Altiplanic Desert Essentials - 15 Days in Argentina, Chile and Bolivia
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Buenos Aires / Salta / Cafayate / Purmamarca / Atacama / Uyuni
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Day 1 Buenos Aires. D
Arrival at the airport and transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon, we make a panoramic tour of the city, visiting the most relevant places. In the evening, we attend a dinner show to appreciate the magnetism of tango. Day 2 Buenos Aires / Salta. B Arrival and reception at Salta’s airport. Transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon, the city awaits us in order to explore it by foot, walking along its streets, churches, colonial buildings and visiting the Museum of High Altitude Archaeology. Max. Altitude: 1.152 MASL (3.779 ft.) Day 3 Salta / Cafayate. B Departure to start our trip through the Calchaquíes Valleys, passing by the Obispo Slope, Del Tin Tin Straight, Los Cardones National Park, Cachi and De Las Flechas Gorge. Arrival at Cafayate. Travel time: 12 hours Max. Altitude: 3.348 MASL (10.984 ft.) Day 4 Cafayate / Salta. B In the morning, we visit the town and after lunch (not included), we head back to Salta visiting the Cafayate Gorge. Travel time: 7 hours Max. Altitude: 1.683 MASL (5.522 ft.) Day 5 Salta / Purmamarca. B Early departure travelling through Del Toro Gorge in order to get to know the small town of San Antonio de los Cobres. After lunch (not included), we continue across the Puna up to Salinas Grandes Salt Flat and then we start descending through De Lipán Slope to Purmamarca. Travel time: 10 hours Max. Altitude: 4.170 MASL(13.681 ft.) Day 6 Purmamarca / Atacama. B In the morning, departure towards San Pedro de Atacama, passing by Paso de Jama border crossing. Arrival at this oasis in the middle of the desert. Travel time: 7 hours Max. Altitude: 4.400 MASL(14.436 ft.) Day 7 Atacama. B Departure to the Altiplanic Lagoons, which represent one of the seven sectors that embrace Los Flamencos National Reserve along with Chaxa Lagoon in the Atacama Salt Flat. During the tour, we visit the Miscanti, Miñiques and Toconao Lagoons. Travel time: 7-8 hours Max. Altitude: 4.220 MASL(13.845 ft.) Day 8 Atacama. B Early departure to El Tatio Geysers, the highest geothermal field in the world where we observe the steam and fumaroles produced by the high temperatures of its craters. During the afternoon we enjoy the sunset in De La Luna Valley. Travel time: 9 hours Max. Altitude: 4.320 MASL(14.173 ft.) Day 9 Atacama / Malku. B L D Departure to Hito Cajón, the border with Bolivia. On the way to Malku Cueva, we visit landscapes such as Verde Lagoon, Dali Valley with the thermal springs of Chaviri, De la Mañana Geysers and Colorada Lagoon, where we appreciate James flamingos. Travel time: 8 hours Max. Altitude: 4.990 MASL (16.371 ft.) Day 10 Malku / Colchani. B L D In the afternoon, we visit a valley of stones and then continue to Uyuni passing by the towns of Culpina and San Cristóbal. During the trip and before going to Colchani, we visit the Cemetery of Trains to finally arrive at Colchani where we stay at a salt hotel. Travel time: 8 hours Max. Altitude: 3.550 MASL (11.647 ft.) Day 11 Colchani. B L D Today we explore Uyuni Salt Flat, the largest in the world. During the tour, we will visit a salt processing plant, the Incahuasi Island where we can observe the giant Cactus, and the Pucara de Ayque. After enjoying lunch, which will be served on the Salt Flat, we have fun with a photo session and then we enjoy the sunset. Max. Altitude: 3.600 MASL (11.811 ft.) Day 12 Colchani / Tilcara. B L Early in the morning, departure to Argentina. On the way we stop in Atocha’s mining centre and Tupiza, in order to arrive then at Villazon- La Quiaca, from where once we do the migrations procedures. The trip continues through the Quebrada de Humahuaca to arrive in Tilcara. Travel time: 11 hours Maximum altitude: 3658 MASL (12.001 ft.) Day 13 Tilcari / Salta. B We explore the Humahuaca Gorge, Humanity’s Cultural Heritage by UNESCO and one of its best kept treasures, the incredible mountain range of El Hornocal, also called Cerro de los 14 Colores, whose viewpoint is at 4350 meters above sea level. Arrival in Salta. Travel time: 10 hours Maximum altitude: 4350 MASL (14.271 ft.) Day 14 Salta / Buenos Aires. B In the morning, transfer to the airport to board the flight to Buenos Aires. Arrival and transfer to the hotel. Day 15 Buenos Aires. B Day at leisure. At due time, transfer to the airport. Basic concepts of fixed departures: 1. All guided tours include local bilingual English speaking guide. 2. Flights are not included. Please check at the time of booking the needed flights, as they are subject to frequent rescheduling. 3. To avoid extra transportation costs, you must reserve the needed flights in the program. 4. In case of adding nights before or after the program, calculate only the extra night of the hotel, since the transfer in / out in Buenos Aires is already included. 5. Two categories of hotel: First Superior and Tourist Superior. The hotels can be replaced by others of the same category, for reasons of availability. 6. Lodging tax exemption in Argentina. It is mandatory to receive copy of the passport in order to keep the exemption. 7. Meals as specified in the itinerary. Beverage is included only in box-lunches and during the dinner of the Tango Show. 8. Tickets to natural reserves, national parks and museums. 9- In the case of STA, these rates apply when a person is travelling alone. If there are more confirmed passengers for the same departure 30 days before tour begins, services will be settled on the basis of single rate base Benefits of Fixed Departures • Early check in with breakfast on day 1 in Buenos Aires (during the hotel breakfast hours), • Early breakfast for those programs on which needed flights are very early (Mind this is a basic continental breakfast). • Having 6 or more passengers, services in monolingual English language are guaranteed. • Transfers in and out with English speaking local guide. • Guaranteed departure with at least 1 passenger (paying the passenger supplement traveling alone). • Small groups of up to 16 people. |
2025 Fixed departure start dates: March 12, April 16, May 14, June 11, July 9, Aug. 13, Sept. 10, Oct. 8, Nov. 12, Dec. 10
2026 Fixed departure start dates: Jan. 7, Feb. 5, March 5 Can travel on other dates. Ask for prices with shared day tours or private day tours for other dates Fixed departure prices per person in US$ with 3* hotels below: (STA = single traveling alone)
Fixed departure prices per person in US$ with 4 *hotels below:
What’s Included:
• Needed transfers • Accommodation: 14 nights • Tours: Buenos Aires: City tour – Dinner tango show Salta: Walking tour with MAAM - De Las Flechas, Cafayate and Del Toro Gorges Jujuy: Humahuaca Gorge Atacama: Altiplanic Lagoons - Atacama Salt Flat - El Tatio Geysers - De La Luna Valley Uyuni: Colores Lagoons – De La Mañana Geysers - Uyuni Salt Flat • Meals: 14 breakfasts - 4 lunches - 4 dinners • Needed tickets to the Parks, Reserves and museums Services not included • Flight tickets and airport taxes. • Extra: laundry service, telephone call. • Tips. • Early check in / late check out (Except early check-in in Buenos Aires on day 1, on the Fixed Departures) Cancellation without charge up to 30 days before departure Operational notes: Day 2: The Town Hall and the MAAM close on Mondays. San Miguel Market closes on Sundays. Day 4: The Vine and Wine Museum closes on Mondays. Day 6: Please, ask about the frequency of the bus Purmamarca - S.P. de Atacama. Day 9: The access to Colores Lagoon and De la Mañana Geysers in Bolivia can be affected due to weather conditions Day 11: During the rainy season (from December to March) the salt flat is flooded and for that reason, we do not visit the Incahuasi Island neither the Pucara de Ayque.. To keep in mind: • During the rainy season (from December to March), the itinerary could be modified. • Due to the altitude, atmospheric pressure and reduction of oxygen of the Puna, we recommend that people with respiratory, cardiac or pressure diseases, take special care. |
