Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Santiago

Welcome to Santiago

Today you will meet our representative at the International Airport (SCL) and be transferred to your selected hotel.

Overnight Stay at Hotel.

Day 2: Santiago Calama San Pedro (B)

Breakfast at hotel

Private transfer from the hotel in Santiago to the airport in Santiago

Private transfer from the airport in Calama to the hotel in San Pedro, with English-speaking guide.

Private half day excursion to Moon Valley (Valle de la Luna)

One of the best-known destinations between Calama and San Pedro is the Valle de la Luna. This tour into the rugged beauty of the Atacama Desert begins at dusk. With the Licancabur volcano providing the backdrop, strange salt and rock formations in the middle of the valleys barren sandy landscape really do look like a moonscape. After a tour past the bizarre natural rock and salt shapes, you will pass by the bizarre rock formation Tres Marías and end the excursion at Coyote´s rock (Piedra del Coyote). From the top of this rock, you overlook the Kari-Canyon and wide parts of the desert, you can even catch a glimpse at the Salar de Atacama. The setting sun bathes the landscape in a light that changes with every minute, providing a mesmerising play of colours. The return drive to San Pedro is after sunset.

Overnight Stay at Hotel.

Day 3: San Pedro De Atacama (B,L)

Breakfast at hotel

Private full day excursion to the Atacama Salt Flat (Salar de Atacama) and Lagunas Altiplanicas

The departure to the Salar de Atacama with your tour guide is in the early morning. A salt lake of huge proportions (3000 sq km/1,158 sq mi!), its surface is covered by a thick layer of light-coloured salt crystals, caused by the evaporation of the lakes water. The worlds largest lithium deposits are found here, but the salt flat is also home to several flamingo species, including the Andean, Chilean and James flamingo, who feed on the micro-organisms found in the saline lagoons. These beautiful birds and other species can be observed in their natural habitat at the Salar de Atacamas Chaxa Lagoon, which is part of the Reserva Nacional de los Flamencos. The journey continues afterwards, to the tiny village of Socaire, set at 3218m/10,558ft, which is noteworthy for its strange architecture using rough stonework. The few inhabitants here still live by the age-old methods of planting terraced fields with corn, wheat and potatoes. A lunch-break is held here (optional – lunch is not included), before the tour continues for about another 30km/19mi, climbing an additional 1000m/3,281ft in altitude to reach the highland lagoons of Miscanti and Miñiques, with their tw almost 6000m/19,686ft high volcanoes of the same name in the background. The twin lagoons are a deep blue, each framed by a white salt crust, which creates a memorable contrast to the yellow highland grass all around. It is completely silent here. Even the duck species that breed here, the foxes, and the grazing vicuñas (a type of lama), respect the majestic silence. During your return journey, you visit the green village square of the small oasis town of Toconao, with its large cacti and a white church with free-standing spire, and interesting constructions using cactus wood. The drive back to San Pedro is in the late afternoon.

Lunch Included

Overnight Stay at the Hotel.

Day 4: Departure (B)

Transfer out hotel to the Airport.