Atacama Desert & Altiplano - Trekking Adventure in the Andes of Northern Chile
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Overview
Highlights
- Admire the world's highest volcano lake, the Lago Chungará (4.570m /15,000 ft) in the Lauca National Park and then enjoy a typical Andean dish, llaita (seaweed) with goat cheese and potatoes
- Visit the salt lake ""Salar de Surire"", observe flamencos and vizcachas and relax in the natural Polloquere hot springs
- Climb the volcanoes Cerro Guane Guane (5.097m/16,720 ft) and Cerro Toco (5.604m/ 18,385 ft) in the middle of the Andean high desert
- Experience the sunrise at the hissing and steaming Geyser El Tatio and enjoy the sunset in the colorful Valle de la Luna (Moon valley) in the worlds driest desert – the Atacama
- Visit the former saltpeter mine Humberstone and explore the desert oasis San Pedro de Atacama
- Insider Tip: Stroll to the harbor, watch pelicans and sealions and try fresh ceviche, a tasty raw fish dish, in one of Arica's tiny harbor restaurants
What's this trip about?
Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Attractions
Activities
Trip includes
- Accommodation: 11 nights in hotel or guesthouse in double room with private bathroom and 1 night in Refugio in shared bedrooms and shared bathrooms
- Meals: 12 x breakfast, 2 x box lunch, 2 x dinner
- Local English/Spanish speaking certified trekking guide (WFR)
- Transport: all private transfers as per the detailed itinerary
- Airport transfer in/out
- Emergency equipment: including a first-aid kit and VHF-equipment / satellite phone
- Permit for the ascents of 5,000 m / 16,400 ft mountains
- All entry fees as per the detailed itinerary
Itinerary
Upon arrival at the airport of Arica, we pick you up and bring you to your hotel. Take some time to refresh and relax or stroll through the little seaport to see the numerous pelicans and sea lions. Later on, you meet with the group for a first briefing with your local team. Overnight: Hotel ""Antay Hotel & Spa"" in Arica in double room with private bathroom.
Meals: Breakfast
In the morning you walk with your guide up to “El Morro” lookout and to the “San Marcos Cathedral”, designed in France by Gustave Eiffel. In the afternoon you can go for an optional boat ride along the Pacific coast, where you will be able to o...
Meals: Breakfast
Today, you travel through the Azapa-Valley to visit the Azapa Museum in San Miguel. Here you can admire mummies and relics of the Chinchorro culture that are more than 7,000 years old. Later, head for the idyllically situated Andes-village Putr...
Meals: Breakfast
Your hike today will show you Putre’s surrounding area: the breathtaking landscape and Vilacaurani’s “Pinturas Rupestres” (rock paintings). See alpacas and lamas and get to know the typical flora of this region. In the evening you can taste alp...
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, a short transfer will bring you close to the Nevados de Putre mountains, on an elevation of 4,200 m (13,780 ft). You will hike back to Putre on a very old path which was used in the past by smugglers. After this trek through th...
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
After breakfast, you head up to one of the Altiplano´s best kept secret, to Suri Plaza. After an hour and a half drive you arrive at the “Mars Valley” - so called because of the deep reddish and orange sand and mountains around the...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Get up early in the morning and start your trekking trip to the top of Cerro Guane Guane (5,097 m / 16,720 ft). The incredible view from the summit onto the vast Altiplano with its olive-colored peatlands (Bofedales) and sal...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today you drive to the Salar de Surire. The Salar (salt lake) is part of the Nature Preserve Las Vicunas. Las Vicunas is not just superbly located – it presents an absolutely rich wildlife: vicunas, lamas, alpacas, ñandus an...
Meals: Breakfast
In the morning you visit the former saltpeter mine Humberstone. Afterwards you drive through the amazing Pampa del Tamarugal, passing former saltpeter mines and salt pans. In the late afternoon you will reach San Pedro de Atacama. On an elevati...
Meals: Breakfast
Today, hike through the sparkling and twinkling Cordillera del Sal (Salt Cordillera) to the Valle de la Muerte (Death Valley) and the Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley, elevation 2,600 m / 8,530 ft).
After a lunch break in San Pedro de Ataca...
Meals: Breakfast
Today, climb the extinct Volcano Cerro Toco (5,604 m / 18,385 ft). From its top, you have a stunning panoramic view on the bizarre desert world surrounding the summit. Elevation gain of approx. 400 m (1,310 ft) ascent/descent; walking time approx. 4 hours. Overnight: Hotel „La Casa de Don Tomas“ (or similar) in San Pedro de Atacama.
Meals: Breakfast
Early in the morning, you visit the Geyser “El Tatio”, at an elevation of 4,330 m (14,200 ft). To experience the sunrise there is simply fantastic: the scenery with its hissing geysers dipped in all shades of red will leave you speechless. Afte...
Meals: Breakfast
Private Transfer to the Airport of Calama.
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- Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics
Dates & Availability
Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Moser Active.
The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
Moser Active Reviews & Ratings
Other Moser Active Reviews
I will definitely recommend Ushuaia to anyone traveling to the region
Thank you for diligently planning and coordinating my travels during a crazy time. I didn't think I would feel comfortable traveling internationally, but after going...
Mission accomplished!
Just want to let you know that we are heading back to the US. Thank you for the wonderful arrangement for the group while we were in the region. It is an unforgettab...
An amazing adventure possible!
Thank you for making an amazing adventure possible! Even before the trek began (Torres del Paine O-circuit), Moser helped organize every detail for my entry into t...
Tour Operator
The local trekking expert team of MOSER Active is one of the leading tour operator based in Chile - Patagonia, specialized in extraordinary and top-quality trekking, hiking tours, soft adventure, mountain expeditions and custom round trips in Patagonia and the rest of Chile.
Christian Moser established MOSER Active and is still the general manager of the enterprise. Christian is responsible for the marketing, sales and product management. Additionally, he is our mountain expedition leader. All of the tours MOSER Active offers have been explored and arranged by Christian himself. Whenever time allows, he enjoys being out in the fascinating world of mountains and glaciers of Patagonia and other parts of Chile; he is constantly on the lookout for unique routings for his customers.
MOSER Active’s enthusiastic team of trekking and mountain guides shares Christians love for the beauty of this unique mountain world. All guides are regularly trained and instructed according to MOSER Active’s philosophy. At the same time, experienced staff takes great care of all administrational requirements cooperating with local Chilean partners.
Our excellent reputation, experience and knowledge made our company one of the most popular partners for trekking tours and hiking trips in Chile. Coming from Austria, Christian has been living in Chile for many years now. In Puerto Natales he found the perfect place for starting his business. Our presence in the region enables us to cooperate with local partners easily and guarantees high quality travelling service to our customers.
Why travel with MOSER Active?
When traveling with us, we want you to experience the most UNIQUE AND AUTHENTIC PLACES, taste all the culinary highlights, get a glimpse of new cultures and marvel at the natural beauty of each region. Meeting local residents often leaves the deepest impressions - you get to know the customs and traditions of the indigenous people and learn about their way of living. Follow us away from the beaten paths and the highly frequented towns to discover the unexpected!
Among the variety of trips we offer, every traveller finds the right tour. Individual travellers can join fixed group departures or create their own custom tour using our easy-to combine short trips. No matter what you prefer – the soft adventure hiking trip, the exceptional and challenging trekking tour, expedition cruises or special interest tours for mountaineers, hobby photographers...
For all our trekking tours through the Chilean mountain world we supply TOP NOTCH EQUIPMENT. We purchase our equipment from well-known manufacturers that certify best test results even under extreme weather conditions. Among others we use brands as Northface VE 25 expedition tents, Seal-line Dry-bags and Therm-A-Rest-thermomats.
We choose our accommodations with the utmost care: we assure you neat and clean hotels and lodges while we renounce unnecessary luxury. The welcoming and warm atmosphere of the accommodations often paired with a spectacular location is what our guests appreciate the most.
For our trekking tours we found cozy mountain lodges and beautifully located camping grounds to grant our guests unforgettable all-pure-nature nights. Those overnight-stays give all our tours an even more adventurous character.
We keep the size of our traveling group’s small as only this way you get the feeling you are traveling with friends. You will be happy to share the wonderful views, the intensive experiences and all adventures a trip offers with your travel companions. Our trekking tours, soft adventure trips and expeditions are limited for only 12 people per group; individual short trips acquire at least two guests.
For all of our trips we promote highest ethical standards when it comes to the environmental IMPACT of our traveling tours. We want to increase our guest’s awareness for pure nature. Therefore we often leave the beaten path, camp out in the wilderness and limit the group size to 12 travellers. We practice the leave-no-trace-behind-principles and always respect the unique fauna and flora of the region.
Our guides make the difference! All our guides are enthusiastic trekkers, nature lovers and superb experts for the country and its people. They have a profound knowledge of the local life and tradition, speak at least two foreign languages and love to share their own passion for the destination with our guests. It goes without saying, that they are all well trained in wilderness first aid (WFR).
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Logistics
What's excluded
- Single supplement: extra charge p.p. $490 USD
- Not appointed meals and beverages on the itinerary
- Optional trips, e.g. boat ride on day 2
- Tips/gratuity
- Local payments
- International and domestic airfare and airport charges
- Travel insurance is not included in this tour - Travel insurance is mandatory to buy.
Accommodation
12 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches & 2 Dinners
Activity Level:
Day tours that will challenge you moderately. Differences in elevation but also in temperature will be the most challenging part. This hiking trip brings you into regions without a developed infrastructure and you spend days without any contact with civilization. Therefore, good physical fitness and team spirit are necessary requirements for this tour. Higher elevations should not create problems for you.
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