Red Hot Chile Trekkers

A very warm welcome to Santiago! We're very excited to have you with us on this epic adventure in Chile! Upon your arrival at the airport, your local guide will meet with you and transfer your group to the hotel in the Providencia district of Santiago. Once you've checked in, drop your bags and freshen up! In the afternoon, embark on a city tour to discover the classic sights of Santiago. Your tour will take you through the historic center of the capital, passing by the main cultural and historical sites, including the 18th-century Metropolitan Cathedral, the colonial center's heart, Plaza de Armas, and the Paris-London district, a piece of Europe just behind the San Francisco Church (the oldest building in Chile). You will end this tour by taking the cable car up to Cerro San Cristobal for a panoramic view of Santiago, 984 feet above the city, and enjoy one of the most typical Chilean refreshments: mote con huesillo.

In the evening, you'll come together for a group dinner to celebrate the start of this incredible adventure in Chile! Have a fantastic first night and cheers to the adventures to come!

After breakfast and checking out of your Santiago hotel, it's time to leave the city behind and venture forth! Your driver will transfer you to the airport to catch a domestic flight to Calama, located in the Atacama Desert. Upon arriving, your local guide will accompany you to your hotel in the small town of San Pedro de Atacama, which is approximately an hour's drive away. Get settled, drop your bags in your room, and stretch those legs!

In the afternoon, embark on a journey to the Valley of the Moon, situated approximately 8 kilometers from San Pedro de Atacama. This natural sanctuary is a part of the National Flamingo Reserve (Los Flamencos National Reserve), located in the Cordillera de la Sal. On this tour, you'll be treated to breathtaking views of magnificent shapes and colors! Throughout your hike, you'll discover geological spectacles and magnificent sculptural forms, much like you're walking on the moon! Visit the salt statues 'Las Tres Marias', the salt caves, and the Gran Duna. You will finish your hike towards the salt mountain range, where you can admire its splendor as the sun sets!

Today, after breakfast, you will embark on an exciting journey to explore various locations across the Atacama Desert. The schdule unfolds like this:

Option 1

Morning at the Valle del Arcoíris
- Duration: Half-day excursion
- Distance: 140 km round trip
- Max altitude: 3,600 m.a.s.l
- Recommendations: Parka, sunscreen, mineral water

Departing from San Pedro de Atacama towards the north on route 23CH, you'll cross the Domeyko mountain range, and about 70 km into the journey you'll find the Valle de Yerbas Buenas, a conjunction point between the Domeyko Range, the Salt Range, and the Andes. Here, we'll check out ancient petroglyphs dating back to different periods in time. Our journey continues to the Valle del Arcoíris, which will amaze you with its colorful formations, caused by exposure from the elements and geological changes in the minerals.

Option 2

Afternoon at the Salar de Atacama (Laguna Chaxa) and Toconao
- Duration: Half-day excursion
- Distance: 120 km round trip
- Max Altitude: 2,408 m.a.s.l
- Recommendations: Windbreaker, sunscreen, mineral water

Leaving the town of San Pedro de Atacama, we'll head south. Approximately 40 km away, you'll find the Toconao Village (2,470 m.a.s.l). It is an oasis that showcases Atacameñan culture and has contributed to human development in the area. The presence of water, with minimal minerals, allowed the agricultural development of the inhabitants to flourish. The people here still maintain crops of all kinds, such as pears, plums, quinces, grapes, and a great variety of vegetables. In this town, you will visit the Church of San Lucas de Toconao, built in 1744 and declared a national monument in 1951. It is mainly characterized by its bell tower, which is separate from the church. This town also showcases interesting architecture made from local Liparita stone, a soft and white volcanic stone extracted from a quarry 2 km away. After visiting the town of Toconao, we'll travel approximately 20 km to Laguna Chaxa, a protected site and part of the Los Flamencos National Reserve. This beautiful lagoon is where you can see Parinas or flamingos, as well as other types of birds such as the Chorlo de la Puna, Baird's sandpiper, and the Andean gull. In addition, this area allows observation and understanding of the geology of the Salar de Atacama in all its splendor. Marvel at the salt crust generated by the accumulation of crystals produced by the evaporation of underground saline waters. Some of the crusts (made of chloride) are 70 cm high, and some are transitional crusts with polygonal shapes, or smooth sulfate crusts.

The hours are:
- ARCOIRIS pick up 08:00 + almuerzo
- CHAXA pick up 15:00

Get ready for an unforgettable adventure to the stunning Tatio Geysers, accessible via a rough gravel road about 97 kilometers away from San Pedro, and situated at an altitude of 4,300 meters. You'll be doing this route in the darkness of the early morning, arriving at the breathtaking location in the altiplano at around 6:45 am. Temperatures at this time are often below zero, so be sure to do this tour with plenty of layers! The effort is absolutely worth it as you witness the sunrise over the geothermal field, awash with impressive steam columns, fumaroles, and hundreds of pools of boiling water, surrounded by high peaks.

In the evening, you will discover the skies of Atacama. A transfer will take you to the Space Obs observatory, run by Alain Maury, a French astronomy enthusiast. You will be able to understand how to look at the sky, and be able to observe its magical vastness with powerful telescopes, discovering new worlds and our universe from one of the best places on Earth to see the sky!

After breakfast at the hotel, you will check out and catch your transfer from San Pedro de Atacama to Calama airport, where you will board your domestic flight bound for Santiago. Upon arriving back in Santiago, you will be provided with a private transfer to your hotel.

In the afternoon, your guide will pick you up at the hotel to discover new places in Santiago. First stop: the Pre-Columbian Art Museum, boasting an impressive collection of Andean treasures dating back to 3,000 BC. Continue through the cobblestoned Lastarria neighbourhood, walk through the Parque Forestal, and pass by the Bellas Artes Museum. You will end up in the financial district, known as the 'Sanhattan'. Ah, Santiago is a truly versatile city!

Come evening, enjoy a fantastic farewell dinner in Santiago to celebrate this incredible journey you've had!

We've come to the final day of your adventure in Chile — we hope you have had a wonderful journey discovering the treasures of Santiago and the Atacama Desert! After one last breakfast this morning, it’s time to leave the hotel behind and depart for the airport. We hope to see you again — travel safe!