The Licancabur Volcano, the salt flats of Aguas Calientes, the salt flats of Quisquiro... On this excursion through the Atacama Desert, we'll discover these and many other emblematic places of the Chilean Altiplano. Don't miss it!
Salt Flats Route
We'll pick you up at your hotel in San Pedro de Atacama at the indicated time. From there, we'll head towards the Andes Mountains, crossing the vast plains of the Chilean Altiplano, or the Andean Plateau.
As we travel 150 kilometers by bus, and enjoy a light breakfast onboard, we'll observe the best examples of flora and fauna of the area until we reach the Licancabur volcano, which acts as a natural border between Chile and Bolivia. Did you know that it's more than 5,900 meters (19,356 feet) high?
The cone of this stratovolcano crowns the landscape of the Chilean Altiplano, where we'll also find highlights like the Quepiaco wetlands, an extensive plain of endemic vegetation located at the foot of the volcanic mountain range, which we'll visit during the tour.
Next, we'll head east and stop for a picture next to the Monjes de la Pakana, geological formations shaped by wind erosion that were considered stone sentinels by the ancient cultures that inhabited the high plateau.
Hungry? Don't worry, at midday we'll take a break for a bite to eat. Lunch can be en route (includes a main dish and a drink) or at a restaurant (includes a main dish, to choose between two options, and a drink).
Afterward, we'll travel to the salt flats of Aguas Calientes and Quisquiro, two deposits that form extensive white beaches of this chemical compound. The contrast with the Andean mountain range makes these places look like something from another world! We'll also make a last stop to visit Laguna Negra, meaning 'Black Lagoon'. Can you guess how it got its name?
From here, we'll take the trip back to San Pedro de Atacama, bringing the tour to an end in the city center, 7.5-8 hours later.
Pickup Info
The tour includes pickup from hotels located within a radius of up to 5 kilometers (3.10 miles) from the center of San Pedro de Atacama. Depending on availability, we may be able to pick you up at hotels closer (maximum radius of 2 kilometers) or further away (maximum radius of 10 kilometers), so we recommend that you always indicate an accommodation located in the historic center of San Pedro. Please note that pick-ups in the nearby towns of Ayllus, Solor, Cucuter, and Toconao are not included.
If you're staying in areas further outside the center, we'll pick you up at an alternative meeting point, the details of which you'll receive in your reservation voucher.
Itinerary Order
Due to organizational reasons, the order of the visits described in the itinerary may vary.
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