South America Tours - Chile

Adventure Overland - Chile & Bolivia

16 Days / 15 Nights

Season: September - May

The Chilean and Bolivian high plateau is a world of immense natural beauty and hidden treasures. This remote area, situated at high altitude, is not easy to visit but its beauty and mystique is well worth any sacrifice. The purpose of this trip is to discover the main tourist and natural attractions situated between San Pedro de Atacama, Uyuni Salt lake and La Paz making this unique overland one of the last gran trips on the planet.
We have chosen to incorporate this trip in our “traditional” programs as we feel it deserves to be discovered by everybody. The program in itself does not include any particular sport nor requires any special physical aptitude. However, it demands some sacrifices because of de local topography. We will travel at high altitude (3800m-4500m) and sometimes with no major comfort (shelters, sleeping bag, etc).
Flexibility, tolerance and optimism are key factors to undertake this journey.

DAY 1:         (SANTIAGO) - CALAMA - SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA

Reception at Calama airport. Drive to San Pedro de Atacama. Excursion to the Moon Valley at sunset. Arrival at San Pedro. Transfer to the hotel. (L)

DAY 2:    SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA

Excursion to the Atacama Salt Lake where we can see pink flamingoes. Visit of Toconao and the fertile Jerez Canyon. We go up to the Miscanti Lagoon where we have a spectacular view on the high plateaus. Drive back to San Pedro. Transfer to the hotel. (B,L)

DAY 3:    SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA

                Walk in the salty mountain range. Back to San Pedro. Visit of the archaeological museum and the archaeological site of Quitor. In the afternoon, we go up to Puritama hot springs where we have an unforgettable bath. Transfer back to the hotel. (B,L)

DAY 4:    SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA - TATIO GEYSERS - CALAMA - SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA*

We get up very early to go to the Tatio Geysers where we have breakfast. Pictures of the geysers . Then we drive down to Calama. On the way, we visit Caspana, Chiu-Chiu and Lasana. Arrival at Calama (2250m), and transfer back to San Pedro. Hotel. (B,L)

DAY 5:    SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA - LAGUNA VERDE - LAGUNA COLORADA

Today we begin the trip through the high plateaus. We leave Chile behind and enter Bolivia, skirting Licancabur Volcano. We visit Laguna Verde and Laguna Blanca. We then continue our trip to Laguna Colorada  and drive through a breathtaking scenery made of bizarre geological formations, hot springs, and geysers. Overnight at Laguna Colorada shelter, amidst flamencos and colored mountains. Refuge (B,L,D)

DAY 6:         LAGUNA COLORADA - SAN CRISTOBAL

We continue our trip through dramatic landscapes until we reach the small village of San Cristobal. Refuge. (B,L,D)

DAY 7:    SAN CRISTOBAL - UYUNI SALT LAKE - UYUNI

We drive across the vast Uyuni Salt Lake and visit Incahuasi Island. No words can describe this unique experience. Overnight in Uyuni. Hotel. (B,L)

DAY 8:        UYUNI - POTOSI

Long transfer to the legendary city of Potosí. Hotel. (B,L)

DAY 9:        POTOSI

Today we visit the city and its main attractions: Casa de la Moneda museum with its important collection of colonial and pre-colombian art, and the Cerro Rico silver mine. Hotel. (B,L)

DAY 10:        POTOSI - ORURO

Long drive through the Bolivian high plateau. Hotel. (B,L)

DAY 11:        ORURO - LA PAZ

Transfer to La Paz. Free afternoon to explore the city and its colorful streets. Hotel. (B,L)

DAY 12:   LA PAZ - TIWANAKU - COPACABANA

Visit of the Tiwanaku ruins and transfer to Copacabana on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Hotel. (B,L)

DAY 13:        COPACABANA - ISLA DEL SOL - LA PAZ*

Today we visit the Isla del Sol, a lovely island on Lake Titicaca. We discover its archeological sites while enjoying an amazing view on the Cordillera Real. Transfer back to La Paz. Hotel. (B,L)

DAY 14:   LA PAZ - LAKE CHNGARA - PUTRE

We drive back into Chile. We visit Lake Chungarà, the highest one in the world (4500m). We cross the Lauca National Park (declared as a world biosphere reserve by UNESCO) and visit Parinacota village before being transported to Putre. Hotel. (B,L)

DAY 15:        PUTRE - SURIRE SALT LAKE  - ARICA

Full day excursion to Surire Salt Lake.“Surire” means ostrich in the local Aymara language. Actually, it is possible to see ñandus (Andes ostrich), and other animals like lamas, vicuñas, pink flamingoes. We have an unforgettable bath in the Surire hot springs, surrounded by a fantastic Andean landscape. Transfer Arica. On the way, we visit Lluta valley and its cactus. Transfer to the hotel.  (B,L)

DAY 16:        ARICA - (SANTIAGO)

City tour and visit of the fertile Azapa Valley where we see geoglyphs. Transfer to Arica airport. Flight back to Santiago. (B)

SERVICE DETAILS

Included Services

15 nights in Hotel, Pousada (Inn). Standard Room, including room and government taxes 
15 breakfasts

15 Lunches

02 Dinners

Land transfers as detailed in the itinerary
Guided Tours as detailed, including National park taxes. Tours can change due to operational, safety or weather condition.

Not Included  

Flights 

Optional Tours  

Travel Insurance

Meals not included in the itinerary. 

Drinks, Laundry, Tips, Telephone calls, and any other personal expenses etc…. 

Meals
Meals included in the program are detailed in the following chart.

Accommodation:

Double rooms can have separate beds or not. A third person depending on the hotel has the possibility of using a sofa bed. Consult for children policy.  

Payment:

Deposit of 30% to guarantee your reservation. The remaining amount must be paid a minimum 30 days before start of the tour. If reservation is made within 30 days of the tour full payment required to make a reservation.   

Cancellation:

Up to 30 days before full refund is given unless the flight tickets have been emitted. In this case there will be a penalty due to the cancellation of the tickets. This depends on the rules of the airline used.  No refund is given when a cancellation is made within 30 days of departure.  

Operation of tour:

Minimum of 1 pax to operate. 

Responsability:

Brasil Travel / Melchior & Hodson Ltda and/or agencies involved with the packages, flights and tours shall act only as agents of the tour members in making arrangements for hotels and any other services and do not assume any liability what so ever for any injury, damage, death, loss, accident or delay to persons or property due to an act of God, default by any hotel, company or person rendering any of services included on the tours or flights. Furthermore, no responsability is accepted for quarentine, government restrains, weather or other causes beyond control. No responsability is accepted for any additional expenses, omissions, delays, re-routing or acts of government authority.

Insurance:

Not included (optional)