Duration(in days): 4
From: Calama
To: Calama
See more ideas for: Chile
Experience the highlights of the celebrated Atacama Desert on this 4-day active adventure that will see you mountain biking, horse riding and hiking in Chile.
You’ll be accompanied by a private guide on this fairly active adventure; beginning by mountain biking through the eerie landscape of Death Valley, tracing ancient river beds along the way. Next, you’ll go for a horseback ride through traditional villages to discover what local life is like in traditional Andean communities. Finally, you’ll send a day trekking along an ancient Inca Highway through the beautiful Quebrada del Diablo canyon. This trip is ideal if you prefer experiencing the sights over just seeing them.
This itinerary can be tailored to suit your requirements, please contact one of our consultants to start planning your dream trip.
Your thrilling adventure starts as soon as you arrive at Calama airport and are driven by private transfer to San Pedro de Atacama. The journey is around 1 and a half hours and when you arrive in this charming town you will check into your hotel for a three-night stay.
This afternoon, jump on a mountain bike and head into the eerie landscape of Death Valley. Trace the route of ancient river beds that have carved the landscapes, some measuring up to 40m across. Biking time will be around 4 hours, before returning back to San Pedro for the evening.
Fuel up over breakfast today as your morning starts with a 3 hours hike through the Katarpe Valley, from where you’ll be able to see some stunning geological formations. The path will take you to Quebrada del Diablo, a narrow desert canyon in the heart of the Salt Mountain Range. Here you’ll also find Pukara de Quitor, one of Chile’s most important pre-Incan archaeological sites. This afternoon, you’ll go for a horseback ride to visit several ayllus (traditional Andean communities) south of San Pedro. You’ll get to meet the locals and learn about life in the vast expanse of the Atacama Desert, before heading back to San Pedro for an evening at relaxing after your energetic day!
Today is all about trekking! After breakfast, you will start off at the town of Machuca, known as the resting place for llama caravans that travelled the Inca Highway. Along the 6.5 hour trek, you’ll pass through beautiful scenery and follow an old farmer’s route through agrarian lands and marshland. Then you’ll descend towards the Peñaliri River for a rest break and a boxed lunch, before reaching the town of Rio Grande, your final destination. At the end of the trek, you’ll be driven back to your hotel in San Pedro.
After your active adventure, you’ll have breakfast at the hotel and will be collected at any time and be taken to the airport by private transfer to connect with your onward travel plans.
The Atacama Desert can be visited all year round. Nights are cooler between July and September and there is the chance of heavy rains from January to March.
This itinerary is purely a suggestion and can be tailor-made to your requirements, so please contact us with your dates and requests, and we’ll put together a bespoke quotation for you.