10-day Itinerary
12-day Itinerary
8-day Itinerary
10-day Itinerary
Day 1: Pick up in Calama and transfer
to San Pedro de Atacama via shuttle service. Dinner in restaurant (if arrival in
time) and overnight at local B&B.
Day 2 : SAN PEDRO-GUATIN
We meet the horses and ride to Vilama Oasis and up the Vilama river bed. We
deviate up East, by a valley full of pingo-pingo bushes. We have the Andes
mountains in front of us. A valley appears, Guatin, small oasis where alfalfa
grows, and where 3 people live, with a big troop of goats. Around, lots of
cactus grow on the hills. We camp near the Puritama river, where you even can
have a bath.
Day 3 : GUATIN - VALLE ARENOSO
We ride down in direction of the Gatchi mountains to join the small canyon of
Calar, where the Vilama river is, and where the shepherds built a "house" (
local "estancia"). Bath possibility. We cross Vilama river and arrive to the
Petroglyphs Corral, archeological resting shepherds corral where some figures in
the stone are drawn. We ride down to the plain by a small track and camp in a
sandy valley on the foot of the cliff.
Day 4 : VALLE ARENOSO - RIO SALADO
We visit Quitor Pukara, which is a pre-Inca
fortress, conquered by the Spanish, at the entrance of San Pedro river valley.
We ride up the contrasted (green and reddish) river canyon. We deviate into a
narrow canyon, the Devil's Throat, which goes zigzagging inside salt Chain. We
go up by a canyon, and down by another to arrive to Catarpe Oasis, on San Pedro
River. We continue north and cross the Cuchaorache Oasis. Further, we reach our
camping place, near the Rio Salado. You will be able to see and admire one of
the most important rock art places of the region.
Day 5 : RIO SALADO - SAN PEDRO
After a big esplanade where the sight to the Andes
Mountains is beautiful, we take a canyon leading us to Coca Stone, ceremonial
stone of local Indians traveling between ocean and mountains. Some rock art
there. Their trail was used a lot of years after (end of 19th, beginning of 20th
century) by cattle and their local "cow boys". We will follow their tracks which
lead us up to a cliff. We go to San Pedro all along the border of that cliff,
from where you can see all San Pedro plain, Salt Flat, Andes, down to the Salt
Chain crests. The view is really amazing. We ride down to the plain by the dunes
and the Death Valley canyon. Dinner in a San Pedro restaurant and night in a
B&B.
Day 6 : Free morning to visit the village. Lunch in a San Pedro
restaurant.
In the afternoon, by horse from SAN PEDRO to BETER
We visit the Solor Oasis, where local people grow alfalfa, corn and also some
fruits. We cross the desert south and visit the Beter Village ruins, dating back
to colonial times and almost all covered by dunes. Like a savanna landscape. We
camp near the village.
Day 7 : BETER - CEJAR
We continue south, where the landscape is flat, and where the ground crackles
under our feet : the Salt Flat. We ride first to Tebinquinche Lakes. Two sweet
water eyes and a blue salted lake. It is a very solitary landscape. Then, we
join Céjar Lake, turquoise, surrounded by golden herbs. We camp there. Wonderful
sunset on the Andes mountains. Sometimes some flamingos fly over the lakes,
specially in the morning.
Day 8 LAGUNA CEJAR- VALLE LUNÁTICO (+/- 25 km 7 HRS)
After we leave the Salt Flat, we pass by the oasis of Béter and the ancient colonial village covered by dunes. We cross to Coyo Oasis by a undulated landscape and have a picnic under the trees. Then, we we ride in direction of the Salt Chain back to Tulor Oasis and enter in an almost virgin, deeply beautiful and changing Valley: Moon Valley. We cross it and camp in an ancient salt mine surrounded by a wonderful landscape.
Day 9 VALLE LUNÁTICO - VALLE DE LA LUNA – SAN PEDRO (+/-25 KM 8 HRS)
After crossing the entire Valley to “Llano de la Paciencia” we ride
north across the flats and head for Salt Chain again on the western
side. Once at the base of that chain, we enter in one of the most
renowned sites: Moon Valley. But not a lot of people are there in the
morning... We cross the most open part of the Moon Valley, see the Tres
Marías natural sculptures, stop at the main big dune, take the wide
esplanade at the front of big dune, go up a little dune and ride into a
maze of canyons. We go out this labyrinth into a wide canyon: Kari,
which will lead us to sand dunes by a series of tangled small valleys.
Riding up and down sand dunes we finally reach San Pedro flats and
village.
Day 10 : Transfer to Calama airport after breakfast.
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12-day Itinerary
Day 1 : TRANSFER from Calama airport, dinner in a
restaurant and night in a B&B
Day 2 : SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA-GUATIN (+/- 25 KM)
This is the parallel road to the Tatio Geysers. We go progressively to altitude,
from 2340m (san Pedro) to 3000 more or less (Guatin. Guatin is a sort of oasis
(without trees) where two rivers join themselves : the Puripica and the Puritama
rivers. Some alfalfa cultures and a lot of cactus in the surrounding hills. A
couple live there, with a big troop of goats and sheep. We camp near the
Puritama river.
Day 3: GUATIN-MACHUCA (+/- 20 KM)
First, we pass the Puritama river canyon, and we go up slowly in altitude. The
landscape open itself, plants are more numerous (but they are still bushes!).
The road crosses a wonderful rock chaos. Then, Machuca lagoon appears, and the
village (1 street!), with its little church set hi up the hill, and the lamas.
(+/- 4000m). Night in a bed.
Day 4 : MACHUCA-RÍO GRANDE (+/- 18 KM)
We go by the river side, the by a track up the valley. It is a track people from
the two valleys cover with their animals. Lot of stones, but a wonderful
landscape, with little hamlets of stony houses and corrals. Rio Grande is
situated in the bottom of the big river (Rio) Grande canyon. It is bigger and
lower (3200m) than Machuca, Its inhabitants grow garlic, broad bean, onions,
aromatic herbs... in terraces. Night in a bed.
Day 5 : RIO GRANDE-SAN BARTOLO (+/- 12 KM)
We let the river to go up the valley (beautiful view) then up hill and down
dale... to finally go down to San Bartolo and the Rio Grande river (not already
San Pedro river) where copper mines have been exploited, and still are. Camping
in the oasis.
Day 6 : SAN BARTOLO-SAN PEDRO (+/- 18 KM)
We go along the valley, and then up out of it to join Rio Salado river where you
will be able to admire one of the most beautiful site of rock art of the place.
We cross the river and join the Rio San Pedro, which is the mix of Rio Salado
and Rio Grande. We go down the river, passing by Cuchaorache and Catarpe oasis.
We enter in the Devil's throat, a small canyon inside the Salt Chain, to end in
a ancient corral, with rock art. We come back to the plain by a very deep track,
still used by local shepherds, pass by Pukara de Quitor, a pre-Inca fortress,
and back to San Pedro village. Night in B&B
Day 7 : PURITAMA THERMAL BATHS (by car)
Relaxing day. Have a massage in the natural Jacuzzi 34°C water is a really
delightful experience, in a deep rocky canyon.
In the afternoon, visit of the Gustavo Le Paige archaeological museum. Night in
B&B
DAY 8 : SAN PEDRO-LAGUNA CEJAR (+/- 20 KM)
We will found ourselves in the wide desert plain, sprinkled with oasis. We will
cover some of them (also named ayllus) to move and enter in the Atacama Salt
Flat. The ground is more crunchy. Suddenly, a turquoise lagoon appears : Cejar.
It is a very salted water, where, if you want to have a bath, you will float!.
Some flamingos sometimes eat there. The sunset is an amazing sight. Camping.
Day 9 : LAGUNA CEJAR- VALLE LUNÁTICO (+/- 25 km 7 HRS)
After we leave the Salt Flat, we pass by the oasis of Béter and the ancient colonial village covered by dunes. We cross to Coyo Oasis by a undulated landscape and have a picnic under the trees. Then, we we ride in direction of the Salt Chain back to Tulor Oasis and enter in an almost virgin, deeply beautiful and changing Valley: Moon Valley. We cross it and camp in an ancient salt mine surrounded by a wonderful landscape.
Day 10 : PUEBLO DE BETER- VALLE DE LA LUNA (+/-18KM)
After passing through Coyo oasis, we make for Salt Chain. Once on the foot of
that chain, we enter in one of the most renowned sites: Moon Valley. But not a
lot of people are there in the morning... We cross the most open part of the
Moon Valley, to go up a little dune and ride into a maze of canyons. We go out
this labyrinth into a wide canyon : Kari, which will lead us to sand dunes by a
series of tangled small valleys. We ride down the dune to arrive at the Time
Valley and camp there.
Day 11 : VALLE DEL TIEMPO- SAN PEDRO (+/- 18 KM)
We take the horses to Quitor oasis, and enter into the river valley. we take a
zigzagging cattle track, El Paso de los Toros, made at the end of XIXth century.
We go down to the other side of the hill, by a canyon, to stop at Piedra de la
Coca (Coca Stone), ceremonial stone, with some rock art. Up again to come back
direction to San Pedro by all the border of the cliff. Wonderful dominating view
on the Andes cordillera, Salt Chain, Salt Flat, Oasis. Last general view of all
the covered landscape. Back to San Pedro by Death Valley Canyon. Dinner in a
restaurant and Night in B&B
Day 12 : TRANSFER to Calama airport.
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8-day Itinerary
Day 1: TRANSFER IN from Calama
Day 2 : SAN PEDRO – CALAR (+/- 15 KM - 5 hours )
Our horses take us from San Pedro at about 9:00 to go to the foot of the Salt
Chain and we take the Time Valley canyon. Then we ride to Quitor pukará, pre
Inca fortress. We go on to join our pique-nique (cold lunch) place, Rio Vilama.
We take the horses again and go along the Gatchi hills to join the small deep
canyon of Calar during the afternoon. You will have the possibility to have a
bath in the river.
Day 3 : CALAR – RIO SALADO (+/- 18 KM, 6 hours)
We will join a shepherd track which leads us to Vilama canyon by the Gatchi
hills and then to an archeological corral where you can see rock art. After the
cold lunch in that corral, we will disappear into Devil’s throat, a deep small
canyon into clay, salt and gypsum. We will arrive to the Rio San Pedro, near
Catarpe Oasis. We ride up the river, pass by Cuchaorache Oasis. We go away from
the valley to arrive to Rio Salado, very important rock art place in the region.
We camp in the surroundings.
Day 4 : RIO SALADO – SAN PEDRO (+/- 21 KM, 7 hours )
It’s by a wide plateau and then a canyon that we will join Piedra de la Coca
(Coca Stone), Atacamenian Indians ceremonial stone during their trip in caravan
between Pacific Ocean and Andes Mountains. Cold lunch. Then we take a ancient
cattle track which crossed the region at the beginning of the 19th century. We
arrive at the top of the cliff which dominates the river valley and all the
landscape and take the cliff track. Spectacular view on the valley, Atacama
oasis, Salt Flat, Mountains and wonderful view from above to the Salt Chain
crests. We go down to the San Pedro Plain by Death valley dunes and canyon.
Night in a B&B, dinner in a restaurant.
Day 5 : SAN PEDRO-LAGUNA CEJAR (+/- 20 KM - 5 hours )
We will found ourselves in the wide desert plain, sprinkled with oasis. We will
cover some of them (also named ayllus): Solor, Cúcuter, Poconche to move and
enter in the Atacama Salt Flat. The ground is more crunchy. Suddenly, a
turquoise lagoon appears : Cejar. It is a very salted water, where, if you want
to have a bath, you will float!. Some flamingos sometimes eat there. The sunset
is an amazing sight. Camping.
Day 6 LAGUNA CEJAR- VALLE LUNÁTICO (+/- 25 km 7 HRS)
After we leave the Salt Flat, we pass by the oasis of Béter and the ancient colonial village covered by dunes. We cross to Coyo Oasis by a undulated landscape and have a picnic under the trees. Then, we we ride in direction of the Salt Chain back to Tulor Oasis and enter in an almost virgin, deeply beautiful and changing Valley: Moon Valley. We cross it and camp in an ancient salt mine surrounded by a wonderful landscape.
Day 7 VALLE LUNÁTICO - VALLE DE LA LUNA – SAN PEDRO (+/-25 KM 8 HRS)
After crossing the entire Valley to “Llano de la Paciencia” we ride north across the flats and head for Salt Chain again on the western side. Once at the base of that chain, we enter in one of the most renowned sites: Moon Valley. But not a lot of people are there in the morning... We cross the most open part of the Moon Valley, see the Tres Marías natural sculptures, stop at the main big dune, take the wide esplanade at the front of big dune, go up a little dune and ride into a maze of canyons. We go out this labyrinth into a wide canyon: Kari, which will lead us to sand dunes by a series of tangled small valleys. Riding up and down sand dunes we finally reach San Pedro flats and village.
Day 8 : TRANSFER OUT to Calama airport in the morning. End of the
services.
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