ITINERARY
SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA – EXPEDITION PROGRAM
GENERAL PROGRAM INFORMATION
Not included:
- Meals not specified
- Other expenses not mentioned
- Other services not specified
- Personal insurance or travel insurance
- Entrance tickets – (Check prices and conditions here)
- Technical clothing or suitable attire for the activity, unless otherwise indicated in each excursion
What to bring:
- Personal water (mandatory)
- Camera or mobile phone with a fully charged battery
- Sun protection: hat, sunscreen and sunglasses
- Comfortable clothing and footwear suitable for the service, depending on the destination and weather conditions
General recommendations:
- Passengers are advised not to consume alcohol or red meat the night before high-altitude excursions
Day 1
➜ Flight and transfer
Flight: Santiago – Calama:
Shared transfer: Calama Airport – Accommodation in San Pedro de Atacama
Check In – accommodation: From 15:00 hrs
Day 1
➜ Astronomical Tour
The Astronomical Tour offers one of the most fascinating experiences in San Pedro de Atacama, recognized worldwide for the purity of its skies and for offering privileged conditions for observing the universe. This excursion takes place in the Ayllu de Solor (Solor Ayllu) area, located just a few kilometers from the center of San Pedro de Atacama, in an ideal setting for contemplating the desert night sky.
The excursion begins with departure from your accommodation in San Pedro de Atacama, heading toward an area specially prepared for astronomical observation. During the experience, an introduction to the night sky is provided, allowing travelers to recognize different celestial bodies visible depending on the season, in a natural environment marked by the silence of the desert and the vastness of the firmament.
During the activity, deep-sky observation is carried out through telescopes, from which it is possible to appreciate planets, clusters, galaxies and stars, depending on the season. The experience is complemented with hot drinks and a photographic souvenir under one of the most impressive skies in Chile. At the end of the activity, return to the accommodation is included.
Check your lunar calendar:
Departure time: (Departure from the accommodation)
- Summer: Between 21:00 and 21:30 hrs
- Winter: Between 20:00 and 20:30 hrs
Return time: (Return to the accommodation)
- Summer: From 23:30 hrs
- Winter: From 22:30 hrs
- Return time may vary depending on weather conditions or other operational circumstances
Starting point of the tour: Astronomical observatory
- Transfer time between the accommodation and the astronomical observatory: Between 20 and 30 min approx per way
Includes:
- Shared round-trip transportation from and to the accommodation in San Pedro de Atacama (sprinter)
- Certified bilingual astronomer guide
- Entrance tickets
- Hot drinks: tea, coffee and hot chocolate
- Two individual night photographs (sent digitally)
Important information:
- Meals are not included
- Approximate altitude: 2,400 MASL
- Snacks are not included. We recommend bringing your own
- The tour includes group and individual photographs sent digitally
- During full moon days, the tour becomes a lunar tour, since the moon’s brightness interferes with how clearly other celestial bodies and the sky can be seen.
- In the case of an astro-lunar tour, the photos are taken through the telescope eyepiece
- The activity is subject to weather conditions and may be canceled due to cloud cover or other factors that prevent proper astronomical observation. If the activity cannot take place and the cancellation is informed at least one day in advance, the possibility of rescheduling during the following days of the trip or the corresponding refund will be evaluated, according to availability and operational conditions
- If the cancellation occurs once the transfer has already started or while en route due to force majeure, the service will be considered as rendered by the provider
Day 2
➜ Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley)
The Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley) excursion allows you to explore one of the most iconic landscapes of San Pedro de Atacama, located approximately 17 kilometers from the center of town, in the heart of the Cordillera de la Sal (Salt Mountain Range). This area stands out for its formations of salt, rock and sand, shaped over thousands of years by wind erosion and ancient geological processes, creating an environment similar in appearance to the lunar surface, recognized for its scenic beauty and natural value.
The excursion begins with departure from your accommodation in San Pedro de Atacama, heading toward one of the most visited areas of the destination due to its desert landscapes and unique geology. During the route, several stops are made to observe dunes, rock formations and eroded reliefs, in an environment marked by the silence of the desert, the vastness of its views and the characteristic color contrasts of northern Chile.
During the excursion, emblematic places such as Las Tres Marías (The Three Marys), El Anfiteatro (The Amphitheater) and the Gran Duna Mayor (Great Dune) are visited, allowing travelers to appreciate the scale of the landscape and its natural formations. The experience ends at the Mirador de Ckari (Ckari Viewpoint), one of the best places to watch the sunset in San Pedro de Atacama, where ochre, golden and reddish tones transform the surroundings into an unforgettable postcard. At the end of the visit, return is made to Plaza Apacheta (Apacheta Square).
Sites visited: Las Tres Marías (The Three Marys), El Anfiteatro (The Amphitheater), Gran Duna Mayor (Great Dune) and Mirador de Ckari (Ckari Viewpoint)
Departure time: (Departure from the accommodation)
- Summer: Between 15:30 and 16:00 hrs approx
- Winter: Between 15:00 and 15:30 hrs approx
Return time: (Return to Plaza Apacheta (Apacheta Square))
- Summer: From 20:30 hrs
- Winter: From 18:30 hrs
- Return time may vary depending on weather conditions or other operational circumstances
Transfer time between the accommodation and the starting point of the tour
- Between 10 and 20 min approx per way
Includes:
- Shared transportation departing from the accommodation and returning to Plaza Apacheta (Apacheta Square) in San Pedro de Atacama (sprinter)
- Certified bilingual guide
- Beverages and snacks during the excursion
Important information:
- Entrance ticket not included
- Minimum age required: 6 years
- Not permitted for pregnant women
- Maximum tour altitude: 2,500 MASL
- Not recommended for people with uncontrolled hypertension
- If the activity cannot take place and the cancellation is informed at least one day in advance, the possibility of rescheduling during the trip or the corresponding refund will be evaluated according to operational conditions
- If the cancellation occurs once the transfer has already started or while en route due to force majeure, the service will be considered as rendered by the provider
Day 3
➜ Piedras Rojas (Red Stones) and Altiplanic Lagoons
The Piedras Rojas (Red Stones) and Altiplanic Lagoons excursion allows you to discover some of the most impressive landscapes of the altiplano around San Pedro de Atacama. This excursion combines salt flats, high-altitude lagoons and unique geological formations, in an environment located at over 4,000 meters above sea level, where the immensity of the landscape and the purity of the air create an unforgettable natural experience.
The excursion begins with departure from your accommodation in San Pedro de Atacama, ascending toward the altiplano where open landscapes, volcanoes and high-altitude ecosystems predominate. During the day, the Lagunas Altiplánicas Miscanti y Miñiques (Miscanti and Miñiques Altiplanic Lagoons) are visited, surrounded by imposing volcanic formations, and the route then continues to the village of Socaire, where a lunch stop is made in a traditional Andean setting.
Later, the excursion continues toward the Salar de Atacama (Atacama Salt Flat) and Laguna Chaxa (Chaxa Lagoon), where it is possible to observe flamingos and other high-altitude birds in their natural habitat. The highlight of the day is the visit to Piedras Rojas (Red Stones), a formation of intense reddish tones that contrasts with the surrounding landscape, creating one of the most recognizable postcards of northern Chile. At the end of the excursion, return is made to Plaza Apacheta (Apacheta Square).
Sites visited: Laguna Chaxa (Chaxa Lagoon), Lagunas Altiplánicas Miscanti y Miñiques (Miscanti and Miñiques Altiplanic Lagoons), Salar de Atacama (Atacama Salt Flat) and Piedras Rojas (Red Stones)
Departure time: (Departure from the accommodation)
- Between 05:45 and 06:10 hrs approx
Return time: (Return to Plaza Apacheta (Apacheta Square))
- From 16:00 hrs
- Return time may vary depending on weather conditions or other operational circumstances
Starting point of the tour: Near the Socaire area
- Transfer time between the accommodation and the starting point of the tour: Between 1 hr and 1 hr 10 min approx per way
Includes:
- Shared transportation departing from the accommodation and returning to Plaza Apacheta (Apacheta Square) in San Pedro de Atacama (sprinter)
- Certified bilingual guide
- Breakfast and lunch box
Important information:
- Entrance tickets not included
- Maximum altitude: 4,200 MASL
- Minimum age required: 10 years
- Not permitted for pregnant women
- Beverages and snacks are not included. We recommend bringing your own
- Not recommended for people with uncontrolled hypertension
- If the activity cannot take place and the cancellation is informed at least one day in advance, the possibility of rescheduling during the trip or the corresponding refund will be evaluated according to operational conditions
- If the cancellation occurs once the transfer has already started or while en route due to force majeure, the service will be considered as rendered by the provider
Recommendations:
- Passengers are advised not to consume alcohol or red meat the night before the tour
Day 4
➜ Geysers del Tatio (El Tatio Geysers)
The Geysers del Tatio (El Tatio Geysers) excursion offers the opportunity to experience one of the most impressive natural phenomena in northern Chile, located in the altiplano at more than 4,000 meters above sea level, in the surroundings of San Pedro de Atacama. This geothermal field is recognized for its columns of steam emerging at sunrise, creating a unique landscape in the middle of the Cordillera de los Andes (Andes Mountain Range).
The excursion begins with departure from your accommodation in San Pedro de Atacama during the early morning, ascending toward the altiplano to witness the activity of the Geysers del Tatio (El Tatio Geysers) at its most intense point. During the visit, different sectors of the geothermal field are explored, allowing travelers to observe the fumaroles in a natural setting of great openness and contrast.
Afterwards, the route descends toward lower areas where the Bofedales de Putana (Putana Wetlands) and the village of Machuca are visited, appreciating the fauna and landscapes characteristic of the altiplano. During the day, a stop is made to enjoy breakfast along the route. At the end of the excursion, return is made to Plaza Apacheta (Apacheta Square).
Sites visited: Geysers del Tatio (El Tatio Geysers), Río Putana (Putana River), Machuca and Local Wetlands
Departure time: (Departure from the accommodation)
- Summer: Between 04:20 and 04:40 hrs
- Winter: Between 05:00 and 05:20 hrs
Return time: (Return to Plaza Apacheta (Apacheta Square))
- Summer: From 11:00 hrs
- Winter: From 11:30 hrs
- Return time may vary depending on weather conditions or other operational circumstances
Transfer time between the accommodation and the starting point of the tour
- Between 1 hr 35 min and 1 hr 45 min approx per way
Includes:
- Shared transportation departing from the accommodation and returning to Plaza Apacheta (Apacheta Square) in San Pedro de Atacama (sprinter)
- Certified bilingual guide
- Panoramic breakfast
Important information:
- Entrance ticket not included
- Minimum age required: 10 years
- Not permitted for pregnant women
- Maximum altitude of the tour: 4,320 MASL
- Beverages and snacks are not included. We recommend bringing your own
- Not recommended for people with uncontrolled hypertension or for travelers over 70 years old
- If the activity cannot take place and the cancellation is informed at least one day in advance, the possibility of rescheduling during the trip or the corresponding refund will be evaluated according to operational conditions
- If the cancellation occurs once the transfer has already started or while en route due to force majeure, the service will be considered as rendered by the provider
Recommendations:
- Avoid alcohol consumption and red meat the night before the tour
Day 4
➜ Return transfer and flight
Check Out – accommodation: 11:00 hrs
Shared transfer: Accommodation in San Pedro de Atacama – Calama Airport
Flight: Calama – Santiago
End of our services.
