Trekking to the Ojos del Salado

Arrival in Santiago and private transfer to your hotel.

An English-speaking guide will accompany you during the transfer.
Visit of Chile's capital, nestled at the foot of the Andes. Although Santiago has become over the years a modern and bustling city, some older neighbourhoods have preserved their atmosphere and a romantic charm.
You will visit the Plaza de Armas, San Francisco Church, the Bellavista area, Cerro San Cristobal, etc.

Night at the Galerias hotel ***.

Included : transfer arrival, english speaking guide, guide expenses, entrance fees, private transport, room & breakfast
Included opts : International guide

Private transfer from your hotel to Santiago airport.

Domestic flight from Santiago to Calama (time to be confirmed).

Arrival at Calama airport and private transfer to San Pedro de Atacama, a small oasis in the middle of the driest desert on Earth.

An English-speaking guide will be with you during the transfer.
In the middle of the afternoon, departure to the Cordillera de Sal (salt mountains) and the Moon Valley to have a walk in a magnificent landscape made of sand dunes and sculpted calcareous mountains. Make sure you watch the sunset project amazing colors over the tortuous scenery before going back to San Pedro.

Night at the Dunas hotel **.
Included : transfer departure, domestic flight, airport tax, transfer arrival, english speaking guide, guide expenses, entrance fees, room & breakfast
Included opts : english speaking guide (tour leader).

2.5-day trek with camping in tents. Bring a sleeping bag (unless otherwise specified). You will be accompanied by a specialized guide who will provide logistical support. Bring waterproof shoes as you will cross many rivers.

Transfer to the starting point of the trek. You will first follow a river bed where you will find strange giant cactus formations emerging from the desert. You will then continue to 3,600 meters in the area of the village of Rio Grande where you will set your camp.

Walking time: 6h.
Included : private transport, equipment rental, guide (hiking), room, dinner

After breakfast, you will leave the village to join an area of fertile valleys irrigated by small rivers. Farmers benefit from this place to let their llamas graze. You then continue to gain altitude; over 4,000m. From the village of Machuca, where you will camp, the view over the Licancabur Volcano is spectacular.
Walking time: 5h
Included : room & breakfast, private transport, guide (hiking), lunch, dinner

This morning, you will leave at dawn and quickly reach 4,200 meters and the Tatio Geysers. You will see the geysers roaring in the cold air of the Altiplano. The valley looks like a giant pot. Water spurts here and there. This geological curiosity mixes a ground still frozen to clear water springs at more than 70°C (160°F). You will have breakfast on the site and be able to swim in the hot springs.
Back to San Pedro for lunch.
Night at your hotel.
Transfer Time: 2:30 Walking time: 1h

YOUR TREK:
Accommodation:
Tents during the trek
Included during trek
- AGMP certified mountain guide and WFR (Wilderness First Responder), bilingual Spanish/English;
- Assistant guide depending on the amount of participants;
- First aid equipment and VHF radios;
- Collective equipment for trekking (tents, catering ...);
- Guides fees (transportation, hotels, meals, etc.).
Don't forget your sandals to cross the river.

Night at the Dunas hotel **.
Included : private transport, guide (hiking), breakfast, room & breakfast

Trek of a few hours around Laguna Lejia.
Arrival in the late afternoon at the camp, in front of the Lascar Volcano with a view on the lagoon.
Night in bivouac.
Included : english speaking guide, entrance fees, private transport, equipment rental, lunch, dinner, excursion (private), camping site

Beginning of the ascent at 09:00 and 4,800 m alt (or 4,950 m alt depending on conditions).
4 hours walk to the crater (at 5,490 m alt.).
The show is incredible: the crater that you have before you is huge: more than 500 metres deep. You can see all the colours of the minerals and numerous fumaroles. Depending on the level of each participant, way to the summit at 5,600 m of altitude. The views of the surrounding volcanoes (Licancabur, Aguas Calientes, Pili, Juriques, Toco) and the 4 craters of the Lascar will make you dream.
One hour and a half descent by the same route to the vehicle.
Return to San Pedro in the late afternoon.

Night at the Dunas hotel **.
Included : english speaking guide, entrance fees, private transport, equipment rental, lunch, breakfast, excursion (private), room & breakfast

Departure from your hotel around 10 in the morning. Day fully dedicated to the discovery of the Atacama Salt Flat and its surrounding attractions. The Toconao and Socaire villages, the Quebrada de Jérez, Chaxa, and the Miscanti and Miñiques lagoons with their volcanoes, are the must-see of this visit, as well as the Piedras Rojas area and the Tuyacto laguna. Lunch in a restaurant in Socaire.
Return to San Pedro at the end of the afternoon.

8-hour excursion.

Transfer in a private vehicle from your hotel to the bus station.

Regular bus from San Pedro de Atacama to Copiapó.
Included : lunch (no drinks), english speaking guide, guide expenses, entrance fees, private transport, transfer departure, bus ticket

Arrival at the Copiapó bus terminal at 6:30. Then drive to Laguna Santa Rosa, located 154 kilometers from Copiapó. The journey in the Quebrada de Paipote is spectacular. Crossing the pass at about 4,000 meters above sea level, you will discover the amazing view over Nevado Tres Cruces. Then, walk around the lagoon to warm up (1-2 hours), before spending the night there (Mountain refuge/Camp).
3-hour drive.
Included : guide expenses, entrance fees, private transport, climbing guide, catering, lunch, dinner, breakfast, excursion (private)

Drive to the Siete Hermanos Mountain and trek to get used to the altitude, the weather, and the field. All included. Mountain refuge/Camp. 3-hour walk.
Included : entrance fees, private transport, climbing guide, catering, lunch, dinner, breakfast, excursion (private)

After breakfast, drive to the Laguna Verde (4,200 meters above sea level).
Between Laguna Santa Rosa and the Lama River, you can glimpse some guanaco herds. You will finally arrive at the Laguna Verde. The scenery is absolutely beautiful, and you will have the opportunity to swim in the hot springs of the area (the waters are between 37 and 41°C).
Camp.
2h30 drive. Walking time varying according to one’s wishes.
Included : guide expenses, entrance fees, private transport, climbing guide, catering, lunch, dinner, breakfast, excursion (private)

Drive to the Atacama mountain refuge. It's exhilarating to know that you are driving at the same level than the Mont Blanc (France).
All included. Camp. 2h-drive. Walking time varying according to the wishes.
Included : guide expenses, entrance fees, private transport, climbing guide, catering, lunch, dinner, breakfast, excursion (private)

Day devoted to what you feel like doing: walking around with the guide, or not.
All included, Camping. The trekking time depends on how long you feel like walking.
Included : guide expenses, entrance fees, private transport, climbing guide, catering, lunch, dinner, breakfast, excursion (private)

After breakfast, walk to the Tejos Mountain Refuge (5,800m above sea level), following the 4x4 way since the other one is better for the way down (with sand and rocks). The mountain refuge is a kind of L-shaped hut; the door is heavy as a submarine's. From there, you can see the crater and the road to access it, amazing!
All included. Mountain refuge/Camping. 3-hour walk. + 600 meters high.
Included : entrance fees, private transport, equipment rental, climbing guide, dinner, box lunch, breakfast, excursion (private)

Climbing up to the top with a guide - Walking on ice with studs - rock climbing level III - excellent physical condition and acclimation required.
You will wake up at 4:00 in the morning and begin the ascent of the highest volcano in the world. A 35-degree path leads you to the glacier (6,400m above sea level), where you will have to put studs on in order to keep going. The last pathway has a fixed rope in order to help you access the top. The climb of the volcano lasts between 7 and 8 hours. Once up there, you will be able to leave a mark of your achievement by signing the Guestbook. You will also be able to admire the amazing view from the roof of the world. Then, you will walk down to the Atacama Mountain Refuge.
All included. Camping. 10-12 hours walk. + 1,093 m/- 1,600 m.
Included : guide expenses, entrance fees, private transport, climbing guide, catering, lunch, dinner, breakfast, excursion (private)

Day devoted to rest at the Atacama Mountain Refuge or to finish the ascent of the previous day.
All included. Camping.
Included : guide expenses, entrance fees, private transport, climbing guide, catering, lunch, dinner, breakfast, excursion (private)

It's time to leave the Altiplano and the Andes and to drive back to Copiapó, your starting point.
Transfer to Copiapo airport.
4-hour drive on road and track.

Domestic flight from Copiapo to Santiago (time to be confirmed, flight indicated in option).

Arrival in Santiago and private transfer to your hotel.

Night at the Galerias hotel ***.

Included : guide expenses, entrance fees, private transport, climbing guide, catering, lunch, dinner, breakfast, excursion (private), domestic flight, airport tax, transfer arrival, room & breakfast

Private transfer from your hotel to Santiago airport.

Included : transfer departure