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ATACAMA DESERT & UYUNI

from USD$ 5,560 / 10 days

Summary

Day 1: Santiago
Day 2: Santiago – Calama – San Pedro de Atacama
Day 3: San Pedro de Atacama – Highland Lagoons & Wool Manufacturing process of Socaire
Day 4: San Pedro de Atacama – El Tatio Geysers, Machuca, Putana Wetlands, White Geyser
Day 5: San Pedro de Atacama – Moon Valley, Ayllus and Atacameñan Tasting
Day 6: San Pedro de Atacama – Bolivia – Laguna Verde – Dalí Desert – Polques Hot Springs – Laguna Colorada – Siloli Desert
Day 7: Bolivia – Siloli Desert – Eduardo Avaroa Reserve – Honda, Hedionda, Cañapa Lagoons -Ollagüe Volcano – Uyuni Salt Flats
Day 8: Bolivia – Uyuni – Tunupa Volcano – Incawasi Island – Mallcu Villamar Village
Day 9: Bolivia – San Pedro de Atacama
Day 10: San Pedro de Atacama – Calama – Santiago

Overview

From the traditional city of San Pedro de Atacama located in the north of Chile to the largest salt mine in the world in southern Bolivia. Landscapes that seem out of this world, diverse local fauna like flamingos, ancient culture, full of historic dwellings, traditions, cuisine, and beliefs from the indigenous tribes that have lived here for thousands of years, lunar valleys with time sculpted stone, the clearest night skies, and lagoons that look like large mirrors are, among other things, what explorers will be able to see in this beautiful trip full of natural wonders.

*This tour is not recommended for those with high blood pressure or those who are sensitive to high altitude. If so, please inform us in order to provide an alternative excursion.


Itinerary Details

Welcome to Chile! Your private transfer will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel located in the city. After check-in, you’ll have the afternoon free to rest or explore the metropolis. 

If you want to stretch your legs, try climbing up the Santa Lucía or San Cristobal hill. Alternatively, you could leisurely ponder around the city center, visiting sites like the Plaza de Armas, La Moneda, and the Opera House, or head to the unique neighborhoods of Barrio Lastarria or Bellavista to find delicious cafes and restaurants.

Find some more ideas here!

Meals:  None.

Hotel

Eco Hotel Boutique Bidasoa

This day, the adventure to the Atacama Desert will begin. In the morning, you’ll be picked up from the hotel and taken to the airport for your flight to Calama. Upon arrival, one of our representatives will pick you up from the airport to drive you to San Pedro. Along the way, you’ll pass through spectacular desert scenery like endless plains and high-altitude mountains streaked with colorful stones and sand.

When you arrive in San Pedro, you’ll be dropped off at your hotel to get settled and enjoy the evening at your leisure.

Meals:  Breakfast.

Hotel

Hotel Desertica – San Pedro de Atacama

Semi-Private Full-Day Tour: Highland Lagoons & Wool Manufacturing Process of Socaire

Please Note: The itinerary may vary according to weather and road conditions. However, we will endeavor to make your guided tour as comfortable and timely as possible.

During the morning, you’ll be picked up from the hotel and begin the drive to the lands of the “puna”, the local word for the high altitude plateau that lies further out in the desert.

After an hour of driving, you’ll arrive at the Miscanti lagoon, where you’ll be able to walk along paths near the shore to admire its wildlife, vegetation, lagoons, and salt flats.

Then, you’ll go to the town of Socaire, where the indigenous community preserves the traditional Atacamenian way of life and you’ll be part of an activity focused on the production and elaboration of wool by the weavers of Socaire.

Meals:  Breakfast & Lunch.

Hotel

Hotel Desertica – San Pedro de Atacama

Semi-Private Full-Day Tour: El Tatio Geysers, Machuca, Putana Wetlands, White Geyser

Today, you’ll be picked up early in the morning to see the geysers in their full splendor and to savor the hues of the early morning desert light. You’ll first visit the village and wetlands of Machuca, a community where residents have been breeding llamas and collecting Llareta (a flowering plant in the Apiaceae family) for decades, to capture a taste of life at 4000m above sea level. Then, you’ll head towards the Putana lookout to make a brief stop to look over the beautiful landscape, spotting the active Putana volcano on the horizon. 

From here, you’ll head to the main event for the day: the world-famous Tatio Geysers, which stand at 4,320 meters (14,173 feet) and are considered the highest in the world! Follow the marked paths to explore this incredible geothermic field and watch as hot steam blasts out of the ground. You’ll also enjoy a delicious breakfast here on-site to make the most of this natural gem. 

Your final stop of the day the White Geyser, where you can take a dip in a river naturally heated by the Earth to savor the magic and gifts of this remarkable place.

You’ll have the rest of the day at leisure to rest and enjoy the hotel facilities. 

Meals:  Breakfast on site

Hotel

Hotel Desertica – San Pedro de Atacama

Semi-Private Half-Day Tour: Moon Valley, Ayllus and Atacameñan Tasting

You will start the day by heading to the Salt Mountain Range to enjoy a delicious breakfast overlooking this unique and impressive valley amongst the morning hues. Taking advantage of the soft morning light, your guide will take you along the empty trails of the valley. Listen out for the salt cracking as you observe its impressive formations!

Continuing on your journey, you’ll visit the Ayllus of San Pedro. These ayllus are villages where agro-pastoral communities traditionally lived, and which continue to be inhabited by descendants of the Likan Antai culture. Here, you can see how locals cultivate food and how big native trees grow in such harsh conditions before tasting typical Atacamenian food prepared by a local family.

After returning to the hotel, you’ll have the afternoon free to rest and explore the town.

Meals:  Breakfast on site, snack at local village.

Hotel

Hotel Desertica – San Pedro de Atacama

Private transfer to Bolivia + Full-Day Private Tour of Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve

You’ll be picked up from your accommodation in the morning to travel to Hito Cajon, a border crossing that connects San Pedro de Atacama (Chile) and the Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve (Bolivia).

After crossing the border, you’ll arrive in Laguna Verde, which is recognized for its stunning green color. You’ll travel through the Dalí Desert, so-called for its surreal colors and landscapes, before arriving in Polques to enjoy a relaxing soak in a thermal pool at an elevation of over 4000 meters (13,000 feet)! From there, you’ll continue on to the Sol de Mañana geysers and the Laguna Colorada, which is famed for its flamingos and red color. Your first day journeying through Bolivia day concludes at the Siloli Desert, where you can see the incredible Stone Tree and find your hotel for the evening!

Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Hotel

Tayka Hotel del Desierto

Full-Day Private Tour of Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve + Uyuni Salt Flats

Today, you’ll continue your visit around the Eduardo Avaroa Reserve, visiting some of the beautiful highland lagoons of the area. Keep your eyes peeled to see some of the reserve’s fauna at the Honda, Hedionda, and Cañapa lagoons! Your journey will continue on to the magnificent viewpoint overlooking the Ollagüe volcano. Passing through quinoa fields, you’ll arrive at the highlight of your tour – the famous Uyuni Salt Flats. 

Take in the incredible landscape with perfectly white salt-covered ground and watch the sunset as you enjoy an delicious snack before heading to the world-famous Tayka Hotel de Sal, or Salt Hotel, for the night.

Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner.

Hotel

Tayka Hotel de Sal

Full-Day Private Tour of Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve

Today in the morning, you’ll climb up to the viewpoint at the base of the Tunupa volcano to see the salt flats in all their glory before visiting a cave and the mummies of the ancient Chullpa culture. From here, your journey continues on to the picturesque Incawasi island to see the giant cacti that are so iconic to this region before crossing the white desert to discover some incredible monuments created out of the local resource – salt! 

Finally, you’ll visit the town of Uyuni to witness the ‘train cemetery’ and to explore the charms of this small town and make your last journey of the day to Mallcu Villamar, where you’ll spend the night.

Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner.

Hotel

Hotel Jardines de Mallcu Cueva

Private transfer

After breakfast, your driver will take you back to Chilean border where you’ll change vehicle and make the journey back to San Pedro de Atacama. Take the afternoon to explore San Pedro, like the lovely local church and the Inca House (the town’s oldest building), go dune trekking, or explore the nearby Pukará de Quitor valley.

Meals:  Breakfast, box-lunch.

Hotel

Hotel Desertica – San Pedro de Atacama

 

Private transfer: Calama airport

Today is your last day in the highlands. Your transfer will pick you up from your hotel at the agreed time and take you to the Calama airport to catch your flight back to Santiago.

Meals:  Breakfast


2024-2025  SEASON RATES

Price per person
>> from USD 5,560*

* Please note that international and domestic flights are not included in this price. Price is based on double occupancy.


Price includes:

  • Accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary (9 nights)
  • All transportation as specified in the itinerary.
  • All activities as specified in the itinerary, including transportation, entrance fees, and meals.
  • Professional, bilingual guide during the tours.
  • Trip Coordinator: a 24/7 point of contact, supporting you during your trip

Meals included:

  • Day 1: —
  • Day 2: Breakfast.
  • Day 3: Breakfast, lunch.
  • Day 4: Breakfast on site.
  • Day 5: Breakfast on site, snack at local village.
  • Day 6: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
  • Day 7: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
  • Day 8: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
  • Day 9: Breakfast, box-lunch.
  • Day 10: Breakfast.

Not included

  • International and domestic flight tickets
  • Travel insurance (It is mandatory to purchase an insurance that covers expenses related to COVID-19).
  • PCR or antigen tests.
  • Voluntary tipping
  • Items of personal use
  • Stargazing activity
  • Any item (meal, beverage, or activity) not mentioned on the itinerary

Why is this trip sustainable?

  • The food provided is locally prepared with regional products.
  • You will travel plastic-free throughout your trip! We use reusable or glass bottles, and recyclable containers.
  • Our top recommended hotels include sustainability policies as part of their mission and operations.
  • We work in collaboration with local suppliers and communities in each location
  • We make sure our tour groups are small, both to improve the experience for you and to reduce the impact on the places we visit.
  • We respect and value the lifestyles, beliefs, and traditions of the local communities we visit.

 

Our Health and Safety Promise

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we understand that travelers, while eager to get back out there and explore the world, also want to be careful and only travel where and when it’s safe to do so. Just as you take your health and safety seriously, as well as the health and safety of the overall group and the communities we visit, so do we. That’s why, in compliance with national and international health and safety regulations and recommendations, we’ve optimized our operations and tour itineraries to provide you with the safest itinerary possible in a post-pandemic world.

This tour was specifically designed with social distancing in mind, avoiding overly crowded places without sacrificing the experience of discovering the destination. We only partner with hotels and tour operators that are similarly committed to putting their clients’ health first, with the use of cleaning and sanitizing services and only offering tours and excursions when it’s fully safe to do so. All this and more are just some of the ways we’re innovating travel itineraries for a healthier future.

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding the health and safety procedures of this and other EcoChile tours, please let us know so we can answer your question or accommodate your request. Your safety is our top priority.

* This listed price is based on two people sharing a double room. The price may vary due to the time of year you travel, the size of your group, accommodation availability and not counting special dates.

** Solo travelers or guests staying in single rooms must pay a single supplement. Otherwise, the rates would be readjusted upon request.

*** If the mentioned hotels are not available, alternative hotels will be provided of a similar standard.

 

 

 

ATACAMA DESERT & UYUNI

Duration: 10 days

Price: from USD$ 5,560 / person

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