Discover the Atacama Desert
Journey through the amazing landscapes of the Atacama Desert on this 4 day tour. Watch the sun set over Moon Valley and make a memorable dawn trip to the El Tatio Geysers.
|
Day |
City |
Activity |
Overnight |
Meals* |
|
Day 1 |
Calama – San Pedro de Atacama |
Calama to San Pedro & the Moon valley |
San Pedro |
- |
|
Day 2 |
San Pedro de Atacama |
Toconao and the Atacama Salt Lake |
San Pedro |
B, L |
|
Day 3 |
San Pedro de Atacama |
El Tatio Geysers and Machuca |
San Pedro |
B |
|
Day 4 |
San Pedro de Atacama - Calama |
San Pedro to Calama |
San Pedro |
B |
* B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
- Upgrade to a Feature hotel from £126 more per person for this 4 day/3 night itinerary
- Add an extra night and time to relax in San Pedro de Atacama
- Combine this tour with our 3D/2N Discover Santiago package
Day 1: Calama to San Pedro & the Moonvalley
Upon arrival in Calama you will have a transfer to the desert town of San Pedro de Atacama (approximately 2.5 hours drive). On the way you will pass the Salt Mountain Range and be able to appreciate the vast desert landscape. After checking in to your hotel you have some time for lunch before being picked up at around 4pm for your sunset tour. You will be driven to Moon Valley for spectacular views and to watch the snow-capped peaks changing colour as the sun sets in the desert – an impressive sight! You will return to San Pedro in time for dinner. Spend the night at our Superior hotel in San Pedro de Atacama.
Day 2: Toconao and the Atacama Salt Lake
After breakfast you will be picked up from your hotel to explore the small town of San Pedro de Atacama and learn about its history from your bilingual guide. Your tour includes a visit to the Le Paige archaeological museum, the 16th century colonial church, and the Pukara de Quitor fortress outside the town. You have lunch included today at a local restaurant. In the afternoon you have a tour to Toconao a village where the locals make white volcanic stone sculptures, and to the Atacama Salt Lake, an inland sea formed millions of years ago. The landscape is spectacular and dramatic as the white salt crust stretches endlessly before you. Return to San Pedro in time for dinner and spend the night at our Superior hotel in San Pedro de Atacama.
Day 3: El Tatio Geysers and Machuca
A very early start (around 4am) is needed today to reach the geothermal field known as El Tatio in time to see the geysers at their most active, around sun-rise. You will need warm clothes as the geysers are at an altitude of 4.300 m / 14.108 ft and temperatures can get down to -20˚C in winter. As soon as the sun hits the area, the geysers bubble and spurt steam and boiling water into the air. You will have time to walk around the area taking pictures before heading back to San Pedro, stopping in at the small traditional village of Machuca on the way. You will be back in town in time for lunch, and the rest of the afternoon is free to enjoy the town, or maybe have a siesta. Spend the night at our Superior hotel in San Pedro de Atacama.
Day 4: San Pedro to Calama
After breakfast you have a transfer to Calama airport at the appropriate time for your onward flight.
- Transfers and excursions as mentioned with bilingual English/ Spanish guide
- English speaking guide in shared tour at Gustavo Le Paige Museum
- 3 overnights including breakfast in San Pedro de Atacama
- Entrance fees to National Parks and Reserves
- 1 lunch at a local restaurant (2nd day)
- Unspecified meals and services
- Optional tips for Guides and/ or Drivers
- International and domestic flights
- Airport taxes
It goes without saying that Superior hotels are clean, comfortable and well located. All hotels in San Pedro are built in the traditional style of single-story mud bricks. This hotel has a range of facilities (such as heating, wifi, restaurant and free tea & coffee all day). Rooms are of a good size and you will have an en-suite bathroom with towels and some toiletries. Staff speak good English.
Hotel Altiplanico Atacama in their own words: “Our concept is to offer maximum hospitality under the idea of hotels as a home, in parallel with respect for nature; architecture submits itself to nature and merges with it. To achieve this, our hotels have an excellent interior design and quality, beauty is considered the main luxury so we favor the honest, the simple, and the pure. This, combined with personalized attention, gives the visitor the feeling of being in a beautiful and efficient home.”
- Long sleeved shirts for the daytime
- A body-warmer or down jacket
- Thermal and fleece layers
- Trainers or walking shoes
- Sun hat
- Sun block
- Small backpack
- Refillable water bottle
- Binoculars
- Torch
- Camera, memory card and charger