From the Andes to the Pacific Ocean - 6 Days

Early start of roadtrip towards the coast:

Quick visit of the Valle Arcoiris and Hierbas Buenas Petroglyphs. Then another 50km to Calama with stop at the copper mines mirador and then the Chug Chug geoglyphs. Straight towards west, we reach the desert sea coast until Tocopilla where we will stop for lunch around 2pm. In the afternoon, we go north on the coast towards Iquique with panoramic stops on the road and arrival for check-in Hotel and sunset on the top of the huge dunes above the city.

Hotel NH in Iquique

Lunch included

Sightseeing starting by visiting the Gruta de Lourdes Church and the Thematic Park in the Cavancha beach. We will walk through the Baquedano Street, with its Georgian-style houses. Optional visits to the Palacio Astoreca museum and/or the Regional museum. Then, reaching the Prat square, we will see the Clock Tower and the Municipal Theater. We will also visit the Cathedral, the Rimac Palace (ex customs) and the Prat Dock. Either we lunch in Iquique, or we drive first to Pica (depends on pace of morning visit). Drive to Matilla and Pica early afternoon and arrival in 1.5 – 2 hours. Matilla is an ancient oasis with wine production and national monuments such as the S.Antonio church. Then Pica, a pre-columbian settlement, is located at the source of pure freshwater spring. This oasis is a

grove of oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits, mangos and guayaba. It also counts on spring water rustic pools for visitors. Arrival to the cabañas and overnight in Pica.

Breakfast included

Lunch included

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure towards Colchane, passing through the Pampa del Tamarugal National Reserve where the arid landscape is transformed into Tamarugo forests, trees adapted to the dry and saline terrain, pass by Pozo Almonte again and visit the Santa Laura and Humberstone Saltpeter Sites, declared National Heritage by UNESCO. We will see its streets, theater, market and church. We stop to have a quick lunch at Huara. Afterwards, we start our ascension towards east and the Andes, to reach Colchane at 3,700 meters.

Check-in at Isluga Hotel and dinner here.

Breakfast included

Lunch included

Dinner included

Early in the morning, we start a great natural route. We will cross in a day the following natural

reserves: Isluga, up to the Salar de Surire, which we drive around and still drive north, entering the

Reserva Nacional las Vicuñas. Picnic lunch at Guallatire. Then we drive towards Tambo Quemado,

arriving to the stunning Volcan Parinacota and farther away twin the Pomerape, right on the frontier

with Bolivia. This is on the lake Chungarà, at 4500 meters. We can either enjoy the sunset here, or start

our descent towards Putre, as preferred. There is also the village of Parinacota, with a trekking path

among small lagoons. We reach Putre by night and stay at Hotel Qantati (3 stars).

Breakfast included

Lunch included

We start a great winding descent from 3,700 meters to the Pacific Ocean, with impressive views over

the deep steep canyons, the candlestick cactus and gigantic dune oasis-valleys of Lluta and Azapa.

Where we stop for a refreshing juice and snacks at a fruit grove and visit the Chinchorro Mummies

Museum (the oldest mummies in the world) and/or the Hummingbirds Sanctuary. Arrival to Arica late

afternoon for a late seafood lunch at the Port dock, watching over the sea lions and pelicans.

The collage of visual contrast, between the high mountain environment, the extreme arid desert, oasis

and ocean port sealife and flavors is unique. Evening walking city tour around Arica, with a final arrival

to the lighted San Marcos Cathedral, designed by Gustavo Eiffel. Hotel Apacheta (4 stars)

Breakfast included

Lunch included

Flight is at 1pm or 3pm (subject to availability)

In the morning we visit the Chinchorro and Lisera Beaches and reach the top of the historic Morro Cape

hill, that surmounts the city for a final salute to the north of Chile. Then we head for the airport for the

early afternoon flight.

Breakfast included