Day 1: Santiago
Upon your arrival in Chile, your transportation and guide will meet you at the airport to start your journey. After getting settled in at your hotel for the evening, the Le Reve Boutique Hotel, you will head out and and begin your Santiago Walking City Tour. You’ll see the highlights of the city by foot, and your guide will walk you through the important history of the city’s most famous landmarks. After the tour you are free to explore the city on your own, and dine at one of Santiago’s fabulous restaurants.
Day 2: Valle de la Luna
Private transportation from your accommodation to the Santiago airport for the short 2 hour flight to Calama. Your bilingual driver will meet you at El Loa Airport for your transfer to the Tierra Atacama hotel in San Pedro de Atacama (approx 1 hour journey). Enjoy the morning to get settled and explore town.
In mid-afternoon, meet your guide and set out on foot toward the famed Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley). As you make your way through canyons flanked by mysterious rock and salt formations and climb jagged escarpments to gaze out over the desolate landscape, you can’t help but feel like you are traversing the surface of the moon. It’s not surprising that scientists chose this valley to test a Mars rover prototype. Continuing over the smooth surfaces of giant sand dunes, you will witness firsthand the vivid colors reflected in the Cordillera de la Sal as the sun moves toward the western horizon. (Level of Difficulty: Medium)
Hotel: Tierra Atacama (www.tierraatacama.com)
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
Excursion to the Salar de Atacama
Day 3: Salar de Atacama, Devil’s Canyon, Vilama
You set out this morning heading south on bike toward the perimeter of the expansive Salar de Atacama (Atacama Salt Flat). Your destination is Laguna Cejar, an anomalous sink hole in the middle of the salt deposits about 22km from San Pedro. Similar to the Dead Sea, the extremely high salt concentration in this lagoon allows swimmers to float effortlessly in the clear water. After a rest and the chance to swim, you’ll head back to your hotel by vehicle.
In the mid-afternoon, you trek to Devil’s Canyon and the ancient village of Vilama. Making your way through the Cordillera de la Sal, you will travel an ancient caravan route and learn how the nearby petroglyphs served to record the former commercial activity in the region. (Difficulty: Medium)
Hotel: Tierra Atacama
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Guatin, Termas de Puritama, Quebrada de Cari
The day begins with a steady uphill climb through the region of Guatin, admiring the unique Candelaria cacti and traversing over igneous rocks scattered across the terrain by ancient volcanic explosions. Your destination is the Termas de Puritama at 3,500m (11,500ft) above sea level, a group of eight thermal pools hidden in a lush canyon which are known for their therapeutic properties. (Difficulty: Medium)
This afternoon, you hike to Quebrada de Cari, where you will admire how wind, water, and extreme temperatures combined to create this extraordinary gorge in the Cordillera de la Sal. (Difficulty: Easy)
Hotel: Tierra Atacama
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Geysers del Tatio and Machuca
Thousands of stars and the vivid brushstroke of the Milky Way across the sky will still be visible as you begin your day with a 4am pickup and set out to meet the sunrise at 4,300m (14,100ft) above sea level, where dozens of geysers burst forth from the ground in spectacular form. As you make the descent back to San Pedro, you will stop to visit the tiny village of Machuca. Back in San Pedro, afternoon transportation awaits for your transfer to Calama in time for your flight back to Santiago.
Meals Included: Breakfast
What a way to start a morning! Geysers del Tatio, near San Pedro de Atacama
Optional additional day (between original Day 3 and Day 4 activities) Climb Volcano Toco
Your journey begins early from your hotel with a 90 minute drive to the base of the volcano. The hike begins at about 4,800m (16,500ft) above sea level. Your 4-hour ascent brings you to the peak of the volcano at 5,650m (18,645ft) above sea level, where your hard work is rewarded with amazing views of the Bolivian Altiplano to the east and the Salar de Atacama to the west. Descent is via the same route, where the vehicle will be waiting to take you back to your hotel. This trek is considered intermediate intensity and requires that you have spent at least 2 nights in San Pedro to acclimatize.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
*This is a suggested itinerary. At your hotel, you will have the opportunity to speak daily with your guide and further customize your program based on your needs and interests.
Hotel Tierra Atacama: Relaxation and active exploration combine for an exceptional stay at the adventure spa Tierra Atacama. Services include a full spa, pool, lounge areas, and meals crafted from local ingredients. The hotel is environmentally and culturally sustainable, evidenced in its design, operation, and interaction with the local community. About a 20 minute walk from San Pedro.
Hotel Tierra Atacama
La Reve Boutique Hotel: Inspired by the small hotels of Paris, this 2013 Traveler’s Choice winner (Trip Advisor) is an elegant boutique hotel that exudes style, sophistication, and service. La Reve, a historic, French-style mansion, is subtly nestled in the heart of Providencia, one of the city’s oldest and most iconic neighborhoods. It has been recommended by both Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure magazine and is sure to please. It is equipped with an honesty bar, midnight snack pantry, and free WiFi. Twenty-eight tastefully decorated rooms and three suites, as well as a charming interior garden create a relaxing experience amidst the bustling city.
Le Reve Boutique Hotel
