Chile's Atacama Desert

Arrive Santiago, Chile

Welcome to Santiago. You are met on arrival, and taken to your hotel in the center of this scenic city. The majestic Andean Mountain Range anchors the city and can be seen from almost anywhere in town.

Santiago & San Pedro de Atacama

This morning discover Santiago, the capital of Chile, and alive with fascinating architecture, a rich history, natural beauty and a dynamic economy. Santiago contains evocative remains of its colonial past set alongside ultramodern, high-rise buildings. It has a bustling business district that exists alongside boulevards of street vendors and local artisans selling their wares. Visit San Cristobal Hill, a beautiful park noted for its monumental sculpture of the Virgin Mary. This afternoon, fly to Calama in northern Chile. You are met upon arrival, and then driven through moonscape surroundings. Arrive at your accommodations in the village of San Pedro de Atacama, an oasis in the barren desert. San Pedro de Atacama at 8,000 feet is called ‘The Valley of the Moon.’ Your luxurious lodge is tucked away in a valley of serene beauty, nestled in the shadow of the Pukará de Quitor ruins, with the San Pedro River winding alongside. This is the perfect base for exploring the desert, cultural encounters, or simply absorbing the breathtaking landscape.

Atacama, isolated and beautiful, offers the extremes – from lunar landscapes to lush river canyons. There are parched areas that have not been touched by rain for three centuries, and hidden arroyos that flood from brilliant summer rainstorms. Beauty here resides in the texture of the land, the starkness of the sky and in how life has found a way to conquer the desert. The Atacama Desert chronicles a history of the struggle for survival, the adaptation to environment and the comprehension of natural cycles. ​(B,D)

San Pedro de Atacama

Enjoy two full days of exploration. Please remember when choosing an excursion that the elevation at your hotel is 8,000 feet and might effect your endurance. The lodge offers a wide repertoire of activities: each day, based on climate conditions and guest abilities, eight options are available. All excursions are limited to small groups and led by resident experts; and range from easy to challenging in their difficulty. All excursions are done by vehicle, bicycle or on foot. (2B,2L,2D)

Vehicle Excursions:

Lickanantai Culture - Half day, 

Pucará de Quitor, San Pedro de Atacama - Gustavo Le-Paige Museum, the Church, main square, and handicrafts market & the Tulor Village

Toconao – Atacama Salt Flats (Chaxas Lagoon) - Half day,

Village of Toconao, "Hidden Valley" in Kunza - church, square, bell tower & local handicrafts, National Flamingo Reserve, Chaxas lagoon (30-minute walk)

Sunset In The Valley Of The Moon - Half day,

Quitor, Calama, Tres Marías - central crater, amphitheatre & Sunset spot

Cave Paintings - Half day,

Hierbas Buenas - petroglyphs, Santiago de Rio Grande - architecture, handicrafts & crops, Matancilla & Rainbow Valley

Mountain Bike Excursions:

Quitor Ayllu And San Pedro De Atacama - Half day,

10 km. Quitor Valley, Quitor Ayllu & visit San Pedro de Atacama town

Katarpe Valley - Half day, 15 km. Foot of Quitor Pukara, cross San Pedro River, Katarpe Valley & its church

Cejar Lagoon - Half day, 21.6 km. Quitor Ayllu, San Pedro de Atacama, Conde Duque Ayllu, Yaye and Solcor & Poconche Ayllu; dirt road to the Cejar Lagoon

Inca Pass - Half day, 29 km. Katarpe Valley, Coca Rock, Llano de la Paciencia & Mars Valley

Desert Valleys - Half day, 43 km. (steep grades) Cross the San Pedro River, Quitor Valley, western face of the Cordillera de la Sal range, Coca Rock, Llano de la Paciencia, Valley of the Moon, Tres Marías & San Pedro de Atacama

Trekking Excursions:

Tambo – Katarpe - Half day,

3 km. Katarpe Ayllu – church, plains & ravines, ancient Inca tambo of Katarpe

Jere Valley - Half day,

4 km. Village of Toconao, "Hidden Valley" in Kunza, Jere Valley

Quezala Ravine - Half day,

4.2 km. Foot of Lascar volcano, village of Talabre, Quezala Ravine & petroglyphs

Katarpe - El Diablo Ravine - Half day,

2.8 km. Katarpe Ayllu – church, Cordillera de la Sal range ravines, El Diablo Ravine

Alto Katarpe - Half day,

5 km. Calama, across the ridge of Cordillera de la Sal range & Catarpe Valley

Los Colorados - Half day,

6 km. Across the ridge of Cordillera de la Sal range & Great Dune of the Mars Valley

Los Cardones Ravine - Half day,

6.1 km. Guatin, Vilama river ravine, Apacheta

Kari Ravine - Half day,

9 km. Walk Kari Ravine & Kari Canyon

Valley Of The Moon to Kamur - Half day,

9 km. Valley of the Moon park - sand dunes, canyons, the great crater & Tres Marías Lookout

Additional half and full day excursions are available but require altitude acclimatization of more than 2 days.

San Pedro de Atacama to Santiago

Enjoy your last morning in Atacama before you are transferred to Calama for your flight to Santiago. Upon arrival, you are met, and are taken back to your Santiago hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure to relax or explore the city. ​(B)

Santiago & Depart

This morning tour the Los Dominicos Craft Center, a renovated convent that is a unique Chilean shopping experience. It is a cozy labyrinth of more than 150 artisan and antique shops, cafés and a restored church. The center offers the most complete selection of crafts, arts and local products in Chile. You have your hotel room until 6:00 pm, when you will be transferred to the airport for your late evening flight home or to your next destination. (B)

NOTE: Due to the late evening departure times, flights to the USA arrive the next day.