TRAVESÍA ATACAMA TO UYUNI

Arrive into Calama (a 2 hour flight north of Santiago) and met by your Explora guide and driver who will transfer you to San Pedro de Atacama (around one and a half hours) and your home for the next three nights.

Your own private guide gives you comp;ete flexibility over what you see and do in the Atacama. They will curate an itinerary showing you the extraordinary landscapes of northern Chile and also allowing you to acclimatise before crossing into the high-Altiplano in Bolivia.

Explora Atacama offer an incredibly varied excursion program, from the cultural to more adventurous. There are trails to explore on foot, bike or even horse back, as well as hot springs, deep ravines to explore, high-altitude geysers and some of the clearest skies in the world (which are best explored from Explora’s own observatory).

Stay: Three nights at Explora Atacama – including all meals, drinks, private activities and transfers

Note: Extending your stay is also an option for those who prefer to savour the moment in no hurry, and to enjoy a relaxing afternoon in Explora’s swimming pools or reading in the living room. Add one more night at Explora Atacama to your 8-night itinerary and go even deeper into the remote. You will never regret it.

Time to get back on the move. As sunlight cracks the deep blue sky, we depart from San Pedro de Atacama early in the morning and leave behind the oasis – but all we have lived and learned these first few days remains with us for life.

We begin the trip through the Andes and reach the border at Hito Cajón, 47 km/ 29 miles away from our starting point. We are now in Bolivia. Along with an explora guide, we switch vehicles and carry on our journey through the captivating entrails of the Altiplano.

The exploration continues as we go. We visit the Sol de la Mañana geysers and a myriad of salt flats, wetlands and lagoons. The Colorada lagoon is the perfect spot to sight flamingos in their natural habitat, and also where we savour lunch as we gaze at the colors of the Altiplano vividly mingling.

We then proceed until we reach Ramaditas Mountain home, where we watch the sun set into the horizon and finally rest for a new day. As we close our eyes, we can feel and listen to the vast silence, the lonely beauty of the territory we have just started to unearth.

Stay: One night at Ramaditas Mountain Home (4,075m) – including all meals, drinks, private activities and transfers

The wondrous landscapes are never-ending as we approach the Uyuni salt flat. In the morning, we set off to Chituca, where we will spend the next night –we get to walk through ancient mines and valleys on the way. The Turquiri lagoon, with its great diversity of birds and rock formations, is the perfect setting for a restoring lunch, followed by the time to explore the region in greater depth: you may choose between hiking or alternating drives and short walks.

After the exploration is done, we continue the drive towards Chituca, where we will learn about the culture and way of life of the locals.

Stay: One night at Chituca Mountain Home (3,732m) – including all meals, drinks, private activities and transfers

The panoramic view of the Altiplano and salt flat that once used to be admired by shepherds from their settlement is today’s view from our Chituca Mountain home.

There are many more past settlements and other cultural relics in the region for exploring, besides Andean landscapes, colorful quinoa fields, and local villages full of history waiting to be shared. Once it is time to rest, you may relax in the mountain home’s cosy living room, and appreciate the incredible view from our dining room as your relish the final meal of the day.

After a fulfilling breakfast, we set off to one of the explorations of your choice. Explore the mountain home’s surroundings, roaming the cactus forest and the ancient agricultural terraces nearby.

Or visit the village of San Pedro de Quemes, a former Spanish settlement with bewildering panoramic views of the Altiplano and the salt flat. We then continue our journey towards the Gruta de Las Galaxias, an astonishing cave with rare geological formations where you will discover and experience a fascinating part of Andean history. Resuming our trip, 10,000 km2/ 3,861 mi2 of pure white majestically emerge out of thin air before us – we arrive at the Uyuni salt flat. This is the salt flat with the greatest area and the highest altitude on Earth, located at 3,665 m.a.s.l./ 12,024 f.a.s.l.

We stop for lunch at the salt flat, where your next expedition sets off: an explorative hike at the Pescado Island or an overland journey to it. Once complete, we drive to the Uyuni lodge, settled on the slopes of the Tunupa volcano.

Stay: Three nights at Uyuni Lodge (3,681m) – including all meals, drinks, private activities and transfers

In the northern border of the Uyuni salt flat, settled on the slopes of the mighty Tunupa volcano, our lodge welcomes you with an outstanding view of the vastest salt flat on Earth.

Take in the astounding view over the Uyuni salt flat from the comfort of our haven. Your guide will help you decide the explorations you would like to go on. You can choose from hikes, overland trips, and bike rides.

Climbing the multi-hued slopes of the volcano up to 5,432 m.a.s.l/ 17,835 f.a.s.l., biking across a section of the salt flat, or cruising the slopes of the volcano and stopping by at villages along the way are a few of the possibilities. What you see here will remain imprinted in your heart, soul and fondest memory for the rest of your life.

The last day of the Travesía. After a nourishing breakfast, we drive across the eastern area of the salt flat towards the Uyuni airport, recalling all we have lived for the past days as we gaze off into the rare beauty and enormity of this extraordinary place. A last glance. For now.

Note: Should your Travesía start from Uyuni, please consider beginning the crossing after spending at least 2 nights above 2,500 m.a.s.l/ 8,202 f.a.s.l., so as to give your body time to adapt to local conditions and prepare for the journey ahead.