Mystic Trip : San Pedro de Atacama and Easter Island

Day 01: Calama Airport / San Pedro de Atacama / The Moon Valley / San Pedro de Atacama
Reception and transfer from the Calama Airport to your hotel in San Pedro de Atacama. In the afternoon, departure from the hotel to the Moon Valley (16:00 hrs. in summer / 15:00 hrs. in winter; summer season begins on September 1. Subject to confirmation). 19 km away from San Pedro, in the Salt Mountain Range, is the Moon Valley (Valle de la Muerte), declared a Nature Sanctuary and Monument, and protected due to the singularity of its beauty. It consists of a depression surrounded by small hills with impressively sharp peaks. This tour is an incredible trip to landscapes not belonging to our world, but to other planets. At this valley we will be able to testify 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 Towards dusk, a bold palette of golds and reds appear, touching the soul and sensibilities of the visitor. Return to hotel. Lodging.
Day 02: San Pedro de Atacama / Altiplanic Lagoons / Atacama Salt / San Pedro de Atacama
Departure at 09:00 hrs. from the hotels. Atacama, the largest salt flat in Chile, has the one of the largest flamingo reserves in the country (the National Flamingo Reserve). We will head in on a small path, towards Chaxa Lake, in order to see and identify the different flamingo species in the area. Miscanti and Miñiques Lakes, located at 4,220 meters, are also part of the National Reserve, and are managed by the indigenous community of Socaire. The eruption of the Miñiques volcano one million years ago caused the water that once drained to the Salt Flat to stagnate, giving rise to these two highland lakes with their blue water and white shores. On the way back, we pass through Toconao, typical handicrafts in the Atacama zone, also the San Lucas Tower (National Monument and town symbol). We will visit the small factory and craft fair in the area, rich in alpaca wool items and handicrafts in cactus. Return to San Pedro at 4:00 pm approximately.
Day 03: San Pedro de Atacama / Tulor / Quitor / San Pedro de Atacama
Breakfast in the hotel. At 09:00 hrs. departure from the hotel. A landscape without history loses the richness that time and people have brought to it. Therefore, on this excursion, we invite you to discover the richness of the Atacama, or Likan Antai, culture. We will gather fascinating information about who lived in the area and how they did it, from pre-Columbian to colonial times. We will learn about the customs and traditions of the different cultures that lived in the area by visiting the most notable archaeological sites such as Tulor and Pukará de Quitor. The miraculously preserved village of Tulor is the oldest remaining ancient dwelling place in the Atacama Basin, and the first human settlement, called "Cuna de los Likan Antai (Cradle of the Likan Antai people)".Pukará de Quitor, a construction from the twelfth century, was a witness to decisive historic events that are part of the local culture. We ended our trip in San Pedro de Atacama, with a visit to the church before the return to hotels. Lodging.
Day 04: San Pedro de Atacama / Tatio Geysers / Calama Airport / Santiago Airport / Santiago
Departure at 06:00 hrs. from the hotel 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. Transfer to airport. Flight to Santiago. Lodging in Hotel near Airport in Santiago.
Day 05: Santiago Airport / Mataveri Airport / Easter Island
Breakfast at hotel. Flight to Easter island. Reception at Mataveri airport and typical welcome. Transfer to hotel. Overnight.
Day 06: Easter Island / Ahu Tahai / Rano Kau
We will begin our tour at about 8:30 am from Hanga Roa to Tahai's Archaeological Complex, ceremonial center with 3 Ahu, Ahu Vai Uri with 5 moais, Ahu Tahai with 1 moai, and Ahu Lo Te Riku with 1 moai. From this site the visitors can appreciate wonderful landscapes. Then, we will go to Orongo's ceremonial city, ancient ceremonial city located in the west summit of the volcano Rano Kau. It is composed by approximately 53 houses of elliptical shape with flagstone walls and a small square access looking at the sea. In this place were realized the most important ceremony of the second period of the island, the Tangata Manu (“the bird man”). It was carried out until approximately 150 years ago, with the arrival of the first Christian missionaries. Return to Hanga Roa, total duration 3,5 hours.
Day 07: Easter Island / Ahu Vaihu / Ahu Akahanga / Ahu Tongariki / Anakena
Departing from Hanga Roa's town at about 9:30 am, going to the southeast and northeast coast of the Island visiting the Ahu Vaihu temple, which is located 10 km from Hanga Roa. It consists of a stone platform with 8 Moais and 8 pukao dispersed in the proximities. Then, we will go to Ahu Akahanga, the also called as the "platform of the king". The legend tells that Hotu Matua'a's tomb is near this place. There, we will find 4 platforms, 12 Moais, 8 Pukao and towards the interior of this Ahu; it is possible to see the best preserved village of the island. Later, we will go to Ahu Tongariki, with 15 moais being the biggest Ahu of the island. Then, we will meet Ahu Te Pito Kura, which possesses the highest statue of the island raised in an Ahu, the moai Paro (10 meters of height and 85 tons with a Pukao of 11,5 tons). Close to this ceremonial temple is the great spherical stone that is identified as the center of the universe (Te Pito o Te Henua), as the legend tells, it was brought to the island by Hotu Matua'a in his craft. Later, we will arrive to Ahu Nau Nau, temple of a complex construction due to its different levels where we will find 5 Moais with Pukao. There, we will see petroglyphs in the backs of the statues. We will continue our excursion to the volcano and quarry Rano Raraku, where there was carved most of the moais of the island using the volcanic rock of its hillsides. There are an estimated number of 400 moais in several stages of carved.
To finish our adventure, we will go to Anakena's wonderful beach. It is a beach of white sands chosen for the arrival of the Ariki Hotu Matua'a and his sister Avareipua. Anakena corresponds to the name of a small cave of an adjacent gully. Returning to Hanga Roa, we will realize our last stop in the Fundo Vaitea, country estate with an extension of 6.560,80 hectares, which represents 39,6% of the total surface of the island and it was created to achieve an agricultural production capable of sustaining the needs of the whole island, which was achieved years behind. Return to the populated Hanga Roa, total duration 8 hours.
Day 08: Easter Island / Ahu Vinapu / Puna Pau / Ahu Akivi / Te Pahu
We initiate the tour about 3 pm from Hanga Roa's settlement visiting Ahu Vinapu. It was used for the islanders in the year 1.200 A.C. it includes 3 Ahu. The first has 6 moais demolished and painted of red color. The second one has a supposedly feminine moai which had two heads. Finally, the third and the most ancient moai has only removed stones. We will continue our way to the quarry Puna Pau, archaeological site to the east of Hanga Roa. It is a small crater of red dross, from where were obtained the Pukao or hats with which were crowned the moais. Along its antique exit way, there are some incomplete and abandoned moais. We will go on our tour towards Ahu Akivi, the first Ahu restored by the science in the island in the year 1960. The platform with 7 moais is characterized for being one of the few ones located in the center of the island, with its statues facing the rising sun. According the legend, these 7 moais would represent 7 exploratory young men sent before Hotu Matua'a's arrival to investigate the island. Our adventure takes to us to the cavern of Te Pahu, a place used as housing and as temporary refuge in war times. Then, we will return to Hanga Roa, total duration 3,5 hours.
Day 9: Easter Island / Mataveri Airport / Santiago Airport / Santiago
Breakfast in the hotel. Transfer to the airport and typical farewell. Reception at Santiago airport. Transfer to hotel. Lodging
Day 10: Santiago / Santiago Airport
Breakfast. Transfer to Airport. End of services.