Northern Chile and Uyuni, End in La Paz (12 days)

Arrival in Santiago de Chile. Private transfer to hostel or hotel. Check in

Breakfast. At 9.30 am, Santiago Bike Tour:

This Tour shows you the popular culture and everyday life in Santiago. Multiculturalism, urban art and diverse religions in Patronato. Fruits and vegetables in La Vega Market. History in the Plaza de Armas. All part of the many experiences on this unforgettable Tour of Santiago.

Featured Stops: Bellavista Neighborhood, La Chascona: Pablo Neruda´s House, Metropolitan Park, Patronato Neighborhood, La Vega Market, Mapocho Station, Central Market, Plaza de Armas, Bellas Artes Museum, Forestal Park

Breakfast. Check out and make your own way to the bus station to take the bus to Valparaiso. Arrival and make your own way to the accommodation.

Free day to explore the city.

Check out and make your own way to the bus station. Take the night bus to Calama (about 20 hours ride)

Arrival at Calama Bus Station and take the connecting bus to Atacama. Arrival to the bus station and make your own way to hostel. Free day

Geysers del Tatio Excursion: You will be picked up at the hostel between 4.30 and 5 am depending on season to be able to admire the driest and highest desert in the world. The road will take you between hills and mountains of the tough Andes range until you reach the geothermal site of the Geysers, 1 hour and a half after departure. There you will be able to admire the out of this world Geysers, fumaroles and steaming craters that show the volcanic activity of the region. The Geysers reserve is located at 89 km from San Pedro and 4.230 meters above sea level. So temperature is low in summer (-6 degrees Celcius) and even colder in winter (july-august) (-20 degrees Celcius). It is very important to take warm clothes and plenty of water to help your body adapt to such a high altitude. Breakfast is offered viewing the geothermic field and on the way back there is a short stop at Machuca Village. Back to San Pedro hostel at about mid day

Free day to relax or taking optional tours like Moon Valley or Altiplanic Lagoons.

San Pedro – Uyuni Overland 1st day

6.30 am - 7 am pick up at your hostel for the beginning of the San Pedro to Uyuni Overland. There is a stop at the border to go through Chilean immigration before departing San Pedro. After a short but nice ride the minibus reaches Hito Cajon, the border with Bolivia and in the foothills of the Licancabur Volcano. There you will change to the Jeep 4WD you are going to use until the end of the overland and have breakfast meeting your driver and other staff. They almost don´t speak English and even their Spanish is basic but are normally very friendly and helpful. This is the beginning of the real adventure. The vehicle will ride along deserted landscapes, climbing higher and higher without even noticing it is happening. You will see lagoons with plenty of wild life (Red and White lagoons), huge white topped mountains and volcanoes, and altiplanic plains while you talk to your companions and learn about their travels. Lunch is provided at a place of hot springs and after that, the second part of the day takes you to the Sol de Mañana Geysers and finally to Laguna Colorada, where more than 30.000 flamingoes nest every year. The night will be spent at Huaylajara or Villamar at a family or communal hostel. Basic but clean and enough to sleep and eat to be ready for next day! Attention, this 1st day you will reach 4.500 meters above sea level, so take into account the many tips to avoid “soroche”.

San Pedro - Uyuni Overland 2nd day:

Breakfast, a bit relax before everyone is ready and off you go to learn a bit more about life in the Altiplano. The second day, the road is less dramatic and lonely and you will see more signs of civilization. You will visit the Siloli desert where the wind and sun and a bit rain carved strange volcanic rock formations. By lunch time you will be at Laguna Escondida (Hidden Lagoon, also called Laguna Negra) and in the afternoon you will see the canyon of river Anaconda. In the evening, arrival at Salt Hotel in the shores of the Uyuni Salt Flat for a comforting 2nd night in the desert.

San Pedro - Uyuni 3rd day (Salt Flat) – La Paz:

4 or 5 am departure to cross the biggest and highest salt flat in the world. If weather helps, you will be able to see the sunrise in the middle of the salt flat, one of the most beautiful experiences the Altiplano has to offer…and being at the salt flat is already breathtaking! Breakfast in the salt flat.

The driver has to drive slowly and you will have plenty of time to relax, enjoy and be amazed by an “out if this world” landscape. You will never forget this day.

At midday there is a stop to have lunch at a sat hotel and restaurant in close to Colchani village, the gate way to the flats. So after lunch you will go out and arrive to Uyuni at about 1 or 2 pm. You will have time to relax, grab a coffee, eat something, charge your mobile devices and connect with your friends and family to tell them about your adventures. But Uyuni town is not a really nice place to be so, at 8 pm, cama night bus to La Paz!

Arrival to La Paz Bus Station to continue your travels on your own. End of trip