking through the canyon is an incredible geological experience, as you trek from San Pedro de Atacama to San Bartolo (4h). Return to San Pedro, where you will enjoy a BBQ at the Oasis – this is set in 1.5ha of native fruit trees, where you will have a spectacular sunset view. This evening, enjoy an Astronomical tour by night. Understand how to look at the night sky with the naked eye, and observe as well, through powerful telescopes, and discover a new world. What do we see when we look at the stars, what is a constellation, how to learn them, how to read a sky map and recognize the main stars. We use a green laser pointer to show you unambiguously the various constellations. When the moon is visible, it is possible to take images of it through the telescopes, provided you have a digital camera. (B,L,D)

Walking Distance: Trekking from San Pedro de Atacama to San Bartolo Approximately 2.5km

Walking Time: Approximately 4hours

Difficulty: Moderate, Altitude 2500 – 2700m

Distance and Journey Time: (36kms) approx. 1hour
Day 3 Day 3: San Pedro De Atacama
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: San Pedro De Atacama

Transfer to Rio Grande, a traditional village untouched by tourism. Here you will have a glimpse into the local culture. You then set off on foot to start your trek for the day. Starting at approx. 3000m, you will follow a huge canyon at the start of your walk, before reaching a mountainside to get to Machuca. This is an ancient trail used by local people with their animals, llamas and is dotted by cacti. Your hike today is approx 7h. Transfer back to San Pedro de Atacama (B,L,D)

Walking Distance: Trekking to Machuca Approximately 16km

Walking Time: Approximately 7hours

Difficulty: Moderate, Altitude 3000 – 3800m

Distance and Journey Time: (77kms) approx. 1hour
Day 4 Day 4: San Pedro De Atacama – Geysers Del Tatio - Calama
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: San Pedro De Atacama – Geysers Del Tatio - Calama

Depart from San Pedro de Atacama at dawn to reach Tatio Geysers del Tatio. The geothermic field is truly incredible, from almost 900 metres below the earth, boiling steam bursts up to 40 metres over the surface of the earth. Continue towards Calama. Enroute you will visit Caspana, Lasana and Chiu-Chiu villages. In Lasana, there is a ‘pukara’ (ancient fortress) in crumbled ruin, as well as the archaeological site of an Inca village. Leaving Calama, drive north. Stop at Cerro Pintados geoglyphs, before arriving at Pica Oasis, where you will spend the night. Bath in the natural swimming pool. (B,L,D)

Overnight local guesthouse or similar

Distance and Journey Time: (550kms) approx. 8hour
Day 5 Day 5: Pica – Salar De Huasco – Lirima – Cariquima
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Pica – Salar De Huasco – Lirima – Cariquima

Today you take the high plateaus route by vehicle to give your feet a rest. Your first stop is at Huasco Salt Lake, a dried salt lake with breathtaking scenery, before visiting Lirima village, where you will enjoy lunch and bathe in Aguas Calientes hot springs. Lirima is a small altitude village with several traditional Aymara buildings. In the afternoon, take a mountain road over a pass at 5000m above sea level between Alto Chaviri and Churuyo. Finally, you reach Cariquima village (3800m) where you spend the night in a local guest house. (B,L,D)

Overnight local guesthouse or similar

Distance and Journey Time: (200kms) approx. 2hour
Day 6 Day 6: Cariquima – Salar De Surire – Lago Chungara - Putre
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Cariquima – Salar De Surire – Lago Chungara - Putre

Cross Isluga Nacional Parc to reach the incredible Surire Salt Lake. Here you will have lunch and a bathe in the natural hot springs. In the afternoon, head into Lauca Nacional Parc, bordering Guallatire active volcano (6060m). Reach Lake Chungara and take in the incredible view over Parinacota (6342m) and Pomerape (6282m) volcanoes. Visit Parinacota village, where you will see a quaint church and an impressive view of the Parinacota volcano. Drive down to Putre where you will spend the night. (B,L,D)

Overnight local guesthouse or similar

Walking Distance: Approximately 3km

Walking Time: Approximately 2hours

Difficulty: Easy

Distance and Journey Time: (300kms) approx. 4-5hours
Day 7 Day 7: Putre - Codpa
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Putre - Codpa

Start the day with a relaxing bathe in Jurasi hot springs. You will then follow a secondary road that crosses a dozen forgotten villages, such as Belen or Ticnamar, where you will embrace a taste of local cultures and traditions. Enjoy a short 1 hour trek in the hidden canyon before reaching Codpa Valley at sunset. Visit Ofragia petroglyphs and spend the night in Codpa. (B,L,D)

Overnight local guesthouse or similar

Walking Distance: Approximately 1km

Walking Time: Approximately 1.5hours

Difficulty: Easy

Distance and Journey Time: (340kms) approx. 4.5hours on unsealed roads
Day 8 Day 8: Codpa – Caleta Vitor – Arica – Depart
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Codpa – Caleta Vitor – Arica – Depart

Travel down to the Pacific coast at Caleta Vitor, a nice beach hidden between 1000m high cliffs. Here, you will be acquainted with the local fisherman lifestyle – the contrast of coastal life after time in the desert is astounding. Arrive in Arica for a great lunch by the sea. In the afternoon, visit Azapa Valley, its museum and Arica’s historical Morro. Transfer to the airport for your onward flight. (B,L)

Walking Distance: Approximately 1km

Walking Time: Approximately 1hour

Difficulty: Easy

Distance and Journey Time: (170kms) approx. 2hour

8 days tour

High Plateau Trek – Chile & S Atacama

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip High Plateau Trek – Chile & S Atacama

Day 1: San Pedro And Moon Valley

Day 2: San Pedro De Atacama

Day 3: San Pedro De Atacama

Day 4: San Pedro De Atacama – Geysers Del Tatio - Calama

Day 5: Pica – Salar De Huasco – Lirima – Cariquima

Day 6: Cariquima – Salar De Surire – Lago Chungara - Putre

Day 7: Putre - Codpa

Day 8: Codpa – Caleta Vitor – Arica – Depart

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