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Atacama

Desert & Altiplano, Chile

Explorations in
Atacama

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Cejar

Cuenca del salar
Cejar
Overland icon Overland
Easy icon Easy
missing duration icon Half-day

The Atacama Salt Flat is an endorheic basin with highly saline water outcrops, one of which is the Cejar Lagoon. We will venture into the northern part of the salt flat, surrounded by the vastness and accompanied by the Andean volcanoes. Once at Cejar, we will be able to enter its waters and float in the middle of the driest desert in the world.

More details >
Cejar
Cejar
Overland icon
Overland
Easy icon
Easy
Half-day icon
Half-day
  • Exploration Path

    The Atacama Salt Flat is an endorheic basin with highly saline water outcrops, one of which is the Cejar Lagoon. We will venture into the northern part of the salt flat, surrounded by the vastness and accompanied by the Andean volcanoes. Once at Cejar, we will be able to enter its waters and float in the middle of the driest desert in the world.

Camino del agua

Cuenca del salar
Camino del agua
Hike icon Hike
Easy icon Easy
missing duration icon Half-day

We will travel into the interior of the desert where nature and history blend. We will walk inside an incredible and gigantic canyon, an arm eroded by the water of the San Pedro River that flows within it. We will arrive at a sector with a great quantity of petroglyphs, as the place was a refuge for caravans. For most of the hike, we will be walking through water. *It is recommended to bring two pairs of shoes.

More details >
Camino del agua
Camino del agua
Hike icon
Hike
Easy icon
Easy
Half-day icon
Half-day
  • Exploration Path

    We will travel into the interior of the desert where nature and history blend. We will walk inside an incredible and gigantic canyon, an arm eroded by the water of the San Pedro River that flows within it. We will arrive at a sector with a great quantity of petroglyphs, as the place was a refuge for caravans. For most of the hike, we will be walking through water.
    *It is recommended to bring two pairs of shoes.

Gatchi

Cuenca del salar
Gatchi
Hike icon Hike
Easy icon Easy
missing duration icon Half-day

We will begin our exploration in the Vilama sector, where we can see ancient grazing refuges. We will continue walking along the top of a ravine, appreciating the transition of vegetation and geology between the first and second ecological floors, as well as other refuges of the ancient caravans. Always bordering the river, we will have panoramic views until we descend to the feet of the Vilama river.

More details >
Gatchi
Gatchi
Hike icon
Hike
Easy icon
Easy
Half-day icon
Half-day
  • Exploration Path

    We will begin our exploration in the Vilama sector, where we can see ancient grazing refuges. We will continue walking along the top of a ravine, appreciating the transition of vegetation and geology between the first and second ecological floors, as well as other refuges of the ancient caravans. Always bordering the river, we will have panoramic views until we descend to the feet of the Vilama river.

    elevation gain icon
    233 m 764 ft
    elevation loss icon
    -76,5 m -251 ft
    max altitude icon
    2932 m 9617 ft
    min altitude icon
    2773 m 2515 ft

    Elevation Profile

Quebrada de Chulacao

Cuenca del salar
Quebrada de Chulacao
Hike icon Hike
Easy icon Easy
missing duration icon Half-day

At the foot of the Salt mountains, we come to the Catarpe Valley, which receives the San Pedro river that feeds the oasis and the salt marsh. In the valley, we will begin our hike in the Quebrada Chulaco, a great canyon with high walls, with curves and serpentine shapes formed by moldable minerals and water erosion. Upon leaving the canyon we will hike up to a viewpoint with 360° views of the desert and its mountain ranges. We return along the same trail.

More details >
Quebrada de Chulacao
Quebrada de Chulacao
Hike icon
Hike
Easy icon
Easy
Half-day icon
Half-day
  • Exploration Path

    At the foot of the Salt mountains, we come to the Catarpe Valley, which receives the San Pedro river that feeds the oasis and the salt marsh. In the valley, we will begin our hike in the Quebrada Chulaco, a great canyon with high walls, with curves and serpentine shapes formed by moldable minerals and water erosion. Upon leaving the canyon we will hike up to a viewpoint with 360° views of the desert and its mountain ranges. We return along the same trail.

    elevation gain icon
    156 m 512 ft
    elevation loss icon
    -156 m -512 ft
    max altitude icon
    2582 m 8469 ft
    min altitude icon
    2515 m 8249 ft

    Elevation Profile

Caravaneros

Cuenca del salar
Caravaneros
Hike icon Hike
Easy icon Easy
missing duration icon Half-day

This hike is a journey through the history of the old caravans and their interaction with the desert. We will cross from the Vilama sector toward the Catarpe Valley along old desert trails until reaching the great canyons in Quebrada Chulaco. This hike gives us broad 360° views that will allow us to understand the desert's different areas and formations.

More details >
Caravaneros
Caravaneros
Hike icon
Hike
Easy icon
Easy
Half-day icon
Half-day
  • Exploration Path

    This hike is a journey through the history of the old caravans and their interaction with the desert. We will cross from the Vilama sector toward the Catarpe Valley along old desert trails until reaching the great canyons in Quebrada Chulaco. This hike gives us broad 360° views that will allow us to understand the desert's different areas and formations.

    elevation gain icon
    159 m 522 ft
    elevation loss icon
    -183 m -600 ft
    max altitude icon
    1617 m 5304 ft
    min altitude icon
    2515 m 8249 ft

    Elevation Profile

Catarpe

Cuenca del salar
Catarpe
Bike icon Bike
Easy icon Easy
missing duration icon Half-day

We bike ride to the San Pedro River and follow its course to Catarpe. We go through the Quitor pukará...

More details >
Catarpe
Catarpe
Bike icon
Bike
Easy icon
Easy
Half-day icon
Half-day
  • Exploration Path

    We bike ride to the San Pedro River and follow its course to Catarpe. We go through the Quitor pukará, an old fortress, and cross the Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s Throat), a canyon inside the Salt Mountain Range with zigzagging paths between striking rock formations. We return through the same road.

    elevation gain icon
    244 m 800 ft
    elevation loss icon
    -244 m -800 ft
    max altitude icon
    2.546 m 8.351 ft
    min altitude icon
    2.431 m 7.974 ft

    Elevation Profile

Cordillera de la Sal

Cuenca del salar
Cordillera de la Sal
Overland icon Overland
Easy icon Easy
missing duration icon Half-day

We take a van to the Salt Mountain Range to see typical desert landscapes: open reddish clay grounds, sand dunes...

More details >
Cordillera de la Sal
Cordillera de la Sal
Overland icon
Overland
Easy icon
Easy
Half-day icon
Half-day
  • Exploration Path

    We take a van to the Salt Mountain Range to see typical desert landscapes: open reddish clay grounds, sand dunes, and sedimentary rock formations. We walk up to the highest point of this mountain range to see the panoramic views. We will take a 30 minute walk through one the least known mountainsides of the Salt Ridge.

Gran Salar

Cuenca del salar
Gran Salar
Overland icon Overland
Easy icon Easy
missing duration icon Half-day

We leave in a van to Toconao, located to the south of San Pedro de Atacama. We walk to the village square and then through an area...

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Gran Salar
Gran Salar
Overland icon
Overland
Easy icon
Easy
Half-day icon
Half-day
  • Exploration Path

    We leave in a van to Toconao, located to the south of San Pedro de Atacama. We walk to the village square and then through an area of vegetable gardens. We finally take a van to the Chaxa Lagoon, located in the Los Flamencos National Reserve, an ideal place for bird watching within Atacama’s Salt Flat.

Kunza

Cuenca del salar
Kunza
Overland icon Overland
Easy icon Easy
missing duration icon Half-day

In this exploration we learn about the Atacameño history and culture. We start with a guided tour of an archaeological deposit...

More details >
Kunza
Kunza
Overland icon
Overland
Easy icon
Easy
Half-day icon
Half-day
  • Exploration Path

    In this exploration we learn about the Atacameño history and culture. We start with a guided tour of an archaeological deposit where we can see ceramic pieces and other historical artifacts fit for a museum. Later on, we move on to the village of Tulor, one of the first settlements. We end the exploration at the mythical desert bookstore.

Tambo

Cuenca del salar
Tambo
Bike icon Bike
Expert icon Expert
missing duration icon Half-day

We bike ride to the Catarpe Valley. We ride up to Cuchabrache, through an old road that crosses the Salt Mountain Range...

More details >
Tambo
Tambo
Bike icon
Bike
Expert icon
Expert
Half-day icon
Half-day
  • Exploration Path

    We bike ride to the Catarpe Valley. We ride up to Cuchabrache, through an old road that crosses the Salt Mountain Range. We ride through plaster and crystallized salt creeks. This exploration includes seeing part of the local culture and petroglyphs, as well as the San Isidro church.
    *Temporarily unavailable. Consult other exploration options with your Explora guide at the destination.

    elevation gain icon
    568 m 1863 ft
    elevation loss icon
    -568 m -1863 ft
    max altitude icon
    2.690 m 8.823 ft
    min altitude icon
    2.431 m 7.974 ft

    Elevation Profile

San Isidro

Cuenca del salar
San Isidro
Bike icon Bike
Moderate icon Moderate
missing duration icon Half-day

We ride our bicycles to the Catarpe Valley in the Salt Ridge. We pedal through switch paths between canyons...

More details >
San Isidro
San Isidro
Bike icon
Bike
Moderate icon
Moderate
Half-day icon
Half-day
  • Exploration Path

    We ride our bicycles to the Catarpe Valley in the Salt Ridge. We pedal through switch paths between canyons made of reddish soil in a place known as Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s Throat). We visit the San Isidro church into a historic area.

    elevation gain icon
    325 m 1066 ft
    elevation loss icon
    -325 m -1066 ft
    max altitude icon
    2.584 m 8.476 ft
    min altitude icon
    2.431 m 7.974 ft

    Elevation Profile

Huayra

Cuenca del salar
Huayra
Hike icon Hike
Easy icon Easy
missing duration icon Half-day

We take a van to the Mars Valley in the Salt Mountain Range, where we begin a walk with views to the different mountain ranges...

More details >
Huayra
Huayra
Hike icon
Hike
Easy icon
Easy
Half-day icon
Half-day
  • Exploration Path

    We take a van to the Mars Valley in the Salt Mountain Range, where we begin a walk with views to the different mountain ranges in the region and felling the wind of the area. We descend through sand dunes and continue walking across the valley, where the van will be waiting to take us back.

     

    elevation gain icon
    145 m 476 ft
    elevation loss icon
    -249 m -817 ft
    max altitude icon
    2.710 m 8.889 ft
    min altitude icon
    2.614 m 8.574 ft

    Elevation Profile

Ckuta

Cuenca del salar
Ckuta
Bike icon Bike
Moderate icon Moderate
missing duration icon Half-day

We take a van to the Salt Mountain Range and begin bike riding in the Paciencia plains. We travel to the Moon Valley through...

More details >
Ckuta
Ckuta
Bike icon
Bike
Moderate icon
Moderate
Half-day icon
Half-day
  • Exploration Path

    We take a van to the Salt Mountain Range and begin bike riding in the Paciencia plains. We travel to the Moon Valley through sandy soil and beautiful landscapes. The return trip is an uneven path that includes different ascents and descents.

    elevation gain icon
    251 m 823,3 ft
    elevation loss icon
    -240 m -787 ft
    max altitude icon
    2.488 m 8.161 ft
    min altitude icon
    2.366 m 7.760 ft

    Elevation Profile

Piedra de la Coca

Cuenca del salar
Piedra de la Coca
Bike icon Bike
Advanced icon Advanced
missing duration icon Half-day

We leave by bicycle to Catarpe through a road that goes up to the Salt Mountain Range. We go through an ancient tunnel...

More details >
Piedra de la Coca
Piedra de la Coca
Bike icon
Bike
Advanced icon
Advanced
Half-day icon
Half-day
  • Exploration Path

    We leave by bicycle to Catarpe through a road that goes up to the Salt Mountain Range. We go through an ancient tunnel before starting a descent that will take us to the Piedra de la Coca, a site with petroglyphs. We continue our trip to the Paciencia plains through stony grounds and on our way back we pass through the Mars Valley.

    elevation gain icon
    560 m 1836,8 ft
    elevation loss icon
    -560 m -1837 ft
    max altitude icon
    2.642 m 8.666 ft
    min altitude icon
    2.431 m 7.974 ft

    Elevation Profile

Ayllus

Cuenca del salar
Ayllus
Bike icon Bike
Easy icon Easy
missing duration icon Half-day

We bike ride to the archaeological site of Beter, one of the first Atacameño settlements. We get off the bicycle to visit the site and learn about...

More details >
Ayllus
Ayllus
Bike icon
Bike
Easy icon
Easy
Half-day icon
Half-day
  • Exploration Path

    We bike ride to the archaeological site of Beter, one of the first Atacameño settlements. We get off the bicycle to visit the site and learn about the local history. Next, we continue to the ayllu in Solor to visit the Librería del desierto, the first rural book store in Chile. We return to the hotel by bicycle.

    elevation gain icon
    119 m 390 ft
    elevation loss icon
    -119 m -390 ft
    max altitude icon
    2.431 m 7.974 ft
    min altitude icon
    2.385 m 7.823 ft

    Elevation Profile