San Pedro de Atacama is an oasis located in the heart of the Atacama Desert. In the surroundings of the village, you will find natural treasures such as the moon valley, the salty mountain range, the Tatio geysers, and the Atacama salt flat. The region at the foot of Licancabur sacred volcano, is also a very important archaeological with thousands of years of history.
We invite you to discover the magic and wonders of San Pedro de Atacama with a short but complete program for everybody that can easily be combined with tours in other areas of Chile.
Trip features
- Type of trip: overland
- Duration: 4 days
- Suggested period: all year
- Fitness level: none
- Technical level: None
Highlights of the trip
- San Pedro de Atacama village
- Tatio Geysers
- Atacama Salt Flat
- Moon Valley and Rainbow Valley
- Puritama hot spring
Itinerary
DAY 1: CALAMA – SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA (approx. 100km)
Reception at Calama airport by your guide who will accompany us during the next 4 days. Private transfer to San Pedro de Atacama.
Excursion to the Moon Valley at sunset. Return to San Pedro de Atacama. Dinner included.
Overnight at Ecocasa (or similar category according to availability).
Info Ecocasa : http://oasis-sanpedrodeatacama.blogspot.com/p/servicios.html
DAY 2: SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA – SALAR DE ATACAMA – HIGHLAND LAGOONS – SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA (approx. 270km)
Full day excursion to the Atacama Salt Flat, the biggest salt flat of Chile with a surface of 3.000 square kms and natural habitat of three flamanco species. We go on to the highland lagoons (approx. 4200msnm) of Miscanti and Miñiques from where we have a spectacular view on the high plateaus and can appreciate the contrast of colours: the blue sky, the yellow tones of the vegetation, reddish and black rocks, snowy volcano tops and the blue lagoons with their white mineral boarders. Drive back to San Pedro de Atacama.
Overnight at Ecocasa (or similar category according to availability). Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Optional: astronomic night tour to observe the clear skies of the desert. Please ask us for additional information.
DAY 3: SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA – SALTY MOUNTAIN RANGE – RAINBOW VALLEY – SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA (approx. 100 km)
Today we trek for 2-3 hours through the Salt Mountain Range, where we see curious geological formations, caves, gorges and ridges. Our vehicle takes us back towards the Domeyko Mountain Range to the archaeological site of Hierbas Buenas where we can appreciate its petroglyphs. We are about 5 minutes away from the entrance to the Rainbow Valley which owns its name to the various colours of its mountains (reds, greens, blues, greys, yellows among others). We wonder through the rock sculptures created by erosion. Return to San Pedro de Atacama.
Overnight at Ecocasa (or similar category according to availability). Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
DAY 4: SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA – TATIO GEYSERS – PURITAMA HOT SPRING – CALAMA – FIN (approx. 280 km)
We leave early in the morning from San Pedro to the Tatio Geysires. Impressive fumaroles can reach a height of 7m at this geyser field situated in the Andes Range at the feed of the Tatio and Linzor volcanoes. We take a pick-nick style breakfast on the spot. Afterwards we drive down to Puritama Hot Springs for a relaxing bath in the natural pools with their thermal waters of 25° to 30° Celsius. Late afternoon transfer to Calama airport.
Breakfast and lunch included.