DAY 1

CALAMA – CHIU CHIU – TAIRA PETROGLYPHS – CHIU CHIU

We’ll meet at the Calama airport or at your accommodation in the city of Calama, from here we have a drive of about an hour to the little town of Chiu Chiu, we’ll drop our luggage at the hostel, freshen up and get ready to go. First stop on our drive is the little village of Lasana, here we’ll visit a small local museum and the ruins nearby, this is our first encounter with the Atacameño culture on our trip, this is going to be our first sight of the Loa river; the longest in Chile and the only permanent river crossing the Atacama Desert from the Andes to the Pacific Ocean.

Keep on driving north till the abandoned ancient settlement of Taira, were we’ll have a hike to find ruins and petroglyphs. We are starting to understand the ways of life of the old inhabitants of the desert.

Back in the town of Chiu Chiu for a nice dinner at a local restaurant. Good night.

Food: Box lunch and dinner.

Accommodation: Chiu Chiu hostel; double room with private bathroom.

DAY 2

CHIU CHIU – HIERBAS BUENAS PETROGLYPHS – VALLE DEL ARCOIRIS – VALLE DE MUERTE – SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA

A good breakfast and let’s keep exploring… as we drive to San Pedro de Atacama, our first stop is Hierbas buenas, to meet some well-preserved petroglyphs and the nearby geological formations of the “Valle del arcoiris”, where you’ll witness a real rainbow of mineral colors on the surrounding hills.

Before reaching San Pedro, we’ll drive up to a large hill which dominates the Valle de la Muerte; one of the sections of “Cordillera de la Sal”; which is the main geological formation of this area.

Once in town, you’ll be taken to your accommodation.

Food: Box lunch. Dinner is not included (there are many restaurants in town).

Accommodation: Cabin located on a quiet area; double room with private bathroom. Kitchenette available.

DAY 3

SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA – LAGUNAS ESCONDIDAS (BALTINACHE) – SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA

Lagunas escondidas (local name: Baltinache) is our destination for this morning. Located about 2 hours from town and following a dusty and bumpy road, the site will not leave you indifferent; 7 gorgeous cristal-clear water ponds located inside the salt flat were kept in secret from tourist for many years, now, they are open!.

On the first and the last pond it’s allowed to take a swim and is highly recommended!. Due to the high content of salt, you’ll float without any effort… floating in the middle of a salt flat, sounds good, right?

Back to town to have lunch and some rest.

Food: Breakfast, box lunch. Dinner is not included, there are a few restaurants in town.

Accommodation: Cabin located on a quiet area; double room with private bathroom. Kitchenette available..

DAY 4

SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA – TOCONAO – LAGUNA LEJÍA – SOCAIRE

From San Pedro de Atacama the driving takes us south following the eastern shore of the Atacama Salt flat. Along the way, we’ll take some short detours to get views of Tambillo reserve where you’ll meet the Tamarugo tree; native tree of the Atacama Desert and later of the Jere creek formations for which we might get some off-roading going on. Laguna Lejía is next and here we’ll take a while, you are welcomed to walk and explore around, we’ll have our box lunch here and keep exploring the area.

Socaire is the nearest town and we are going to spend the night here.

Food: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.

Accommodation: Socaire rural community hostal; double room with private bathroom.

DAY 5

SOCAIRE – AGUAS CALIENTES – LAGO TUYAJTO – SICO –  SOCAIRE

Breakfast and off we go again! The salt flat of Aguas Calientes is just a plain gorgeous place, we are going to visit it at our pace, there is a popular spot within: the Piedras Rojas site.

Next is Tuyajto salt lake; allowed only to be met from the view from the lookout point is anyway a great sight. We’ll keep driving east and get off-road a bit until find a nice place to have our lunch and keep exploring the landscape.

On our way back to the town of Socaire we’ll enjoy again the views of Tuyajto and Aguas Calientes.

Food: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.

Accommodation: Socaire rural community hostal; double room with private bathroom.

DAY 6

SOCAIRE – SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA – CATARPE – QUITOR – SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA

Today we are going to return to San Pedro de Atacama, once there we’ll visit the Catarpe valley, very close by from town but full of colors and geological features, there are some trails for hiking here and we have some time for them. Later on, we’ll visit the Pukara (fortress) Inca ruins of Quitor to learn more about the inhabiting history of this oasis. There is a lookout point located at the top of the hill from which you have a spectacular view to both the oasis of San Pedro de Atacama and the Cordillera de la Sal.

Back in town in time for dinner; tonight we’ll go together to a small ethnic restaurant specialized in local Atacameño ingredients & gourmet cuisine.

Food: Breakfast, lunch is not included. Atacameño style gourmet dinner.

Accommodation: Cabin located on a quiet area; double room with private bathroom. Kitchenette available.

DAY 7

SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA – CALAMA AIRPORT.

This morning we’ll drive to Calama’s airport in time for your flight.

Food: Breakfast.

Accommodation: Not included