The tour Hills and Deserts will allow us to discover the most important landscapes of this region. Fist we discover San Pedro de Atacama in Chile, a small oasis located in the middle of the Atacama Desert. Then we will visit the Altiplánicas lagoons, a place with an amazing steamy activity because of the high temperatures that are coming up from the craters of the Tatio Volcano. After that we enter Argentina in order to visit the small town of Tilcara in the Quebrada of Humahuaca. From there we continue to the city of Salta in order to discover the valleys Calchaquíes, where we will enjoy the wines while visiting Cachi y Cafayate. An unforgettable experience for sure.

Departures 2007/ 2008: every day

    9 days - 8 nights

    Season: all year

    Starts at: Calama Airport (Chile) (you can also arrive by bus from Salta, Argentina)

    Ends at: Salta Airport (SLA).

Itinerary
Day 1: San Pedro de Atacama – Valle de la Luna
We welcome you at the Calama Airport and transfer to San Pedro de Atacama in the North of Chile. In the afternoon there is the option to take a trek to the Valle de la Luna; located at 17 km from San Pedro in the area of the Cordillera de la Sal, it has an especial appeal for its amazing resemblance to the lunar surface.
Lodging at Hosteria Double or Single Room
Included meals: none

Day 2: Altiplano Lagoons
This day we will visit the Miscanti and Miñique lagoons; with their wonderful colours are located over 4000 meters over sea level. On our way to them, we stop at Toconao, an old town made complete of stone, where the art craft is also well known. Another highlight of this journey is the ‘Salar de Atacama’ which has an extension of more than 100 km. We will also appreciate some of the birds and fauna that have managed to survive in one the most deserted places of the earth. We will require around 6 hours. Our lodging will be approx. 90 Km from San Pedro de Atacama.
Lodging at Hosteria Double or Single Room
Included meals : breakfast (B)

Day 3: Geyser Del Tatio
This day starts quite early in the morning. We will depart before dawn (4 AM) in order to go to the Tatio volcano, located 4500 meters over sea level. When we arrive we will go to the geothermal field located in Los Andes mountain range. Early in the morning this place has an amazing steamy activity because of the high temperatures that are coming up from the craters. The boiling water, the huge columns of steam and the water that runs underneath the surface make of this day an unforgettable experience. We will have breakfast here, and then we will take a walk and those who want may take a bath in the warm water near the geysers. This is the reason why we recommend you to bring, besides warm clothing, a swimming suit, towel & sun block.
Lodging at Hosteria Double or Single Room
Included meals : breakfast (B)

Day 4: San Pedro de Atacama - Tilcara
Early in the morning we say goodbye to San Pedro de Atacama and by bus we travel to Argentina crossing Los Andes mountain range. Through 'Paso de Jama' mountain pass we will be able to appreciate the Salinas Grandes; then descending over the path of the Lipan, we will make a stop at the town of Purmamarca and its famous Mount of ‘Los Siete Colores’. Later we arrive to our lodge at the picturesque town of Tilcara in Quebrada de Humahuaca, Jujuy.
Lodging at Hosteria Double or Single Room.
Included meals: breakfast (B)

Day 5: Devil’s Throat - Tilcara
We will have the morning free to walk and discover the town and its unique places such as: la Plaza Grande, la Plaza Chica, the town Church and the Pucará de Tilcara, an important milestone in the Quebrada de Humahuaca. In the afternoon we will do a small trek to the devil’s throat, walking along the old Kollas paths and watching the amazing view. After 3 or 4 hours we finally go back to Tilcara.
Lodging at Hosteria Double or Single Room.
Included meals: breakfast (B)

Day 6: Activities at Quebrada de Humahuaca
After breakfast we will be able to choose between several optional activities such as horseback riding, which will take us to the view points of the Lipán and the hills of the Quebrada. At sunset we go back to the city of Salta.
Lodging at Hosteria Double or Single Room.
Included meals: breakfast (B)

Day 7: Valleys Calchaquíes, Cachi, Cafayate
After breakfast we start our way to the Cuesta del Obispo, visiting in between the town of Payogasta with Inca heritage, until we arrive to Cachi, a lovely pre-Columbian village surrounded by one of the highest mountain ranges of America: Nevados de Cachi. From there we keep going until we arrive to Cafayate, where we will spend the night. On our way we will stop at Molinos, Seclantas, Angastaco and Animaná.
Lodging at Hosteria Double or Single Room.
Included meals: breakfast (B)

Day 8: Cafayate - Wineries
Cafayate is well known because of its vineyards. Especially for the Torrontes wine, a sweet white wine unique around the globe. We will take a tour around a typical winery. Our way continues later as we visit Quebrada de las Conchas. This particular place has been modified by eolian and hydric erosion, generating capricious forms in its mountains of colour terra cotta. Finally we go back to Salta.
Lodging at Hosteria Double or Single Room.
Included meals: breakfast (B)

Day 9: Salta – Salta Airport
After breakfast we are transferred to the Salta airport where our tours ends.
Included meals: breakfast (B)

Price: 1231 u$d (Hosteria - Double room)
           1581 u$d (Hosteria - Single room)

Included services: Incoming services, 7 nights in Hostería double or single with breakfast (3 nights in San Pedro de Atacama, 2 in Salta, 2 in Tilcara and 1 in Cafayate), Bilingual guide (Spanish – English) during all the excursions, 8 breakfast(B), excursion to the Altiplano Lagoons, excursion to the Geysers Del Tatio, Devil’s throat Trek at Tilcara, excursion to the valleys Calchaquíes, Cachi, Cafayate, all transportation as shown in the itinerary combining private and regular buses, transfers from/to airports Calama & Salta.

Not included services: international and domestic flights, airport taxes, transfers in Buenos Aires, nights in Buenos Aires, drinks, foods not detailed, optional excursions, medical covering, tips, services not detailed in the program. More information