SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA CLASSIC (4D-3N)

Arrival at Calama Airport (ideally before 11:00 AM). Transfer to your hotel in San Pedro de Atacama (1:30 hours). Check-in at 15:00. In the afternoon (15:00 approx) we start the excursion to the Moon Valley. In the evening, one of the most expected moments is sunset, and the best place to wait for it is the “Cordillera de la Sal” with its valleys, which are called Valle de Marte (Mars Valley) and Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Moon), which are saline and clayed shapes, a product of mineralogical folds that occurred hundreds of millions of years ago, originating little mountains with strange and capricious shapes, that sunset turns them into a moon landscape scene.

Breakfast. At 8:00 pick up for a full-day excursion to the Altiplanic Lagoons. A trip by the largest plain of the zone, that lets us reach the great Salar de Atacama, a white and rugged surface where the lagoons keep a great number of flamingoes that choose this water for nesting. Geological research studies suggest this great salar is the most important lithium reserve in the world, with about 40%. Under weak and narrow streams little villages are settled, one of the most charming and colourful is Toconao, where an original architecture in Liparita stone can be appreciated, the old church building is outstanding in this area. This is a little village that invites you to meet both, the place itself and its people, who spend their time on handmade fine wool knitting. After that, we’re going to move to Altiplanics Lagoons Miscanti-Meñique. These lagoons are located at 4.500 m. above the sea level. They are of great beauty, in their landscapes varied shades of colours can be appreciated, also, their flora and fauna is singular, since they exist only in these protected areas. The height allows being very near mountains and volcanoes, some of which are sacred and they have inspired beautiful legends of the Desert of Atacama. On the way, we can visit the town of Socaire, a place where the ancestral traditions of their inhabitants have lasted through the time, shepherds or farmers that cultivate the “Pachamama” using the old system of Andean terraces. In this town, you’re going to have lunch in a restaurant. Return to San Pedro.

At night, Astronomical Tour in SPACE Observatory. Here you will be allowed to understand how to look at the sky and observe as well through powerful telescopes. You will discover a new world, our universe! And from one of the best places on Earth to see the sky, the Atacama desert. Notes: Transfer to the starting point not included. The tour depends 100% on the weather conditions, so it can eventually be cancelled. Tour requires a minimum of 12 pax to operate, if the amount is not completed, they will be notified the same day of the tour, to see the possibility of moving the passenger for the next day.

5 AM, pick for an excursion to Tatio Geysers. From 5:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. approx. Exploration of the highest geothermal field, located at 4,300 meters above sea level. In the Andean Cordillera. The steam fumaroles, which reach 50 meters in height, are mixed with the imposing beauty of the Andes, of multiple colours and with varied fauna, among which the Vicuñas, American camelid of elegant walking and adapted to live in climatic conditions. and extreme geographies. The geothermal field has its origin in the magma of the earth, the cordilleran waters originated by the thaws filter between the cracks of the crust, reaching deep and hot areas, and finally when contacting the magma, rise violently in the form of steam and boiling water, causing the fumaroles and jets that rise due to the abrupt change of temperatures. Upon return, nature gives a moving landscape of mountains and volcanoes above 5,500 meters above sea level, as well as an important avifauna in the small rivers that continue their way to empty into the great Salar de Atacama. Return to San Pedro and free afternoon.

Breakfast and check out. Transfer to Calama Airport.