Overland - Atacama Desert, Arica to Coquimbo
Duration: 3 days
Highlights: Chiu-Chiu, Lasana, Atacama Desert, San Pedro de Atacama, Valley of the Moon, El Tatio geysers.
Explore the Atacama Desert, the driest place on Earth.
Itinerary
FULL LENGTH TOUR DESCRIPTION
This 2-night programme offers a brief but thorough introduction to one of the most surprising tourist areas in the world; The Atacama Desert. The village of San Pedro de
Atacama will be your base for the next two nights, an oasis town in the heart of the driest place on Earth. What used to be sea bottom a few million years ago is now sand,
dunes, salt lakes and bizarre rock formations changing colours as the sun moves over them. With the year round good weather (the area enjoys over 330 days of sunshine
per year and zero rainfall) and spectacular surroundings Atacama is a paradise for the active or outdoor type, and to that end some of the most popular excursions are
horseback riding, mountain biking or hiking, for anything from 2 hours to a full day. Where you visit depends on the time you have available and the level of activity required,
however activities of all levels are available. You will have a chance to witness moon-like landscapes, thermal springs, geysers, mountainous sand dunes and charming
villages. But Atacama is much more than the tangible attractions, there is an atmosphere which will enchant you. The colours, the light, the sight of flamingos flying over the
world’s largest salt flat, the sound of Andean pipes played in a small village. Atacama will leave you with wonderful memories and the desire to return.
DAY 1 - Arica to Calama to San Pedro de Atacama
Transfer from the port of Arica to Arica airport for the charter flight to the city of Calama. At an altitude of 7,900 feet in the very heart of the Atacama, Calama is your
gateway to the geological and archaeological wonders of the central desert. Upon arrival to this oasis city, you will be welcomed by a representative who will escort you to
your waiting vehicle for your first taste of Atacama; a visit to the village of Chiu-Chiu and the Inca fortress of Pukara de Lasana. The tour commences in the nearby village of
Chiu-Chiu, which features an imposing 17th-century church, one of the oldest in the area. Next, walk along the edge of the Loa River to study ancient rupestrian etching on
the cliffs hanging over the riverbank. Finally, travel on to the hilltop fortress of Lasana. This village, which dates back to the 12th century, is the best-preserved remnant of
the Atacameña people, with its solid stone architecture- all rooms, barns, and narrow alleys - typical of the period.
A light lunch will be served in the village of Lasana, in a delightful refuge run by the local indigenous community. Here you will have the opportunity to observe daily life in this
unique part of the world, real “insider access” to one of the Americas’ oldest ethnic groups. Your final destination today will be two magnificent valleys, starting with Valle de
la Muerte (Death Valley). This valley was used by NASA as a testing area for the vehicles used for its Mars explorations, given the amazing similarities of the terrain here.
Further on lies the spectacular Valle de la Luna (Valley of The Moon), without which no visit to Atacama would be complete. This sunset visit will surely be an unforgettable
experience as you observe the red, wind-sculpted scenery, which is startlingly moon-like, hence the name of the valley. There will be a gentle hike to the top one of the
amazing dunes, in order to provide a spectacular observation point overlooking the entire valley. As a special treat, a sundowner cocktail will be served. Transfer to the oasis
village of San Pedro de Atacama, your base for the next few days. Upon arrival to San Pedro, assistance with check-in to the hotel. Dinner this evening will be served at a
local restaurant.
DAY 2 - Atacama
After breakfast you head out on a full-day excursion around San Pedro de Atacama. This excursion will highlight the principal attractions of the area and provide the most
complete overview possible. Your day’s activities will commence at Pukara de Quitor, a 12th-century pre-Incan fortress. Quitor is strategically located, with a 360° observation
point, and is a prime example of this type of fortress. The nearby 2000-year-old settlement of Aldea de Tulor consists of circular dwellings interconnected by common
passages and patios. Only part of the site is visible, with the rest covered by the constantly shifting sands of the area. Return to San Pedro de Atacama for a walking tour of
the town. Highlights include the Father Le Paige Archaeological Museum, which holds an extraordinary collection of items from ancient cultures that inhabited this oasis.
There are gold ritual masks and mummies of high ranking chiefs, complete with robes and jewels. Other highlights include the charming adobe church, and the quaint
handicrafts market, where you can find typical products from the region.
After lunch, continue the day’s exploration with a visit to the village of Toconao, which is well-know for its liparita (volcanic stone). The nearby Jerez Valley provides a
stunning, green contrast to the surrounding desert landscape. Continue to the spectacular Salar de Atacama, Chile's largest salt flat, covering an area exceeding 3000
square kilometres (1160 square miles). The air is extraordinarily dry, visibility nothing less than perfect. You can see clear to the other end of the flat, some 80 kilometres (50
miles) away, with the naked eye. Beneath the flat there is a lake, blanketed by a thick rugged salt crust smudged with desert dust. It contains the world's largest reserves of
lithium, a valuable mineral used in some high-tech industries; it is extracted at the southern corner of the salt flat. The salt crust is speckled with small ponds favoured by such
waterfowl as flamingos and some sorts of Andean geese and coots, turning them into spots much beloved by birdwatchers. It is a breeding ground for the Chilean flamingo
(Phoenicopterus chilensis) and the Andean flamingo (Phoenicoparrus andinus). You can also see Andean gulls and a type of swallow, among other birds. A sunset cocktail
will be served, consisting of Pisco Sour, Chilean wine, Azapa olives, cheese, and dried fruits. Return to your hotel in the evening. Dinner will be served at a local restaurant.
DAY 3 - San Pedro de Atacama to Calama to La Serena to Coquimbo
Depart early this morning to the Tatio Geysers. An early start is necessary for this excursion, in order to complete the drive of 60 miles (95 kilometres) north of San Pedro de
Atacama to reach the El Tatio Geyser Field before dawn. Considered the highest geyser field in the world, El Tatio provides spectacular sights as the day breaks, and huge
plumes of steam spout from the ground tens of metres into the air. Ponds of thermal water, encrusted with richly coloured mineral deposits, eerily resemble a painter’s
palette, while in the background, soaring snowy peaks loom against a metallic-blue sky. It is a sublime spectacle. At about 8:30am, when the sun has already fully emerged,
the geyser activity ceases. Lunch will be served back in town prior to the transfer to Calama airport for your charter flight to La Serena. Upon arrival in La Serena, a guide will
be on-hand to lead you to your waiting vehicle for the transfer to the port of Coquimbo, where you will rejoin the ship.
SHORT LENGTH TOUR DESCRIPTION
This 2-night overland journey offers a brief but thorough introduction to one of the most surprising tourist areas in the world; The Atacama Desert. Leaving your ship in Arica,
the village of San Pedro de Atacama, an oasis town in the heart of the driest place on Earth, is your base for two nights as you explore the Atacama’s amazing scenery and
culture before returning to meet your ship in the port of Coquimbo.
ACTIVITY BREAKDOWN
DAY 1
- Transfer from the port of Arica to Arica airport for the LAN charter flight
- Charter flight from Arica to Calama
- Visit to the village of Chiu-Chiu and the Inca fortress of Lasana
- Light lunch in the village of Lasana
- Transfer to San Pedro de Atacama
- Dinner at a local restaurant in San Pedro de Atacama
- Overnight at your selected hotel
DAY 2
- Breakfast at your hotel
- Visit to the Salar de Atacama salt flat
- Lunch at the “La Estaca” restaurant
- Walking tour of San Pedro de Atacama
- Evening visit to the Valley of The Moon, including sundowner cocktail
- Dinner at “Adobe”
- Overnight at you selected hotel
DAY 3
- Visit to the “El Tatio” Geysers
- Breakfast at “El Tatio” Geysers
- Transfer to Calama Airport for the LAN charter flight to La Serena
- Charter flight from Calama to La Serena
- Transfer from La Serena Airport to the Port of Coquimbo
Approximate duration: 3 Days / 2 Nights
OPERATIONAL NOTES
- Includes the services of an English-speaking guide
- All meals are included
- Calama airport is used as the gateway to Atacama for this Charter Jet excursion. Should San Pedro’s small airport be habilitated, flights will operate from there, saving
some 3 hours in driving time
- The flight will be carried out in a LAN Airbus A-319
- Seating capacity is 139
- Recommended hotels for this programme:
HOTEL ALTIPLÁNICO – 3-4* - 20 Rooms
LA CASA DE DON TOMÁS – 3* - 38 Rooms
EL KIMAL – 3* - 19 Rooms
- The chronological order of this tour is subject to change
- Activity level is Moderate