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Journey through Uyuni - 15 days Overland Atacama through Uyuni to Iquique plus Santiago and Valparaiso

This journey passes through beautiful and solitary altiplano landscapes, with the highlight being the Salar de Uyuni, the largest saline desert in the world.  

ITINERARY (Subject to change without notice):

Day 1 - Depart Miami: Evening departure on overnight flight to Chile.

Day 2 - Arrive Santiago: Morning arrival in Santiago. Meeting upon arrival and transfer to the Ritz Carlton in the heart of the city for overnight stay. Your room has been paid for immediate occupancy upon arrival. Afternoon visit to the main points of interest in Santiago, Fourth largest city in South America and beautifully set among a back-drop of snow-capped Andes. Visit the highlights   including the Club Hipico, the area of "La Moneda" government palace with statues of national heroes of the early Independence years; historic Plaza de Armas with the Cathedral, Post Office and National Museum, the Pre-Columbian Art Museum, with one of the most complete collections of ceramics, ancient textiles and relics of American culture, among other places of interest. (B)

Day 3 - Santiago - Calama - San Pedro de Atacama: Morning pick up at your hotel by your private car and guide for a visit to the Santa Rita Vineyard with lunch at the popular Dona Paula's at the vineyard, and then return drive back to Snatiago's airport for flight north to Calama, gateway to the Atacama Desert, considered one of the driest deserts on earth. Meeting by Explora staff and drive one hour by hotel van into the heart of the desert to the town of San Pedro de Atacama for four night stay at the new Explora en Atacama. (B/L/D)

During your stay you will enjoy all meals, an open bar and a daily menu of activities and excursions, including horseback riding, biking, hiking, and visits to main points of interest in the area such as the Salt Flats, the geysers and the town of San Pedro de Atacama. Click here for a complete list of excursions and activities.

Day 4 - San Pedro de Atacama: Today you will choose from the menu of excursions as offered by Explora. (B/L/D)

Day 5 - San Pedro de Atacama: Again today you can choose from the menu of excursions as offered by Explora. (B/L/D)

Day 6 - San Pedro de Atacama: One last day to explore the area Explora style. (B/L/D)

Day 7 - San Pedro de Atacama - Canapa "camp":  This morning we begin our extraordinaty overland exploration called "travesias" by Explora. We leave the Hotel de Larache early in the morning. We then cross the Bolivian border at Hito Cajón, in the extreme southeast corner of the country, passing an impressive volcanic mountain range that Volcan Lincancabur is a part of. We walk through the geothermal area Sol de Mañana at 4,700 meters above sea level, and then continue past a series of salt flats, wetlands and lakes, the highlight being the Colorada Lake, an ideal site to view flamingoes. We will have lunch at a lookout point with spectacular views of the surrounding area, before continuing our travesía. At midday, we will arrive at our camp, Cañapa, located at 14,104 feeet above sea level. (B/L/D)

Day 8 - Canapa "camp" - Chituca "camp": At dawn, we will take a walk around the area before continuing our journey through the Bolivian altiplano, at altitudes that vary between 14,104 and 311,808 feet  above sea level. We will pass by old mineral mines and walk for 2 hours around a lake, where we can appreciate the wildlife of the region. A midday we will arrive at Chituca, our second camp located at 12,300 feeet above sea level. After lunch we may go exploring in the area or simply relax. (B/L/D)

Day 9 - Chituca "camp" - Tahua "camp": We will begin our walk at dawn, passing through old cultivation areas and a beautiful forest of cactus that flanks our camp. We continue our journey and view strange geologic land formations. Slowly, we let ourselves discover the Salar de Uyuni. With a surface of more than 10 thousand square kilometers and located at 3,665 meters above sea level, this is the largest and highest salt desert in the world. Surrounded by absolute silence and solitude, we advance toward this mythical salt lake. We can take walks on the surface and later climb a hill on the highest island on the Salar, where we will have a panoramic view. We will then continue our journey until we arrive at Tahua, a small village on the shore of the Salar, where we will find our third camp, close to 10,824 feet above sea level. (B/L/D)

Day 10 - Tahua "camp": We begin our walk early, about 3 to 4 hours toward the base of the Tunupa volcano, at 17,816 feet in altitude. At this point there exists the alternative of visiting numerous sites of interest in the surrounding area, or climbing to the peak of Tunupa to enjoy sweeping views, the latter of which implies extra time. In the late afternoon, we will visit small villages on the shore of the Salar: Tahua, Coquesa and Jirira. We then return to have dinner and sleep at the same Tahua camp. (B/L/D)

Day 11 - Tahua "camp" - Aravilla "camp": We leave early headed toward the Chilean/Bolivian border, passing the town Llica, where we will stop to buy exquisite “salteñas,” a traditional Bolivian empanada. Lunch is at the estancia Irpa, on the shore of the Salar de Coipasa, at 11,808 feet above sea level. We continue toward Pisiga, the Bolivian border, and then to Colchane, on the Chilean side. We border the Isluga River until we reach a wetland that is home to a rich array of wildlife. Later in the afternoon, we will arrive at Aravilla, in Isluga National Park, and our camp, at 13,195 feet above sea level. (B/L/D)

Day 12 - Aravilla "camp" - Iquique: Early in the morning, we begin our walk through a wetland, and continue along a hill close to the small village Mauque, where we will find the ruins of ceremonial constructions made of stone. Here we will have a picnic. Beginning our descent from the altiplano to Iquique, a Chilean port city on the Pacific Ocean, we will travel from 4,000 meters to sea level. You may swim here at Iquique’s beaches if you wish. We will have dinner and spend the night here in Iquique. (B/L/D)

Day 13 - Iquique-Santiago: Morning transfer to the airport for flight south to Santiago. Meeting upon arrival and immediate departure towards the Pacific coast to the twin cities of Vina del Mar and Valaparaiso. Visit Valparaiso, a UNESCO World Heritgage Site sitting atop 45 hills and along a narrow ribbon of land between the hills and the Pacific. It's charming, historic and filled with shops, restaurants and nightlife. Enjoy a guided visit to the most important places and then drop off at your hotel, Hotel ZERO for ovenight. (B)

Day 14 - Depart Santiago: Day at leisure to explore this charming area at your own pace. You ca also make a visit to the sister city and well k nown sea side resort, Vina del Mar. Your room is only paid until normal check-out time, generally 12 noon. IN the late afternoon your private vehicle and guide will pick you up for the return transfer back to the Santiago airport for your overnight foight to the US. (B)

Day 15 - Arrive USA: Arrive the USA in the morning, clear immigrations and customs and make connections to your home city.

RATES and DETAILS: