Northern Chile and its Colours

Our English-speaking guide will come and greet you at your hotel and will give you information on the activities offered in the area.
Arrival at Santiago airport where you pick up your rental car. Suggested itinerary : Drive to your hotel, and take time to visit the city.

Visit of the Chilean capital nestled at the foot of the Andes. Although Santiago has become over the years a modern and very active city, some older neighborhoods still retain with an atmosphere and a romantic charm. You will visit the Plaza de Armas, San Francisco Church, the Bellavista area...



Night at Hotel Don Santiago ***.
Included : english speaking guide, car rental, insurance, room & breakfast

Suggested itinerary: Drive south to reach Pomaire, village of potters, then continue to Isla Negra, a charming bay where you visit one of Pablo Neruda’s houses. In the afternoon you will arrive in Viña del Mar, the largest beach resort in the country, and finally Valparaiso, the neighboring town where you will spend the night. Leave your car and visit Valparaiso by foot. You can also visit Casa Marin on the way, a well-known vineyard.

Night at the Camila 109 hotel ** sea view.
Included : room & breakfast

Suggested itinerary : Visit of Valparaiso and its old neighbourhoods, Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. This town is made of many hills crowned with picturesque houses and warehouses, steep narrow streets, lifts and street singers. You will discover this special atmosphere this place has. Seize the opportunity to have lunch in a typical seafood restaurant. Visit of La Sebastiana, one of Pablo Neruda's houses.
La Sebastiana is closed on Mondays.

Night at the Camila 109 hotel ** sea view.
Included : room & breakfast

Drive to Santiago airport where you leave your vehicle.
Domestic flight from Santiago to La Serena (time to be confirmed, flight indicated in option).

Pick up of your rental car at La Serena Airport. Drive to the Elqui Valley, where astronomy and energy are very important, to the small village of Vicuña, rich with history and culture.
Head to the Pangue Observatory where professionals will introduce you to the world of astronomy. You will observe all the wonders of the night, such as star clusters, nebulae, galaxies, not forgetting the Moon and planets as available, as well as any specific object you could wish to look at.
Note: the visit of the observatory is subject to opening dates and weather conditions.
Night at the hotel Elqui Domos ***.
Included : domestic flight, airport tax, car rental, insurance, room & breakfast

Visit of the villaga, located 1,280 m above sea level. Its a typical village with a beautiful square, winding steep streets and craft workshops. Head to the Pisco factory Los Nichos, at the exit of the city, on the way to Horcón. Visit of this human-size company which produces Chile's best traditional Pisco. Continue to the village of Horcón. We suggest you have lunch at the restaurant El Cielo in Alcohuaz. Then return to Pisco Elqui to relax by the pool of your hotel.
At night, you can observe the stars with a specialist.
Meals not included.


Night at the hotel Elqui Domos ***.
Included : room & breakfast

Drive to Vicuña. On the way, stop to visit Chile's only solar observatory (not included). Continue to reach the famous Ruta Antakari that will lead you to the valley Rio Hurtado. Make sure you stop to admire the Jesuit Church from the 17th century in Fundo de la Compania, the Mirador Valle del Rio Elqui, from where the view on the Gemini observatory is amazing, in Fundo El Pangua and, finally, in Hurtado, where you will spend the night.
Night at the Hacienda Los Andes.
Included : room & breakfast, dinner

Day at leisure at the Hacienda Los Andes to enjoy the activities offered in the area.
Night at the Hacienda Los Andes.
Included : room & breakfast, dinner

Today, take the road towards Pichasca. On the way, stop to visit the Alpaca farm of Alpacas Urania, from where you can buy souvenirs in alpaca wool, typical of the region. Continue along the road and stop at the Hacienda Seron Chapel, remnant of better times. Today, the valley is home to Burrowing Parrots. If you are a bird-lover, do not forget to bring your binoculars. Continue towards Pichasca and you will arrive at the Santa Andrea dairy, where you can make your own cheese (this activity starts early in the morning), or you can just buy one of Chile's best cheeses. Finally, you will reach Pichasca. Stop to visit the famous Pichasca Natural Monument, which holds many archeological, geological and paleontological treasures. Road from Pichasca to Samo Alto, where the biggest traditional celebration of the Coquimbo region takes place (every third week of January). Visit the church and drive along the archeological road Las Tinajas before driving to Ovalle where you will spend the night.
Night in Cabin at Las Nietas.
Included : room (without breakfast)

Drive from Ovalle to La Serena.
Night at the Londres hotel *** (breaksfast included).
Included : room & breakfast

Drive from your hotel in La Serena to the airport to drop off your rental car before taking your flight.
Domestic flight from La Serena to Calama (time to be confirmed, flight indicated in option).

Arrival in Calama where you pick up you rental car at the airport.
Suggested itinerary :
Drive to the village of San Pedro, oasis in the middle of the desert.
At 15.30, departure for the Cordillera de la Sal (salt mountains) and the Moon Valley where you can walk in a magnificent landscape made of sand dunes and sculpted calcareous mountains. Watch the sunset before going back to San Pedro.
Note: Entrance fees to the Moon Valley: 3,000 Chilean pesos pp.

Night at the Takha Takha Hotel in a superior room **.
Included : domestic flight, airport tax, car rental, insurance, room & breakfast

At 9:00, departure to the north of the Salar de Atacama and the lagoon Cejar. Have a swim in the lagoon where you will surprisingly float, thanks to the extreme salt concentration, an unforgettable moment in the desert! Continue to the Ojos del Salar, another lagoon where you can swim. End of the Tour at the Laguna Tebenquinche to enjoy the beautiful colors of the Licancabur volcano. Back to San Pedro around 12:00.

Notes: No bathing more than 45 min and it’s not allowed for kids under 6 years old. The application of sunscreen should be two hours before the bath.

Entrance fees to Cejar: 10.000 from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm and 15.000 from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm, chilean pesos per person.
Entrance fees to Tebenquiche: 2000 chilean pesos per person.

In the afternoon, you go to visit the Yerbas Buenas Valley, where the Domeyko Cordillera, Andean Cordillera and the Salt Cordillera meet.This is where you visit the petroglyphs of different periods. You then continue up the Arco Iris Valley, which offers multiple colors due to the presence of clay and several minerals. You end your visit at the village of Rio Grande where you can meet potters and farmers.

Note: entrance fees: 3,000 Chilean pesos pp.

Night at the Takha Takha Hotel in a superior room **.
Included : car rental, insurance, room & breakfast

Suggested Itinerary : Departure from your hotel at 8.00. Day fully dedicated to the discovery of the Atacama Salt Flat and its surrounding attractions. The Toconao and Socaire villages, the Quebrada de Jerez, Chaxa, Miscanti and Miñiques lagoons with their volcanoes, are the must-see of this visit. Lunch in a restaurant in Socaire.
Return to San Pedro around 18.00.
Note: entrance fees to the lagoons: 5,500 Chilean pesos per person.

Night at the Takha Takha Hotel in a superior room **.
Included : car rental, room & breakfast

Suggested Itinerary : Departure at 04:00 to the Tatio where you admire 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 results from a ground still frozen and boiling-hot clear water springs. You can swim in the thermal springs and observe numerous volcanic formations. Around 10:30, leave this area to go to the villages of Caspana, Chui-Chiu and Pucara de Lasana. Finally, head towards the town of Calama, known for having the largest open copper mine in the world. Back to San Pedro de Atacama at the end of the day.
Note: entrance fees to the Tatio: 10000 chilean pesos pp.

Night at the Takha Takha Hotel in a superior room **.
Included : car rental, room & breakfast

Suggested Itinerary:

Departure from San Pedro de Atacama for the Puritama hot springs, whose waters come directly from the Tatio Geysers. They're composed of 8 pools of different sizes and water temperatures. They're located at more than 3,500 meters above sea level and in the middle of the Atacama Desert, which makes them very surprising and beautiful.

Note: Entrance fees to the hotsprings: in the morning 15,000 chilean pesos pp, in the afternoon: 9,000 Chilean pesos pp.

Suggested itinerary :

Drive to Calama airport where you leave your vehicle.

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

Arrival in Santiago and private transfer to your hotel.

Night at Hotel Don Santiago ***.
Included : car rental, insurance, domestic flight, airport tax, transfer arrival, room & breakfast

Private transfer from your hotel to Santiago airport.

Included : transfer departure