[2023] 6 Day San Pedro de Atacama Itinerary With A Automotive Condominium

6 Day Atacama Itinerary

The Atacama Wilderness has one of the vital distinctive barren region landscapes the place you’ll be able to to find small oasis cities, airy moonscapes, jutting volcanoes, pristine salt lakes, rejuvenating scorching springs, and the clearest sky, there are such a lot of the explanation why this can be a must-visit a part of Chile.

This barren region plateau is the driest nonpolar barren region on the planet and there is a explanation why it is been used as a simulation for Mars. There is additionally a explanation why the most important astronomical undertaking, ALMA Observatory, is situated right here. It’s really a window to any other global and galaxy from right here.

Background Of This Itinerary

Context issues and so that you can tee up this itinerary, let’s temporarily chat about how this shuttle have compatibility in our better month in Chile (complete itinerary coming quickly).

The Atacama Wilderness was once the second one leg of the shuttle and adopted right away after a bodily challenging Torres del Paine Nationwide Park. In consequence, we would have liked this to be slower-paced. Typically, people take a look at to do that in 3-4 days however each itinerary we reviewed seemed means too jam-packed.

For higher or worse, we made up our minds to hire a automobile as a result of we would have liked the liberty and versatility to discover which we did not slightly have in Patagonia since that made out of excursion applications.

Since we might be doing it on our personal, we did not guide any excursions upfront. The manner was once to have a free thought of the itinerary and determine the remainder out at the floor. We would be told later that this offered a ton of demanding situations.

How To Use This Itinerary

Whilst you evaluate to our 10 day Patagonia itinerary, 6 day Smoky Mountains itinerary, 3 day Cairo itinerary, or 2 week Tahiti itinerary, this one is slightly equivalent. The core concept is that it is intended to hide the main points that we really feel different books and internet sites pass over.

With this Atacama barren region itinerary fascinated by those who need to discover it independently with none booked excursions, we are additionally striking an important emphasis on how shuttle making plans works with your personal automobile and offering up to date main points for a way Atacama’s particular person points of interest now paintings post-pandemic.

The itinerary will first undergo on a daily basis, masking what you’ll be able to be expecting, highlighting key main points for points of interest, summarizing the day, and offering hyperlinks in case you need to be told extra.

After the breakdown through day, we will additionally supply concepts for choices that you’ll want to change in, an concept of price, and the kind of traveller this itinerary is for.

Since we perceive in shuttle making plans that it is arduous to peer the place issues are when it comes to each and every different, there is additionally a customized Google Map which you’ll create a replica of.

Finally, we actually have a Google Sheet of the itinerary that you’ll obtain for those who signal as much as be an Insider.

Like with any itinerary, that is intended to supply inspiration and one model of the way you’ll plan a shuttle to San Pedro de Atacama. Be happy to take the items that you are fascinated by and juggle issues round.

What You Want To Know Earlier than Making plans Your Shuttle

As an alternative of cramming each ultimate element into this San Pedro de Atacama itinerary, we now have damaged out the foundational wisdom into a couple of different articles that we extremely inspire you to learn as a significant other to this one.

During the Atacama Wilderness trip information (coming quickly) and Atacama Packing Listing (coming quickly), you are able to get solution the questions comparable to:

• The place is the Atacama Wilderness?
• What are the brand new adjustments in Atacama post-pandemic?
• What number of days do you wish to have?
• How you can get to San Pedro de Atacama?
• How a lot does it price?
• Is it protected?
• The place will have to you consume?

Why Atacama With A Automotive Condominium?

With numerous enjoy touring all over the world, this gave the look of a no brainer choice. With heaps of open roads, Atacama on paper seems to be smooth to pressure however the truth is a little bit other.

The most important factor with riding by yourself is the situation of the roads. When you get off the paved freeway, you are coping with gravel roads that get started off properly flattened however can degrade to asymmetric nightmares consisting of potholes and head-shaking rumble strips.

At the turn facet, many of us will inform you that it is unhealthy to pressure in Atacama, you know that experience a vested passion in promoting excursions. Actually that it is completely do-able, albeit, requiring cautious riding, with self belief, some enjoy, and paying for insurance coverage in case.

Let’s quilt causes for and towards having a automobile condo.

Causes for a automobile condo

• The nearest airport is Calama (CJC) which is just about 1.5 hours clear of San Pedro de Atacama. This implies there is both a shared or non-public switch required that begins at $27 USD in line with individual.
• The price of a automobile condo for 7 days is slightly cheap at $377 USD with Europcar.
• Conventional excursions are all slightly cookie-cutter and may also be at a quicker tempo than you favor. Because you’re anticipated to observe your staff, it does not provide you with an excessive amount of time to discover and take your time.
• If you are a photographer and need to go to viewpoints at particular occasions of the day/night time or want huge quantities of time with say, the flamingos, you wish to have to have your personal automobile.
• Whilst you’ll guide some excursions on-line, it is in fact high-quality to guide the excursions after you arrive since many corporations jockey for your small business through providing reductions. Should you move this course, this implies spending time figuring this out for your first day versus hitting the bottom working.

The demanding situations of riding in Atacama

• The principle highways are properly paved however as soon as you are in San Pedro de Atacama itself or move out of doors, it is all gravel and asymmetric roads. The street to Geyser del Tatio and Lagunas Baltinache are particularly nightmarish.
• There is the sensation that the points of interest in Atacama are not in particular pleasant for unbiased vacationers. This principally comes from the loss of up to date knowledge on-line which may make it slightly irritating to devise a shuttle. It additionally turns out like locals did not know the most recent main points post-COVID.
• Google Maps may also be deceiving and can lead you off course if you do not know the precise location to sort in. For example, for those who punch in instructions for “Laguna Chaxa”, you’ll be able to be following instructions to the fallacious position.

Regardless of the demanding situations, exploring the barren region with your personal condo automobile is slightly the joys journey and lets you spend as little or as a lot time you need at each and every vacation spot.

For the most productive charges, Europcar was once extremely affordable. Additionally they have Avis, Funds, Econorent, MITTA, FIRST, and Salfa on the Calama airport. To check all of them, take a look at the use of RentalCars.

Happily, with this 6 day Atacama itinerary, we will be guiding you round commonplace errors and making driving-specific suggestions.

Day 1: Seeing The Clearest Evening Sky

With out a direct flights to the Atacama Wilderness, the best way to get there may be by the use of the most important the town within the area, Calama and the El Loa Airport (CJC). There are more than one flights an afternoon from Santiago (SLC) so you’ll come to a decision how early or past due you need to move.

TIP: If Atacama is your first vacation spot in Chile and you have got a brief layover in Santiago, take a look at buying a pay as you go Entel SIM so you’ll have this taken care of and activated. You’ll be able to do that in San Pedro de Atacama however you will have to spend time to search out it.

When you touchdown in Calama, you’ll be able to head to the automobile condo counter in the principle corridor of the airport that is out of doors of safety. There are a number of cubicles right here together with Europcar and because they’re undermanned, there is probably not somebody there. Search for a telephone quantity and contact it to allow them to know you are ready.

The vehicles are proper within the car parking zone in entrance of the airport and from there you’ll be able to take the principle freeway that connects to San Pedro de Atacama. This can be a 1 hour and 17 minute pressure on a newly paved highway.

In this pressure, you’ll be able to be incessantly mountain climbing in elevation, peaking at 3424 meters (11,234 ft). Which means that chances are you’ll get started feeling the altitude en-route. For reference, Calama is two,260meters (7415 ft) San Pedro de Atacama is 3,159 meters (10,364 ft).

Settle into your resort and get arranged to your night stargazing job. It is going to get slightly chilly at night time so get ready your layers, gloves, and toque/beanie. The valuables we stayed at and would extremely counsel is Hoteles Pueblo de Tierra.

Have dinner at Sol Inti on the town ahead of getting again for your resort to watch for your pick out up.

PARKING TIP: If you are in search of parking on the town, know that Caracoles is a pedestrian boulevard. The most efficient parking spots are marked on our map with the primary possibility being the most productive boulevard parking within the center of the town.

In your first night time in Atacama, we extremely counsel that you simply guide a night with Jorge of Atacama Wilderness Stargazing. This excursion splits your time between a category that’ll move during the historical past of astronomy with stargazing the use of a number of excessive magnification telescopes. Although stargazing is not your factor, you are going to be blown away.

Atacama is likely one of the highest puts for stargazing on account of its altitude, loss of humidity, and transparent skies. All over the excursion, you’ll be able to see a large number of celestial our bodies up-close with probably the most spectacular being the Tarantula Nebula, NGC-253, NGC-104, Jupiter and its moons, and Saturn with its rings.

As a reminder to your Day 4 and six actions, remember to guide your Valle De L. a. Luna tickets and Puritama on-line forward of time if you have not completed so already.

Day 2: Sensible Flamingos

Get started your morning with the incorporated breakfast at Hoteles Pueblo de Tierra.

Since we do not counsel consuming faucet water in San Pedro de Atacama because of its excessive mineral content material, you will want to remember to have sufficient water. Probably the most most cost-effective puts to pick out up water is on the native Supermercado Ketal. A 6L jug is $1,950 CLP. Top off the rest chances are you’ll want together with snacks for the automobile.

Replenish your automobile on the COPEC gasoline station ahead of heading out.

The principle spotlight of the day is Laguna Chaxa which is highest recognized for its huge inhabitants of flamingos that are living right here.

Belonging to the bigger Atacama Salt Apartments, this space is in fact a melancholy within the land between the Andes and Domeyko mountain levels the place over the numerous years, minerals washing down from the mountains settled right here to create a large salt deposit.

Superficial lagoons have shaped right here the place brine shrimp have thrived in waters with excessive mineral concentrations with excessive temperatures and coffee oxygen. That is similar to the salt lake we now have visited in our Northern California highway shuttle which incorporated a go to to Mono Lake.

The secret is that birds together with flamingoes love feeding at the brine shrimp within the shallow puddles of water, which is why there are such huge colonies of them right here.

In your go to, you’ll be able to get started off with a knowledge consultation the place a information will undergo some of the informative forums, examples of brine shrimp, and in addition how flamingoes get started with white feathers and in the end flip purple thru their nutrition. This section is best in Spanish however is obligatory as a result of they want to provide an explanation for the foundations.

You’ll be able to then stroll a one-way path that takes you alongside a adventure alongside the dry salt flat, with quite a lot of stops alongside the way in which that speak about brine shrimp, volcanoes and hills, and the salt lagoons. This path leads against an open space proper in entrance of the lagoon the place lots of the flamingos are.

If you wish to head instantly to the flamingoes, there is additionally a 2-way path that is going from the customer heart to the lagoon.

At the long ago, you’ll go to town of Toconao. Whilst there is no super quantity to peer, it is nonetheless price a snappy pitstop to their old fashioned the town sq.. Their primary enchantment is the bell tower that was once in-built 1750 made of 3 stacked sections of volcanic stone and confronted with white stucco.

You’ll be able to certainly be hungry so head again into the town to have an early dinner at Adobe. Situated at the primary pedestrian boulevard of Caracoles, they’re beautiful low key within the past due afternoon however become slightly the full of life eating place with their hearth pit and are living song at night time. It is a nice environment with scrumptious mixture of conventional and Italian dishes beneath an open-air courtyard.

For sundown, you are going to need to head to the preferred spot on the town known as Mirador Lickan-Antai. Whilst you arrive, you’ll be able to understand that there is no correct car parking zone as it is actually off the facet of the freeway.

As soon as parked, you’ll be able to go the rocks to in the end get to an edge that has an increased perched view of Valle de los angeles Luna. The best way the golden solar casts shadow at the dragon-like backbone of the rock formations and deserts under are really enchanting.

There will be slightly a couple of folks right here so plan on arriving 30-40 mins forward of sundown.

Earlier than you head house, keep in mind to refill your tank so you’ll be able to be in a position to move the next day.

Day 3: Well-known Altiplanic Lakes

In your 3rd day, you’ll be able to mountain climbing up in altitude to go to magical lagoons of the mountains.

After a hearty breakfast on the resort, you’ll be able to be hitting the street once more. We propose that you simply get started early to present your self time to discover and take footage as a result of there is a 4.5 hours of riding simply to get there and again.

Nowadays, you’ll be able to be going the similar route as the day past however you’ll be able to stay going and you’ll be able to be mountain climbing in altitude. What is considerably other even though is how scenic this pressure is. As an alternative of flat barren region plains with formations within the distance, you’ll be able to get started seeing extra crops, flora and fauna, windy roads, and volcanic mountains.

Your primary project is to peer the Altiplanic Lakes which come with the Miscanti and Miñiques lagoons that are side-by-side and in addition Piedras Rojas which is on the fringe of Aguas Calientes Sur salt residences. Altiplanic comes from the Spanish phrase altiplano because of this “excessive plains” and refers to a plateau this is predominantly in Bolivia but in addition cuts into Peru and Chile. It is price noting that every one of those puts are a part of the Los Flamencos Herbal Reserve.

Benefit from the pressure and do not be afraid to securely forestall at the facet of the street for footage. Additionally, be searching for vicuña, a fair cuter cousin to the alpaca. With their lengthy lashes, fluffy wool, and smaller dimension, they are indubitably the cutest of the llama relations.

Your first forestall is town of Socaire and is an administrative one. Close to the doorway of the town is a brown container construction which they name Recepción de Turistas. That is the place you are going to display your on-line reservation, sign up your knowledge, and pick out up your authentic access price ticket. We propose that you simply purchase the price ticket that begins at Piedras Rojas and ends with the Miscanti and Miñiques Lagoons.

Previous Socaire, the pressure turns into much more impressive as you climb in altitude and you are offered with wondrous mixture of pastel-coloured lakes and lines of mountains that do not glance actual.

The primary primary sightseeing forestall is a small perspective at the facet of the freeway which overlooks Piedras Rojas and Aguas Calientes.

When you get to perspective for Aguas Calientes, you are at greater than 4,000 meters (13,123 ft) above sea stage. That is when you are going to get started feeling the consequences of altitude illness. Whilst riding you could really feel rapidly slightly sleepy. Any strolling you do will really feel all of a sudden tougher, requiring you to take extra breaks and catch your breath. Take it sluggish and drink loads of water.

We propose that you simply pressure previous Piedras Rojas and head out to the farthest level you need to move first. Sooner or later you’ll be able to come across a perspective for Tuyajto Lake. This can be a stunning mild turquoise salt lake to respect.

You’ll be able to proceed riding previous the perspective however I would not move previous the small car parking zone that we now have marked at the map. Since it is slightly flat right here and you’ll’t get just about the lake, the perspective is in point of fact your highest spot. Riding any more will simply take you to the border with Argentina.

Running your long ago, the following forestall may be off the facet of the street and is well ignored. It is marked as Mirador de Aguascalientes the place there is a trail as much as a fantastic view of all of the salt lake from jap facet. It may be extremely windy up right here however well worth the quick stroll up right here as it is most probably you are able to see flamingoes and vicuña under.

You’ll be able to in spite of everything arrive at Piedras Rojas. In Spanish this implies “pink rocks” and this can be a breathtaking path loop that takes you the entire means out to distinctive copper-colored rocks shaped from oxidation of iron.

It is slightly the sight to peer those rounded and ordinary rocks are juxtaposed towards the threshold of Aguas Calientes which seems like a sheet of ice lined through jagged crystals of ice however is in reality salt.

You could be blown away through the serious wind however you’ll be able to be assured to be blown away through the impossibly pastel-rich hues of the rock, lake, and surrounding volcanic mountains.

The second one a part of your price ticket is a go to to the highland lagoons of Miscanti and Miñiques. Those are two huge crystalline lagoons subsequent to one another and encompass a number of trails and viewpoints.

Each and every lagoon is amazingly serene and calm with the mountains and sky reflecting off the water as birds together with flamingos basking and in search of meals.

As you pressure again against San Pedro de Atacama, you’ll make a snappy forestall on the authentic Tropic of Capricorn line. There is a car parking zone right here and you’ll stroll as much as the triangulating poles that is a part of a far better Camino del Inca.

Again on the town, roam round the town, shedding through the cubicles arrange round Plaza de San Pedro de Atacama and massive memento markets comparable to Feria Artesanal San Pedro de Atacama.

Deal with your self to a hearty dinner at Pizzería El Charrúa. This joint is all the time full of folks so we advise coming right here previous to clutch a desk. which is all the time full of folks.

Sleep early as a result of you’ll be able to be waking up at 4AM.

Day 4: From Geysers to the Moon

You’ll be able to be combining two of the must-do’s of any itinerary to the Atacama Wilderness with bursts of water in crimson mild with moonscapes sparkling in fiery hues.

Set your alarm for 4AM and goal to get from your resort through 5AM.

Geyser del Tatio (El Tatio Geysers) is the most important geyser box within the southern hemisphere and 3rd greatest on the planet. With 80 lively geysers, water temperatures at 85°C (185°F) will bubble as much as 75 centimeters (2.5 ft) and if you are fortunate, they’re going to shoot up 6 meters (20 ft).

The pressure as much as Geyser del Tatio is simply over 1.5 hours however it’s going to take a look at your riding talents as this can be a windy highway at nighttime the place maximum of it’s bumpy gravel that’ll require some ability and endurance. The excursion trucks will most probably move you however simply keep the direction.

It is a magical position early within the morning as a result of that is when the geothermal job is the best possible. An airy steam blankets the ground whilst the geysers burst with water whilst additionally developing huge plumes of cloud.

Whilst you arrive on the primary gate, you’ll be able to be equipped some directions to park within the lot, head over to the customer heart construction to fill out the passenger shape, pay the cashier, and get your price ticket and map. This may be your likelihood to make use of the toilets.

Go thru the second one gate along with your price ticket and pressure the entire strategy to the farthest level the place there are geysers with probably the most job. At this level, the daybreak might be in its early phases.

Stroll out at the designated paths and glance out for the geysers with better thermal job. It is going to be beautiful transparent which one is the “Nice Geyser” as this may occasionally have the most important radius. The geysers you are going to see listed here are a mixture of vents at the floor, dust swimming pools, and geyser cones.

You’ll be able to additionally understand some mechanical apparatus within the box. The tale is that an organization attempted to faucet into box for power was once deserted on account of environmental affects and drilling changing the behaviour of the recent springs.

After you stroll thru the principle space of geyser job, hop again into your automobile and park within the adjoining lot. That is to avoid wasting you a little bit of strolling and provide you with get admission to to any other set of geysers. It is hooked up with the primary so you’ll additionally stroll right here if you want. At this level, the solar might be out and the blue and crimson hour might be over.

The overall segment of the park is again close to the doorway with a thermal pool and further viewpoints for extra geysers.

If you are up for it, you’ll use the alternate rooms and leap into the recent springs to your bathing go well with. Fed from the geothermal job under, you swim round and soak within the mineral wealthy water, very similar to Blue Lagoon in Iceland however means much less glamorous.

By the point you are prepared to go away, the geyser job could have died down even if now not as dramatic as folks make it sound.

Contrasting to the darkness of your pressure in, you are able to see the encircling mountains, lakes, wildlife, and birds that inhabit the close by space.

There may be one lookout level alongside the way in which again that is price preventing at that has a ravishing panoramic view of the panorama, and excursion trucks developing huge plumes of mud.

Midway again, you’ll be able to move through the village of Machuca. You are unfastened to prevent right here to go to the native church and recent llama kebabs if they are at the grill. You may also see flamingoes alongside the river that drift thru right here.

The extraordinary factor that took place to us passing thru Machuca was once that there was once somebody from the town that stopped the entire vehicles coming thru to supply us with a work of paper with laws for the village together with no flying of drones, now not taking footage of citizens, best taking footage from the facet of the street, and now not annoying the flora and fauna. Since we did not perceive their Spanish, it was once arduous to inform whether or not they had been welcoming us in or in the event that they sought after to ensure we obeyed the foundations. We merely nodded and stored riding.

You could be feeling a little bit drained after such an early morning get started so be happy to move again for your resort to nap.

Arriving again in San Pedro de Atacama, head over to Emporio Andino for lunch. They are a comfortable cafe with numerous tables inside of. Their empanadas are one of the vital highest on the town as properly so we suggest that you simply additionally take a couple of to move so you’ll nibble on them at sundown.

Valle de los angeles Luna (Moon Valley) is the place you’ll be able to spend the remainder of the afternoon in. This can be a huge park that has slightly numerous key spaces to go to so you will want to remember to have sufficient time.

What makes Valle de los angeles Luna so particular is how spectacularly otherworldly it’s. With its geological formations that would simply be at the moon, Mars, or Arrakis from Dune.

Whilst the ticketing gadget and what is open and closed may also be slightly irritating and complicated like maximum of Atacama. Listed below are the websites inside the park which can be lately opened. Far and wide else is closed to guests:

• Duna Primary – This follows an enormous ridge within the valley that has towering perspectives of the saw-tooth crusts that upward thrust from the barren dessert, partitions of rounded pink rock, mazes of canyons, and a picturesque dune of good sand.
• Victoria Mine – An previous salt mine with examples of equipment, dwellings, and get admission to to the underground. You will not be able to go into inside of.
• Tres Marías – A trio of rock spires that is situated on the some distance finish of the park that is available to the general public.

Some other spectacular view is the Amphitheatre which is an excellent wall of sand, clay and salt resembles the outside wall of the Roman Colosseum. This may also be noticed from Duna Primary and in addition up shut as you pressure at the primary highway.

After you end exploring Valle de los angeles Luna, you’ll be able to have unique get admission to to a brand new sundown viewing spot that is adjoining to Mirador Lickan-Antai. This location is in fact two viewpoints in a single and known as Mirador de Kari & Piedra del Coyote (Kari Standpoint & Coyote Stone).

The variation with Mirador Lickan-Antai is that that it has a greater view of the valley flooring of Valle de los angeles Luna and is at moderately upper elevation, thus offering a greater birds-eye-like view.

Mirador de Kari is at the left and to the proper is Piedra del Coyote. After you scout the world and pick out your favorite spot, you are able to watch the solar set in the back of the mountain vary within the distance.

After sundown, have dinner at probably the most highest eating places in San Pedro de Atacama. Baltinache Eating place elevates Chilean dishes in each preparation, trendy cooking ways, and presentation. Refreshingly focused on a polished eating target audience, their center of attention in high quality over amount is clear of their 3-course menu for $23,500 CLP.

Should you occur to be on the town on a Friday night time, be sure to take a look at the native night time marketplace (marked on our map). They have got meals stands, carnival video games, and dance golf equipment.

Pleasant reminder to gasoline up!

Day 5: Floating On Water

After a hectic 4 days within the Atacama Wilderness, you’ll be able to take an more uncomplicated tempo through attending to the extra enjoyable portion of the shuttle. With such a lot of salt residences and lakes, you’ll be able to get to do the original job of floating within the hidden lagoons of Baltinache.

You deserve a wreck and so we advise that you simply sleep in and feature a past due breakfast at Hoteles Pueblo de Tierra which matches till 10:30AM.

With your entire tools within the automobile, set out for an overly bumpy pressure out to the Lagunas Baltinache (Baltinache Lagoons). Like the opposite points of interest in Atacama, they’re going to inform you it isn’t really helpful to pressure there however it is very a lot imaginable.

After a 1 hour and Quarter-hour on a continuously rumbling gravel highway, the amenities of the lagoon will come out of nowhere like an oasis.

Dazzling with crystal transparent turquoise and surrounded through snow-like salt and mysterious bumps within the floor, there are 7 salt lakes right here that may be explored through two primary parking rather a lot and a boardwalk that connects them.

The surreal panorama is enhanced through the power to go into 2 of those lakes the place the intense salinity lets in your frame to waft when you are within the water. It is a equivalent enjoy to the Useless Sea aside from right here, you are in a way smaller lake that is surrounded through a barren region panorama.

After your floating break out, pressure again into the town and it is extremely really helpful to return to the resort to bathe for the reason that salt may also be slightly frustrating.

For the remainder of the night, you’ll be able to have any other alternative to discover the stunning vibe of downtown San Pedro de Atacama.

If you end up feeling hungry, head over to Ckunna, a cafe situated on probably the most primary streets and has an excellent aggregate of scrumptious Andean delicacies and Italian dishes.

If you are up for dessert, we suggest Heladería Babalú. There are two places on the town and you’ll be able to revel in their distinctive flavors.

Do not omit to gasoline up the automobile ahead of heading again house!

Day 6: Puritama Oasis

In your ultimate day of your 6 day Atacama barren region itinerary, you’ll be able to be pampering your self with a real oasis in the midst of a barren region canyon.

By means of now, you are more than likely bored with the resort breakfast so deal with your self to L. a. Franchuteria, a bakery and cafe that brings France to the barren region.

Locals come right here to top off on baguettes and a wide array of artisanal breads however we suggest that you simply clutch a seat of their outside eating area that has slightly the free-spirited environment. Their sandwiches, croissants, recent juices, and occasional are very good.

At brunch, there is normally are living song enjoying (for donation) and native distributors with tables arrange.

Subsequent, you’ll be able to get started making your means up the similar highway that you’d’ve taken to go to the Geysers del Tatio, the B-245 aside from you will not be going as some distance. You’ll be able to be well-accustomed to the roads at this level and you are able to make it to Puritama Scorching Springs in a snappy half-hour.

Nestled in an Andean canyon is the Puritama Conservation Reserve the place you’ll be able to to find the Puritama River. “Puri” which means water and “Tama” method scorching and for a 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) stretch, the river turns into naturally heated, slowly filling 8 herbal swimming pools carved into the rock.

These days controlled through the luxurious resort logo, Explora, you’ll guide time slots to soak within the swimming pools which can be wealthy in calcium, magnesium, sodium and boron, that are really helpful for really helpful for rheumatism, arthritis, tension, bodily fatigue and different illnesses – simply what you wish to have after 6 days within the Atacama Wilderness!

Each and every pool is numbered from 1 to eight and the water right here levels from 28°C (82.4°F) to 31°C (87.8°F), with the swimming pools upper up being moderately hotter than those under.

For dinner, you’ll be able to consume at L. a. Pica Del Indio, a cafe with a recent rotation of day by day dishes, reasonably priced costs, and nice carrier. Be happy to take a look at any other eating place that may’ve stuck your eye or revisit one from the former days.

Now you are more than likely questioning, what concerning the section about leaving the Atacama Wilderness? Relying for your flight, you’ll be able to be riding your automobile condo again to Calama. It is going to be an easy pressure however keep in mind to refill on the town ahead of you move to the airport. This implies pinning a gasoline station for your map app previously.

How You May just Tweak This Atacama Itinerary

There are such a large amount of alternative ways you’ll construct a 6 day Atacama Wilderness itinerary. That is in point of fact only one means this shuttle may also be completed. With other pursuits and period of time, you’ll alternate it up whatsoever that is sensible for you.

Listed below are a couple of choices which can be price taking into consideration:

• Ebook with excursions – Probably the most obtrusive adjustments can be to move the standard course and guide the usual bus excursions that they provide so that you do not have to fret as a lot concerning the finer main points and the difficult riding. For those who need to guide upfront, we suggest you take a look at Viator and GetYourGuide.
• Rainbow Valley – Sure, the Atacama Wilderness has its personal model of Rainbow Valley. We opted to not move as a result of we had been warned that the Google instructions were not very useful. That stated, it seems like an excellent hike. The title to search for is “Valle del Arcoiris” and is just about the Yerbas Buenas Petroglyphs. We extremely counsel that you simply get AllTrails and observe their path map.
• Yerbas Buenas Petroglyphs – The selection of petroglyphs that may be discovered here’s staggering. That is situated north of San Pedro de Atacama and close to town of Lican.
• Pukará de Quitor Fortress – This can be a pre-Columbian archeological website that overlooks the valley of the river San Pedro. Come right here to peer the ruins of a castle that was once used to give protection to native indigenous folks from the Spanish conquistadors.
• Laguna Cejar – In relation to salt lakes, there are in fact slightly a bunch to make a choice from however if you are like us, you will not really feel love it’s important to peer all of them. Some say that this lake is a little bit underwhelming however what is distinctive about it’s that you’ll swim in. Probabilities of seeing flamingos may be slightly low right here so it is number one for swimming. The associated fee is $15,000 CLP.
• Laguna Tebinquinche – Some other lagoon with an front charge ($5,000 CLP). It is a huge salt lake with some hen lifestyles however they do not ceaselessly come just about the coastline in comparison to Laguna Chaxa. Notice that this can be a minute pressure from Laguna Cejar and is ceaselessly blended in combination.
• Bolivia – Whilst you take a look at the map, you know how shut the Bolivia border is. You will not be able to do it as an afternoon shuttle however if you are formidable, there are methods to succeed in the Uyuni Salt Apartments from San Pedro de Atacama.
• Sandboarding – Firstly we would have liked to do that however we came upon from an area that Valle de los angeles Muerte (sometimes called Valle de Marte) it was once closed. Now not having g the time to verify this, we scrapped the theory. Additionally, in strolling round San Pedro de Atacama, we did not see any excursion operators selling sandboard leases. In the long run, the one operator providing that is Sandboard San Pedro which is costly however could be the one strategy to do it now as they take you to a secret sand dune out of doors of the town.
• Scorching Air Balloon – Within the morning, you’ll be able to see numerous scorching air balloons upward thrust within the sky. That is an reasonably priced job you’ll guide.
• Cycling – A well-liked job in Atacama is driving a bicycle. You’ll be able to hire them or you’ll make a choice from one of the biking adventures like this e-bike shuttle to Laguna Cejar or going downhill on a volcano.
• Láscar Volcano Summit – You’ll be able to do a complete day hike as much as the highest of this volcano. Non-public journeys up get started at $200 USD.

Map of San Pedro de Atacama Wilderness Itinerary

The under is an interactive map damaged down through layers for on a daily basis of the itinerary so you’ll see the place issues are when it comes to each and every different within the Atacama Wilderness.

TIP: To create a replica of this map to your personal use, merely maximize the map to open it up in a brand new tab. From there, move into the menu and make a selection “Reproduction map”. You are able to make your personal changes and open it up within the Google Maps app as properly.

5 Pointers for Self-Riding within the Atacama Wilderness

After we consider our automobile condo and riding enjoy in and round San Pedro de Atacama, there are 5 core learnings that we would like to impart to you as you construct out your personal Atacama itinerary.

1. Pin the proper spots – The de-facto navigation app is Google Maps and whilst it best works whilst you get the positioning proper. The Atacama Wilderness is infamous for deceiving pin places so remember to know the precise title. Happily, we now have made positive to be slightly specific about this at each and every location.
2. Replenish on a daily basis – Take into account that there may be best the only gasoline station in San Pedro de Atacama and after our drama in Milford Sound, New Zealand, we realized to not take the danger. Get into the addiction of filling up your tank each night time.
3. Take a look at your tire power – Some condo vehicles have tire power sensors and a few do not. That is a type of belongings you most often do not consider however with the cruel highway stipulations, you will want to remember to’ have just right tire power on a daily basis as properly. Happily, the only and best gasoline station, COPEC, has a tire pump instrument that is unfastened.
4. Altitude can hit whilst riding – Take note of how you feel when you are riding at the day you go to the Altiplanic Lakes as you’ll be able to be going thru excessive mountain passes. Drink numerous water and take a wreck for those who a unexpected wave of fatigue.
5. Riding quicker may also be higher than slower at the gravel roads – On flat and instantly roads comparable to the only you’ll be able to be taking to Lagunas Baltinache, you’ll be able to to begin with need to pressure 20 km/h however you’ll be able to in fact really feel each unmarried bump. By means of selecting up the rate to 60-80km/h, you’ll be able to have a smoother trip. It is counter-intuitive. We propose that you simply give it a take a look at as you construct extra self belief.

For all of our pointers for touring the Atacama Wilderness, you’ll want to learn our trip information (coming quickly).

How A lot Does This Atacama Itinerary Price

For those who are taking into consideration renting a automobile, this is a correct illustration of the way a lot you’ll be expecting to spend on a 6 day San Pedro de Atacama itinerary.

Precise itinerary prices

Here is what we in fact spent (costs are in USD) and for 2 folks:

Expense	Price (USD)
Flight	$876.17
Automotive Condominium	$377.09
Gasoline	$139.55
Lodge	$628.00
Actions (i.e. front charges)	$432.68
Groceries	$8.00
Eating places	$301.00
Souvenirs	$70.00
Pointers	$45.00
TOTAL	$2,877.49

The one factor that is lacking here’s the Entel SIM card which I bought within the Patagonia leg of the shuttle.

Shuttle price in line with individual = $1,439 USD

This breaks right down to $240 USD in line with day in line with individual. For reference, our 10 days in Egypt was once $203.51 USD.

What would the fee be with no condo automobile?

That is a large quantity for 10 days however it should lend a hand to place it in standpoint towards different itineraries.

All else being the similar and swapping out the condo automobile for excursions, you would be having a look at reserving those (USD, in line with individual):

Notice that excursions do not come with front charges so we are not factoring the ones prices right here.

Overall price for two folks comes out to $595.38 USD in comparison to $572.09 for the automobile condo, gasoline, and Puritama front charge. That does not even come with tipping!

The prices are very equivalent so it in point of fact comes right down to how comfy you might be with riding and whether or not you want the liberty to discover at your personal tempo, and general flexibility.

Who Is This Itinerary For?

That ends up in this ultimate segment concerning the final form of traveller this Atacama itinerary is for.

That is the kind of traveller this shuttle is constructed for:

• Seeks journey and prepared to take a look at new issues.
• Loves the joys of exploring with your personal automobile.
• Whilst loving journey, additionally seems to be for a steadiness of convenience, just right meals, and rest.
• Desires to have keep watch over of the itinerary versus being led round through huge bus excursions.
• Keen to spend extra time in a single position versus speeding thru the whole lot.
• Photographers

Who this isn’t for:

• Anyone with a good time table and best have 2-3 days.
• Funds backpacker having a look to do it as affordable as imaginable.
• Whilst now not funds, it isn’t luxurious both. For that, guide an all-inclusive stick with Explora Atacama or Tierra Atacama.

Ultimate Ideas

Via this 6 day Atacama itinerary, you’ll be able to have an opportunity to get an intensive take a look at what makes space this type of widespread vacation spot in Chile. Whilst apparently in a desolate position, it has an abundance of really distinctive herbal wonders whether or not it is the stars, geothermal job, salt lagoons, and lunar-like geology.

Whilst most of the people will come right here for a fast forestall ahead of transitioning to any other a part of South The us or Chile, that is the easiest period of time the place you will not really feel rushed and you’ll be able to have a while to chill out as properly.

Renting a automobile right here may additionally really feel like a arguable selection as it is also the fewer commonplace selection however if you are like us and need to discover at your personal tempo, we will be able to verify that it is the awesome possibility. That stated, there are a large number of demanding situations with new laws and insurance policies however we now have laid out the whole lot we realized. Additionally, the riding is tough (actually and figuratively) however under no circumstances as a nasty thought as some make it out to be.

The Atacama Wilderness is a unique position and is undoubtedly to not be ignored if you are making plans a shuttle to Chile.

Steadily Requested Questions

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You made it! We all know that this was once slightly the long itinerary however we are assured that the main points will permit your shuttle to run soothly. When you have a query about this Atacama itinerary, you’ll want to drop a remark!