Hiking Central Andes Deserts

Central Andes deserts are without question one of the planet masterpieces. From Atacama to South Lípez and Lauca national park, immersion in a mineral world, multicolored, where nature is in a rough state. Stakes of this trip: volcanoes more than 19,000 feet, green emerald or red brick color lakes, universe of salt, geysers, thermal hot springs, Indian villages, pink flamingos, alpacas, vicunas.

• Day 1/  Arrival in Santiago
• Day 2/  Flight and drive to San Pedro de Atacama, moon valley
• Day 3/  Atacama salt lake, lagunas Miñiques and Miscanti
• Day 4/  Tatio geysers
• Day 5/  Bolivian border, laguna Verde, laguna Colorada
• Day 6/  Lagunas, flamingo, ruins; San pedro de Quemez
• Day 7/  Salar Uyuni
• Day 8/  Salt lakes Chicana, Ascoton, border; Calama
• Day 9/  Flight to Santiago
• Day 10/  Depart from Santiago.

One walked on the Moon... The expression is not tarnished. This area is so different from all else that exists on the planet. But how does one describe it without you being able to see and feel it for yourself?
An infinite loneliness in which man seems not to have his place, the astonishing pallet of mineral colors... All volcanic manifestations (enormous volcanoes, geysers, fields of lava), white, blue, green, yellow, red salted lakes in very high altitude where flora, fauna and man somehow adapted, in quite a strange way. Often compared with the Tibet desert, South Lipez is on the Bolivian altiplano, at an altitude of 13,000 feet. On the other side of the cordillera, Atacama  desert, not as high, is even more arid. Incomparable deserts of immense salted areas, of which Uyuni is one (8,000 square miles), the highest and largest of the world, surrounded by volcanoes, extinguished or not, moderated multicolored lagoons with exceptional aquatic fauna, where steam, sulphurus springs and geysers are the obvious presence of volcanic activity. A truly exceptional area!

Day 1/  Arrival in Santiago
Reception at the Santiago airport and transfer with English speaking guide to the 4* Hotel (Eurotel or similar depending availability).

Day 2/  Santagio - Calama - San Pedro de Atacama
Transfer to the airport and flight to Calama. Reception at Calama airport. Drive to San Pedro de Atacama. Walk in the salty mountain range to moon valley at sunset. Night in 4 stars Hotel (Altiplanico or similar depending availability).
3/4 hour walk

Day 3/  San Pedro de Atacama
Excursion to the Atacama salt lake. Visits to Toconan and the Jerez canyon. Following, we go up to Laguna Miscanti (13,780 feet) and Laguna Miñiques (13,780 feet) from where we have a spectacular view on the high plateaus. Drive back to San Pedro de Atacama. Night in 4* Hotel (Altiplanico or similar depending upon availability).

Day 4/  Tatio geysers
We wake very early to go to the Tatio geysers (14,108 feet) where we have breakfast. Picture taking of the geysers and the option to swim in the natural water swimming pool.  Drive on to Calama. On the way, visit Caspana, Lasana and Chiu-Chiu. Drive back to San Pedro de Atacama. Night in 4* Hotel (Altiplanico or similar depending availibility).

Day 5/  Laguna Verde - Laguna Colorada - Ojo de Perdiz
Early Departure from San Pedro de Atacama to the Bolivian Border. We meet up with our Bolivian transportation. We exchange vehicles and keep on going into Bolivia. We visit Laguna Blanca and Verde. Licancabur volcano. Dali desert, we visit the Geysers of Sol de mañana, Stone tree "arbol de Piedra" and continue our trip towards the famous Laguna Colorada. Overnight at Hotel del Desierto Tayka.

Day 6/  Ojo de Perdiz - San Pedro de Quemez
Full day along the Bolivian Lipez. We visit Laguna Cachi which is surrounded by the colors of this unique desert. We visit Lagunas Cañapa, Hedionda, Chiarkhota and Honda. Home of hundreds of flamingoes, and several birds like the Andean Seagulls and ducks that live in these high plateau lagoons. We visit Pueblo Quemado; a small town burned down by the chilean troops during the pacific war in 1879. An interesting point about these ruins is how the typical aymara/inca street designed specifically for pedestrian flow. We visit Pueblo Refugio, a new town built to protect against the invading troops just 5 miles away from the old town.  It is fortified between the rocky formations of the mountains. Arrival in San Pedro de Quemez overnight in Hotel de Piedra Tayka San Pedro de Quemez.

Day 7/  San Pedro de Quemez - Uyuni - Tahua
Full day excursion: we visit the Galaxy cave (Cueva Galaxia) where we observe strange and different lava formations created upon their contact with water when the big SALT flat was part of the sea. We visit the archaeological site, Momias del Salar. Transfer to Isla Pescado and Incahuasi Island, in the heart of the Uyuni salt flat. Strange isle in the middle of the Salt flat formed by volcanic rocks covered with estromatolitos (petrified coral). Short trek to the island's summit across a well conserved forest of giant cacti where we enjoy the best view of this white landscape. Transfer to the small village of Tahua. Overnight at Hotel de Sal Tayka Tahua.

Day 8/  Tahua - Calama
Full day transfer. We drive back to the Chilean Border. Passing through Chiguana Salt flats and  Avaroa, down to Ollague (Chile) International Pass. Here we exchange vehicles with our Chilean staff and transfer to Calama visiting Carcote and Ascotan salt lakes (Chile), Arrival in Calama. Night in 3-4* Hotel (Diego de Almagro or similar depending upon availability).

Day 9/  Calama - Santiago
Transfer to the airport and flight back to Santiago. Reception and transfer with English speaking guide to the 4* Hotel (Eurotel or similar depending upon availability).
Free afternoon to visit the city of Santiago.

Day 10/  Depart from Santiago
Transfer to the airport for flight home.

- The walking time schedules are given only as an estimate.
- For different reasons involving trip organization, daily schedules and planned altitude gains (ascent or descent) may be modified without any prior notice. 

During the hikes, all of your belongings are dispatched between a back pack carried during the walk and a traveling bag with a lock.
Each participant walks with a light back pack, carrying only the personal items necessary for the day or half day (water bottle, camera, protective clothing, etc).

The guide
- an English speaking Chilean professional Mountain World Travel guide/ or an American resident of Chile
The local team
- one or more drivers.

Domestic Flights on Lan Chile
Ground Transportation by 4X4 private minibus and/or private 4x4 private car.

Santiago, Calama, San Pedro de Atacama: four star hotel, based on double occupancy
On the altiplano, best hotel or available inn, based on double occupancy.

The names of accommodations (hotels, lodges, etc...) when they are indicated, are only indicative.
Depending on availability, accommodations (hotels/Lodges, etc...) may be replaced by another equivalent type.
It is possible that accommodations may change without prior notice due to a number of factors.

Meals
- In cities, meals at restaurants
- Lunch is generally picnics, sometimes warm food
- Drinks: bottled mineral water is provided during meals and during vehicle transfers.
Please note: You will have the occasion to taste the excellent meat of Lama and alpaca, cooked in various ways.

Although we are an experienced adventure travel company doing our best to respect the itinerary schedule as presented on this detailed itinerary, there is always the possibility that we may need to modify it for different reasons beyond our control. Please read the Registration Conditions: Terms and Booking conditions - Limitations of Liability.

• International flights in/out Santiago
• all services mentioned in Services +
• personal medical & Travel Insurance
• all items not expressively mentioned in "What's included".

• Drinks (except mineral water)
• Personal expenses
• Tips for guides and drivers
• Airport taxes
• All items not expressively mentioned in "What's included".

As airfare is NOT included in our adventures, please check if your trip is "a guaranteed departure" before confirming your own airline travel arrangements. You can check your trip status at the website of Mountain World Travel or contact the Mountain World Travel office at 1 888-MWT-TREK (698-8735).

Our preferred airlines to fly to Santagio:

• American Airlines in cooperation with LAN. Chile operates daily flights to Santiago from anywhere in the States through Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York.
• Delta operates daily flights to Santiago from anywhere in the States through Atlanta.

Formalities for US, Canada, Australia, NZ passport travelers: a valid passport and a visa; US citizens are admitted to Chile for up to 90 days.
US citizens, please check with: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1088.html
For other nationalities, please contact the Chilean embassy of your country.

Vaccines:
No vaccine is obligatory. We advise you however, to be up date with traditional vaccinations: diphtheria, tetanus, polio, typhoid fever. Vaccination against hepatitis A and B recommended.
Visit: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationChile.aspx

Dentist and doctor:
Physical Examination prior to your departure is recommended
Because the trip in the Central Andes takes place in higher altitudes, it is recommended that you speak to your Doctor regarding your ability to adapt to such conditions.

Acclimatization and preventive treatment against altitude sickness:
We conceive our routes by first taking into consideration the best means for "altitude acclimatization". However, it is preferable to consider, with your doctor, a preventive treatment against altitude sickness (Diamox) and to check your capacity to evolve in altitude (specific tests may be considered).
Please visit: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/yellowBookCh6-AltitudeIllness.aspx

LEVEL 2
2 months prior:  Hike 7 to 9 miles every weekend or on two consecutive days.  

 

Basic equipment
- A warm fleece hat
- A cap or a hat to protect from the sun
- Sun glasses (minimum index 3 or 4 for high mountain)
- Thermal top and bottom, short and long) underwear (fast drying).
- Fleece turtle neck top
- A warm fleece jacket (light weight/well insulated).
- A waterproof/breathable shell jacket (Gore-Tex).
- A pair of gloves
- A rain poncho
- Hiking shorts
- Lightweight hiking long pants
- A Camelback or a water bottle.

Shoes and technical material
- Hiking socks
- Light ventilated hiking shoes with a good traction on different type of terrain, for people with fragile ankles: waterproof ankle hiking boots and a sole offering good traction.
- A pair of telescopic walking poles

Luggage
- A back pack equipped with broad straps, with an adjustable anatomical back reinforcement, and a capacity of 7 to 9 gallons, for your daily belongings
- A soft travel bag, which can hold between 18 to 23 gallons that will be transported by the porter team or by vehicle during the day.

Miscellaneous
- A change of clothes.
- A pair of replacement shoe laces
- A dop-kit and a bath towel.
- Toilet paper.
- A pocket knife (not in carry on luggage).
- Some plastic bags to protect your belongings.
- A bathing suit.
- A small pocket anti-theft protection device, to always keep on yourself, along with your identity papers, money, certificate of insurance.

Some advice
During your flight your back pack should contain fragile and useful items that you might need while on the plane (camera, memory cards, jacket, books, magazines, medication, dop-kit etc).