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8 Day itinerary in Chile, South America

Experience in San Pedro de Atacama & Torres del Paine Nat...

This is a unique experience where you will get to know the "musts" of these two amazing destinations in Chile, San Pedro de Atacama & Torres del Paine. IMPORTANT: San Pedro de Atacama is a destination in phase 4 Due to the last Gouvernment regulations starting on Dec 1st, the local communities of S... Read More

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By Marilda, Pablo and Pablo

Overview

Physical Difficulty

Easy
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Recommended Age

Everyone

Operated in

English, Spanish

GUIDANCE

On Some Day Trips

starting point

Airport El Loa Calama (CJC)

trip type

Private

trip attributes

Visit markets

Meet local people

Rural home stays

Indigenous culture

Outdoors & Nature

Culture & Arts

Start

Night

End

Highlights

1

Half Day Moon & Death Valley

2

Full Day Altiplanic Lagoons, Toconao and Atacama Salt Flat

3

Tatio Geysers & Machuca village

4

San Pedro de Atacama, the Archaeological Capital of Chile

Itinerary

High-end Accommodation expand_more

Day 1

place Arrival at Calama Airport & Transfer to San Pedro de Atacama, Afternoon Moon Valley

Reception at Calama Airport and transfer to your hotel in San Pedro de Atacama. In the afternoon, departure from the hotel to the Moon Valley (04:00pm Subject to confirmation). 19 km from San Pedro, in the Salt Mountain Range, is the Moon Valley located, declared a Nature Sanctuary and Monument and protected by the uniqueness of its beauty. It consists of a depression surrounded by small hills with impressively sharp peaks. The tour is an imaginary trip to landscapes that does not belong to our world, but to other planets. We will see the Dinosaur Valley and Death Valley, where there is a spectacular panoramic view of the area. We continue to the Moon Valley, where we will find geological formations that are the result of successive foldings of the earth's crust. In the valley is possible to appreciate the salt sculptures known as Las Tres Marias, formed by wind erosion. Continuing with the tour we will walk through the interior of the caves that remain from the old deposits, to get closer to valley where is the Big Dune. After a break, we will climb this dune, which impresses with its size and is used for extreme sports as snowboarding At sunset, a bold palette of golds and reds appear, touching the soul and sensibilities of the visitor. Return to hotel.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Snacks

Accommodation:

  • High-end Accommodation: La Casa de Don Tomás
Day 2

place Half Day Puritama Hot Spring

Breakfast. Departure from the hotel heading northeast from San Pedro de Atacama, 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) away, we will find the Puritama river. Thanks to the sector’s volcanic activity, the temperature of the waters that flow from the mountain range rises, turning this place into one of the most sought out tourism sites in the sector. In addition, the place has all the necessary services for a comfortable visit and, thus, nature gives us the possibility of enjoying this landscape, with a delightful bath in its 33°C (91.4°F) waters rich in minerals that have medicinal properties. In this canyon, where the Puritama river flows, we find one of the richest places in terms of plants and wildlife of the sector that surrounds the town of San Pedro de Atacama. Pampas grasses create a border between the water and the rest of the landscape. At the salt bushes, several bird species, such as the Grey-hooded Sierra-finch, the Scale-throated Earthcreeper, and the Grassland Yellow-finch, among others, provide us with the ideal scenery to fully enjoy nature.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • High-end Accommodation: La Casa de Don Tomás
Day 3

place Full Day Altiplanic Lagoons, Miscanti & Meniques - Atacama Salt Flat - Toconao village

Breakfast. In this excursion, we we will go through the path to the Altiplano in order to visit the Miscanti and Miñiques Lagoons, located more than 4,200 meter above the sea level and surrounded by great and imposing volcanoes from the Andes Mountain Range and flora and fauna in their natural environment. We will continue to Chaxa Lagoon, a scenery and beautiful landscape, divided into several water mirrors where a great number of flamingoes and other birds such as Andean Flamingoes. Finally, before we return, while the landscape features marvelous views of the Licancabur and Lascar Volcanoes, we will visit Toconao with a typical colonial architecture, San Lucas Church, the first National Monument. Return to the hotel.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

  • High-end Accommodation: La Casa de Don Tomás
Day 4

place Tatio Geysers – San Pedro de Atacama – Calama Airport – Flight to Santiago

Departure at 5:00am from the hotel. Subject to confirmation. We leave at dawn from San Pedro de Atacama Hotel to go to the Tatio Geysers, a geothermal center with geysers that can only be seen very early in the morning. After seeing this spectacular sight in a magnificent natural setting, we eat breakfast. On the way back, we see the majestic Andes Mountain Range, whose peaks seem close enough to touch. We then arrive at Machuca, a small llama herder settlement. The village is filled with adobe houses with thatched roofs. Green wetlands lend a special charm. Return to the hotel. In due time, transfer to Calama Airport to board your flight destination to Santiago. (we recommend to book flight after 4:00pm) FLIGHT CALAMA - SANTIAGO (NOT INCLUDED) Upon arrival at Santiago Airport, accommodation at Hotel Holiday INN Aeropuerto. **this is the only hotel inside the airport, located opposite the passenger terminal of Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport ** Transfer is not necessary**

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • High-end Accommodation: La Casa de Don Tomás
Day 5

place Santiago - Flight to Punta Arenas (not included) - Transfer to Puerto Natales

Breakfast at the hotel. Show up 2 hours before your domestic flight. **this is the only hotel inside the airport, located opposite the passenger terminal of Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport ** Transfer is not necessary. FLIGHT SANTIAGO - PUNTA ARENAS (NOT INCLUDED) Arrival at Punta Arenas Airport. Reception and transfer to the bus terminla to board the regular bus heading Puerto Natales (245 km/3 hours journey). Arrival in Puerto Natales, reception and transfer to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • High-end Accommodation: Hotel Martín Gusinde
Day 6

place Full Day Tour Torres del Paine National Park

We will leave Puerto Natales to the north, and after a half an hour trip we will arrive at our first stop: the Cueva del Milodón Natural Monument. We will visit the main cave of a group of three caves, where more than 100 years ago were found the remains of this prehistoric animal. The travel continues towards the Torres del Paine National Park, enjoying the view of the Sofía Lagoon, Porteño Lake, Prat Mountain Range, Mesa Hill, Toro Range and Ballena Range. After a 2 hours trip, we will arrive in the Lago del Toro viewpoint, located in the lake's south coast. From there, we will have a spectacular view of the lake and the Paine Range (also known as Paine Massif). Then, we will make a small hike by the Grey Lake's shore, from where we will have another perspective of the Paine Massif and the Cuernos del Paine. After lunch (not included) in a coffee shop inside the park, we will go to the Salto Grande area, place where is located the Pehoé Lake viewpoint, where the glaciers of the Paine River unload its fast-flowing waters. At the end of the tour, we will visit the Amarga Lagoon and the Sarmiento Lake viewpoint, to then go back to Puerto Natales. *The places that will be visited are subject to change the same day of the tour because of adverse weather conditions.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Snacks

Accommodation:

  • High-end Accommodation: Hotel Martín Gusinde
Day 7

place Full Day Navigation Balmaceda & Serrano Glaciers

We will begin our expedition in Puerto Bories where the Frigorífico Bories National Historical Monument, a structure from 1913 that stands out due to its industrial, post-Victorian English style. We will continue the journey until reaching Guanaco Island, where we will see beautiful Magellanic dolphins, also known as toninas, a must-see wonder. The journey on the water will continue until we reach our main destination, Balmaceda Mountain, where we will be able to see the awe-inspiring Balmaceda Glacier. We will disembark in Puerto Toro where we will hike along the bank of the Témpanos Lagoon with our guide. After a short break, we will continue on to the Serrano Glacier, passing through a native forest of coigües (Nothofagus dombeyi), ñirres (Nothofagus antarctica), and ciruelillos (Embothrium coccineum) while enjoying the magnificent vegetation and the contrast between the sky and the sea ice. Once we have reached the Serrano Glacier, we will enjoy a whiskey with thousand-year-old ice while we take in a breathtaking panoramic view of the glacier. We will make one last stop at a Magellan Region estancia, where a delicious typical Patagonian lunch with roasted lamb will be awaiting us. After this we will go back to Puerto Natales.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

  • High-end Accommodation: Hotel Martín Gusinde
Day 8

place Transfer from Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas Airport

Transfer to Natale’s bus station to take your regular bus destination Punta Arenas Airport. (245 km / 3hr approx) (we recommend to book a flight after midday)

Meals: Breakfast

What’s Included

Accommodation expand_less

  • La Casa de Don Tomás
  • Hotel Martín Gusinde

Meals expand_less

  • Snacks (2)
  • Breakfast (7)
  • Lunch (2)

Transport expand_less

  • Calama Airport Pick up
  • Calama Airport Drop off
  • Punta Arenas Airport Pick up
  • Punta Arenas Drop off

Not Included expand_less

  • International & Internal flights
  • Meals not specified as included
  • Entrance fees to Milodon Cave & Torres del Paine National Park
  • Gratuities (optional)

About Marilda

TEAM LEAD

+2 Local experts

verified Baboo Certified

star_outline 5 (6 reviews)

My name is Marilda and my love of travel developed with my passion for languages and culture. After thoroughly exploring Chile, a land of contrasts, I fell in love with the scenery, pristine lands, people and local traditions.

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FROM PRICE PER TRAVELER

$3,754.00 USD