Itinerary
- Day 1
Calama to San Pedro de Atacama
You'll get picked up at Calama Airport and head to your hotel in San Pedro de Atacama. Since you're arriving at altitude, it's a good idea to take things slowly and let yourself acclimate. By evening, you'll head out to a private observatory in the desert for stargazing. The skies here are incredibly clear, so you'll have a chance to see the Milky Way, constellations, nebulae, and star clusters through professional telescopes while learning about the astronomy and cultural history of the area.
Included Activities
- Shared transfer from Calama Airport to San Pedro de Atacama hotel
- Astronomy stargazing experience with professional telescopes at private observatory (approximately 2 hours)
Landmarks/POIs Calama Airport - Day 2
San Pedro de Atacama
After grabbing breakfast at the hotel, you'll check out two major landscapes near San Pedro. First stop is the Atacama Salt Flat, where you can spot flamingos and other birds hanging around Chaxa Lagoon and walk through the cultural town of Toconao. In the afternoon, you'll head to Moon Valley to see the geological formations like the Great Dune viewpoint, the Tres Marías salt sculptures, the Amphitheater with its eroded clay and salt folds, and Mars Valley with its reddish tones. You'll catch the sunset over the Andes before heading back to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Atacama Salt Flat and Chaxa Lagoon to observe flamingos and birds
- Explore Toconao town
- Moon Valley tour including Great Dune viewpoint, Tres Marías geological formation, Amphitheater rock formation, and Mars Valley with sunset views
Landmarks/POIs Atacama Salt Flat Chaxa Lagoon Toconao Moon Valley (Valle de la Luna) Mars Valley - Day 3
Altiplanic Lagoons and Piedras Rojas
You'll leave early heading south toward the Sico border. There's a stop at a Tamarugo forest for breakfast, then you'll continue to Red Stones near Piedras Rojas to see Salar de Aguas Calientes III up close. After lunch with scenic views, you'll visit the Altiplanic Lagoons to see Miscanti and Miñiques lagoons with volcano views in the background. There's also a photo stop at the Tropic of Capricorn where you can learn about this southern hemisphere parallel. It's a full day covering elevations between 7,545 ft and 13,845 ft.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at Tamarugo forest), Lunch (Lunch with local products with stunning view)
Included Activities
- Tamarugo forest stop with breakfast
- Red Stones and Piedras Rojas exploration near Salar de Aguas Calientes III
- Altiplanic Lagoons visit including Miscanti and Miñiques lagoons
- Tropic of Capricorn photo stop
Landmarks/POIs Tamarugo Forest Piedras Rojas (Red Stones) Salar de Aguas Calientes III Miscanti Lagoon Miñiques Lagoon Tropic of Capricorn - Day 4
Geysers del Tatio and Departure
You'll start very early at 5:00am heading about 62 miles to Geysers del Tatio, the world's highest geothermal field sitting at 14,100 ft. After roughly 90 minutes of travel, you'll arrive when the geysers are most active and walk the marked paths to see the boiling water. On the drive back, you'll watch for native wildlife like vicuñas and birds, and stop in the ancestral town of Machuca with its adobe houses and cactus wood structures. You'll get to see the Andes Mountain Range before returning to the hotel. Later, you'll transfer to Calama Airport for your onward flight.
Included Activities
- Geysers del Tatio geothermal field tour at 14,100 ft elevation
- Guided walk along marked path to observe boiling water emanations
- Machuca ancestral town visit
- Shared transfer from hotel to Calama Airport
Landmarks/POIs Geysers del Tatio Machuca Andes Mountain Range
