Santiago and Atacama 7 Days

What's Included?

• Hotel *** with breakfast (x6 nights)
• Airport transfers in / out
• Bilingual Tour guides (Spanish & English)
• Lunch in Full day excursion in Atacama (x2)
• Chile Guru assistance & contact

If you want to experience the best of both worlds, this tour is for you. Santiago is the buzzing capital of Chile with an abundance of culture, cuisine, and color on every corner. After experiencing the vibrancy of this charming city, you're transported to Atacama, northern Chile's wildest and most remote region sandwiched in between the Andes and the Pacific. It's out-of-this-world scenery, stars and sunsets are sure to shock your senses in a totally different manner.

We'll be there for you from day one with meeting you at the airport in Santiago and transferring you to your hotel. The next day we will jump right into adventure with a bike tour of Santiago's most iconic points. You'll have ample time in this part of the tour to explore at your leisure, and your guide will have plenty of recommendations should you ask. On day three you'll be transferred to San Pedro via plane and you might begin to wonder if that plane was actually a rocketship. Fear not, we're about to show you the magic of one of the driest deserts on earth. With its intense red Mars-like ravines, white salt pans, pink flamingos, high-altitude geyser fields, and impressive Volcano skyline, it will be easy to see how the word "surreal" is a top choice for describing this plateau.

Note: The timings of our tours can vary depending on the season. Be sure to check with your travel designer before booking your flights.

Day 1: Arrival in Santiago

Our driver will meet you at the airport and escort you to your hotel, you then have the afternoon free to explore the city.

Day 2: Santiago Highlights

In the morning, we discover Santiago through the eyes and ears of a local.This tour shows you our idiosyncrasies, popular culture and everyday life in Santiago. Multiculturalism, urban art and diverse religions in Patronato; fruit and vegetables in La Vega Market; are all part of the many experiences on this unforgettable part of Santiago, Chile.

In the afternoon, join us as we head out into the hustle and bustle of downtown Santiago, where we will unveil the city's most renowned and defining sights. You'll enjoy an engaging adventure through our sprawling green parks before diving into the city's recent and painful political history surrounding General Pinochet's notorious 1973 military coup.

See the downtown sites that continue to have lasting effects on the Chilean people, including our spectacular cultural center. This tour provides you with fresh knowledge and unforgettable memories of Santiago.

Day 3: Santiago to San Pedro

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel in Santiago followed by transfer to the Santiago airport for your flight to Calama. Upon arrival at El Loa Airport in Calama, our driver will meet you and whisk you away to the laidback city of San Pedro de Atacama. You'll rest easy at the hotel and have the evening to meet your guide, relax and sample some local food and entertainment. After lunch and a brief rest we offer an afternoon excursion to the Valle de la Luna an area famous for its colored badlands, sand dunes and caverns.
Overnight in San Pedro.

Day 4: Full Day High Plateau Lakes and Atacama Salt Flat

We will have an early start after breakfast and visit the small oasis town of Toconao with its historic church dating back to the 16th century. We continue from Toconao to the Salt Flats of the Atacama. The salt flats cover a vast area and at times are covered by water that is just a few centimeters in depth. The Salt Flats are famous for the pink wild Flamingoes and views of the Andes in the distance. We will have lunch and then continue on to the lakes of Miscanti and Miñiques (4,220m). The deep blue lake of Miscanti is overshadowed by the giant peak of Cerro Miscanti (5622m / 18445ft).
Overnight in San Pedro.

Day 5: Rainbow Valley and Stargazing

We will start the day by traveling westwards towards the Domeyko Mountain Range where we will take our first stop at Yerbas Buenas. This little town has an important history in rock art since many of the famous rock sculptures have come from this region. You might be able to notice that the most commonly represented animals in the rock art here are foxes and some camels. A tour around the town will take us back in time, exploring its history and traditions, and helping us to gain a fuller and truer experience.

We will continue the tour, crossing over to Matancilla, a valley rich in flora and fauna called Rainbow Valley (Valle del Arcoíris). It gets its name from the beautiful, varying colors of its landscape and rocks. This is any photographer's dreamland due to the spectrum of colors and the distinctive rock formations found here. We will take a short walk to take photos and enjoy the scenery, and then we will drive towards the small town of Río Grande. We will get a chance to bathe in the river, as well as appreciate the colonial style architecture displayed in the streets.

Day 6: Salar de Tara

After time for breakfast at your hotel, we will pick you up and take you immediately towards the cordillera and Argentina beyond. We will enjoy the astounding contrast between the fabulously green vegetations of the river basin and the mountains, which make this area a perfect wildlife habitat. On our way we will see flamingos, ducks and even possible wild hogs.

We will then reach Los Monjes de la Pacana, the Pacana Monks. These are the remains of volcanic sediment eroded over thousands of years by wind and water as well as being testament to volcanic eruptions millions of years ago. In addition to their curious, impressive structure in a magnificent landscape, they really make us contemplate how nature endures and changes over time.

Finally we make our way to the Salar de Tara, one of San Pedro's most astonishingly beautiful sights. We will enjoy a short walk around the edges of the incredible salt lagoon, admiring and learning about the rare flora and fauna and relaxing into a tranquil silence where you could hear a pin drop.

Day 7: Tour el Pucará de Quitor & Tulor then Transfer to Airport

We will begin the day with an early excursion to several nearby archaeological sites. First we will visit the fortress of El Pucará de Quitor which is famous for its battle between the Spaniards and Incas. Next we will visit the ancient village of Tulor which partially buried by encroaching sand dunes is several thousand years old. In the afternoon we will drop you to the airport in Calama for your departing flight.
End of Program.

Important Note:
Flights & Pick up timings: The timings of our tours can vary depending on the season and weather conditions. Be sure to check with your travel designer before booking your flights.

Exclusions

• Flights
• Late check-out
• Travel insurance
• Meals (unless otherwise stated)
• Incidental expenses, e.g tips, beverages etc.
• Others not mentioned

Notes

• Important Note:
  Flights & Pick up timings: The timings of our tours can vary depending on the season and weather conditions. Be sure to check with your travel designer before booking your flights.
• When to travel to Atacama?
  Recommended months to travel to Atacama: March to October
  February is not recommended due to the rainy season
  

***Please note that the tours are not available all year long. Check with your travel agents for excursions availability.

Terms

Cancellation Policy

• Prior to 90 Days Full refund (Apart from credit card charge minus a $150 cancellation fee)
• Between 90 Days - 60 Days (80% refund)
• Between 60 - 30 Days (50% refund)
• Less than 30 Days no refund

Please note that all our tours and excursions are subject to weather conditions. Many of our excursions take place in challenging environments where Mother Nature plays a big role in the execution of the outings.

Our clients' safety is our top priority and in order to secure the well-being of both the local communities and visitors, we must withhold the right to change or cancel any tour. In cases of tours cancelled for weather reasons, we guarantee a 100% refund.

***In the case of luxury hotels, please check cancellation policy with your travel agent.