San Pedro de Atacama - Nature and Archeology

Day 01: Calama Airport / San Pedro de Atacama / The Moon Valley
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 (4:00 pm in summer / 3:00 pm in winter; summer season begin on October 1. Subject to confirmation). 19 km from San Pedro, in the Salt Mountain Range, is the Moon Valley, 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 do not belong in our world, but to other planets. We will see 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 it 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 - Atacama Salt Flat - Toconao
In the afternoon (at 4:00 pm in summer/ 3:00 pm in winter; summer season begin on October 1^st. Subject to confirmation) departure to the Atacama Salt Flat. We will trip to Toconao in the Atacama Salt Flat. Toconao is a small Atacameño town, with a church and bell tower built only with adobe and straw, and handicraft workshops featuring items such as alpaca wool and cactus crafts. The protected beauty of the National Reserves will captivate us. The park contains many species of flora and fauna, some in risk of extinction. The Atacama Salt Flat is part of the reserve, and a large number of flamingo colonies have chosen the Chaxa Lake as their favorite nesting place. The geomorphology of the Salt Flat creates a unique landscape, and with its rugged surface and hard access, it becomes the perfect location for many bird species. Return to hotel. Lodging in the selected hotel.
Day 03: San Pedro de Atacama - Archaeological Tour
Breakfast in the hotel. At 09:00 am 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 remarkable 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 12th century, witness of decisive historic events that are part of the local culture. We end 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
Departure at 05:00 am from the hotel (Pick up at 4:30 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 be touched. We then arrive in Machuca, a small llama herder settlement. The village is filled with adobe houses with thatched roofs. Green wetlands lend a special charm. Transfer to the airport. End of services.