An adventure trekking in San Pedro de Atacama that allows us to discover the region behind the typical known places of this town, located in one of the oasis of the Chilean high plateau. Atacama geographical environment will give us the chance of hiking amazing desert landscapes that resembles the lunar surface, big Salar fields (stone formations made of Salt) and the enigmatic Geysers with its huge columns of steam. The trekking we propose here combines sleeping in Hotels with a 3 nights staying at camp sites while hiking the Atacama Oasis. An unforgettable trek experience.
This is a regular group trekking activity but with a minimum of 3 passengers.

Departures 2013:


    8 days - 7 nights

    Season: April to October

    Begins: Sundays



Starts at: Calama Airport (Chile) (you can also arrive by bus from Salta, Argentina)
Ends at: Calama Airport (Chile).

Itinerary
Day 1: Calama - San Pedro de Atacama
We welcome you at the Calama Airport and transfer to San Pedro de Atacama in the North of Chile. We will have the rest of the day to enjoy the town.
Lodging at Hosteria Double or Single Room
Included meals: none

Day 2: San Pedro de Atacama – Valle de la Luna
Early in the morning after breakfast, we will visit an area near town known as “La Cordillera de la Sal (’Mountain range made of salt’) with its very own particular formations. From there we will have an unforgettable view of Los Andes and the valleys around the town. In the afternoon we will do a small trek to the Valle de la Luna; located at 17 km from San Pedro de Atacama in the area of the Cordillera de la Sal, it has an especial appeal for its amazing resemblance to the lunar surface.
Lodging at Hosteria Double or Single Room
Included meals : breakfast (B)

Day 3: Salar Grande - Trekking to the Valley of San Bartolo
This day we will visit the Atacama’s Great Salar (stone formations made of Salt). It is known all around the world, being the third one by its dimensions. While walking there we will also see the flamencos that live in the region. Later we will continue to Toconao, a small town known for its art crafts. In the afternoon, we will start our trek through the valley of Catarpé: we will walk to the beginning of the river San Bartolo where 'petroglifos' (small encrustations of marine life in stone) can be found. We keep hiking until we reach the 2700 meters of elevation, where we will camp.
Lodging at Semi full Camping
Included meals : breakfast (B), box lunch (BL) and dinner (D)

Day 4: Trekking San Bartolo - Rio Grande
Today, already acclimatized, we will begin trekking to gain altitude, join a riverbed where we find weird stone formations and giant cactus that emerge from the arid desert. We will continue hiking up to 3500 meters elevation, around the area of Rio Grande, a small village where we have our second Camp site.
Lodging at Semi full Camping
Included meals : breakfast (B), box lunch (BL) and dinner (D)

Day 5: Trekking Rio Grande - Machuca
After breakfast, we leave behind Rio Grande village and we will trek through an area of narrow rivers that create fertile valleys where the inhabitants take their llamas to graze. We will continue gaining altitude hiking up to Vilarejo de Machuca (4100 meters) where we camp. From here, we have an astonishing view of the Licancabur volcano.
Lodging at Semi full Camping
Included meals : breakfast (B), box lunch (BL) and dinner (D)

Day 6: Machuca - Geyser Del Tatio
This day starts quite early in the morning. We will depart before dawn (4 AM) in order to go to the Tatio volcano, located at 4500 meters over sea level. First thing we will do once we arrive is to go to the geothermal field located at Los Andes mountain range. Early in the morning this place has an amazing steamy activity because of the high temperatures that are coming up from the craters. The boiling water, the huge columns of steam and the water that runs underneath the surface makes an unforgettable Atacama experience. We will have breakfast here, and then we will take a walk and those who want to might take a bath in the warm water near the geysers. (That’s why we recommend you to bring along besides warm clothing, a swimming suit, towel, sun block)
Lodging at Hosteria Double or Single Room.
Included meals: breakfast (B)

Day 7: San Pedro de Atacama
This is a day off so we will be able to choose between different options such as: the ascension of the Lascar Volcano or the Toco Mountain or just take a look around San Pedro de Atacama walking or by bicycle
Lodging at Hosteria Double or Single Room.
Included meals: breakfast (B)

Day 8: San Pedro de Atacama - Calama Airport
After breakfast we are transferred to the Calama airport where our tours ends, or to the bus station if we take a bus back to Salta, Argentina.
Included meals: breakfast (B)

Price: 2404 u$d (Hosteria - Double room)
           3038 u$d (Hosteria - Single room)

Included services: Incoming services, 4 nights in Hostería double or single with breakfast, 3 nights in Semi–Full Camp (included: tents and dinner tent or saloon. Not included: sleeping bag or insulating mattress), Bilingual guide (Spanish – Engl ish) during all the excursions, 7 breakfast(B), 3 box lunch (BL) and 3 dinners (D), all transportation as shown in the itinerary combining private and regular buses,

Not included services: international and domestic flights, airport taxes, transfers in Buenos Aires, nights in Buenos Aires, drinks, foods not detailed, optional excursions, medical covering, tips, services not detailed in the program. More information

List of suggested personal equipment:
• Backpack, 60 /70 lts
• Sleeping bag, down or synthetic, for -10ºC
• Sleeping mattress (therm-a-rest type)
• Trekking shoes or boots
• Thermal underwear
• Trekking pants
• Fleece
• Breathable parka and over pants
• Gaiters
• Gloves
• Thermal socks
• Swim suit & towel (for a warm bath at Atacama geysers)
• Thermal socks
• The necessary spare cloth
• Wool hat
• Sun hat
• Sun glasses
• Sun screen / block (UV is strong)
• Personal items
• Lamp
• Trekking poles (recommended, if you are used to them)
• Water bottle
• Photo camera & batteries
• Personal medication
• Passport/Visa (if needed) to cross the border between Argentina & Chile.
• Garbage bags (we Leave No Trace)