Trek through the heart of Chile’s Atacama Desert, from Moon Valley and Rainbow Valley to Río Grande, Machuca and the Tatio Geysers. Discover ancient petroglyphs, high-altitude wetlands, giant cacti, salt flats and turquoise lagoons while returning each night to San Pedro de Atacama.
Arrive at Calama Airport and travel across the Atacama Desert to San Pedro de Atacama, passing the sculpted formations of the Cordillera de la Sal. After lunch and a trip briefing, begin your first hike in Moon Valley. Walk among salt formations and sweeping dunes before reaching a panoramic viewpoint for sunset, when the surrounding ridges glow in changing shades of red and gold. Return to San Pedro for dinner and your first night at La Casa de Don Tomás.
Overnight: La Casa de Don Tomás, San Pedro de Atacama
Meals: Lunch and dinner
After breakfast, travel toward Yerbas Buenas and begin a full-day trek through small canyons and across the San Pedro River. Continue into the Domeyko Range and Rainbow Valley, where mineral-rich hills reveal bands of copper, silver, green and violet shaped by erosion. Finish at the Yerbas Buenas archaeological site, where ancient petroglyphs carved into volcanic rock depict animals, routes and symbols connected to the desert’s early inhabitants.
Overnight: La Casa de Don Tomás, San Pedro de Atacama
Meals: Breakfast and Box Lunch
Set out early toward the abandoned San Bartolo mining area. The route passes historic mining remains, an old cemetery and ancient petroglyphs before climbing along the valley slopes into an increasingly remote desert landscape. By late afternoon, reach Río Grande, a small Andean village set at 3,250 m above sea level, where traditional architecture, cultivated terraces and a quiet highland setting reveal another side of life in the Atacama Desert.
Overnight: La Casa de Don Tomás, San Pedro de Atacama
Meals: Breakfast and Box Lunch
Today’s demanding trek follows streams and narrow valleys toward Machuca. Walk past llama herds and high-altitude farming areas before climbing steep canyons to the wetlands surrounding the village. Along the way, visit the Peñaliri sector and observe traditional crops such as native potatoes, corn and onions adapted to the Altiplano climate. Expansive views of Licancabur Volcano accompany the final approach through the highlands.
Overnight: La Casa de Don Tomás, San Pedro de Atacama
Meals: Breakfast and Box Lunch
Depart early from San Pedro and travel to the Tatio Geysers, arriving after the sunrise crowds to explore the geothermal field in daylight. Continue to Guatin Valley and hike through a forest of giant cardón cacti. Reach the meeting point of the warm Puritama and cold Purifica rivers, which form the Vilama River, then follow a rocky route past waterfalls, river crossings and unusual desert vegetation. Some steep sections require careful footing.
Overnight: La Casa de Don Tomás, San Pedro de Atacama
Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch and dinner
Travel south from San Pedro toward the vast Atacama Salt Flat, where shallow lagoons and mineral-rich wetlands provide habitat for flamingos and other Altiplano birds. Continue higher into the Andes to the Miscanti and Miñiques lagoons, whose deep blue and turquoise waters contrast with volcanic slopes and golden highland grasses. Complete a final short walk before returning to San Pedro for your last evening at La Casa de Don Tomás.
Overnight: La Casa de Don Tomás, San Pedro de Atacama
Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch and dinner
Enjoy a relaxed final morning in San Pedro de Atacama, with time to explore the village, browse local handicraft shops and visit its historic church and museum. Later, transfer across the desert to Calama Airport for your onward flight, bringing your seven-day trekking expedition through northern Chile to a close.
Meals: Breakfast.
Updated October 4th, 2022
Dear Traveler,
We are very happy to announce that there are currently no travel restrictions in Chile.
Together with the above mentioned, it is mandatory to comply with the following requirements:
In case you have any questions, we will be happy to help you!
Best,
The Team at Cascada Expediciones & EcoCamp Patagonia
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