Colours of The Desert

Code: CLAT04

Day 1

• Transfer airport / hotel in Santiago
• Rest of the day free for leisure
• Overnight at hotel

Day 2

• Breakfast at hotel
• HD Salar de Atacama & Toconao: Be part of the Andean culture and appreciate the beautiful handcrafts made of volcanic stone, Cactus wood and Llama wool in the picturesque and small village of Toconao. Then explore in a guided tour the vast Atacama Salt Lake, one of the worlds largest. Discover how life survives in the salty environment. Walk over one of the largest salt crusts and have a look at the interesting biotic relationship between the dry environment, water coming from the Andes and the animals that live there. Observe the beautiful and surprising flamingos, one of the better adapted birds to the harsh environment and climate that characterizes the place. Discover the micro organic life, surviving in Salt concentrations even higher than the sea, life that allows the subsistence of many insects, reptilian and birds, which change this harsh plateau into an extraordinary habitat full of surprises. To finish the day, enjoy the peace and the silence of a sunset in this special place.
• HD Valle de La Luna: Our trip will take us to capricious forms of salt and clay, as you will see in the “Three Marias” area. There you will be visiting the geological shapes located in one of the world¨s driest and most hostile zones, the Atacama Desert. You will appreciate the great molding power of the natural forces of our planet, be amazed with the delicate work of nature over thousand of years, stay, contemplate and photograph incomparable sculptures. Enjoy an exciting experience in the Salt caves, surprising shapes in the middle of the salt mountain range. The highlight of your desert adventure will be waiting for the Atacama sunset, opening you senses to the wonderful landscapes and colors of the mountains, with the Licancabur Volcano as the millenary witness of a new evening in the desert.
• Overnight at hotel.

Day 3

• Breakfast at hotel
• FD Geiser del Tatio: Experience the old tradition of the ancient Andean culture greeting “padre sol” (sunfather) before we leave San Pedro Atacama to visit the Tatio Geyser, 100km into the Andes mountain range. There you will be participating in one of the most astonishing phenomenon produced by nature, see contrasting colors produced by the steam columns in the highest geothermal field in the world. Take the most impressing photographs walking across the tracks over the geothermal field. Here you will have the unique opportunity to swim in The Tatio spring waters, rich in minerals. On our return we will go next to the imposing Andes mountain range, and participate in the adventure of observing native plants and animals in their natural habitat. All this with an incomparable volcanic background in one of the most pristine places in the world.
• Overnight at hotel.

Day 4

• Breakfast at hotel
• Transfer hotel in San Pedro / Calama airport.