Chile - Budget – Self-guided tour – 11 days / 10 nights
Highlights:
• 4 days driving with your own vehicle across the Chilean Altiplano ;
• Tatio Geysers and sunset over the Moon Valley ;
• The oasis of San Pedro de Atacama ;
• Las Vicuñas and Los Flamencos Natural Reserves.
Nature : 
- Culture : 
Encounters :
Starting from $ 1759 USD*
The Eco- Atacama circuit was conceived for nature lovers wishing to discover the most beautiful landscapes of northern Chile on a budget. As you cross the driest desert on the planet, you will uncover the endemic fauna of the Chilean Altiplano (highlands), explore the most emblematic salt lakes of the country and enjoy the most breath-taking scenery of the Atacama Desert. Off the beaten track, you will experience the immensity of the Andean plains while getting in contact with the Aymara indigenous community, exchanging with the locals or simply enjoying a little paradise at your own pace, surrounded by salt flats, lagoons with pink flamingos, thermal waters and volcanoes
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ITINERARY
Day 1 – SANTIAGO
Arrival by international flight
Arrive in Santiago by international flight. You are met at the airport by our driver and transferred to your hotel. Wander around the capital city soaking up the atmosphere or visit some interesting sites: Bellavista, a bohemian neighbourhood, Plaza de Armas and its colonial architecture and Cerro Santa Lucia with its scenic view over the city and the Andes. Take advantage of this free day in the city before heading to the great outdoors and deserts of the north of Chile !
Flight Santiago de Chile > Arica
Transfer to the airport in the late morning. After a 4 hour flight you will land in Arica, a small town in Chile's far north region. Time to settle in your hotel, the rest of the day is yours to go for a walk on the beach, possibly swim in the sea and enjoy some seafood in one of the many local restaurants.
Rental car
Your rental vehicle will be waiting for you at your hotel at 9am. Ascend 3500 m above sea level in just 155 km to conquer the majesty of the Cordillera of the Andes. The views of dessert hills extend for miles inland as you climb steeply into the high plateau. Drive through the valleys of Azapa and Lluta, with a chance to observe the candelabra cactus, a tall cactus tree. Recommended stops are the Pukara de Copaquilla (fortress) and the small and picturesque village of Socoroma, both from the pre-Inca period. Finally reach Putre, a beautiful town at the foothills of the Andes. Take some time to acclimatize to the altitude. In the afternoon, we recommend you to explore the enigmatic desert of Suriplaza and its multi-coloured mountains. Only two hours from Putre this journey will take you through sulphur volcanoes and sand dunes.
Rental car
Visit the Lauca National Park. On your way to Lake Chungara you will cross the humid lowlands of Chucuyo and walk along the Cotacotani Lagoon, surrounded by wetlands and soaring peaks like the volcanoes of Parinacota and Pomerape. We recommend you a visit to the small village of Parinacota (4500 m high) of archaeological and historical interest. To finish the day, guests can go for a swim in the hot springs of Jurasi. Overnight in Putre.
Rental car
Early departure for the National Reserve Las Vicuñas. This natural ecosystem preserves high-altitude wildlife, including vicunas, chinchillas, rheas and condors. Continue on the trail to the Salar de Surire at 4245 m altitude, where you can observe a great variety of flamingos, llamas, vicunas and alpacas overlooked by volcanoes.
We invite you to picnic at the thermal baths of Polloquere before continuing on the road to Isluga Park through the beautiful village Isluga, one of the many ceremonial villages lived in only a few months a year. Arrive in Colchane in the late afternoon.
Rental car
Cross the immensity of the Atacama Desert to finally return to the ocean. With its 86 meters, the Atacama Giant is one of the largest geoglyphs in the world. Experts estimate that the giant dates from around 900 AD. We also recommend visiting the ghost town of Humberstone, a former saltpeter mining town. Arrive in Iquique in the late afternoon to return your vehicle. Night bus to San Pedro de Atacama will leave around 11:30pm with connection and possible change of bus in Calama.
Arrive in San Pedro around 9am. The morning is yours to relax, explore the village or visit the archaeological museum Le Paige. In the afternoon head for the Valley of the Moon. An opportunity to admire this lunar-like landscape at sunset when the craggy rocks are set aflame. This salt-cordillera is an exceptional geological formation resulting from the folding of the edges of the salar due to the plate tectonic motions. Back in San Pedro around 8pm.
Early departure to reach the Geysers of Tatio before sunrise. An impressive show will then gradually unfold, the temperature of the air will fall, and the water vapour will start spurting out several meters above the ground. Return to San Pedro de Atacama and pass through the small village of Machuca where you will appreciate the traditional architecture of a high altitude village, together with its fauna and flora. Return to San Pedro de Atacama early in the afternoon.
Free day to rest or take an excursion of your choice.
Recommended excursions :
Altiplanic Lagoons : Explore the beautiful lagoons of Miscanti and Miñiques, part of the Los Flamencos National Reserve. Located at an elevation of 4200 m above sea level, these lagoons sit at the base of the two volcanos and were separated from each other by a lava flow from an eruption. You will be able to admire the stunning views of this breeding ground for flamingos - aprox. 60 $/p.p.
Volcano Lascar (5592m): A 2.30h drive to arrive at the foot of the volcano followed by a 3 to 5 hour climb to the crater of the volcano, the most active in the northern Chilean Andes - 180 $/p.p.
Flight Calama > Santiago de Chile
Depart early in the afternoon to Calama airport. A minivan will pick you up at the hotel to take you directly to the airport where you take your flight to Santiago; arrive late in the afternoon.
Departure by international flight
Your driver will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the airport 3 hours before the departure of your flight.
Arrival by international flight
Arrive in Santiago by international flight. You are met at the airport by our driver and transferred to your hotel. Wander around the capital city soaking up the atmosphere or visit some interesting sites: Bellavista, a bohemian neighbourhood, Plaza de Armas and its colonial architecture and Cerro Santa Lucia with its scenic view over the city and the Andes. Take advantage of this free day in the city before heading to the great outdoors and deserts of the north of Chile !
- Transport : private transfer - 45min
- Accommodation: Aparthotel
- Included meals: none
Flight Santiago de Chile > Arica
Transfer to the airport in the late morning. After a 4 hour flight you will land in Arica, a small town in Chile's far north region. Time to settle in your hotel, the rest of the day is yours to go for a walk on the beach, possibly swim in the sea and enjoy some seafood in one of the many local restaurants.
- Transport : private transfer - 45min
- Accommodation: hotel
- Included meals: none
Rental car
Your rental vehicle will be waiting for you at your hotel at 9am. Ascend 3500 m above sea level in just 155 km to conquer the majesty of the Cordillera of the Andes. The views of dessert hills extend for miles inland as you climb steeply into the high plateau. Drive through the valleys of Azapa and Lluta, with a chance to observe the candelabra cactus, a tall cactus tree. Recommended stops are the Pukara de Copaquilla (fortress) and the small and picturesque village of Socoroma, both from the pre-Inca period. Finally reach Putre, a beautiful town at the foothills of the Andes. Take some time to acclimatize to the altitude. In the afternoon, we recommend you to explore the enigmatic desert of Suriplaza and its multi-coloured mountains. Only two hours from Putre this journey will take you through sulphur volcanoes and sand dunes.
- Transport : rental vehicle – 155km - 3h – to Suriplaza : 4h – 125km
- Accommodation: bungalow
- Included meals: breakfast
Rental car
Visit the Lauca National Park. On your way to Lake Chungara you will cross the humid lowlands of Chucuyo and walk along the Cotacotani Lagoon, surrounded by wetlands and soaring peaks like the volcanoes of Parinacota and Pomerape. We recommend you a visit to the small village of Parinacota (4500 m high) of archaeological and historical interest. To finish the day, guests can go for a swim in the hot springs of Jurasi. Overnight in Putre.
- Transport : rental car – 124km - 3h.
- Accommodation: bungalow
- Included meals: breakfast
- Entrance to the thermal baths not included (3000 pesos/p.p.)
Rental car
Early departure for the National Reserve Las Vicuñas. This natural ecosystem preserves high-altitude wildlife, including vicunas, chinchillas, rheas and condors. Continue on the trail to the Salar de Surire at 4245 m altitude, where you can observe a great variety of flamingos, llamas, vicunas and alpacas overlooked by volcanoes.
We invite you to picnic at the thermal baths of Polloquere before continuing on the road to Isluga Park through the beautiful village Isluga, one of the many ceremonial villages lived in only a few months a year. Arrive in Colchane in the late afternoon.
- Transport : rental car – 240km - 6h.
- Accommodation: family-run hotel
- Included meals: breakfast
Rental car
Cross the immensity of the Atacama Desert to finally return to the ocean. With its 86 meters, the Atacama Giant is one of the largest geoglyphs in the world. Experts estimate that the giant dates from around 900 AD. We also recommend visiting the ghost town of Humberstone, a former saltpeter mining town. Arrive in Iquique in the late afternoon to return your vehicle. Night bus to San Pedro de Atacama will leave around 11:30pm with connection and possible change of bus in Calama.
- Transport : rental car – 205km - 3h.
- Accommodation: overnight bus
- Included meals: breakfast
- Entrance to Humberstone not included
Arrive in San Pedro around 9am. The morning is yours to relax, explore the village or visit the archaeological museum Le Paige. In the afternoon head for the Valley of the Moon. An opportunity to admire this lunar-like landscape at sunset when the craggy rocks are set aflame. This salt-cordillera is an exceptional geological formation resulting from the folding of the edges of the salar due to the plate tectonic motions. Back in San Pedro around 8pm.
- Transport : van - 1h
- Accommodation: family-run hotel
- Included meals: none
- Entrance to the museum Le Paige and Moon Valley not included
Early departure to reach the Geysers of Tatio before sunrise. An impressive show will then gradually unfold, the temperature of the air will fall, and the water vapour will start spurting out several meters above the ground. Return to San Pedro de Atacama and pass through the small village of Machuca where you will appreciate the traditional architecture of a high altitude village, together with its fauna and flora. Return to San Pedro de Atacama early in the afternoon.
- Transport : van - 6h
- Accommodation: family-run hotel
- Included meals: breakfast
- Entrance to the Tatio not included
Free day to rest or take an excursion of your choice.
Recommended excursions :
Altiplanic Lagoons : Explore the beautiful lagoons of Miscanti and Miñiques, part of the Los Flamencos National Reserve. Located at an elevation of 4200 m above sea level, these lagoons sit at the base of the two volcanos and were separated from each other by a lava flow from an eruption. You will be able to admire the stunning views of this breeding ground for flamingos - aprox. 60 $/p.p.
Volcano Lascar (5592m): A 2.30h drive to arrive at the foot of the volcano followed by a 3 to 5 hour climb to the crater of the volcano, the most active in the northern Chilean Andes - 180 $/p.p.
- Accommodation: family-run hotel
- Included meals: breakfast
Flight Calama > Santiago de Chile
Depart early in the afternoon to Calama airport. A minivan will pick you up at the hotel to take you directly to the airport where you take your flight to Santiago; arrive late in the afternoon.
- Transport : van - 2h + private transfer - 45min
- Accommodation: hotel
- Included meals: breakfast
Departure by international flight
Your driver will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the airport 3 hours before the departure of your flight.
- Transport : private transfer - 45min
- Included meals: breakfast
This program is only given as an indication. TransHumans reserves the right, directly or through its local partners, to replace transportation, accommodation, itinerary, as well as dates and departure times, without the participants being able to claim any compensation.
