On the way to the famous saltflats of San Pedro de Atacama, we visit the lovely town of Tocanao and the Valle Escondido de Kunza (the hidden valley) where we visit the church and artesan market stalls in the central plaza. From here, we continue our journey to the saltflats. On arrival, there is a gentle 20 minute walk to the Laguna de Chaxa where we can see wild flamingos and other birds native to the area. Later, when the setting sun catches on the mountains and the lagoons, you will see one of the most incredible sunsets the world has to offer.

Duration: half day
Level: easy
Altitude: 2300m
Acclimatization: none required

A 20 minute drive brings us to the spectacular Moon Valley. This is one of the most famous national parks in Chile and for good reason. The enormous sand dunes and dramatic rock formations create a stunning lunar landscape born of land lifts and centuries of erosion. The sunsets here are extraordinary and no visit to San Pedro is complete without an trip to the Moon Valley to watch the sun go down.

Duration: half day
Level: easy
Altitude: 2450m
Acclimatization: none required

We leave towards the Hierbas Buenas area, where we will see petroglyphs that where carved in stone by the ancient inhabitants of Atacama. The we travel to Rio Grande, an interesting town of farmers and sheperds, where we will we able to see the local architecture and handcrafts.

We leave the hotel before dawn to arrive at the famous geysers at daybreak: the steam and vapors are all the more impressive with the cold and the light of the early morning. At the geyser field, we will also see geysers thermal pools, mud fountains, colourful rock formations, hot streams and flora and fauna. The return journey is quite stunning with an abundance of wildlife and beautifully contrasting landscapes.

Duration: half day
Level: medium (due to the altitude)
Altitude: 4321m
Acclimatization: two days

A two and a half hour drive, south east from the hotel brings us to the high Andean lagoons of Miscanti and Miñiques. The lagoons are surrounded by beautiful snowcapped mountains and a wide variety of flora and fauna. The lagoons provide a stunning contrast and the combined effect is an amazing explosion of colors from white, blue and silver through to red, pink and yellow.

Duration: full day
Level: medium
Altitude: 4200m
Acclimatization: three days

A two and a half hour drive takes us across the high plains to the lovely village of Caspana. On the way, we will enjoy a wide variety of widelife native to the area such as llamas, vicuñas, zuris, foxes and vizcachas. We will have lunch in Caspana, which is famous for its white liparita stone buildings and its narrow paved streets. We then visit the tiny village of Chiu-Chiu, which dates back to 3000 BC. This is a good excursion for your last day at Alto Atacama as the villages are in the direction of the airport in Calama.

Duration: full day
Level: medium
Altitude: 3322m but up to 4500m at one point
Acclimatization: three days

From the hotel, we drive towards the Andean cordillera. The journey takes us through the wonderful meadows of Quepiaco where you can also see the Pakana Monks, incredible rock formations created by years or erosion. We will have a buffet lunch at the salt flats while enjoying the local flora and fauna, before returning to the hotel.

Duration: full day
Level: medium
Altitude: 4300m
Acclimatization: three days