From Atacama to La Paz

From Atacama to La Paz

Highlights: Santiago, Atacama and Siloli Deserts, Uyuni Salt Flats
You will roam around Santiago and explore the city’s museums, parks and fantastic restaurants. You will then stargaze in the astonishing Atacama Desert and visit its lunar landscape for some of the most breathtaking views in South America. You will visit Bolivia and explore its out-of-this world scenery, meet the local people and take part in their unique ceremonies.

Day 1: Arrival in Santiago
After collecting your bags a private car will meet you and drop you at the door of your elegant boutique hotel in the trendy Lastarria neighborhood. After lunch, you will be picked up for your half day tour of Santiago City. You will begin touring the main avenues in the city’s civic center. Highlights include La Moneda Palace, which was completed in 1805 (after more than 20 years of on-and-off construction). The neoclassical building was the home of Chilean presidents until 1958, and today is the seat of the government.
You will continue exploring narrow streets, eventually arriving at the Plaza de Armas, a picturesque square surrounded by the 18th-century Cathedral Metropolitana, the National Historical Museum, and the central post office. Leaving downtown Santiago, you will head toward Parque Forestal, which leads to the Fine Arts Museum, and Bellavista, the artsy, bohemian centre of Santiago. You will then ascend San Cristóbal, a beautiful public park whose peak—the perfect place for a panoramic shot of the city—is crowned with a 118-foot statue of the Virgin Mary. You will then descend and travel the other direction to the neighborhoods of Pedro de Valdivia Norte, Las Condes and Vitacura, the modern commercial districts and a great place to indulge yourselves with some shopping.

Day 2: West to Casablanca Valley and Valparaiso
You will be picked up for your full day tour of Casablanca and Valparaiso. You will leave Santiago past the vineyards, farms, orchards and olive plantations of Curacavi and Casablanca valleys until reaching the organic vines of Viña La Emiliana. You will taste their wonderful wines, walk through their vineyards learning how the endemic fauna plays a part in the sustainability of the land’s biodiversity.
You will continue to the Pacific Coast, where you will drive along the beaches of Las Salinas and Reñaca to Viña del Mar, a town Chileans refer to as “Ciudad Jardín” due to its parks, flower beds and gardens. That said, the beach is the resort’s main draw and visitors and locals alike make use of Costanera Avenue and the oceanfront promenade in the shadows of the imposing Casino Municipal.
You will then follow España Avenue to neighboring Valparaíso, a port christened by the Spanish in 1536. You will climb up, down and around these narrow twisty streets—the city is balanced on some 40 hills—and pause at the water front to watch the ships, boats and fishermen in the bay. You will then proceed to the heart of the city, the Plaza Sotomayor, a pleasant sanctuary, opposite the Maritime Authority. Inside the plaza is the Monument a los Héroes de Iquique, a memorial for those killed during the War of the Pacific. Just beyond this is Muelle Prat, a pier with a small crafts market. You will then ride one of the city’s many elevators, an effective way of moving around this largely vertical port back in the turn of the century. Ascensor Artillería, built in 1898, is one of the oldest still in operation and offers a beautiful view of the ocean.

Valparaiso, Chile

Day 3: Santiago to Atacama
You will be picked up at the hotel and transferred to the airport for your flight to Calama to start your exploration of the Atacama Desert. Upon arrival in Calama you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel, Tierra Atacama.

The Atacama area is both fascinating for its hiking and riding options as it is for its stargazing opportunities in one of the most pristine skies in the world. San Pedro de Atacama, the main town in the region has an interesting international atmosphere that is also worth experiencing.

In the afternoon you will go on a half-day tour of the Death and Moon Valleys. You will admire the surreal beauty of the landscape from many viewpoints in the Salt Mountain Range and the Andes mountain range. The activity includes short walks in several areas with rocky outcrops, a scenery formed by the wind the rain and the temperature changes of the desert.

Day 4: The Salt Flats and highland lagoons
Today you will go on another group tour to visit the Salt Flats starts with a brief visit to Toconao village where the square and the historic church are the main attractions along with a visit to a local family who lives off the sales of their handcrafts. Later on you will reach the National Flamingo Reserve in the Atacama salt flat. There are three types of flamingo to be found here, living off the microscopic lagoon life. The views of the Andes as the sun sets are truly amazing.

You will then explore the highland lagoons of Miscanti and Miñiques, which are located at an altitude of 13,860 feet. The scenery is ideal to contemplate the beauty of the Altiplanic landscape, with its mountains, many contrasts and extraordinary colors. Lunch is served at a local restaurant in the village of Socaire, a simple way to give much needed support to the local community.

Atacama Desert, Chile

Day 4: Tatio Geysers
Today you will go on a full-day group tour to the Tatio Geisers, located at an altitude of 14,190ft. The geothermal field has a close link to the volcanic activity in the zone and consists of huge steam columns which reach heights of almost 40ft. Breakfast is served as dawn breaks; on the way back to the village, you will have the opportunity of spotting vicuñas and, if lucky, foxes, vizcachas and Ñandú (Andean ostrich). You will stop at the hamlet of Machuca before returning to the hotel by vehicle.
In the afternoon you could wander the streets of San Pedro, visit the artisans’ market or sign-up for a stargazing excursion into the desert.

Day 5: San Pedro de Atacama to Ojo de Perdiz
You will leave San Pedro de Atacama towards Hito Cajones in the border with Bolivia for an unforgettable trip across de border where will enjoy stunning sceneries dominated by the Licancabur Volcano. Entering Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve you will visit the Green Lagoon, one of the main spots of your expedition in this area.

On the way out of the park you will drive through the Desert Ladies Valley and the Polkes hot springs. You will continue north to observe the stone tree, the Siloli Desert and the amazing Red Lagoon, where you will spot three varieties of flamingoes and an amazing colorful lake for a unique experience surrounded by nature. You will stay at Ojito de Perdiz eco-lodge.

Day 6: Ojo de Perdiz – Uyuni
After breakfast you will go on a singular route that takes you into one of the world’s most isolated areas where we will be alone surrounded by a glittering white landscape. After a couple of hours you will arrive in Colchani, in route to visit the Ramaditas, Honda, and Hedionda Chiarkhota lagoons, the Valley of the Rocks, the authentic Villages Kulpina K and San Cristobal and the visit to a pre-Colombian cemetery. You will spend the next 2 nights at Luna Salada Hotel.

Atacama Desert, Chile

Day 7: Uyuni
You will also visit Isla Lomo de Pescado to look at giant cacti and the birds and vizcachas that have made this island their own. You will explore the area walking for approximately 1 hour. You will have a buffet of delicious local produce for lunch and then you will move on to the Galaxias Grotto (natural coral formations) and enter the caves to see unique and wonderful rock formations.
In the afternoon you will take one of the hundreds of routes across the Salt Flat to watch the sun go down in a blaze of intense colors.

Day 8: Uyuni – La Paz
This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to La Paz. Upon arrival in La Paz you will be picked up at the airport and transferred to your hotel located in downtown La Paz. You will stay at Ritz Apart Hotel.

You will leave the city of La Paz for Tiwanaku, close to Desaguadero on the border with Peru. A 90-minute drive takes you to the archaeological site of Tiwanaku, one of Latin America’s most famous historical sites. Tiwanaku was established as a culture around 500 years before the rise of the Incas, and the empire lasted for several centuries. The ceremonial site you will visit is part of a citadel that is yet to be explored. The pre-Incan ruins of Tiwanaku are a splendid example of one of America’s most important cultures. Some of the well-preserved examples of the Tiwanaku culture that you will see and learn about on the site are the Gateway of the Sun, the Pyramid of Akapana, the Temple of Kalasasaya and the Semi-subterranean Temple, and you will have the chance to visit the archaeological site’s museum to see pieces of unmeasurable wealth and understand with your guide’s help the relation between Tiwanaku and other empires and connections with the world of that time. You will stop at the village of Laja, where the city of La Paz was originally founded.  In the afternoon you will return to your hotel.

Day 8: Departure home
Today you will leave your hotel towards the airport to board your flight back home.