Rates Note:

Transfer and Other Charges:

 
Sample Itineraries - Subject to changes.

10-day Itinerary

Day 1: TRANSFER from Calama airport 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 - GUATÍN (+/- 20 Km.)
Departure from San Pedro as at 9:00 to the oasis of Vilama. The horses go upstream in the river bed, then they turn east. It rises little by little through a valley full of bushes. More goes up in height, more plants we find. We are approaching the Andes Mountain Range. Suddenly, a valley appears, Guatín, small oasis with a little alfalfa, where 3 people live with their large troop of goats. Around, in the nearby hills, the giant cactus grows. It is on the edge of the Puritama river, in the middle of the "foxtails" that we will camp. Possible bathroom

DAY 3: GUATÍN - VALLE ARENOSO (+/- 22 KM)
We go back down towards the hills of Gatchi to reach the small "estancia" (shepherd's house) of Calar, hidden in a canyon on the edge of the Vilama river. One can cool off in the river. Then we will cross the river Vilama to reach the corral of Petroglyphs, resting place of the prehistoric shepherds and where they recorded camelids as well as characters and frets. We went down to the plain by a troop trail and set up camp in a sandy valley at the foot of the cliffs.

DAY 4: VALLE ARENOSO - RIO SALADO (20KM)
We pass the Pucará de Quitor, a PRE-Inca fortress and the site of the Spanish Conquest of the Atacameño territory, located at the entrance of the San Pedro river canyon. We go up the river whose green valley contrasts with the ocher rocks. We deviate from the valley to penetrate the Garganta del Diablo that meanders in the Cordillera de la Sal, going up a canyon and down another to reach the oasis of Catarpe, on the San Pedro River. We continue towards the North, passing through the oasis of Cuchaorache. Further on, we arrive at the campsite, two steps from the Salado River, where one of the most important petroglyph sites in the region can be admired.

DAY 5: RIO SALADO- SAN PEDRO (+/- 20 KM)
After a large esplanade from which the view over the Andes is great, we take a canyon that takes us to Piedra de la Coca, the ceremonial stone of the Atacameños Indians who traveled with their caravans of llamas between the mountains and the ocean. Their routes were used centuries later (end of the XIX century, beginning of the XX century) by muleteers with large troops of cattle. We will follow its tracks that will lead us to the top of a cliff that dominates the entire Valley. We go along the cornice road from where the view is spectacular: we dominate the valley, the San Pedro plain, the Salar de Atacama. Our sight falls on the crests of the Cordillera de la Sal. We descend towards the plain for an impressive dune and through the beautiful canyon of the Valley of Death. Dinner in a restaurant in San Pedro and night in B & B ..

DAY 6: Free morning where you can visit the town of San Pedro. Lunch in a restaurant in San Pedro
Afternoon on horseback: SAN PEDRO - BETER (+/- 10 Km.)
Visit the oasis of Solor, where they grow corn and alfalfa, but also some fruits. Adobe houses and local trees. We crossed the desert to the south and arrived at the colonial town of Béter, in ruins and almost completely covered with dunes. Very wild, savannah landscape. Camp nearby.

DAY 7: BETER - CEJAR (+/- 16KM)
We go even further south, where the immensity is flat and where the earth creaks under our steps: in the Salar de Atacama, the salt desert. We will go first to the lagoons of Tebinquiche, where there are two miraculously sweet water eyes and also a lagoon with salty and blue waters. It is a very lonely landscape. Then, we will go to the lagoons of Cejar, turquoise blue, surrounded by golden reeds, where we will camp. Wonderful sunset in the Andes mountain range. Sometimes, some flamingos fly over the lagoon ... especially in the morning.

DAY 9: LUNATIC VALLEY - VALLE DE LA LUNA - SAN PEDRO (+/- 25 KM)
We pass to the other side of the Cordillera de la Sal to go up the Llano de la Paciencia on the west side of it to access one of the most reputed sites in the region: the Valley of the Moon. Few people are, however, in the morning ... We crossed the Valley of the Moon, passing by the sculptural formation of the Tres Marías, going along old salt mines, to reach the foot of the Duna Mayor, place " classic "of the tourist site. Then, we crossed the large esplanade at the foot of the greater dune, climbed a small dune and we entered a labyrinth of small canyons in the heart of the Cordillera de la Sal, which lead us to a wide ravine, the Kari ravine, dominated by an immense cliff. Kari will take us back to the plain of San Pedro and its town by maze of canyons and dunes. Dinner in a restaurant and night in a B & B.

DAY 10: transfer to the airport of Calama
End of services.

This program includes: transfer in and out, the nights in B & B indicated, restaurants in San Pedro indicated, the entrances to the protected sites, camping equipment (tents, sleeping bags and insulating mat) bottled water during the ride and food (Cold for lunch, hot around a campfire for dinner, with wine and appetizer and breakfast).

This program does not include: an accident insurance, activities outside of those indicated.

The above sample itinerary is subject to changes at the discretion of the tour operator.

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Day 1: TRANSFER from Calama airport to San Pedro. Night in  B&B and dinner in a restaurant. 

DAY 2: SAN PEDRO - LAGUNA CEJAR (+/- 20 km)
It is in the immense desert plain that we will meet. We will first visit the oasis of San Pedro (or ayllus) and then move away and enter the Salar de Atacama. The earth becomes more crispy. Suddenly, a turquoise lagoon appears, the Laguna Céjar, surrounded by golden reeds. Sometimes, some flamingos feed there. Possibility to bathe in the lagoon, where a fleet like in the Dead Sea. The sunset is from there a surprising sight. We camp near the lagoon.

DAY 3: LAGUNA CÉJAR - VALLE LUNÁTICO (+/- 25 KM)
After leaving the Salar de Atacama, we will cross to the ayllu de Béter to visit the abandoned village of Béter, from colonial times but later covered by dunes; Now, ruins of ruins in a wild landscape. We will cross the desert to go to the Ayllu de Coyo and picnic under the shade of some old carob trees. We will then take the direction of the Cordillera de la Sal to enter the Lunático Valley, parallel to the Valley of the Moon, of varied and absolutely solitary places. Camp in an old salt mine, with a sunset exclusively for us.

DAY 4: LUNATIC VALLEY - VALLE DE LA LUNA - SAN PEDRO (+/- 25 KM)
We pass to the other side of the Cordillera de la Sal to go up the Llano de la Paciencia on the west side of it to access one of the most reputed sites in the region: the Valley of the Moon. Few people are, however, in the morning ... We crossed the Valley of the Moon, passing by the sculptural formation of the Tres Marías, going along old salt mines, to reach the foot of the Duna Mayor, place " classic "of the tourist site. Then, we crossed the great esplanade at the foot of the greater dune, climbed a small dune and we entered a labyrinth of small canyons in the heart of the Cordillera de la Sal, which lead us to a wide ravine, the deep ravine of Kari, dominated by an immense cliff. Kari will take us back to the plain of San Pedro and its town by maze of canyons and dunes. Dinner in a restaurant and night in a B & B.

DAY 5: SAN PEDRO - CALAR (+/- 15 KM, 5 HRS)
We start from San Pedro around 9:00 to the foot of the Cordillera de la Sal and take the Canyon del Valle del Tiempo. Then, we go to Pukará de Quitor, a pre-Inca fortress to reach the Vilama River, where we make a hoop and have lunch. We resumed the horses and climbed along the Gatchi Hills. We arrived at the campsite, the "estancia" (shepherd's shack) of Calar, located in a ravine, on the edge of the Vilama river where you can bathe.

DAY 6: CALAR - RIO SALADO (+/- 18 KM, 6 HRS)
We will leave the canyon of Calar to descend by the Cerros de Gatchi and arrive again at the Vilama River, crossing it to reach a hidden corral with rock art, the Corral de los Petroglifos. After lunch in this place, we will lose ourselves in the clay canyons of the Garganta del Diablo, in the heart of the Cordillera de la Sal. The Garganta del Diablo flows into the San Pedro River, at the height of the Oasis of Catarpe. We will go upstream, we will go through the Oasis of Cuchaorache and we will arrive at the mouth of the Salado River, which we will go up to reach our campsite, in the vicinity of the River. This place on the Rio Salado stops one of the most beautiful petroglyph sites in the region.

DAY 7: RIO SALADO - RIO SAN PEDRO (+/- 21 KM, 7 HRS)
It is by a wide plain and then by a canyon that we will arrive at Piedra de la Coca, ceremonial stone of the Atacameños Indians during their caravan trip between the Andes Mountain Range and the Pacific Ocean. Lunch. We will then go up a cattle trail used at the end of the 19th century by large cattle troops that crossed our region. When arriving at the top of the cliff that dominates all the Valley of San Pedro, we will return towards the town by all the Cornice. Spectacular view from the top. We will descend through the dunes and the canyon of Valle de la Muerte and return to the town of San Pedro. Night in a B & B and dinner in a restaurant.

DAY 8: TRANSFER OUT towards the airport of Calama. End of services.

This program includes: the transfer in and out, the nights in a B & B (with private bathroom) and the meals indicated in the program in a restaurant in San Pedro, the water packaged during the ride, the meals during the ride (picnic) cold in the day, hot dinner with aperitif and Chilean wine around a campfire, breakfast), the entrances to the protected sites, the camping material (tent, sleeping bags, insulating mattress), all transported in 4 × 4 in each campsite, a guide in Spanish.

This program does not include: an accident insurance, a guide in another language than Spanish (supplement of a guide in English or French of 150 euros per day per group

The above sample itinerary is subject to changes at the discretion of the tour operator.

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Calama area

Seasons
Whether you visit San Pedro de Atacama during winter or summer, you must bring a good sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses with UV filter and a bottle of water to stay hydrated.
In San Pedro de Atacama, you will enjoy sunny days almost year-round. Located 2,400 meters above sea level, the weather in this village is mild and dry. However, remember that temperatures tend to lower at higher elevations.
You should remember that the weather in San Pedro de Atacama is unpredictable: radiant sun or cold weather below 0°C some nights, wind, sand and rain storms...a

Fall – Winter season
From April to September, temperature in San Pedro de Atacama ranges between 9 ° C and approximately 24 ° C. It is a season of clear skies, total lack of rain and colder nights due to thermal oscillation. It is an ideal season for those who want to avoid crowds.

Spring – Summer Season
From October to March – high season in San Pedro de Atacama-  temperature ranges between 13ºC and  25ºC, with highs of 32 ° C. A season with hot days and occasional rainfall due to the Bolivian Winter phenomenon (January-April).

From mid-December to mid-March the tours are not available because it is the rainy season.
During the rest of the year, tours can be scheduled at any time. However, you should be aware that, during winter (June to August) nights can be cold (below -5°C and even as cold as -15°C at times).

There are no ATM machines in San Pedro de Atacama and only a few places where you can pay with credit cards (mainly Visa).  Bring cash.  Some shops will exchange dollars but the rates fluctuate).

All meals are included. Wine and spirits will be served with dinner during the camping nights.
Picnics and water are carried on a pack horse.
We are met each evening by the support vehicle and are always in contact with the group via radio.
The vehicle brings food and water for riders and horses, wood fuel for camping.

All camping equipment is provided, including: sleeping mats and sleeping bags (we provide very good down sleeping bags "pluma de ganso" -20 °C) and insulated mattresses.
The tents are comfortable, with two guests to a tent. 
Solar shower for the camping depends on the weather and arrival time at campsite - don't count on it !

Tack:		Chilean Saddles with English stirrups
Horses:		Criollos
Pace:		Moderate with 2-3 long trots and 2-3 canters each day, except in high altitude, 5 to 6 hrs per day. Some days can go up to11.500 ft on the longer treks.
Level:		(3 out of 5)    Intermediate +
Age:		Min 15
Weight:		Max 190 lbs
Riders:		Min 2 riders	Max 6 riders

The saddles provided are Chilean type, which are called Avios. Its origin is Spanish and they have been designed specially for long trips. Its wooden mount, reinforced with iron, is cushioned with “chiporro” and protected with leather. The other clothing beneath the saddle are called: batán, pellón and matra, and are normally laid on ground by gauchos to provide a soft and warm bed.

Passports

Passport valid for at least six months required by nationals referred to in the chart.

Passport Note

Passports issued to children must contain a photo and state the nationality.

Visas

Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to 90 days except the following:

(a) 1. nationals of Greece for up to 60 days and nationals of Romania for up to 30 days.

(b) transit passengers continuing their journey on the same or first connecting aircraft provided holding required travel documents for onward destination and not leaving the airport transit lounge.

Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).

Visa Note

2. Nationals of Australia, Canada and the USA entering Chile for touristic purposes will be charged a processing fee payable on arrival and in cash only. For nationals of  Australia, the fee is US$56; for nationals of Canada, the fee is US$132; and for nationals of the USA, the fee is US$100 .