Desert and Volcanoes

Amazon Adventures

Chile

Classic Chile / Santiago area / Patagonia / Lake District
Easter Island / Biking / Atacama Desert / Expedition Cruises
Fiord Cruises / Treks / Multisport / Sea Kayaking / Hacienda Life

DESERT & VOLCANOES

Northern Chile is a world of minerals characterized by one of the driest deserts on the planet: the Atacama Desert. However, life in the Andes sprouts alongside turquoise and emerald lakes. Condors, pumas and flamingoes live under the quiet shadow of impressive volcanoes such as Parinacota (6,342m), Ojos del Salado (6,893m) and Licancabur (5,916m). This roundtrip takes us from Calama through the desert up to Arica, on the Peruvian border, allowing us to discover the main attractions of the altiplano. San Pedro de Atacama, the Moon Valley, Tatio geysers, Lake Chungará, Surire Salt Lake, so many magical places, cradles of American civilization, unveil their beauty and their secrets to us.

DAY 1: (SANTIAGO) - CALAMA - SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA
Reception at Calama airport. Drive to San Pedro de Atacama. Excursion to the Moon Valley at sunset. Transfer to the hotel. (L)

DAY 2: SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA
Excursion to Atacama Salt Lake where we see the pink flamingoes. Visit of Toconao and Jerez Canyon. We go up to Laguna Miscanti where we have a spectacular view on the high plateaus. Drive back to San Pedro. Transfer to the hotel. (CB,L)

DAY 3: SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA
Walk in the Cordillera de la Sal. Back to San Pedro. Visit of the archaeological museum and the archaeological site of Quitor. In the afternoon, we go up to Puritama hot springs where we have an unforgettable bath. Transfer back to the hotel. (CB,L)

DAY 4: SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA - TATIO GEYSERS - CALAMA*
We get up very early to go to the Tatio geysers where we have breakfast. Pictures of the geysers and a swim in the natural swimming pool. Then we drive on to Calama. On the way we visit Caspana, Chiu-Chiu and Lasana. Arrival at Calama (2250m). Transfer to the hotel. (CB,L)

DAY 5: CALAMA - TOCOPILLA - IQUIQUE
We drive westbound to reach the Pacific coast where we visit Tocopilla. Then we follow the Pacific coastline dotted with fishermen villages. We reach Iquique. Transfer to the hotel. (CB,L)

DAY 6: IQUIQUE - PICA - MAMIÑA
Full day excursion to the desolated world of the Pampa Tamarugal. On the way, we visit the Humberstone Ghost Town (former sodium nitrate mine) and the Cerro Pintados geoglyphs, a fabulous site where the stone lines make a big puzzle of more than 400 pieces with no elucidated meanings. Arrival at Pica Oasis; time to relax in the hot springs. Visit of Matilla and La Tirana. Transfer to pre-altiplanic village of Mamiña where we enjoy the hot springs. Hotel. (CB,L)

DAY 7: MAMIÑA - CODPA
Long ride northbound to Arica. Visit of the Hacienda de Tiviliche, a farmer’s ranch where the English landowners used to come to rest. We then drive to the pre-altiplanic area and stay in a simple hotel in the small village of Codpa. (CB,L,D)

DAY 8: CODPA - PUTRE
Transfer to Putre, located in the middle of the Andes. We visit small and typical pre-altiplanic villages such as Tignamar, Belen, Chapiquiña,... We discover the history and daily life of the inhabitants of this unknown region. Finally we arrive in Putre. Transfer to the hotel. (CB,L)

DAY 9: PUTRE - SURIRE SALT LAKE - PUTRE
Full day excursion to Surire Salt Lake. “Surire” means ostrich in the local Aymara language. Once in Surire we take time to see nandus (Andes ostrich), and other kind of animals like lamas, vicuñas, pink flamingoes. We have an unforgettable bath in Surire hot springs, surrounded by a fantastic Andean landscape. Back to Putre. Transfer to the hotel. (CB,L)

DAY 10: PUTRE - LAKE CHUNGARA - ARICA
Full day excursion to Lake Chungara, the highest one in the world (4500m), located at the base of Parinacota Volcano (6342m), one of the nicest mountains of Chile. We cross the Lauca National Park (declared as a world biosphere reserve by UNESCO) and visit Parinacota village. Lunch at Chucuyo before driving back to Arica on the Pacific coast. In Arica we visit El Morro. Transfer to the hotel. (CB,L)

DAY 11: ARICA - (SANTIAGO)
Visit of the fertile Azapa Valley which hides several archeological sites. Transfer to Arica airport. Flight back to Santiago. (CB)

OTHER INFORMATION:
* It is possible to adapt the program in the following ways:
First option: Clients may choose to end the program on day 4 in Calama.
Second option: Clients may choose to start the program on day 6 in Iquique (early morning start in order to travel with the group) for 60% of the total price for + eventual transfers and additional services

Fixed Departure Dates: 2007 - Jan. 13, Feb. 3 & 24, March 17, April 7 & 28, May 19, June 9

Fixed Departure Prices: US$2390 each for 2, US$1840 each for 3-5, US$1670 each for 6-12. Single supplement = $340.

15% discount for trips departing April 1-June 30

Private departure dates available.