Highlights: Valle de la Luna, Salar de Atacama, Altiplanic lagoons, Tatio Geysers, Altiplanic Villages.
Day 1: Calama-San Pedro de Atacama-Valle de La Luna
Reception at the airport in Calama and transfer to San Pedro de Atacama. During the trip it is possible to see the Cordillera de la Sal (Salt Mountain Range) and the Licancabur Volcano. Arrival at San Pedro de Atacama. In the afternoon, excursion to the Valle de la Muerte (Death Valley), Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley), famous world wide for its salt caves, the rock formations known as Tres Marías and the great dune from where a gorgeous sunset is seen. Return to the hotel in San Pedro. Overnight.
Day 2: Salar de Atacama (Salt Flat)-Altiplanic Lagoons
Full day excursion visiting the village of Toconao with its interesting liparite stone buildings, and then on to the Atacama Salt Flat where Los Flamencos National Reserve is located, where three of the most beautiful flamingo species live. Then the trip continues to the altiplanic lagoons of Miscanti and Miñiques located over 4.000 meters (over 13.000 feet) above sea level. Return to the hotel in San Pedro de Atacama. Overnight.
Day 3: Tatio Geysers-Altiplanic Villages-Calama
Departure before dawn from your hotel in San Pedro de Atacama. Arrival at the Tatio Geysers, a geothermal centre with geysers that can only be seen very early in the morning. Some of the steam columns may easily reach up to 10 metres of height, while their geysers may reach 8 metres of height in the moments of major geothermal activity. After the beautiful spectacle, time to take a comforting breakfast. Continue to Machuca, an Atacamenian village dedicated to herding and agriculture, and which contains a swamp (bofedal) where flamingos, ducks, and seagulls nest. Transfer back to the hotel in San Pedro and then onto Calama Airport.
You will need to have a flight schedule which departs Calama after 5pm. Alternatively, we suggest you add an additional night in San Pedro to this programme and depart Calama the following day.
This programme can be reserved in conjunction with your preferred category of hotel. Please refer to our recommended hotels.