Hike, bike, and horseback ride your way through the driest desert on Earth, home to geysers, craggy mountains, lunar valleys, and shimmering high-altitude lakes.
We’ll arrive at Calama Airport and drive straight to San Pedro de Atacama, passing the impressive rock formations of the Cordillera de la Sal (Salt Mountains). Once in San Pedro, we’ll receive a briefing over lunch about the upcoming days of adventure. The rest of the day will be spent at leisure.
In the morning, we will depart on foot until we reach and mount our horses! We will ride along the trails towards Death Valley, part of Cordillera de la Sal (Salt Mountain Range) with astounding views of the ancient rock formations. We ́ll dismount the horses and stop for lunch. Afterwards, we will begin to hike through the range and into the Kari Gorge - which offers more unique and beautiful rock formations. Continuing on to the Moon Valley, we have a reflective and surreal experience of being so small in such a vast space.
To finish off the day, we will watch the sunset from “Duna Grande” (the Big Dune) before returning by car to our hotel in San Pedro.
This is another day full of geographical and sensory contrasts. We will start by hiking through the Gatchi Gorge until we reach the rough and roaring Puritama River. Meanwhile, we will observe some more Atacamenian cultural artifacts before ascending to 3,500 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.). Here nature once again provides us with tranquility and a chance to dip in the soothing and calm waters of the river. We ascend again by car to 4,000 m.a.s.l. and the Cuesta del Diablo (Devil’s Hill), before hitching an easy ride back down to San Pedro de Atacama on mountain bikes! 30 km downhill is quite a rush and a great way to finish the day!
This day involves approx. 45 km of mountain biking. We will leave San Pedro in the early morning and pedal our way to the Atacama Salt Flats. 18 km into the ride we will stop to enjoy the landscape of pristine Cejar Lagoon. From here we will drive to Tambillo and the National Flamingo reserve, which is full of Tamarugo trees, The seeds from these trees are a good source for the Atacameño people. After lunch in Toconao, we will ride to a village in the Talabre Gorge, located at 3,500 m.a.s.l. and from here everything starts going downhill (in the best sense) to the edge of the Salar de Atacama. Here we will witness a spectacular sunset amongst pink flamingos before heading back to San Pedro.
We will depart San Pedro at 4 am -- but don’t worry, this experience is well worth the early start! We’ll drive straight towards the world’s highest geothermal field, the El Tatio Geysers - at 4,300 m.a.s.l. The combination of spouting geysers and the bright morning sun is a very special experience. Here, we’ll enjoy a delicious breakfast before hiking up to the summit of Soquete Mountain, from which we have another incredible view of the geysers from above. The day includes approximately 4-5 hours of hiking before we head back to the comfort of the hotel for a farewell dinner.
On the final day, we will relax and wander around the village, visiting the handicraft shops, church, and museum.
In the afternoon we will drive to the Calama Airport to catch a flight back to Santiago... Adiós Atacama!
Located in the magic splendor of the archeologically capital, San Pedro de Atacama desert area in northern Chile, Hotel La Casa de Don Tomas offers its guests the best in comfort and ambiance. Spacious rooms with private baths are complemented by the best in service. Here the earth -colors of the world´s driest desert appear like a shimmering mosaic.
The shining green of the valley cuts through the arid landscape, leading to the mountainous terrain, the deep blue sky and an infinity of stars. The hotel is decorated with rustic furniture made of willow trees and features both rooms and cabanas. The patio and swimming pool offer an incredible view of the surrounding mountains and the imposing Licancabur volcano.
If this hotel is not available, a similar alternative will be offered.
Hotel Kimal 4* (optional upgrade)
During season 2021-2022 excursions are subject to availability and the opening of the indigenous communities to carry them out. Alternatives will be informed in case the activities described in the itinerary are not available.
Regular departures are available every Sunday on request. Minimum 2 people.
The trip starts in the morning at Calama Airport. Please book any flight arriving before midday. The trip finishes at Calama Airport.
This trip is a multi-activity sports trip and therefore requires a moderate to high level of fitness. Those used to hiking on weekends or doing regular cycling or jogging etc should have no problem. However, some warm-up hikes prior to the trip is recommended in any case. Horseback riding and mountain biking do not require advanced abilities. Participants should be 15 years of age or older. Ask to customize your multi-sport adventure for your family.
All transport is by van, jeep, and 4x4 vehicles.
In the Atacama region, there are hot days and cold nights. The Atacama Desert is considered to be the driest place on earth and rain is rare most times of the year- However, it should be noted that between December and March, Bolivia's wet winter weather can sometimes cause unexpected rainfall in the Atacama.
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.
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