Chile : Tours : Route of the Desert

Route of the Desert

San Pedro de Atacama is a small town with adobe constructions, built by the first Spanish settlers in the region, just after the year 1550. To this day they have maintained the architecture and spacial organization typical of that time period, entirely in adobe. The "damero", with symmetric design and a main square, in front of the Town Hall, is a typical Spanish construction where civil activity takes place. This building preserves the typical institutional arches, which were recently reconstructed. To one side of the plaza there is a century old church with thick clay walls and ceilings made out of cactus trunks, covered with clay. It is the heart of the oasis nourished by the San Pedro and Vilama rivers that flow through deep ravines from the foothills of the Andes Mountain Chain no more than 40 km (25 mi) away.

Day 1. Airport / San Pedro de Atacama / Valley of the Moon
Reception and transfer to San Pedro de Atacama, from the airport or terminal of Calama.
At 16:00 hrs., departure from hotel to the Valley of the Moon. On the road that links San Pedro with Calama, stop to photograph the Cordillera de la Sal from the lookout. Later will make a visit to Death Valley. Later in the Valley of the Moon, will visit the statues of salt "Tres Marias", the salt mine, salt caverns and look at the sunset from the great sand dune. Returning to the hotel. Accommodations.

Day 2. Salar de Atacama / Toconao
During the afternoon departure from the hotel, due to the Salar de Atacama. Arriving in Toconao. Visiting the village (30 minutes). He then will visit the stone quarries and the Liparita Valley Jerez. Continuing the Salar de Atacama, we arrive at the Laguna Chaxas, to watch flamingos and await the sunset. Return to Hotel.

Day 3. Archaeological Tour
Breakfast at the hotel. At 09:00 hrs. Pukará Quitor's visit to the Cordillera de la Sal. Arriving at the ruins of Tulor, more than 2800 years old. Returning to San Pedro visit to the Archaeological Museum of Father Le Peige. Return to the hotel at 12:00 hrs.

Day 4. Geysers Tatio + Machuca / Airport
Departure at 04:00 AM from the hotel. Arriving at 07:00 at the Geyser Tatio (4320) m. Breakfast and walk through the various geysers, which will have the opportunity to swim in the pool of hot springs. Return to San Pedro on the road visiting Machuca, picturesque village of shepherds. Located more than 4,000 meters. On the road can photograph the various landscapes.
In the afternoon transfer to the airport of Calama. End of services.

Included Excursions

Valle de La Luna
Located 20 km (12.5 mi) west of San Pedro de Atacama, the Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Moon) is a small depression of saline floor, 500 m (1,640 ft) in diameter, that displays intriguing sculpted formations that are a result of successive transformations of the land's surface. It is within the Salt Mountain chain and part of the Los Flamencos National Reserve. (More information)

Tulor
The Village of Tulor is the oldest archeological ruin of the salt flat, dating back between the years 800 B.C. and 500 A.D. The remains of this village were preserved over hundreds of years thanks to its desert tomb, until it was partially unearthed in 1982. It is located 8 km (5 mi) southwest of San Pedro de Atacama.

Pukara de Quitor
Erected in the 12th century, located strategically on the side of a hill and defended by a ravine overlooking the river, Pukara de Quitor is an ancient Incan fortress that was occupied by the Spanish in 1540. It is located 3 km (1.8 mi) north of San Pedro de Atacama. (More information)

Tatio Geysers
The Tatio Geysers is a geothermal field of volcanic origin where water and steam erupt violently from the earth's interior. They are located more than 4,000 mts. (13,120 ft) above sea level and the best time to observe their activity is between 5:30 and 7:00 am, when the spouts easily reach heights of 10 mts. (32.8 ft). The Geysers are located 129 km (80.6 mi) northeast of San Pedro de Atacama. (More information)

The Program Includes

• Transfer Calama`s airport / San Pedro de Atacama Hotel / Calama's airport in regular service.
• 3 night's accommodation in selected hotel in San Pedro de Atacama.
• Breakfast everyday.
• Moon and Death Valley excursion. Entrance ticket. Regular service.
• Tatio Geysers and Machuca excursion. Entrance ticket. Regular service.
• Atacama Salt Flat and Toconao. Entrance tickets to Salt Flat. Regular service.
• Archaeological Tour excursion. Entrance ticket to Tulor and Quitor Pukara. Regular service.

Notes

• Entrance fee to parks are NOT included, except if the program specifies it ( can be changed without notice and affect the value of the excursions)
• Bilingual tourist guide in Standard Service.
• The excursions order will be according to availability of Turistour Operator.

Rates

Rates per passenger in American Dollars.

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Valid Until

Rates valid until September 30, 2010.