Day 1: Calama - San Pedro - Moon Valley
Transfer to San Pedro de Atacama after your arrival at Calama Airport. After your drive through the desert, the fertile oasis of San Pedro will certainly appear as a total change of scene. Of pre- Incan origin, this village and its surroundings are home to various archaeological sites. The fascinating museum with its immense collection of pre-Hispanic artifacts - among them astonishingly well preserved mummies - is certainly worth a visit. The Spanish conquistadores arrived here in 1540, the local church built in 1577 is one of the many imprints of Spanish culture that have shaped the village ever since. In the evening you will visit the mysterious Moon Valley just outside of San Pedro with its fascinating moonscape that is becoming increasingly beautiful in the fading sunlight. Overnight in San Pedro.

Day 2: Highland Lagoons - Atacama Salt Lake
In the morning you will ascend to an altitude beyond 4000 m / 13,100 ft in the highland to visit the Miscanti and Miñiques lagoons below the homonymous towering mountain peaks. The deep blue watercolor framed by white banks and the mountains as a backdrop form an unforgettable sight. In the afternoon you will return to San Pedro, stopping at the gigantic Salar de Atacama, the biggest salt lake in all of Chile where the Río San Pedro trickles away in the endless plain. Overnight in San Pedro. (B,BL)

Day 3: San Pedro - Quitor - Tulor - Puritama Hot Springs
On your way to a relaxing bath at the tranquil hot springs of Puritama, you will stop at Quitor and Tulor, two sites of pre-Incan origin, which played a key role in the colonization of the valley. The fort Quitor was conquered in 1540 by the Spanish conquistadores defeating the Incan troops who, in turn, had captured it from the pre- Incan cultures and extended the fortification. For the evening you

can book an optional 3-hour astronomic excursion in the outskirts of San Pedro. Overnight in San Pedro. (B,BL)

Day 4: Tara Salt Lake
After breakfast, you will enjoy a ride through fantastic volcanic landscapes and wide plains to the salt lake Tara, quietly tucked away in the Los Flamencos National Park; it is the most beautiful salt lake in the region with surrounded by incredible scenery. Archaeological sites of interest and paintings abound in the region. Llamas and vicuñas will accompany you throughout the trip. (B,BL)

Day 5: El Tatio Geyser - Caspana - Chiu Chiu - Calama
In the early morning you will set out to see the breathtaking geysers of El Tatio - the highest geothermal field in the world - where various spurts of steam shoot out of the blowholes, and brilliant salt crust on the banks of boiling ponds reflect the metal-blue sky at dawn. Enjoy this natural phenomenon before you will continue on to the picturesque village of Caspana. Afterwards you will visit (if road conditions allow) the Pukara de Turi - the largest fort of the Incan culture in Chile. Declared National Monument in 1971, it is still an insider's tip in spite of its fascinating ambience and structures. You will continue your excursion to the tiny village of Chiu Chiu, located on the former "Inca Trail", the main trade route that cut through this valley. Trade continued well into the 19th century until the opening of the railway in 1890 offered a more efficient alternative. Chiu Chiu is known today for the oldest church in Chile. From there you will return to Calama to a connecting flight or an additional day in Calama. (B,BL)

 
Extension: Additional overnight in Calama to visit the largest copper mine in the world (Chuquicamata) on the following day (only Mon-Fri).