Atacama
Desert & Altiplano, Chile
Explorations in
Atacama
Activity
Difficulty
Areas
Tambo
Cuenca del salar
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Bike -
Expert
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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
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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.
568 m 1863 ft
-568 m -1863 ft
2.690 m 8.823 ft
2.431 m 7.974 ftElevation Profile
Arcoiris
Quebradas Intermedias
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Bike
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Moderate
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Half-day
We take a van to the Domeyko Mountain Range (one hour travel), where we will pedal through a path to the valley creek between multicolored...
More details >Arcoiris
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Exploration Path
We take a van to the Domeyko Mountain Range (one hour travel), where we will pedal through a path to the valley creek between multicolored walls. Guanacos, other typical fauna and the varied flora of the area can be seen during this exploration. We return by van.
249 m 816,7 ft
-396 m -1299 ft
3.269 m 10.722 ft
3.067 m 10.060 ftElevation Profile
Reserva Tatio
Altiplano
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Overland
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Easy
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Half-day
We take a van to the Tatio Geysers. Along the way, an important part of the Andean Plateau fauna –including vicuñas, flamingos, foxes...
More details >Reserva Tatio
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Exploration Path
We take a van to the Tatio Geysers. Along the way, an important part of the Andean Plateau fauna –including vicuñas, flamingos, foxes, and others– can be appreciated. We walk across the reserve feeling the inner activities of the land with views to the Andes Mountain Range and the hot water springs from where steam rises. We return by van.
Kunza
Cuenca del salar
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Overland
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Easy
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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
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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.
Cardones
Quebradas Intermedias
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Overland
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Easy
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Half-day
We go by van to the town of Guatin, where we will walk through the beginning of the Vilama canyon, with various species of cactaceae...
More details >Cardones
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Exploration Path
We go by van to the town of Guatin, where we will walk through the beginning of the Vilama canyon, with various species of cactaceae, flora and fauna of this area. We continue by van to the Puritama Reserve.
Tebenquinche
Cuenca del salar
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Overland
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Easy
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Half-day
Departure from Explora by van to the northern part of the Salar de Atacama arriving at the Tebenquinche lagoon, habitat for various birds...
More details >Tebenquinche
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Exploration Path
Departure from Explora by van to the northern part of the Salar de Atacama arriving at the Tebenquinche lagoon, habitat for various birds in the area. We can walk along the lagoons to learn more about these special formations with views of the Andes.
Gran Salar
Cuenca del salar
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Overland
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Easy
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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...
More details >Gran Salar
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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.
Quebradas
Quebradas Intermedias
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Overland
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Easy
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Half-day
We take a van to the Yerbas Buenas archaeological site located in the Domeyko Mountain Range. Here we can see...
More details >Quebradas
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Exploration Path
We take a van to the Yerbas Buenas archaeological site located in the Domeyko Mountain Range. Here we can see different styles of petroglyphs.
We continue to the Rainbow Valley, where a special formation with varied shades of colors welcomes us to walk through the valley.
Cordillera de la Sal
Cuenca del salar
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Overland
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Easy
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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
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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.
Altiplano
Altiplano
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Overland
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Easy
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Full-day
We leave in a van and travel to the borderline with Argentina to appreciate multicolored landscapes and the Andean Plateau Salt Flats....
More details >Altiplano
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Exploration Path
We leave in a van and travel to the borderline with Argentina to appreciate multicolored landscapes and the Andean Plateau Salt Flats. We explore different ecological floors, which allow us to see the diversity in flora and fauna. We come down from the van to feel what is like to walk over 4,000 m.a.s.l (13,123 f.a.s.l).
Nómade
Altiplano
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Overland
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Easy
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Full-day
We take a van to Talabre, where we visit the archaeological site of Kezala with petroglyphs as old as 800 - 400 B.C. We continue our journey...
More details >Nómade
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Exploration Path
We take a van to Talabre, where we visit the archaeological site of Kezala with petroglyphs as old as 800 - 400 B.C. We continue our journey through solitary pathways into the heart of the mountain range in the Andes Plateau. We have lunch in the middle of a natural environment and then come back to Explora.
Lagunas Altiplánicas
Altiplano
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Overland
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Easy
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Full-day
We leave the hotel towards the southern area of the salt flat, from where we will begin to climb towards the slopes of the Andes mountain range. Our first stop will be in the town of Socaire, and then we will continue towards the Piedras Rojas sector in the Aguas Calientes salt flat. Here we will take a short walk with incredible views of the volcanoes and the salt flat. Then we will continue towards the high plateau lagoons of Miscanti and Miñiques, two large and beautiful bodies of water located at 4,200 meters above sea level. We will enjoy a walk surrounded by contrasts between the blue of the water and the reddish mountains of the high plateau. We continue towards our lunch spot and then return to the hotel.
More details >Lagunas Altiplánicas
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Exploration Path
We leave the hotel towards the southern area of the salt flat, from where we will begin to climb towards the slopes of the Andes mountain range. Our first stop will be in the town of Socaire, and then we will continue towards the Piedras Rojas sector in the Aguas Calientes salt flat. Here we will take a short walk with incredible views of the volcanoes and the salt flat. Then we will continue towards the high plateau lagoons of Miscanti and Miñiques, two large and beautiful bodies of water located at 4,200 meters above sea level. We will enjoy a walk surrounded by contrasts between the blue of the water and the reddish mountains of the high plateau. We continue towards our lunch spot and then return to the hotel.
Soquete
Montaña
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High Mountain Ascent
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Advanced
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Full-day
We start walking through mud geysers, crossing green valleys with high Andean flora and fauna. After passing through different geological...
More details >Soquete
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Exploration Path
We start walking through mud geysers, crossing green valleys with high Andean flora and fauna. After passing through different geological formations we reach the needle, its particular summit formed by eruptions and carved by the erosion of wind and water.
883 m 2896 ft
-883 m -2896 ft
5.366 m 17.600 ft
4.487 m 14.717 ftElevation Profile
Punta del Inca
Quebradas Intermedias
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Hike
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Moderate
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Half-day
We take a van to Guatín, a grazing area and junction point of the Puritama and Purifica rivers, and source of the Vilama River...
More details >Punta del Inca
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Exploration Path
We take a van to Guatín, a grazing area and junction point of the Puritama and Purifica rivers, and source of the Vilama River. There, we walk along a canyon known as the Valley of the Cacti due to the existence of giant cacti. We cut cross the canyon crossing the river several times and descending along different waterfalls.
84 m 275 ft
-223 m -731 ft
3.205 m 10.512 ft
3.066 m 10.056 ftElevation Profile
Puritama
Quebradas Intermedias
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Hike
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Moderate
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Half-day
We take a van to Guatín where we begin an ascending walk. We walk for almost 30 minutes along giant cacti up to the Puritama River creek...
More details >Puritama
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Exploration Path
We take a van to Guatín where we begin an ascending walk. We walk for almost 30 minutes along giant cacti up to the Puritama River creek. There, we descend to walk along the river, through rock walls and vegetation. We arrive to the Puritama Hot Springs were we will have some time to relax.
327 m 1073 ft
-58 m -192 ft
3.538 m 11.605 ft
3.269 m 10.722 ftElevation Profile
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