OVERLAND NORTH CHILE & BOLIVIA TOUR 12 DAYS AND 11 NIGHTS
DAY 01: SANTIAGO DE CHILE
Reception at Santiago's airport and transfer to the Hotel. Afternoon tour around Santiago, visiting the city's most outstanding attractions, including a walking tour downtown visiting the "Plaza de Armas", the Cathedral, Ahumada Boulevard and the Government Palace "La Moneda". Then, by vehicle, visit the main avenues of old Santiago, crossing the bohemian neighborhood of Bellavista and drive up San Cristobal Hill, for a magnificent panoramic view of the city and the Andes Mountain Range. After this, the tour will take you to the modern part of Santiago, including its chic neighborhoods, shopping and financial centers. Return to the hotel.
Dinner and overnight at the selected Hotel. (D)
DAY 02: SANTIAGO - ARICA - PUTRE
Buffet breakfast at hotel. At the agreed time, transfer to Santiago's airport to take flight to Arica. Reception at Chacalluta airport (Arica) and immediate departure towards Putre, visiting "San Miguel de Azapa" Archaeological Museum that holds a very interesting collection of Inca artifacts that shows 12.000 years of human history, with the Chinchorro Mummies, the eldest artificially preserved bodies ever found in the world. We will have our lunch at a typical local restaurant. Short trek in "Quebrada de Cardones", with the curious Bowninggia chandelier cactus. Continuing to Putre, we will find the ruins of Copaquilla fortress and "Tambo" of Zapahuira. Rest of the afternoon free to walk around the town and acclimatize.
Dinner and overnight at the selected hotel. (B, L, D)
DAY 03: PUTRE - CHUNGARA LAKE - PUTRE
Breakfast at the hostel. Depart to Lauca National Park which was declared a Biosphere Reserve by Unesco in 1981. Stop at several points of interest, as Cotacotani lagoons, the village of Parinacota and the wetlands surrounding this place, excellent to see fauna, like llamas, alpacas, vicunas and birds. Here, we will visit the Chungara Lake, the highest in the world with 4.500 meters above sea level and very rich in flora and fauna (especially Andean birds). Short trek to observe this ecosystem. After pic nic lunch, we will continue our trip until we reach a gravel road and to "Las Vicuñas" National Reserve and at noon will arrive to Guallatire village, at the foothills of an active volcano and next to a creek were many Llamas and Alpacas could be seen very close. Return to Putre.
Dinner and overnight. (B, BL, D)
DAY 04: PUTRE - SURIRE - ISLUGA - COLCHANE
After breakfast, drive on scenic cross country roads to Surire salt flat, where is possible to observe many flamingoes of three different species while enjoying a nice picnic lunch. Visit Polloquere geothermal field, and take a warm bath in the middle of the nature! Drive around the salt flat and continue to Colchane, through Isluga National Park. (3800 m)
This route crosses several wetlands were is possible to observe some Llamas and Alpacas and the Aymara shepherds who take care of them. Endemic species of Andean birds can be observed in this place. Arrive at 17:00 aprox. Overnight in a simple Andean Lodge, run by an Aymara family.
Dinner and overnight. (B, BL, D)
DAY 05: COLCHANE - PISIGA - TAHUA (BOLIVIA)
Breakfast at lodge. At the agreed time transfer to Bolivian border. The Coipasa salt flat, extending over more than 2,000 square kilometers and at 3,600 meters above sea level is perhaps more beautiful but less famous than its counterpart Uyuni. The history of the Chipaya ethnic group in the Coipasa area dates back to 2,500 years before Christ. On the route we will visit the church of Punta Arenas, the small village of Llica. We will see llamas, lambs and vicuñas. Arrival to Tahua.
Dinner and overnight. (B, L, D)
DAY 06: TAHUA - SAN PEDRO DE QUEMEZ
Breakfast in the hotel. An unforgettable trip through 12,000 km² (4,500 square miles) of fantastic landscapes. The Isla Incahuasi in the center of the Salar is famous for its particular fauna -rodents and birds- and flora -Giant cactus. On this island are some small remnants of the Inca civilization that ruled for about 150 years from 1350 to 1500BC. It is interesting to look at the corals, truly remnants of earlier times when Uyuni was under water. We will stop there for lunch. We will continue to visit Cueva Galaxia crossing the Bahia Mala Mala. Arrival to San Pedro de Quemez
Dinner and overnight. (B, L, D)
DAY 07: SAN PEDRO DE QUEMEZ - OJO DE PERDIZ
Breakfast in the hotel. In the far south of the Bolivian altiplano (Sud LÃpez, on the way down to Laguna Colorada) the landscape becomes even more incredible with multicolored deserts and lakes surrounded by salt flats and active volcanoes. The scarce vegetation is unusual and the entire area has been declared a national reserve where it is possible to see vicuñas, viscachas, and flamingos, among others.
Dinner and overnight. (B, L, D)
DAY 08: OJO DE PERDIZ - HITO CAJON - SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA
Breakfast at hotel. Early departure towards Laguna Colorada. On our way south we may meet with local quinoa and amaranths growers. These Andean cereals are highly energetic and are used by the NASA for the cosmonauts during their space flights.
We will visit the region of Sol de Mañana, with its volcanic fumes and boiling mud, this is a landscape from the end of the world. We will see Tree of stone and the desert. We will continue to Laguna Verde. Transfer from Hito Cajon to San Pedro
Overnight at the selected hotel. (B, L)
DAY 09: SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA - QUITOR - MOON VALLEY - SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA
Breakfast at hotel. At the agreed time we will start the tour with the visit of the Padre Lepaige Museum in San Pedro. This is known to be one of the most complete museums in Chile in regards to anthropological items of the Atacamenian culture. After this visit we will continue to the ancient fortress or Pukara of Quitor. This place was a fortress from where the Sheppard looked after their lands and animals. After lunch we will head to the Moon Valley, located some 40 kilometers through the Salt Mountain Range. After climbing a huge sand dune we will contemplate the sunset that will marvel us with the different colors of the sunlight reflecting on the mineral soil of the dessert. Return to San Pedro de Atacama
Overnight at the selected hotel. (B, L)
DAY 10: SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA - TATIO - PURITAMA - SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA (200 kms)
Early departure from the hotel (4.00 AM) to the Geysers del Tatio. Breakfast box in the Geysers before a gentle guided walk around the geothermal field with observation of the natural phenomenon of the steam columns which are viewed at their best as the sun rises over the Andes Mountains. Return to San Pedro with spectacular views of the Torcopuri y Sairecabur volcanoes. On our return we will stop by Puritama Hot Springs to enjoy the thermal baths. Upon returning to San Pedro, the rest of the day is at leisure. We suggest visiting the market in San Pedro.
Overnight at the selected hotel. (B)
DAY 11: SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA - CALAMA - SANTIAGO (100 kms)
Breakfast in the hotel and transfer to Calama to take a flight to Santiago. Reception at Arturo Merino BenÃtez Airport and transfer to the hotel.
Dinner and overnight at the selected hotel. (B/D)
DAY 12: SANTIAGO DE CHILE
Breakfast at hotel. At the agreed time transfer to Santiago airport to take flight back home. (B)
**END OF OUR SERVICES**
FIX DEPARTURES:
Valid on 2011 min 02 Paxs passengers must be in Santiago-Chile on these dates:
2011
MARCH 05 12 19
APRIL 09 16
MAY 07 14
JUNE 11 18
JULY 02 09
AUGUST 06 13 20
SEPTEMBER 03 10 17
OCTOBER 01 08 15
NOVEMBER 05 12 19
DECEMBER 03 10
.Passengers must be in Santiago on the above mentioned dates.
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