Venture on foot as you discover the spectacular desert and mountain landscaped regions of the Atacama not accessible by vehicle.
Following the footsteps of areas only trodden by local natives and their goat and llama herds, you may encounter Indian shepherd communities, unique wildlife and archaeological remains with a backdrop of dormant volcanoes. After acclimatising, it is time to set off into the lunar landscape. Pass salt lakes and lagoons dotted with flamingos. Geysers will explode around you; river gorges will amaze you. Hot springs will relax you; village life provides local encounters. The Atacama will be at your feet beneath you, before you return down to the desert floor in this fragile environment. Spend an evening under the night sky with a local astrologer, as you reflect on your time exploring this spectacular land of proud cultures and unimaginable scenery, before ending on the contrasting coast of Chile.
Welcome to the Atacama Desert! You will be met on arrival at Calama Airport and will be transferred to your hotel. This evening at around 5pm, take a 15 minute transfer into the famous Valle de la Luna, or Valley of the Moon. Spend a few hours exploring its stunning sand dunes, ancient salt mines and extraordinary rock formations, before walking up to a perfect vantage point to witness what must be one of the world’s most beautiful sunsets. Watch as the colours of the valley and the Andean peaks beyond, change from deep red, to purple and then pink, as the sun slowly sinks in the sky; a truly unforgettable experience. (D)
3 nights Terra Luna Atacama or similar
Today you will trek through a canyon with several water crossings. Be sure to wear shoes that can get wet! Hiking through the canyon is an incredible geological experience, as you trek from San Pedro de Atacama to San Bartolo (4h). Return to San Pedro, where you will enjoy a BBQ at the Oasis – this is set in 1.5ha of native fruit trees, where you will have a spectacular sunset view. This evening, enjoy an Astronomical tour by night. Understand how to look at the night sky with the naked eye, and observe as well, through powerful telescopes, and discover a new world. What do we see when we look at the stars, what is a constellation, how to learn them, how to read a sky map and recognize the main stars. We use a green laser pointer to show you unambiguously the various constellations. When the moon is visible, it is possible to take images of it through the telescopes, provided you have a digital camera. (B,L,D)
Altitude 2500 – 2700m
Transfer to Rio Grande, a traditional village untouched by tourism. Here you will have a glimpse into the local culture. You then set off on foot to start your trek for the day. Starting at approx. 3000m, you will follow a huge canyon at the start of your walk, before reaching a mountainside to get to Machuca. This is an ancient trail used by local people with their animals, llamas and is dotted by cacti. Your hike today is approx 7h. Transfer back to San Pedro de Atacama (B,L,D)
Altitude 3000 – 3800m
Depart from San Pedro de Atacama at dawn to reach Tatio Geysers del Tatio. The geothermic field is truly incredible, from almost 900 metres below the earth, boiling steam bursts up to 40 metres over the surface of the earth. Continue towards Calama. Enroute you will visit Caspana, Lasana and Chiu-Chiu villages. In Lasana, there is a ‘pukara’ (ancient fortress) in crumbled ruin, as well as the archaeological site of an Inca village. Leaving Calama, drive north. Stop at Cerro Pintados geoglyphs, before arriving at Pica Oasis, where you will spend the night. Bath in the natural swimming pool. (B,L,D)
Overnight local guesthouse or similar
Today you take the high plateaus route by vehicle to give your feet a rest. Your first stop is at Huasco Salt Lake, a dried salt lake with breathtaking scenery, before visiting Lirima village, where you will enjoy lunch and bathe in Aguas Calientes hot springs. Lirima is a small altitude village with several traditional Aymara buildings. In the afternoon, take a mountain road over a pass at 5000m above sea level between Alto Chaviri and Churuyo. Finally, you reach Cariquima village (3800m) where you spend the night in a local guest house. (B,L,D)
Overnight local guesthouse or similar
Cross Isluga Nacional Parc to reach the incredible Surire Salt Lake. Here you will have lunch and a bathe in the natural hot springs. In the afternoon, head into Lauca Nacional Parc, bordering Guallatire active volcano (6060m). Reach Lake Chungara and take in the incredible view over Parinacota (6342m) and Pomerape (6282m) volcanoes. Visit Parinacota village, where you will see a quaint church and an impressive view of the Parinacota volcano. Drive down to Putre where you will spend the night. (B,L,D)
Overnight local guesthouse or similar
Start the day with a relaxing bathe in Jurasi hot springs. You will then follow a secondary road that crosses a dozen forgotten villages, such as Belen or Ticnamar, where you will embrace a taste of local cultures and traditions. Enjoy a short 1 hour trek in the hidden canyon before reaching Codpa Valley at sunset. Visit Ofragia petroglyphs and spend the night in Codpa. (B,L,D)
Overnight local guesthouse or similar
Travel down to the Pacific coast at Caleta Vitor, a nice beach hidden between 1000m high cliffs. Here, you will be acquainted with the local fisherman lifestyle – the contrast of coastal life after time in the desert is astounding. Arrive in Arica for a great lunch by the sea. In the afternoon, visit Azapa Valley, its museum and Arica’s historical Morro. Transfer to the airport for your onward flight. (B,L)
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**Please note that this tour can be organised on request for private departures.
* Pricing is subject to change at anytime until full payment has been received.
* A minimum of 4 adults is required to guarantee this departure. Maximum group size is 12 guests.
A non-refundable deposit of $1000 AUD per person is required to secure your place. Final payment is due no later than 60 days prior to departure. Travel insurance is mandatory for travelling with Crooked Compass. For full terms and conditions, please click here.
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This category of tours involves light trekking, walking, cycling, rafting or kayaking for a few hours each day with a small amount of inclines and declines. You will require a reasonable level of fitness and good health to participate. It is important to note that due to the nature of some of our trips, they may take place in remote areas (with basic facilities) and can involve long travelling days on various modes of transport.
Suggested preparation : At least 3 months prior to departure, it is recommended that you undertake aerobic exercise (this may include jogging, cycling or fast walking) for 30 minutes, three times a week. It is also advised to walk on variable terrain and in variable weather conditions. For a cycling adventure, road cycling twice a week is recommended and for adventures which involve paddling and kayaking, it is important to gain confidence and rhythm rather than speed prior to departure.
This category of tours involve trekking, kayaking and cycling for period of 6 to 8 hours a day at a fairly consistent pace. Ideal for people looking to slightly increase the heart rate. For our moderately rated tours, you must have a good level of fitness and also be in good health. It is also important to be prepared for variable weather conditions. Altitude may also come into play. This category of tours may involve visiting remote areas where facilities can be quite basic. Accommodation may also involve camping, homestays or basic accommodation where facilities may not be considered of western standards. To enjoy this style of travel, it is suggested for travellers to have a reasonable level of fitness and health, a positive attitude, as well as a fairly active lifestyle. An open mind is also required.
Suggested preparation: At least 3 months prior to departure, it is recommended that you undertake 45mins – 1 hour of aerobic exercise, three to four times a week. Some potential exercises that could be beneficial include hill walking with a backpack on over variable terrain and weather conditions, as well as running and cycling dependent on the activity you plan on undertaking.
This category of tours involves trekking, kayaking, cycling or other adventure activities in remote areas for up to 8 to 10 hours a day. It is important to note that with the remoteness of some regions comes a variety of other challenges such as variable weather conditions, accommodation as well as facilities. You must have an excellent level of fitness and good health to be able to partake in this category of tour. You must have confidence in your own ability and be in good physical condition. Includes extended periods of endurance.
Suggested preparation: At least 3 to 4 months of strenuous exercise, four times a week. When preparing for treks it would be beneficial to participate in hill walks with a weighted day pack (approximately 5-8 kg) once a week for aerobic fitness and strengthening of leg muscles. It is also important to do this on variable terrain to prepare for challenging adventures. When preparing for cycling adventures, regular bike riding (at least 4 to 5 times a week for 1-4 hours is essential). It is also important to cycle on uneven surfaces or even participate in other aerobic exercises such as running or swimming to build up strength and stamina. Altitude may also be a factor in these tours.
This category of tour often involves extreme trekking, cycling or other extreme adventure activities. It is important to expect remote and poorly defined tracks and to be prepared for variable weather conditions for 10 to 12 hours per day (may sometimes be more depending on weather and altitude). These adventures are suitable for travellers who have prior experience in strenuous travel and activities, are extremely fit and have excellent health. It is also important to note that some of the terrain on these adventures will involve trekking in snow, at high attitude levels and may require technical equipment.
Suggested preparation: It is important to note that physical fitness should be an ongoing activity, commencing around 5-6 months prior to departure, or even before if you have no prior fitness. Exercise should focus on building maximum endurance and stamina. Four to five hard sessions of 40-60 mins per week should be completed and can include exercises such as going to the gym, running, swimming or cycling to focus on building aerobic stamina. It could also be beneficial to prepare by hiking on rough terrain, in extreme weather conditions or partake in altitude training.
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