Departures
Group Expeditions
Every Monday on request; minimum 2 people signed to confirm departure.
Are you a solo traveler? Contact us to find out which departures we have already confirmed.
Private Departures
We can do it, please contact us.
Starting / Finishing Points
The trip starts in the morning at Calama Airport; last pick-up time: 12:30 PM. The trip finishes in Calama Airport and we suggest booking flights departing after 5 PM.
Please be aware that there is just one van doing both routes so when travellers of the same group arrive/leave on different flights the others have to wait at the airport. Please contact us so we can tell you which flights match better with the entire group schedule.
Included
- One expert English-speaking guide
- All ground private transportation as indicated in the itinerary
- 3 nights in 3 star hotel in San Pedro
- 3 nights camping
- Meals:
day 1: L, D
day 2: B, BL, D
day 3: B, BL, D
day 4: B, BL, D
day 5: B, BL, D
day 6: B, BL, D
day 7: B
B: breakfast, L: lunch, BL: box lunch, D: dinner.
Not Included
- Domestic flight tickets
- Insurance (it is mandatory you purchase appropriate insurance for this trip).
- Voluntary tipping of guides and staff
- Sleeping bags and mats
- Items of personal nature
Accommodation Details
Hotel in San Pedro de Atacama. Our first option will be 3 star Hotel
Poblado Kimal.
Camping
The tents arranged for this program are typical mountain tents with enough room for 2 people overnight in comfortable conditions. We provide all the camping gear, but you have to bring your own mat and sleeping bag. Our team will be responsible for setting up the tents in the camping site. There will be also a big and comfortable dining tent for enjoying breakfast and dinner.
Guiding Staff
Guide to passenger ratio: 1:4, maximum 10 people per group.
Transport
In Atacama transportation is in minivans that normally seat from 8 to 14 people. When we have just 2 to 4 people we use smaller vehicles, usually 4x4, driven by the tour guide. The vehicle will be for your use exclusively, with the limitation of the given itinerary and time schedules.
Weather
In the Atacama region the weather follows a typical desert pattern of hot days and cold nights. The Atacama Desert is considered to be the driest place on earth and rain is rare at anytime of year!
Spring-Summer (October to March)
Daytime temperatures usually range between 20°C - 24°C (68-77 F). Night time temperatures will most likely range from 5°C - 0°C (41 - 32 F)
Autumn-Winter (April to September)
Daytime temperatures range from 15°C -20°C (59-68 F). Night time temperatures will most likely be -10°C - 0°C (14 - 32F)
Physical Demands
Trekking in the Atacama Desert requires more physical preparation than for most vacations. On this trip you will be trekking between five to seven hours a day for 4 continuous days at high altitudes mostly on dry sandy terrain. On the fourth day the trail will run into the highlands (average 4,100mt / 10,500ft) which will be demanding given the altitude. Guides will always have oxygen tanks with them, if someone feels sick. The temperatures in Atacama change dramatically from day to night following a typical desert pattern of hot day/cool night (check section Weather), which can also affect the body. Arriving in a good physical condition is fundamental for physical performance and morale, and will ensure making the most of this stunning trek through the Atacama Desert.
What You Need to Bring
Duffel Bag, daypack (20-30 litres) spare roll-up duffel.
N.B. A support vehicle will help us on days 2 to 6 to carry part of your personal belongings from starting to finishing points each day. So during the treks you will only have to carry your day pack
Clothing
Trekking in Atacama requires to bring comfortable and adequate clothing to hike during warm days and also protect you from cold weather during nights. We recommend you layer with synthetic clothing (such as polypropylene, capilene, or pile). Synthetic fabrics are the most effective barriers against the cold.
- Regular underwear. Synthetics are easier to wash and dry.
- Synthetic thermal underwear. You need a lightweight long underwear top and bottom of a polyester-type fabric. Wool and wool/synthetic blends are also suitable.
- Long-sleeved, synthetic or wool shirt. Short-sleeved synthetic or cotton/synthetic T-shirts.
- Medium-weight sweater or jacket of synthetic fabric, such as fleece.
- Full-length pants, preferably of quick-drying synthetic fabric.
- Hiking shorts, preferably of quick-drying synthetic fabric.
- Pile/fleece pants, ideal for around camp.
- Sun hat with wide brim, preferably with a chinstrap to keep it from blowing off.
- Bandana. It will keep your neck from getting sunburned and can double as a hand towel.
- Wool or pile hat or ski cap.
- Foul Weather Gear Gore-Tex wind parka.
- Gloves or mitts (wool or pile).
- Medium weight synthetic socks (we recommend Thorlo® Lt. Trekking). Athletic socks (synthetic for easy washing and drying) that are suitable for the shoes you’ll be wearing while in towns. Inner socks (synthetic) that can be washed and dried quickly.
Footwear
If you’re buying new boots for this trip, please break them in advance by wearing them as often as possible before the trip. Medium-weight, all leather, sturdy trekking boots with padded ankle, good arch support, and a lug sole traction.
- Your trekking boots should be well broken in, and suitable for prolonged walking on sandy and rocky terrain. Running shoes or Nike hiking shoes are NOT appropriate for this trip.
- Tennis shoes to wear in camp (optional).
- Teva-type sandals for walking in the river.
- Comfortable walking shoes to wear while in towns.
Sleeping Gear
Sleeping bag, with temperature-comfort rating of –10°C/-5F) Full or 3/4 length Therm-a-Rest sleeping pad. Air pillow (optional)
Other Items
Swimsuit (for hot springs) One set of casual city clothes that are dressier than your trek clothes (for the cities). Hiking sticks (optional but highly recommended). These are helpful, if not essential, to relieve the impact on your knees during long downhills. Some people use them on uphills as well; however, it is not recommended to make an habitual use out of them (it could compromise the natural balance of your legs and ankles). We recommend to practice with one, or two, before the trek/hike. This is only a recommendation and not for everybody.
Travel Accessories
- Wide mouth water bottles, 1-liter capacity. Bring two and make sure they are leak-proof, heavy duty plastic (preferably Nalgene brand). Lightweight plastic bottles, such as Evian-type bottles and the kind used by bicyclists, aren’t recommended - they leak and break.
- Toiletry kit - soap, toothbrush, and so on. Mosturizing lotion. The air in Atacama is very dry.
- Ace bandage or brace if you’re prone to sore knees or ankles. Sunglasses (very important)
- Spare pair of prescription glasses, prescription sunglasses, or contact lenses. (Attention contact lens wearers: Atacama is very dusty—plan to wear glasses some of the time)
- Sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher. The sun in Atacama is much more intense than you probably imagine.
- Sunscreen lipstick of SPF 15 or higher.
- Small flashlight with spare batteries, or small headlamp with spare batteries.
- Small padlocks or combination locks for your duffels.
- Plastic bags of various sizes for keeping things sorted out in your duffel. Zip-lock bags work well. (They’re also great for camera gear)
- Nylon stuff sacks to stash your bulky gear into.
- Towel and washcloth.
- Personal first aid kit.
- Swiss Army-type pocket knife with can opener and scissors.
Optional Travel Accessories
- Camera and plenty of film or – if digital - plenty of memory!
- Binoculars.
- Watch.
- Toilet paper is provided while camping, but you may want to bring one or two rolls of your favorite brand.
- Repair kit with needle, thread, and safety pins.
- Reading and writing material.
- Spanish/English dictionary.
- Your favorite snack food. We’ll have plenty of excellent food, but you might want to bring along your favorite snack food (such as raisins or chocolate). Although we accommodate vegetarians, meat is one of Chile’s main staples. Vegetarians might want to be protein supplements.
Itinerary Modifications
We reserve the right to change the order of the days in any itinerary at the discretion of the trip guide and based on operational considerations. The trip guide can modify, change or eliminate part of the itinerary based on safety/weather considerations.
Altitudes
Please check the trekking chart
