CHILE - ATACAMA DESERT 5 Days

The Atacama Desert is a plateau in South America covering a 1000-km strip of land on the Pacific coast, west of the Andes Mountains. It is one of the driest deserts on the planet. The Andes, running along South America's western side, is among the world's longest mountain ranges. Its varied terrain encompasses glaciers, volcanoes, grassland, desert, lakes and forest.

The desert’s breathtaking landscape includes, striking salt flats, thermal pools, geysers, marshes, lagoons, moonlike terrain and a clear-limitless sky. The laidback oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama, in the heart of the desert, offers a wide range of adventures.

• Tips:

• Download the All-Trails app on your smartphone. Essential for any trek in Chile.

• Travel Adaptors: Type C and Type L.

• <Recommended tour operators: <Grado 10 Tours> <Sorbac Tours> <Cascada Expedionones>

• Chile Travel Guidebooks.

DAY 1 

• Arrive at Calama airport and transfer to your hotel in San Pedro Atacama.

  • Most flights to Calama arrive from Santiago. Latam and Sky Airlines serve Calama.

  • Car rental is your best option to getting around.

• If time permits, take a leisurely walk around San Pedro Atacama’s shops and restaurants. This small town at an elevation of 2400 meters (8000 feet) consist of dirt streets and adobe housing that has captured the interest of tourists with the charms of the Atacama and Spanish culture witnessed in each one of its buildings.

• Activities and Points of Interest.

• Gas—you will find only one gas station in San Pedro de Atacama.

  • You will not find gas stations between Calama (airport) and San Pedro de Atacama, and on the roads to other tourist attractions. It is important to fill up the tank before touring the area.

• There are only a few ATMs in San Pedro de Atacama. Demand for these ATMs is high, so they don’t always have money.

  • We advise you to bring some cash with you.

• Overnight:  San Pedro de Atacama (4 nights)

  • <Where to stay>

• Distance:

  Calama ---> San Pedro Atacama. 90 min. / 100 km.

DAY 2

• To ensure proper acclimation to the high altitude, it is recommended to follow today's itinerary.

• Know the symptoms of Altitude sickness.

• In the morning relax at a cafe or stroll around town. 

• After lunch, visit the Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Moon).

  • Located just a few miles outside of San Pedro de Atacama, it is an incredible place to hike and bike. <directions>

  • Visitors wander through the “out of this world” valley, past craters of salt, rusty red rock cliff faces and perfect sand dunes.

• The hiking area is a geology wonderland - where hikers climb up steep paths leading to white salt canyons and dunes that you can “run down”. 

  • Some of the landscape reminds many visitors of the Moon's surface. In fact, NASA has tested the Mars rover here.

• Sunset is always amazing.……DO NOT MISS the event.

• Overnight: San Pedro de Atacama

• Distance:

  San Pedro Atacama --> Valle de la Luna, 15 minutes.

DAY 3

• All the sightseeing visits on Days 3 to 5 are at high elevation ~ 3,000-4,400 m.

• A full day of activities at Flamingos National Reserve. The park consists of wetlands, lagoons, salt flats, and other water-rich ecosystems that serve as important feeding and breeding grounds for flamingos and other bird species, such as various waterfowl and migratory birds.

• Visit Salar de Atacama (Laguna Chaxa). A beautiful setting where salt crusts are abundant plus an excellent spot to see the Andean flamingos, one of the rarest flamingos in the world. Located 50 km (31 mi.) from San Pedro de Atacama. <location>

• Next stop is the high plateau deep blue lagoons of Laguna Miscanti and Laguna Miñiques, separated by a lava flow eruption. —They are located 25 km south of Socaire and 115 km southeast of San Pedro de Atacama. <location>

  • The two crystalline lagoons are characterized by their crystal-clear turquoise waters, surrounded by majestic volcanic landscapes. It’s definitely a great photo opportunity.  

  • Be advised the elevation is about 4,300m (14,000 ft) at Miscanti and Miniques.

  • Acclimation is strongly advised. Drink plenty of water.

• Visit the stunning Piedras Rojas, a wetlands high in the Andes. A 2-hour drive each way from San Pedro. (Elev. 4300 m)

  • Piedras Rojas - breathtaking scenery of impressive red stones and salt flats, consisting of an iron rich layer that stands out from the surrounding rocks. The entire area is a photographer's hot spot.

    —GPS coordinate: 23°54'27.9"S, 67°41'14.4"W

• If time permits, stop at the welcoming villages of Socaire and Tocanao for a stroll or a cold drink.

  • Socaire and Toconao - these are two (2) typical villages found in the Atacama Desert. They offer a glimpse into the authentic Andean culture and traditional way of life.

DAY 4

Highlights:

• Salar de Tara is a captivating destination where you can witness breathtaking rock formations and explore scenic spots. One notable highlight is the Pacana Caldera, which is among the largest calderas on Earth. Take a short walk along its paths and admire unearthly landscape and the tranquility of the place.

  • The area is over 4,000 meters (13,000 ft.) above sea level.

  • Accessible by 4 x 4 vehicle only. Tour operator suggested.

  • GPS coordinate: 23°00'44.8"S, 67°18'38.1"W

• Visit Los Monjes de la Pacana (4,300m elev.) - an area of volcanic structures eroded by the wind and water, showcasing the unique landscape of the Tara Cathedrals.

  • This surreal region features towering rock formations that resemble cathedrals, hence the name "Tara Cathedrals." The contrast of the white salt flats against the blue sky creates a mesmerizing visual spectacle.

  • GPS coordinate: 23°03'27.3"S 67°28'47.8"W

• Overnight: San Pedro de Atacama

To various Points of Interest:

• San Pedro de Atacama---> Laguna Miscanti, 1.5 hrs.

• Laguna Miscanti ---> to Piedras Rojas, 1.5 hrs.

• Piedras Rojas ---> San Pedro Atacama, 2 hrs.

• San Pedro de Atacama ---> Los Monjes de la Pacana, 1.5 hrs.

DAY 5 

• A pre-dawn excursion to Tatio-the geysers. Depart around 4:30 AM for a 2-hour drive.

  • To capture the best photographic shots of the geyser, it is recommended to arrive at sunrise, preferably with a guided tour. The geyser shoots steam up to a height of 6 meters (20 ft) into the air. The cold morning air at this high altitude of 4,400m (14,500 ft) causes the geyser to reach its maximum height. However, it's important to note that the elevation is quite high, and the temperatures can be very cold in this area.

  • GPS coordinate: 22°20'07.0"S 68°00'46.7"W

  • Tatio Geysers has over 60 active geysers some of which are the highest in the world.

    • Yellowstone National Park in the United States is the largest in the world, with 300 to 500 geysers. But…Tatio is the only one where visitors are free to walk within feet of the geysers, at there own risk.

  • Grab the famous Sunrise photo of the geyser and explore the active area.

• The altitude coupled with a steep and winding road, can easily cause altitude sickness. (elev.4,300 m/14,107 ft) Therefore, this excursion should be reserved for your last day. By this time, you will have been acclimated.

• Return back to San Pedro by afternoon to relax rest of the day or depart for your next destination or return home.

• Overnight: depends on your schedule.

• Distance:

  San Pedro de Atacama --> Tatio Geyser, 2 hrs.

Diversion: Travel to the Uyuni Salt Flats, Bolivia.

• Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni is considered one of the most extreme and remarkable vistas in all of South America.

• How did Bolivia's salt flats form ?

  —Around 30,000 years ago, most of Bolivia was covered by a series of prehistoric lakes. The water leached salt from the surrounding mountains and these massive deposits remained when the lakes dried up.

• There are various tour operators in San Pedro Atacama that provide guided trips to the Uyuni Salt Flats.

  • The tours are usually 3 or 4 day(s) programs. Our favorite tour operator is Ruta Verde.

  • Directions from San Pedro Atacama.

• Historical Weather Data.

• The cloudiest part of the year is late November till mid March.

  • January is the cloudiest month of the year at 31% of the days.

• San Pedro de Atacama has dry periods throughout the year.

• The warmest months are December through February.

• The coolest months are July and August.

• Rainfall is very little at any time of year.

• Sunrise/Sunset times.