A trek for those who want to discover the secrets of this region, covering the Atacama Desert (Chile) with its unique attractiveness, its Salar, we will enjoy the Tatio Geysers in a particular and privileged way, since we will reach them during our crossing.
We will also get to enjoy the Puna region and the Quebrada de Humahuaca in Argentina.
The environment variety and all its special features make this crossing an unforgettable experience that you can not miss.
DIA / ITINERARIO
01
Calama - San Pedro de Atacama
02
Cordillera de Sal - Valle de la Luna
03
Trek Valle San Bartolo
04
Trek San Bartolo - Río Grande
05
Trek Río Grande - Machuca
06
Machuca - Geysers del Tatio
07
San Pedro de Atacama
08
Atacama - Tilcara
09
Devil's Throat Trek - Tilcara
10
Tilcara - Iruya
11
Iruya - Chiyayoc
12
Chiyayoc - Rodeo Colorado
13
Rodeo colorado - Río Nazareno
14
Río Nazareno - Nazareno
15
Nazareno - La Quiaca - Salta
16
Salta - Airport
ACCOMMODATIONS
7 nights Hosteria double or single
5 nights Semi - Full camping
3 nights at simple lodging
Day 1 Calama - San Pedro de Atacama
We welcome you at the Calama Airport and transfer you to San Pedro de Atacama. Will have the rest of the day to enjoy the town. Lodging at Hosteria double or single.
Meals we provide: none.
Day 2 San Pedro de Atacama - Valle de la Luna
Early in the morning after breakfast, we will visit an area near town known as “La Cordillera de la Sal (‘’Mountain range made of SALT’’) with its very own particular formations. From there we’ll have an unforgettable view of Los Andes and the valleys around the town. In the afternoon we’ll do a small trek to the Valle de la Luna; located at 17 km from San Pedro in the area of the Cordillera de la Sal, it has an especial appeal for its amazing resemblance to the lunar surface. Lodging at Hosteria double or single.
Meals we provide: Breakfast.
Day 3 Salar Grande y Trekking to the Valley of San Bartolo
This day we’ll visit the Atacama’s Great ‘’Salar’’ (Stone formations made of Salt). It’s known all around the world as 3rd one of its dimensions. In it we’ll also get to see the flamencos that live in the region. Later we’ll continue till Toconao, small towns known for its art craft. In the afternoon, we’ll start our trek thru the valley of Catarpé we’ll walk to the beginning of the river San Bartola; once there, 'petroglifos' (small incrustations of marine life in stone) can be found. Then we keep going until we reach the 2700 meters of high, where we’ll camp. Lodging at Semi full Camping.
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch Dinner
Day 4 Trekking San Bartolo - Rio Grande
Today, already acclimatized, we will begin to gain altitude, join a river-bed where we find weird stone formations and giants’ cactus that emerge from the arid desert.
We will continue up to the 3500 metres high, around the area of Rio Grande, a small village where we have our second Camp site. Lodging at Semi full Camping.
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch Dinner
Day 5 Trekking Rio Grande - Machuca
After breakfast, we leave behind Rio Grande Village and we will go through an area of narrow rivers that create fertile valleys where the inhabitants take theirs “llamas” to graze. We will continue gaining altitude up to Vilarejo de Machuca (4100 metres) where we camp. From here, we have an astonishing view of the Licancabur volcano. Lodging at Semi full Camping.
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch Dinner
Day 6 Machuca - Geyser Del Tatio
This day starts quite early in the morning. We will depart before dawn (4 AM) in order to go to the TATIO volcano, located 4500 meters over the level of the sea. First thing we’ll do once we arrive is to go to the geothermal field located in the mountain range of Los Andes. Early in the morning this place has an amazing steamy activity because of the high temperatures that are coming up from the craters. The boiling water, the huge columns on steam and the water that runs underneath the surface makes of this, and unforgettable experience.
We will have breakfast here, and then we’ll take a walk and those who want to might take a bath in the warm water near the geysers. (That’s why we recommend you to bring along besides warm clothing, a swimming suit, towel, sun block) Hostería base double o single
Meals we provide: Breakfast
Day 7 San Pedro de Atacama
This is a day off so we’ll be able to choose between different options such as: the ascension of the Lascar Volcano or the Toco Mountain or just take a look around walking or by bicycle Lodging at Hosteria double or single.
Meals we provide: Breakfast.
Day 8 San Pedro de Atacama - Tilcara
Early in the morning we say goodbye to San Pedro de Atacama and by bus we go back to Argentina crossing the mountain range of Los Andes. Thru el Paso de Jama we will be able to appreciate the “Salinas Grandes”; then descending over the path of the Lipan, we’ll make a stop at the town of Pumamarca and its famous Mount of the ‘Los Siete Colores’. Later we arrive to our lodge at the painteresque town of Tilcara. Lodging at Hosteria double or single.
Meals we provide: Breakfast.
Day 9 Devil’s Throat - Tilcara
We’ll have the morning free to discover the town and its unique things such us: la plaza grande, la plaza chica, the town church - and the Pucará de Tilcara. In the afternoon we’ll do a small trek to the devil’s throat, walking along the old Kollas paths and watching the amazing view. After 3 or 4 hours we finally go back to Tilcara. Lodging at Hosteria double or single.
Meals we provide: Breakfast.
Day 10 Tilcara - Iruya
During the morning, we will go towards the North in a local Bus to the small town of Iruya, a picturesque village just in the north of Salta.
We will have enough time to go around the town, discovering its beautiful cobbled streets and its typical Cappel. We will spend the night in this fascinating place. Simple Lodging
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch Dinner
Day 11 Iruya - Chiyayoc
Early in the morning, we will begin the crossing from Iruya, at 2800metres high. We will go up north the river in a slow but incessant ascent, until we reach the Abra Del Colorado. From there, we will descent to the San Juan River where we have lunch. After the break, another ascent is expecting us and then the posterior descent to the Chiyayoc village, at 3100 m OSL.
Walking time: 8 to 9 hours. Simple Lodging
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch Dinner
Day 12 Chiyayoc - Rodeo Colorado
Our trek continues thru this amazing landscape. We descend until we reach the valley of the river Trancas. Once there we start ascending again till we arrive to the edge. From there we’ll have a fabulous view of the town of Rodeo Colorado. Later we go back descending thru the Pera River. We finally arrive to Rodeo Colorado town. Estimated walking time: 8 to 9 hours. Lodging at Semi full Camping.
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch Dinner
Day 13 Rodeo Colorado - Nazareno River
This day we descend our way thru a wide slope to the town of Molino, keeping always the amazing view of the valley of the river Nazareno in our back. From here we walk up to the place where we’ll put up our camp. Estimated walking time: 4 to 5 hours. Lodging at Semi full Camping.
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch Dinner
Day 14 Nazareno River - Nazareno
Last stage of our on-foot crossing, during which we will go upriver up to reach Nazareno village. There, we can discover this typical town and enjoy our experiences. Walking time: 5 to 6 hours. Simple Lodging
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch Dinner
Day 15 Nazareno - La Quiaca - Tilcara
In the morning we go back to the northern region or Argentina of La Quiaca, next to the frontier with Bolivia. Form here we continue our way to Tilcara. Lodging at Hosteria double or single.
Meals we provide: Breakfast.
Day 16 Salta - Airport
After breakfast we are transferred to the airport where our tours ends
Meals we provide: Breakfast
Bilingual guide (Spanish - English) during all the
activities.
7 nights in Hostería it bases double or single with breakfast
5 nights in Semi - Full Camp (included: tents and dinner tent or saloon. Not included: sleeping bag or insulating mattress)
3 nights in simple lodging (room without private bathroom)
Transfer Calama Airport - San Pedro / Salta - Salta Airport
All transportation as shown in the itinerary combining private and regular buses
Mules for the transportation of the tents, general equipment and food for all the crossing. We will carry the passengers’ luggage up to a maximum of 8 kg, for the days 11 to 15
15 breakfast 8 box lunch y 8 dinners as shown below.
El Trek TAI - CROSSING ATACAMA IRUYA LA QUIACA is offered with the following type of accommodations
NOCHES
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
Lodging at Hosteria double
Semi Full Camp
Simple Lodging
The semi full camping is a pre mounted camping that is set up once the passengers arrive. It has igloo type tents that we used in double base. It also has a dinner tent or dinner saloon with tables, chairs and a complete set of dishes.
Meals
The following meals are provided in this program.
DAYS
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Breakfast
Box Lunch
Dinner
Not included:
Medical and life insurance.
Tips.
Drinks and beverages (all foods are without alcoholic or non alcoholic drinks).
Flights or airport taxes.
Optional excursions.
Services not shown or detailed in the program.
Notes
Argentina Discovery holds the right of changing the itinerary or cancel any of the activities when any natural cause (or any other cause of any type) justifies it in order to look after the group safety
The tour can start in Salta (Argentina) and from there take the bus to San Pedro de Atacama. If this is the case, you will probable need an extra night in Salta.
¿Is this tour for me?
We qualify this tour as "Intense". This means that you need to be fit to enjoy it. No previous technical knowledge is required. The group will walk an average of 6 to 7 hours a day, may be 9 in some specific days, at a moderate pace and with all the necessary stops for water, snacks or rest. The trek includes up hills and down hills, some of them quite steady.
List of suggested personal equipment:
Backpack, 50 lts or so
Sleeping bag down or synthetic for -10º C
Sleeping mattress
Trekking shoes or boots
Thermal underwear
Trekking pants
Fleece
Breathable parka and over pants
Gaiters
Gloves
Thermal socks
The necessary spare cloth
Wool hat
Sun hat
Sun glasses
Sun screen (UV is very strong during the southern spring, from September thru December)
Personal items
Lamp
Trekking poles (recommended, if you are use to them)
Personal medication
Personal documents to cross the border between Argentina and Chile.