Tour/Excursion from San Pedro de Atacama — 5 Days and 4 Nights

This tour takes us to explore the majesty of the Chilean highlands, visiting unique landscapes from San Pedro de Atacama such as Chungará Lake, the Cotacotani Lagoons, Lauca National Park, Salar de Surire, hot springs, and archaeological sites. Along the way, we discover the region’s wildlife and culture, finishing with a relaxing return to Arica.

Day Nª1

We start the day with pickup from our accommodation in San Pedro de Atacama and head towards the Quillagua area, where we can admire the mighty Loa River winding through the arid Atacama Desert. Along the way, we stop in Huatacondo, a picturesque village where we’ll enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, we venture into the natural wonder of Devil’s Throat, an impressive geological formation, and explore dinosaur footprints that take us back to prehistoric times. We continue our journey with a visit to the fascinating Rainbow Waterfall, a truly unique visual spectacle. At night, we return to a local guesthouse to enjoy a comforting dinner and end this adventure-filled day.

Day Nª2

The next day, we explore the fascinating Painted Geoglyphs area, a roughly one-kilometer trail that takes us through four stations, each offering a unique view of anthropomorphic figures, animals, and cultural and spatial representations carved into the rock. We then continue to the historic Humberstone Saltpeter Office, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where we’ll explore the remains of one of the largest saltpeter plants in the region. Among the restored buildings, we’ll see the theater, the pulpería (general store), the plaza, the chapel, the swimming pool, and the old offices, all transporting us back to the past of this ancient industry. Later, we head to see the imposing Giant of Tarapacá, a massive geoglyph towering over the desert landscape. We continue to Tarapacá Canyon, the picturesque village of San Lorenzo, and finally arrive at Chuzmisa, where you’ll have the chance to relax and enjoy the hot springs before ending the day with a delicious dinner at a cozy local guesthouse.

Day Nª3 

The next day, we begin our journey by visiting the impressive Puchuldiza Geysers, a natural spectacle where jets of steam and hot water burst from the ground, creating a unique landscape. Next, we cross the charming Valley of Happiness, a place of serene beauty that leads us to the village of Cariquima. There, we explore the majestic Cactus Forest, a fascinating natural formation that amazes us with its towering vegetation, and we visit the Panavinto area, known for its desert landscapes and rock formations. We continue on to the Coipasa Salt Flat, a vast and silent salt flat that reflects the sky on its surface. Along the way, we enjoy a picnic lunch surrounded by the tranquility of nature. After lunch, we head to Isluga, a picturesque village with Andean traditions, and then to Enquelga, a place full of history and beauty. Finally, we arrive at Namá, where we end the day with a comforting dinner and a warm night’s rest at a rural guesthouse, surrounded by the peaceful landscape.

Day Nª4 

From Namá, we set off towards the fascinating Red Lagoon, or "Paricota" in the Aymara language, a place surrounded by three stunning lagoons: the Red, the Green, and the Yellow, each with its vibrant color and unique charm. We enjoy this one-of-a-kind landscape before continuing our journey, stopping for lunch along the way, surrounded by the majesty of the highlands. Then, we pass through the vast Salar de Surire, an immense salt desert stretching out before us, before arriving at the Polloquere Hot Springs, where we can relax in the warm waters bubbling from the earth. After this revitalizing experience, we continue on to Putre, a picturesque town in the Andean region, where we end our day immersed in the natural beauty that has accompanied us all day long.

Day Nª5 

The next day, we set off early towards Lauca National Park for a day filled with natural beauty. We begin by visiting the impressive Chungará Lake, whose crystal-clear waters reflect the majestic surrounding mountains. Then, we head to the Cotacotani Lagoons viewpoint, offering spectacular panoramic views of the lagoons and the surrounding landscape. We continue our route to the picturesque village of Parinacota, where we explore its historic church and the beautiful bofedal, a vibrant wetland ecosystem. During the trip, we enjoy a picnic lunch surrounded by nature. Afterwards, we head to Flamenco Lagoon, known for its population of Andean flamingos, and visit the archaeological site of Chacu, where you can see traces of ancient cultures. Finally, we follow the Cuevas Trail, an ideal spot to observe vizcachas and vicuñas in their natural habitat. At the end of the day, we return to Arica, where you can rest at your accommodation or, if needed, head to the local airport to conclude our journey.