Here are your plans for the day:
Day 1~ Arive at hotel. Relax and Enjoy the view. Unpack your things and get ready for a week of adventures.
Day 2~ During the drive through the desert, the fertile oasis of San Pedro will certainly appear a total change of scenery. Of pre- Incan origin, this village and its surroundings are home to various archaeological sites. The fascinating museum with its immense collection of pre-Hispanic artefacts is certainly worth a visit. The local church built in 1577 by the Spanish conquistadores, who arrived here in 1540, is one of the many imprints of Spanish culture that have shaped the village. In the evening we will be witnessing the amazing changing of colours of the always beautiful sunset in the Atacama Desert. In the evening we will visit the fascinating and nearby Catarpe Valley located north of San Pedro. The Valley stands out for its impressive rock formations and is adorned by whitewashed churches and the meandering San Pedro River. Overnight in San Pedro.
Day 3~ Trekking Guatin, Puritama & Poconche Ayllu Today will be an off the beaten track day. It starts off with a hike in the beautiful Canyon of Guatín at around 30km / 18mi distance from San Pedro. This canyon amid the desert offers great sights due to the water that flows from the rocks and irrigates the most amazing and colourful cacti. After 3 hours, our hike ends at the Termas of Puritima, where we can enjoy a picnic lunch and take a relaxing bath in one of the terrace shaped hot springs. In the afternoon we will visit a “chacra” or small farm house, where we will meet Atacameñan families and where we can appreciate the every-day life in the Atacama Desert. We will gather for a typical dinner while sharing our days impressions with locals and fellow travellers. Overnight in San Pedro. (breakfast, box-lunch)
Day 4~ Tara Salt Flat We will start the day with a beautiful ride through the Desert, heading east towards the Licancabur Volcano and the Toco Mountain. The road runs parallel to the Bolivian border and climbs to a height of 4.600 m / 15.400 ft at the Laguna Quipiaco, before descending towards the Pakana Monks. The off road experience on the Altiplano, before reaching the impressive cathedrals of stone and salt is great. We´ll have time to feel lost in space and time, during a short hike observing flora and fauna like bofedales (Wetlands surrounding altitude lakes), yellow straw, flamingos, vicuñas and Andean Seagulls. Return and overnight in San Pedro. (breakfast, box-lunch)
Day 5~ Petroglyphs, The Rainbow Valley, Calama Today we will be treated to a half day tour that combines history, geology and culture. We will start with a visit to the petroglyphs at Yerbas Buenas, which tell us about the history and way of life of the Atacameñan peoples depicting animals and nomadic lifestyles in the past. Afterwards we will continue to Matancilla and a little valley were we will follow a river to get to the hidden Valle de Arcoiris, or Rainbow Valley. The colours of the mountains are spectacular and unique: green, purple and clay red tones combined with the shadow of the sun turn it to an impressive place. You will be dropped off at the hotel for breakfast
Day 6~ Get ready to go back home. pack up all your stuff and take on last look at the wonderful view.
Day 1~ Arive at hotel. Relax and Enjoy the view. Unpack your things and get ready for a week of adventures.
Day 2~ During the drive through the desert, the fertile oasis of San Pedro will certainly appear a total change of scenery. Of pre- Incan origin, this village and its surroundings are home to various archaeological sites. The fascinating museum with its immense collection of pre-Hispanic artefacts is certainly worth a visit. The local church built in 1577 by the Spanish conquistadores, who arrived here in 1540, is one of the many imprints of Spanish culture that have shaped the village. In the evening we will be witnessing the amazing changing of colours of the always beautiful sunset in the Atacama Desert. In the evening we will visit the fascinating and nearby Catarpe Valley located north of San Pedro. The Valley stands out for its impressive rock formations and is adorned by whitewashed churches and the meandering San Pedro River. Overnight in San Pedro.
Day 3~ Trekking Guatin, Puritama & Poconche Ayllu Today will be an off the beaten track day. It starts off with a hike in the beautiful Canyon of Guatín at around 30km / 18mi distance from San Pedro. This canyon amid the desert offers great sights due to the water that flows from the rocks and irrigates the most amazing and colourful cacti. After 3 hours, our hike ends at the Termas of Puritima, where we can enjoy a picnic lunch and take a relaxing bath in one of the terrace shaped hot springs. In the afternoon we will visit a “chacra” or small farm house, where we will meet Atacameñan families and where we can appreciate the every-day life in the Atacama Desert. We will gather for a typical dinner while sharing our days impressions with locals and fellow travellers. Overnight in San Pedro. (breakfast, box-lunch)
Day 4~ Tara Salt Flat We will start the day with a beautiful ride through the Desert, heading east towards the Licancabur Volcano and the Toco Mountain. The road runs parallel to the Bolivian border and climbs to a height of 4.600 m / 15.400 ft at the Laguna Quipiaco, before descending towards the Pakana Monks. The off road experience on the Altiplano, before reaching the impressive cathedrals of stone and salt is great. We´ll have time to feel lost in space and time, during a short hike observing flora and fauna like bofedales (Wetlands surrounding altitude lakes), yellow straw, flamingos, vicuñas and Andean Seagulls. Return and overnight in San Pedro. (breakfast, box-lunch)
Day 5~ Petroglyphs, The Rainbow Valley, Calama Today we will be treated to a half day tour that combines history, geology and culture. We will start with a visit to the petroglyphs at Yerbas Buenas, which tell us about the history and way of life of the Atacameñan peoples depicting animals and nomadic lifestyles in the past. Afterwards we will continue to Matancilla and a little valley were we will follow a river to get to the hidden Valle de Arcoiris, or Rainbow Valley. The colours of the mountains are spectacular and unique: green, purple and clay red tones combined with the shadow of the sun turn it to an impressive place. You will be dropped off at the hotel for breakfast
Day 6~ Get ready to go back home. pack up all your stuff and take on last look at the wonderful view.