Santiago and Wonders Of Atacama Desert

Arrival in Santiago. Reception at the airport and transfer to the selected hotel.

The capital of Chile, Santiago is a vibrant city full of character, with a thriving artistic culture, modern restaurants and lively nightlife. Surrounded by mountains – the mighty Andes to the east and the smaller coastal range to the west – on a clear day, Santiago boasts one of the most incredible urban scenes in the world. Old-world colonial mansions and eclectic neighborhoods seamlessly integrate the skyscrapers of “Sanhattan” into a captivating fusion of tradition and modernity. With world-class skiing, wine routes, biking and trekking right at your doorstep, Santiago is a city full of stimulating possibilities.

Our tour starts from the hotel where the transfer will pick us up. We will start through the main avenue of the city, knowing its history and its surroundings. We will go down to the cobblestone neighborhood of Lastarría, a characteristic sector for its green areas and beautiful houses of the XIX century, now restored and mostly used as cafes, restaurants, bookstores and museums.

Then, we will go to Cerro Santa Lucia here we will have time to walk and take pictures, while our guide tells us some of the most important episodes in the history of Santiago, such as the Mapuche / Spanish confrontation. From its terraces we will have a panoramic view of Santiago, as well as admire relics and constructions from the colonial era, such as Castillo Hidalgo.

We will go to our next stop, on the way we can see emblematic places of the city such as the Plaza de Armas, The Santiago Cathedral and its impressive architecture, in addition to the former national congress. We will arrive at the imposing government house called “La Moneda” and next to it the “Plaza de la Constitución”; We will visit its surroundings and we will know more about its important and interesting history.

Once in our vehicle, the tour will continue with a step through the Central Market, one of the most characteristic gastronomic points of Santiago, and then continue to the upper sector of the capital. On the way we will stop at a lapis lazuli store where we can admire and/or buy beautiful jewelry and unique crafts. Then we will finish the tour at the respectives hotels.

Arrival in Calama. Reception at Calama Airport and transfer to the selected hotel in San Pedro de Atacama.

A couple of kilometers outside of San Pedro de Atacama, between the jagged rocks and unusual shapes of the Cordillera de la Sal (Salt Mountains), we find the Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley), a geological wonder of the Los Flamencos National Reserve. During the tour, you can take in the extraordinary shapes of the landscape, which will make you feel as if you were walking on the moon. During the afternoon, you can enjoy the unbeatable views of the Andes and its volcanoes. As dusk falls you will be overwhelmed by the red and golden colors of the desert sky. All this results in a simply unforgettable tour. Return to the selected hotel (accommodation included).

San Pedro de Atacama is the archeological capital of Chile. Apart from its spectacular landscapes, its history is also a fundamental part of any visitor’s experience. We visit the most important archeological sites in the region and travel back in time to find out more about the origins of the Atacameño culture and the Lican Antai. Visit Pucará de Quitor, where an important part of Chilean history took place – the Battle of Quitor, which was one of the first battles between the Spanish and the indigenous people. Our stop at the Atacameña Farm will allow you to share with a tourist-friendly local family to try some local delicacies and learn about their agricultural traditions. We will then continue to the village of Tulor, the oldest settlement in the Atacama Salt Flats (dating from between A.D. 800 and B.C. 500), which has been miraculously preserved beneath the sand. Finally, we head to the center of San Pedro de Atacama, to head back to colonial times to visit the San Pedro Church, a National Monument, built from adobe clay, cactus wood, chañar and carob trees in 1745. Return to the Hotel (accommodation included).

The journey starts with a visit to the Toconao village, constructed with volcanic stones. This place stands out for its patrimonial architecture, for the San Lucas church and its bell tower, declared national monument. The main source of employment in this village is agriculture and craftwork, the most important artistic creations here are those made with volcanic stones.We continue the journey to Chaxa Lagoon, a landscape of spectacular beauty, divided in several water mirrors, where many flamencos and other birds like Paringas live. Later, we will continue to the High Plateau, to go over the lagoons Miscanti and Miñinques, at more than 4,200 m.a.s.l. This place is a surprising destination, habitat of a wide variety of birds and surrounded by impressive volcanoes originated by the elevation of the Andes. Finally, before the returning trip, we will visit the Jere valley, while the landscape gives us stunning views of the Licancabur and Lascar volcanoes. Here you will be able to see all the flora and fauna of the place that has been the habitat of the first Atacama people, where they could develop in harmony with the agriculture and their astrology. Return to the Hotel (accommodation included).

Our journey to the Altiplano starts in the early hours, so we can watch the sun rise in one of the most important geothermic fields in the world: the Tatio Geysers. There are over 70 geysers with pools of boiling water spurting vapor. It is best to see them first thing in the morning, so you can truly appreciate the beautiful contrast of colors between the intensely blue sky and the pristine vapor from the geysers. We will then enjoy a deserved breakfast in this amazing setting, in the shadows of the Andes. This will allow us to warm up, as the temperatures in the zone can range from -2° C to 24.5° C. On our way back to San Pedro de Atacama, we will travel through some beautiful landscapes, seeing the valleys, flora and fauna and maybe spot some of the local vicuñas and vizcachas – a real highlight. We will then stop off in the village of Machuca, a truly atacameño village of just 20 houses built from clay, straw and cactus wood. The inhabitants of Machuca all dedicate themselves to its tourism and will offer hand crafted Andean souvenirs, as well as typical food from the region such as llama meat, sopaipillas (a traditional bread made from squash) and empanadas. While there, we will also visit the beautiful San Santiago Church, named after the patron saint of the village, as well as visiting the wetlands where we can see flamingos, ducks and other birds. At the agreed time transfer to the airport of Calama to take the flight to Santiago. Arrival in Santiago. Reception at airport and transfer to the selected hotel in Santiago (accommodation included).

At the agreed time, transfer to the Santiago Airport.

FIN DE LOS SERVICIOS