Raices Andinas
Day 1. Calama Airport – San Pedro de Atacama
Arrival at the Bus Terminal, transfer to San Pedro de Atacama, accommodation at the Lodging.
Day 2. Toconao Salar de Atacama – Death Valley
Departure along the road to Toconao, the road goes straight through the plain with a view of the imposing Licancábur volcano, on the route we will be able to observe native tree species of the area such as tamarugo and chañar, at km 38 arrival at the town of Toconao, Brief visit to the main square and church, its houses built in volcanic stone (Liparita), panoramic view of the quarry and the Jere Valley stand out. Then we enter the Salar de Atacama, located in the Los Flamencos National Reserve at an altitude of 2,305 m, a saline surface with more than 400 square km. It is the largest saline deposit in Chile, formed in a depression with no outlet, which receives the San Pedro River and multiple streams through which water from the altiplano filters. The formation of lagoons such as Chaxa has generated the proliferation of bird species, especially flamingos. Return to the town of San Pedro de Atacama.
16:30 Departure to the Valley of Death and Luna, both valleys are part of the Los Flamencos National Reserve, located within the Cordillera de la Sal, a few kilometers from San Pedro de Atacama. Hike: through a narrow gorge or path with high hills, canyon type, a few meters away we find the Valley of Death, a place with beautiful shapes and colors where we can walk through the dunes between the hills and mountain cuts produced by erosion of water and wind. Then visit the Valley of the Moon, a place declared a nature sanctuary, it is formed by a depression with saline soils and surrounded by small hills with beautiful shapes and colors where we can walk and observe a geological spectacle with sculptural shapes, similar to those of the moon surface. Visit to the salt statues "Las Tres Marías", salt mine. We will climb the great dune at sunset to admire this beautiful panorama in all its splendor. Return to San Pedro de Atacama.
Day 3. San Pedro de Atacama – HitoCajón – Salar Uyuni
Departure from San Pedro de Atacama at 08:00 hrs. By Mini Bus to the Bolivian border, passing through the Chilean and Bolivian immigration, once at the Bolivian border at an altitude of 4,400 meters above sea level. The change of vehicle is made to a 4WD jeep with a capacity of 06 pax. This first day the group continues the visit to the Bolivian highlands to places like: the Green Lagoon and the White Lagoon; located at the foot of the Licancabur volcano, continuing through the Daly desert, where you can admire a true surreal landscape, the thermal water pools, the geysers of Sol de Mañana; intermittent sources of water that springs up at a temperature of 90°C and fumaroles, cracks through which volcanic lava comes out; To end the day, the Laguna Colorada, the main nesting center for more than 30,000 flamingos of 3 species. These places are at an average altitude of 4,500 meters above sea level, with the possibility of contemplating the flora and fauna of the area, flamingos, vicuñas and other animals, overnight at the Desierto Ojo Perdiz hotel (Tayka hotels with heating), in single private rooms , double and matrimonial.
Day 4. Partridge Eye – San Pedro de Quemes
Breakfast and travel through the Siloli Desert to Laguna Ramaditas, Laguna Honda, Laguna Chiarcota, Laguna Hedionda, Laguna Cañapa, where you can observe the local fauna more closely. Continuation to the viewpoint of the Ollagüe volcano. Travel through the Salar de Chiguana and the Stone Army to San Pedro de Quemez. Dinner and overnight at the Tayka de Piedra Hotel in San Pedro de Quemez.
Day 5. San Pedro de Quemes – Salar de Uyuni.
After breakfast we will appreciate, walking, the surroundings of the hotel: the corrals with llamas, which will steal the attention of our camera, the chullpares of the first inhabitants, the Burnt Town, with its stone rises that have inspired the construction of the Hotel. It was burned in the War with Chile, in 1879, it is a page unknown by official history. Already in the car we will go to the nearby Pueblo Refugio, which was built when they fled from the burning town, in a hiding place among the large volcanic rocks.
Leaving this piece of history and its vestiges behind, we will head towards Cueva Galaxia, a sanctuary of cacti and petrified stromatolites and a chullpas (ancestral burials) cemetery. The cave presents a strange underwater geological formation, from the times of Lake Michín (300 thousand years ago) and Lake Tauca (40 thousand years ago).
Through the bay of Mala Mala we will re-enter the salt flat, this time to visit Pescado Island again in the center of the salt flat. After lunch we will have a solo walk to the top of the island from which we will once again see the sea of salt in its fullness, we will also observe stromatolites (calcareous mineral sediments that bear witness to the activity of the first unicellular inhabitants of the planet ). And from there to the Mounds of Salt, where we will stop to take the farewell photos, with the soft light of sunset.
Our destination will be the city of Uyuni. It will be difficult to forget a trip to the end of the world.
Day 6. Uyuni-Potosi
Departure towards Pescadoa Island crossing the immense Salar de Uyuni, this salt desert that provokes a feeling of unreal freedom.
JIRIRA is an indigenous town 24km away. from Isla Pescado, in pre-Hispanic times it was one of the most important sanctuaries at the foot of the Tunupa Volcano (5400 meters above sea level), you can see lakes, flamingos, the breeding of camelids. The program includes a visit to the archaeological sites of the Tunupa Volcano such as the mummies. We will ascend the Tunupa Volcano to a height of 4600 meters above sea level. This mountain is yellow, rough, the ascent is relatively easy. At the foot of the Volcano lies Jirira, in an area dotted with ancient towns in ruins. Some of the sites contain vestiges of ancient cultures such as the chullpas (ancestors of the Tihuanacotas) ceramic, gold and copper artifacts. From the half skirt of the Tunupa Volcano we will appreciate the Gran Salar de Uyuni, the islands and from the top of the Volcano we will also appreciate the Salar de Copiasa with an impressive view.
ISLA PESCADO located in the middle of the Salar 150 km away from Llica, like a true Oasis, there is a complex of low-lying islands covered with algar, fossil or stromalite formations, among these and the Casa del Inca are the largest importance due to its size (approx. 10 hectares), it is characterized mainly by its population of thousands of giant columnar cacti, hundreds of years old that exceed 12 meters in height, this landscape added to the saline horizon make this place one of the best places to photography lovers. Arrival to the city of Potosí.
Day 7. Potosi-La Paz
Breakfast at the Hotel to be free and tour this impressive colonial care, Potosí, the largest of the 16th century, discover the great colonial architectural heritage of Potosí, the highest city in the world, it was bigger than London or Paris. Streets paved with stones, balconies carved in fine wood, in the main entrances of the mansions the coats of arms of the families worked in granite are shown, the churches and temples worked by the natives Example: Church of San Lorenzo, of Baroque Mestizo style, probably it is One of the best places for photography in Bolivia, the altarpieces of the altars are forged in gold, making Potosí a museum city, a marvel that offers different tourist attractions.
We have time since at 8:30 p.m. we will take the tourist bed bus that will take us on a 6-hour trip to the city of La Paz, arriving at approximately 02:00 a.m. Pick up and spend the night at the hotel in La Paz.
Day 8. La Paz Copacabana/ Sun Island – La Paz
Departure at hrs. 8:00 am. The guide will be at the Hotel at hrs. 7:30 am. to make contact with the passengers, the tourist bus is expected and departs for Copacabana, a trip of 3 hours and a half, the first stop is in the Strait of Tiquina where everyone gets off the mobility to cross the lake in motor boats, a Once we reach the other side of the lake, we return to mobility to continue our journey along the lake, observing panoramic views.
You reach Copacabana approximately hrs. 12:00, where we begin to make a brief visit to the church and town of Copacabana.
Then we go to the port to take a shared motor boat (with other people) to Isla del Sol. Box lunch on the way.
The Isla del Sol is where the Inca empire was born, here we will visit pre-Columbian ruins such as the Yumani stairway, the fountain of youth and Pillkoqaina, you will also observe the Royal or Andes mountain range. After this visit we return to Copacabana, we arrive at approximately hrs. 17:00 p.m., and we go back to the city of La Paz by local bus, we arrive at the local bus stop (Cementerio), we will take a taxi to transfer the passengers to their hotel.
Day 9. La Paz – Putre/ Lauca/-Putre National Park
Reception at the border or Chungara border control 09:00 hrs. approx. We will have breakfast at Chungara Lake viewpoint later, walk in Cotacotani Lagoons of approximately 3 hours (optional). We will have a picnic - lunch in the town of Parinacota, we will tour the town. . We will continue later towards the Bofedal de las Cuevas where we will take a 40-minute walk. On the way we will see wild vicuñas, vizcachas and we will get to know bofedales, the base of the ecosystem in the altiplano, to later go to Termas de Jurasi where we will take baths in this place. Arrival to Putre, dinner and lodging.
Day 10. Putre-Arica
Breakfast at the Hotel at 08:30 hrs. Departure from the accommodation in Putre at 09:00 a.m. towards the town of Socoroma, of pre-Hispanic origin, it was located on the road that linked Arica with the silver mines of Potosí. Its great church stands out, the terrace crops that are around it, highlighting corn, tunas and oregano. No more than 40 people live in this town, although in the carnival festivities in February, May crosses, and the San Francisco festival (October), it revives with many people coming from Arica and surroundings to participate in them.
From Socoroma we will begin to descend, to visit the Pukara de Copaquilla, the candelabra cacti area, to arrive for lunch at an ecological community in the Lluta Valley, Ecotruly. After lunch, we will cross from the Lluta Valley to the Azapa Valley, a much greener place, visit the San Miguel de Azapa Museum, visit La Tropilla Geoglyphs, arrival in Arica at approximately 5:00 p.m.
Includes:
Accommodation:
2 night in a hotel/hostel in Putre (according to availability).
1 night at the CONAF Refuge in Surire.
1 night in a hotel/hostel in Colchane.
3 nights Tayka Hotels in Bolivia.
Feeding:
8 breakfasts in Putre, Parinacota, Surire (CONAF), Colchane, Hotels in Bolivia.
8 lunches (Ecotruly, picnic in Parinacota and Polloquere, Salar de Uyuni.
7 dinners in a restaurant in Putre, Parinacota, Surire (CONAF), Colchane, Hotels in Bolivia.
Soft drinks and mineral water without gas.
Fruits, coffee, cookies.
Guide:
Experienced guide/driver, in English.
Vehicle:
Minibus (van) with oxygen equipment.
4×4 vehicle to travel around Bolivia (Toyota Land Cruiser).
Others:
Tickets to the San Miguel de Azapa Museum, Termas de Jurasi and Polloquere.
Walks in Socoroma, Bofedal de las Cuevas, in the Cotacotani Lagoons and Salar de Surire Salar de Uyuni.