CHILE: San Pedro de Atacama - 4 days

Day 1 – CALAMA > SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA

From Calama airport (CJC), you will be transferred to your hotel in San Pedro de Atacama, located right in the middle of the Atacama Desert, at an altitude of around 2400m (7800 ft). Allow yourself some time to acclimatise. We highly recommend you wander around this Andean town to appreciate its architecture. San Pedro de Atacama is a desert town, it's hot, dry and dusty, and the architecture reflects that. Don’t forget to gaze up at the magic sky of the desert.

• Transport: regular transfer ~ 2 h 
• Accommodation: hotel** (San pedro de Atacama)
• Included meals: none

Day 2 – VOLCANOES AND FLAMINGOS

Join the group to embark on an expedition to the beautiful lagoons of « Miniques and Miscanti » part of the Los Flamencos National Reserve. Situated at 4200m above sea level, these lagoons sit at the base of the two volcanos and were separated by a lava flow from volcanic eruptions. This beautiful setting is also breeding ground for flamingos. You will then continue the international road to Argentina to get to Talar Salt Lake, an expansive salt flat stretching out as far as the eye can see.

• Transport: group excursion SP/ENG ~ 6 h 
• Accommodation: hotel** (San pedro de Atacama)
• Included meals: breakfast and packed lunch

Day 3 – ATACAMA DESERT

Option 1: a visit to Tatio Geysers before sunrise. An impressive show will gradually unfold: the temperature of the air will fall, and the water vapour will start spurting out several meters above the ground. Return to San Pedro de Atacama.
Option 2: a visit to Rainbow Valley, at an altitude of 3,000 meters above sea level. This valley gets its name from the surprising combination of minerals present in the soil and rocks, creating a wide range of colours. Return to San Pedro de Atacama.
In the afternoon, time to explore the desolate Valley of the Moon, hike through the Death Valley with some famous salt caves. Exploring this lunar-like landscape is ideal at sunset.

• Transport: group excursion SP/ENG ~ 4 h + ~ 3 h
• Accommodation: hotel** (San pedro de Atacama)
• Included meals: Breakfast

Day 4 – LAST DAY IN THE DESERT

Return to Calama airport(CJC). A shared transfer will pick you up from your accommodation in San Pedro de Atama and drive you to the airport in Calama.

• Transport: regular transfer ~ 2 h 
• Included meals: Breakfast

PRICE 2024- 25

Starting from USD $400 per person (based on two people sharing)

Included:

• Transfers from/to the airport in shared vehicle to hotel.
• 2 half-day group excursions SP/ENG
• 1 full day group excursion SP/ENG
• 3 nights in hotel ** – double room with private bathroom
• Meals as mentioned in the program
• A roadbook with all the information needed during the trip (flight details, departure times, vouchers, etc.).

Not included:

• International and local flights (these can be arranged for you)
• Entrance to Parks and Museums
• Drinks and personal expenses
• Medical and cancellation travel insurance

.... overall anything not mentioned in the "Included" section.

Why travelling with TransHumans?

• Accommodation has been selected primarily based on quality and hygiene criteria.
• Local partners are fairly compensated.
• 1% of the price finances a local educational project  in schools around Argentina, Chile and Peruhttps://transhumantes.ar/).

The Atacama Desert is beautiful year-round, regardless of the season. However, the most recommended times to visit are autumn and spring (from March to May and from September to October, respectively). These periods are ideal due to their milder temperatures and less thermal variation.

The Atacama Desert is situated at an altitude exceeding 2,000 meters, reaching up to 6,000 meters at its highest peaks. This elevation means that temperatures drop drastically at night. Therefore, when packing, be sure to include clothing suitable for cold weather. The strategy of dressing in layersis particularly recommended when travelling to high-altitude areas. This will allow you to enjoy nighttime activities, such as stargazing or an early morning visit to the Tatio geysers, and then remove layers as the day progresses and the temperature rises. Don't forget to pack your swimsuit as well. In the Atacama Desert, you will find several hot springs and saltwater lagoons where you can swim and enjoy the sensation of floating.

Due to its altitude, arid climate, and lack of light pollution, the Atacama Desert offers excellent conditions for stargazing year-round (except during full moons). However, July and August stand out as the months with the clearest and brightest skies.

The Atacama Desert, located in Chile and extending into small parts of Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina, also hosts some of observatorios astronómicos the world's most advanced astronomical observatories. The most famous is ALMAsituated at an altitude of 5,000 meters, just 50 kilometres from San Pedro de Atacama. ALMA is not open to the public for nighttime observations, only for morning visits and only on weekends. For this, you can visit the tourist observatories around San Pedro and further south in the Elqui Valley, where there are numerous options for stargazing, including astronomical tours.

Altitude sicknessalso known as acute mountain sickness (AMS) or soroche (from Quechua "suruqchi" or "suruqch'i"), is the body's failure to adapt to hypoxia, or the lack of oxygen, experienced at high altitudes. Symptoms include fatigue, headache, difficulty breathing, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and sleep disturbances. Rapid changes in altitude intensify these effects. Therefore, acclimatization is crucial; ascending gradually allows for slow and progressive adaptation, which helps prevent altitude sickness. Staying hydrated and maintaining a balanced diet is essential. It is recommended to avoid alcohol, tobacco, and heavy meals.

Among the natural remedies used for centuries by local populations are coca leaves, which can be consumed as an infusion, in the form of candies, or by chewing them directly, allowing their juice to be released slowly in the mouth.

SOUTH AMERICA´S CAMELIDS

Distant relatives of the African camelids, these are the largest land mammals of South America and unique to the continent. There are four species: the llama, the alpaca, the guanaco, and the vicuna.Of these, the llama and alpaca are domesticated, while the vicuña and guanaco remain essentially wild..

Llamas (Lama glama) were domesticated for transporting goods, and alpacas (Lama pacos)domesticated soon after, are prized for their fine wool. Llamas are the largest South American camelid, while alpacas are much smaller and woollier.

Among the wild species, guanacos (Lama guanicoe) are significantly larger than vicuñas, though still smaller than llamas. Guanacos are found throughout the Andes, in the Andean highlands, extending as far as Tierra del Fuego. In Patagonia you will only see guanacos! They thrive at high altitudes and can survive on minimal water.

Vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) is the smallest and most graceful camelid in the world, weighing around 50 kg. Despite their delicate appearance, vicuñas are the most resilient of the four species. They inhabit elevations up to 5,700 meters above sea level, living exclusively at high altitudes.

The Atacama Desert is located in the north of the country, nestled between the imposing Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Spanning over 40,000 square miles, it offers a wide variety of attractions beyond the town of San Pedro and its surroundings. Travelers can venture to the coast to enjoy the beaches of Iquique, explore the mysterious nitrate ghost towns such as Humberstone, delve into the spectacular parks and nature reserves near Putre, and much more.

This trip can be combined with:

• • Altoplano andino (Chile)
  • Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia)
  • Altoplano andino (Argentina)