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Chile Tours and Travel

Suggested Packages / Santiago area / Patagonia / Lake District
Easter Island / Atacama Desert / Expedition Cruises / Fiord Cruises
Biking / Treks / Self-Drive / Sea Kayaking / Wine Tours

7 DAY ATACAMA DESERT TREK

Trekking in Atacama Desert region will take us off the beaten path, into areas not accessible by vehicle andtrodden only by local natives and their llama or goat herds. We will encounter small villages, archaeological remains, Andean wildlife along with the most spectacular desert & mountain landscapes, always crowned by high dormant volcanoes. This program is an excellent complement to any of the Patagonia treks in order to witness Chile’s dramatic contrasts.

Day 1, The Adventure Starts! Arrival in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
We arrive at Calama’s Airport and drive to San Pedro de Atacama. As we drive we can appreciate the impressive rock formations of the Cordillera de la Sal, which is the entrance to one of the most special areas of Chile. Once in San Pedro we enjoy our briefing lunch, receiving a useful introduction to the trip about to start. In the afternoon we do our first hike in the silent and amazing Valle de la Luna; we walk over sand dunes until we reach the point from where we will witness a beautiful sunset, intensified by the warm color tones throughout the Valley. Then we come back to town and overnight in San Pedro.

Day 2, Trekking through San Pedro River, From San Pedro to San Bartolo, Atacama Desert, Chile
Once we finish the breakfast we board the van and go to the great Fortress of Quitor, which dates from the twelfth century and reveals the pre-Inca architecture in the region of Atacama. Then we start a walk to the mouth of River San Pedro, entering in the small canyons that limit its stream. As we enter the canyon our walk turns into an amphibious trek given that the path crosses the river in different spots surrounded by strange geological formations. We finally enter a small valley that we cross until arriving at the ghost town of San Bartolo, a former mining enclave, now abandoned. We camp there and tonight we will have the first sample of the amazing starry nights of Atacama.

Day 3, Exploring the Heart of Atacama, From San Bartolo to Rio Grande, Atacama Desert, Chile
We initiate the day with a demanding trek which will makes us gain altitude as we leave the river bed and move towards the plateau level, meanwhile we observe the abandoned mines, old and with many legends. The trail continues through the river canyon and we start watching the giant cactuses that emerge from the arid and barren desert together with other strange life forms that are based on the banks of the river. There are some areas of the valley that are so dry that scientists have not found life there yet, not even bacteria. After crossing a section of the canyon we finally arrive at Río Grande Village, one of the few original indigenous communities of Atacameño people that still remain. We camp on the banks of the river and, if we are lucky, we will get to know some of the local villagers.

Day 4, The Great Desert Ascension, From Rio Grande to Machuca, Atacama Desert, Chile
Today we are beginning the most challenging day of the trek in terms of physical demand. Once we finish breakfast we start trekking towards Machuca Village. The trail continues along the course of small streams that give form to narrow and beautiful valleys inhabited by native people and their herds of llamas. We continue gaining altitude as we border steep desert canyons, until we reach the awesome bofedales of Machuca, over-water grass lands full of wildlife from which we enjoy an amazing view of Licancabur Volcano, the sacred mountain of the Atacameño people. At this point we will have exceeded the 13.000ft above sea level. We camp next to a big bofedal and we dedicate our time to rest while we get acclimatized to the Altiplanic weather.

Day 5, Descent by the Altiplanic Canyons From Machuca to Puritama, Atacama Desert, Chile
After a hearty breakfast we leave the bofedales of Machuca and start descending through the canyon. It will be a long journey though easier than the previous days as the terrain gradient will make ‘gravity’ support us through the complete journey. We finally arrive to the natural pools of Puritama Hot Springs, where we enjoy a marvelous bath that our body will no forget after such a great effort we did the previous days! When our body and mind are at ease we board our transfer and drive back to San Pedro.

Day 6, The Cherry of Atacama, San Pedro, Salt Flat and High Land Lagoons, Atacama, Chile
We get up and feel the satisfaction of having completed a challenging and wonderful trek; we have crossed the heart of Atacama with the same explorer spirit of its first inhabitants. As a reward for our efforts we will be transferred on a van to see the amazing Salar de Atacama, home of astonishing birds like the Chilean Pink Flamingos. Then we continue driving towards the “cherry” of Atacama: the marvelous Miscanti and Miñiques Lagoons, plenty of turquoise waters that contrasted with the yellows of the Altiplanic lands make this place an incredible landscape. Once we are ready, we go back to San Pedro. Tonight we will have our farewell dinner, occasion to share our thoughts and feelings of the journey that we have just completed together. Surely the old Atacama Desert will now have a special space in our memories.

Day 7, Goodbye Atacama! Departure from San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
We take this day to relax and wander around the town, visit its handcrafts shops, church, museum, and feel the mixture between native culture and the sophisticated modernity installed by foreigners, including Chilean people from big cities who decided to leave behind ‘civilization’ and move to this place. In the afternoon we go to Calama’s Airport on time to take our flight, goodbye Atacama!

Valid through December 2011: USD 1,860 p.p. (based on 4+ people).
2 people group supplement*: USD 370 p.p..
3 people group supplement*: USD 210 p.p.
Single hotel and tent supplement: USD 162 p.p.
Christmas supplement: USD 53 p.p.
Optional regular excursion to Tatio Geysers on day 7: USD 143 p.p.

* How the group supplements work?
-If there are just 2 or 3 people signed for a given departure each traveler would pay a group supplement as indicated above; for 4 or more people signed no supplement apply.
- 4 weeks before the trip starts if more people signed for the same departure then we will recalculate and inform the new trip price to the travelers with group supplements pending.

Departures: Group Expeditions - Every Monday on request; minimum 2 people signed to confirm departure. Are you a solo traveler? Contact us to tell you which departures we have already confirmed.
Private Departures - We can do it, please contact us.

Flights
The trip starts AM in Calama Airport; last pick-up time: 12:30 PM. The trip finishes in Calama Airport and we suggest booking flights departing after 5 PM. Please consider that there is just one van doing both routes so when travelers of the group arrive/leave in different flights the others would have to wait at the airport. You can consult with us to find out what flights others have.

Included
- One expert English speaking escorting guide.
- All ground private transportation as indicated in the itinerary.
- 3 nights in 3 star hotel in San Pedro.
- 3 nights camping.
- Meals: day 1: L, D, days 2-6: B, BL, D, day 7: B B: breakfast, L: lunch, BL: box lunch, D: dinner.

Not Included
- Domestic flight tickets.
- Insurance (it is mandatory you purchase appropriate insurance for this trip).
- Voluntary tipping to guides and staff.
- Sleeping bags or mats (please contact us for rental rates)
- Items of personal nature.

Accommodation Details
Hotel in San Pedro de Atacama
Our first option will be 3star Hotel Poblado Quimal. .

Camping
The tents arranged for this program are typical mountain tents with enough room for a 2 people overnight in comfortable conditions. We provide all the camping gear nevertheless you have to bring your own mat and sleeping bag (please ask us for mats and bags rental rates). Our team will be responsible for setting up the tents in the camping site. There will be also a big and comfortable dining tent for enjoying dinners and breakfasts.

Guiding Staff
Guide to passenger ratio: 1:4, maximum 10 people per group.

Transport
In Atacama the transportation is on minivans that normally seat from 8 to 14 persons. When we have only 2 to 4 persons we use smaller vehicles, usually 4x4, driven by the tour guide. The vehicle will be of your use exclusively with the limitation of their use to the given itinerary and time schedules.

Weather
Spring-Summer (October to March)
Farther north, in Atacama, the weather vary, and follows a desert hot-day / cold-night pattern. On a sunny day, daytime temperatures can be very pleasant, ranging between 15°C - 20°C (low 60s and low 70s F). Nighttime temperatures will most likely be in the 0°C - 5°C (23s and 40s F)

Autumn-Winter (April to September)
In Atacama the weather varies following the mentioned desert warm-day / cold-night pattern. On a sunny day, daytime temperatures can be pleasant, ranging again between 13°C -20°C (low 60s and low 70s F). Nighttime temperatures will most likely be in the -10°C - 0°C (23s and 40s F) Atacama Desert is the driest place on Earth! So any time of the year you come don’t expect rain at all – if it rains when you are there you might consider it almost a miracle!

Physical Demands
Trekking in the Atacama Desert requires more physical preparation than most vacations. In this trip you will be trekking between five to seven hours a day for 4 continues days in high altitudes mostly on dry sandy terrain. On the fourth day the trail will run into the high lands (average 4,100mt / 10,500ft) which will also constitute a demanding factor. Guides will always have oxygen tanks at disposition if someone feels sick. Something additional to have in mind is that the temperatures in Atacama change dramatically from day to night following a typical desert pattern of hot day/cool night (check section Weather). All together these conditions might affect both the body and the morale so coming in good physical conditions is fundamental to enjoy the most of this stunning trek through the Atacama Desert.

Moderate altitude trek, 5-7 hrs per day, 8-14 miles (13-23 km) .Acclimatization necessary for altitudes of 880-13,500 feet (2700-4120 meters). Walk free of heavy packs. Carry small daypack only.

We reserve the right to change the order of the days in any itinerary under the sole discretion of the trip guide and based on operational considerations. The trip guide can also modified, change or eliminate part of the itinerary based on safety/weather considerations.

What You Need to Bring
We will provide you with a complete list of what you need to bring for doing this trip once you go through the booking process.