A matchless trek that will allow us to join together the San Pedro de Atacama with its Salar fields and the Tatio geysers. With this trekking we will get to enjoy them in a particular way since we will get right into them; together with the best of la Quebrada de Humahuaca and the northern area of Argentina. We finalize this amazing trip in Patagonia by going through Los Glaciares National Park, trekking at Mt. Fitz Roy & Cerro Torre and visiting the Perito Moreno glacier during the winter season.
This is a regular group trekking activity but with a minimum of 3 travelers.

Travel Departures 2009:
    21 days - 20 nights

    Season: April to October

    Begins: Tuesdays


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

Ends at: Calafate Airport (FTE).

Itinerary
Day 1: Calama - San Pedro de Atacama
We welcome you at the Calama Airport and transfer to San Pedro de Atacama in the North of Chile. We will have the rest of the day to enjoy the town.
Lodging at Hosteria Double or Single Room
Included meals: none

Day 2: San Pedro de Atacama - Valle de la Luna
Early in the morning after breakfast, we will visit an area near town known as “La Cordillera de la Sal (’Mountain range made of salt’) with its very own particular formations. From there we will have an unforgettable view of Los Andes and the valleys around the town. In the afternoon we will do a small trek to the Valle de la Luna; located at 17 km from San Pedro de Atacama 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 : breakfast (B)

Day 3: Salar Grande - Trekking to the Valley of San Bartolo
This day we will visit the Atacama’s Great Salar (stone formations made of Salt). It is known all around the world, being the third one by its dimensions. While walking there we will also see the flamencos that live in the region. Later we will continue to Toconao, a small town known for its art crafts. In the afternoon, we will start our trek through the valley of Catarpé: we will walk to the beginning of the river San Bartolo where 'petroglifos' (small encrustations of marine life in stone) can be found. We keep hiking until we reach the 2700 meters of elevation, where we will camp.
Lodging at Semi full Camping
Included meals : breakfast (B), box lunch (BL) and dinner (D)

Day 4: Trekking San Bartolo - Rio Grande
Today, already acclimatized, we will begin trekking to gain altitude, join a riverbed where we find weird stone formations and giant cactus that emerge from the arid desert. We will continue hiking up to 3500 meters elevation, around the area of Rio Grande, a small village where we have our second Camp site.
Lodging at Semi full Camping
Included meals : breakfast (B), box lunch (BL) and dinner (D)

Day 5: Trekking Rio Grande - Machuca
After breakfast, we leave behind Rio Grande village and we will trek through an area of narrow rivers that create fertile valleys where the inhabitants take their llamas to graze. We will continue gaining altitude hiking up to Vilarejo de Machuca (4100 meters) where we camp. From here, we have an astonishing view of the Licancabur volcano.
Lodging at Semi full Camping
Included meals : breakfast (B), box lunch (BL) and dinner (D)

Day 6: Machuca - 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 at 4500 meters over sea level. First thing we will do once we arrive is to go to the geothermal field located at 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 makes an unforgettable Atacama experience. We will have breakfast here, and then we will take a walk and those who want to might take a bath in the warm water near the geysers. (That’s why we recommend you to bring along besides warm clothing, a swimming suit, towel, sun block)
Lodging at Hosteria Double or Single Room.
Included meals: breakfast (B)

Day 7: San Pedro de Atacama
This is a day off so we will be able to choose between different options such as: the ascension of the Lascar Volcano or the Toco Mountain or just take a look around San Pedro de Atacama walking or by bicycle
Lodging at Hosteria Double or Single Room.
Included meals: breakfast (B)

Day 8: San Pedro de Atacama - Tilcara
Early in the morning we say good-bye to San Pedro de Atacama and by bus we go back to Argentina crossing Los Andes mountain range. Through the Paso de Jama 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.
Lodging at Hosteria Double or Single Room.
Included meals: breakfast (B)

Day 9: Devil’s Throat - Tilcara
We will have the morning free to discover the town and its unique things such us: the Plaza Grande, the 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 10: Tilcara - Iruya
During the morning, we will travel out of Jujuy towards the North in a local Bus to the small town of Iruya, a picturesque village just in the north of Salta. We will have enough time to walk around the town, discovering its beautiful cobbled streets and its typical chapel. We will spend the night in this fascinating place.
Simple Lodging.
Included meals: breakfast (B), box lunch (BL) and dinner (D)

Day 11: Iruya - Chiyayoc
Early in the morning, we will begin the trekking from Iruya, at 2800 meters altitude. We will hike up north the river in a slow but incessant ascent, until we reach the Abra Del Colorado. From there, we will walk down to the San Juan River where we have lunch. After the break, another hiking ascent is expecting us and then the posterior hiking descent to the Chiyayoc village, at 3100 m altitude over sea level. Walking time: 8 to 9 hours.
Simple Lodging
Included meals: breakfast (B), box lunch (BL) and dinner (D)

Day 12: Chiyayoc - Rodio
We continue our crossing trek, walking up to the Abra of Chiyayoc ascending at 3900 meters over sea level. From there we descent while enjoying the view, until we arrive to the small town of Rodio, at 3000 meters altitude. Estimated walking time: 4 to 5 hours.
Lodging at Semi full Camping
Included meals: breakfast (B), box lunch (BL) and dinner (D)

Day 13: Rodio – Rodeo Colorado - Humahuaca
Our trekking continues through this amazing landscape. We descend walking until we reach the valley of river Trancas. Once there we start hiking up again until we arrive to the edge. From there we will have a fabulous view of the town of Rodeo Colorado. Later we hike back descending through the Pera river. We finally arrive to Rodeo Colorado town. Estimated walking time: 5 to 6 hours. During the afternoon we go back in our vehicle to Humahuaca, Jujuy.
Lodging at Hosteria Double or Single Room.
Included meals: breakfast (B) and box lunch (BL)

Day 14: Humahuaca – Salta Airport - El Calafate Airport
After breakfast we are transferred to the Salta airport where we catch our flight to Buenos Aires in order to take the combination flight to El Calafate. Upon arrival we welcome you at El Calafate airport and transfer you to town. Check in at your lodge and spare time to visit this picturesque village.
Lodging at Hosteria or Inn, double or single Room with private bathroom
Included meals : breakfast (B)

Day 15: El Calafate - El Chalten
After breakfast we travel by bus to El Chalten, a little and colorful town next to Mount Fitz Roy. To arrive to El Chalten we will cross cross 220 km through the Patagonia steppe and around lakes Argentina and Viedma, with a stop over on route to enjoy a coffee and homemade cakes. Approaching town we will have spectacular views of the mountains and of Glacier Viedma. In the afternoon, we will have time to visit town and get used to winter conditions.
Lodging at Hosteria double or single Room with private bathroom
Included meals: breakfast (B) and dinner (D)


Day 16: El Chalten - Fitz Roy trail
After breakfast we go hiking to the Fitz Roy trail. This trail starts on the north side of the town. A gentle slope leads us to the first viewpoint over the River de las Vueltas valley, and we hike on to Laguna Capri and the first sights of Mt. Fitz Roy. Laguna Capri should be frozen by this time of the year, giving us the chance to get a unique picture of the frozen lagoon with Mt. Fitz Roy spires and glaciers in the background. From Capri we already have full views over Fitz Roy. If conditions are OK, we hike towards Rio Blanco, Fitz Roy base camp for climbers. Once at the base camp and depending on weather and terrain conditions those who want can continue trekking with snowshoes to Laguna de los Tres, a spectacular viewpoint for Mt. Fitz Roy massif, spires and glaciers. During this trek we climb 500 meters to get to the first viewpoints and 400 more meters if we climb to Laguna de los Tres. We carry snowshoes and we use them when necessary. Walking time depends on the conditions of terrain but please consider a full day hiking.
Lodging at Hosteria double or single Room with private bathroom
Included meals: breakfast (B), box lunch (BL) and dinner (D)

Day 17: El Chaltén - Cerro Torre trail
We trek today the Torre valley. This valley starts as a glacier valley in the Laguna Torre reaching town as a fluvial valley. Is shorter and with less gain of altitude than Mt. Fitz Roy trail. We hike to a first viewpoint of the glacier part of the valley after a first hour of walking. Depending on conditions, we will continue hiking to reach the lagoon, natural viewpoint for the group of ice-mushroom-covered spires of Cerro Torre massif. The lagoon should be frozen and we can cross it up to the front of Glacier Grande. Its blue colour and dimensions are breathtaking. Weather, conditions and time permitting we can try to make some basic ice climbing in the frozen waterfalls which hang in the sides of the lagoon. We hike back to El Chaltén in late afternoon.
Lodging at Hosteria double or single Room with private bathroom
Included meals: breakfast (B), box lunch (BL) and dinner (D)

Day 18: El Chaltén - El Calafate
Morning at leisure to rest or to take different optional alternatives that the place offers: a walk to Cerro Pliegue Tumbado with beautiful sightseeing points over Mt. Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre and the glacier valley in between. Or to visit estancia Madsen (home of the first european immigrant that settled in the valley) or the Chorrillo del Salto waterfall, that should be half frozen in this time of the year. In the afternoon we take our bus back to El Calafate where we will be transfered to our lodge.
Lodging at Hosteria double or single Room with private bathroom
Included meals: breakfast (B)

Day 19: El Calafate - Perito Moreno Glacier
We dedicate this day to one of the World’s Natural Wonders: the Perito Moreno glacier. After breakfast we travel by bus, on a road that allows us to go through the folds left on the steppe by the glaciers, to the Magallanes peninsula where the southern entrance of Los Glaciares National Park is located. Its major attraction is the Perito Moreno Glacier which, because of unusually favorable local conditions, is one of the world’s few advancing glaciers. This ice field-type glacier flows down from the Patagonia Icefield, a big ice surface that with its 22.000 square kilometres is the third largest glacier area in the world, after Antarctica (14 M sq km) and Greenland (1 M sq km). The Perito Moreno Glacier is the only one in the world that shows a closure and rupture process. Huge icebergs from the glacier wall collapse into the De los Tempanos Channel. The roar of the gigantic ice rocks falling and crashing into the waters of the channel is a unique experience. Our bus will lead us just in front of the Glacier, allowing us to walk and view the Glacier from different viewpoints. We return to El Calafate using a different route. We will drive 80 km (1 and a half hour) to get and then again to come back from the glacier across the steppe, watching a wide variety of birds.
Lodging at Hosteria double or single Room with private bathroom
Included meals: breakfast (B)

Day 20: El Calafate - Optional Boat Trip on Lake Argentino
This is a free day and you can choose some of the options that El Calafate can offer. The most advisable is to go sailing in the catamarans that make the trip to the glaciers which calve in the west arms of Lake Argentino. Among them are glaciers Upsala, Spegazzini and Onelli, Bolados and Agassiz glaciers in the area of Laguna Onelli. Also 4 wheel drive excursions and horseback riding is available at El Calafate.
Lodging at Hosteria double or single Room with private bathroom
Included meals: breakfast (B)

Day 21: El Calafate airport
After breakfast we transfer to El Calafate Airport where the hiking trip ends.
Included meals: breakfast (B)

Price: 3552 u$d (Hosteria - Double room)
           4302 u$d (Hosteria - Single room)

Included services: Incoming services, 14 nights in Hostería double or single with breakfast, 4 nights in Semi–Full Camp (included: tents and dinner tent or saloon. Not included: sleeping bag or insulating mattress), 2 nights in simple lodging (shared room without private bathroom) Bilingual guide (Spanish – English) during all the excursions, 20 breakfast (B), 9 box lunch (BL) and 9 dinners (D), all transportation as shown in the itinerary combining private and regular buses, Between days 3 to 7 and 11 & 13 we provide mules for the transportation of the tents, general equipment and food for all the crossing. We will carry the travelers’ luggage up to a maximum of 8 kg

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

List of suggested personal equipment:
• Backpack, 50 /60 lts
• Sleeping bag, down or synthetic, for -10ºC
• Sleeping mattress (therm-a-rest type)
• Trekking shoes or boots
• Thermal underwear
• Trekking pants
• Fleece
• Breathable parka and over pants
• Gaiters
• Gloves
• Thermal socks
• Swim suit & towel (for a warm bath at Atacama geysers)
• The necessary spare cloth
• Wool hat
• Sun hat
• Sun glasses
• Sun screen / block (UV is strong)
• Personal items
• Lamp
• Trekking poles (recommended, if you are used to them)
• Water bottle
• Photo camera & batteries
• Personal medication
• Personal documents (passport, visa if needed) to cross the Argentina - Chile border.
• Garbage bags (we Leave No Trace)