GREAT NORTHERN CHILE 8 days, 7 nights
Calama ↠ San Pedro de Atacama (3 nights) ↠ Ollagüe (1 night)
↠ Colchane (1 night) ↠ Putre (1 night) ↠ Iquique (1 night) ↠ Calama
Optional : + 2 days for a volcano ascent at 5000m altitude
Forget the stress of everyday life, take a little break to spend a few days in fabulous landscapes !
Our route starts and ends in Calama. 2485 kms in 8 days !
3 days around the Salar de Atacama to acclimatize to the altitude, discover the altiplano with its superb lagoons, its volcanoes, the Valley of the Moon for the sunset, the geysers of El Tatio for the sunrise, the hot springs of Puritama,... and visit the typical villages, including of course San Pedro de Atacama.
Then 3 days to drive across the altiplano to the north, between 3500 and 5000m above sea level, along the Bolivian border, to the majestic Parinacota volcano which is reflected in Chungará lake. The landscapes are spectacular, with (almost) nobody on the dirt roads, just wild animals looking at us like aliens.
Finally 2 days to descend from the atiplano and return by the Pacific coast, wild and swept by the waves.
A breathtaking mix, with a guaranteed change of scenery, for lovers of wide open spaces.
HIGHLIGHTS
* San Pedro de Atacama, the Valley of the Moon, the lagoons and volcanoes of the altiplano above the Salar de Atacama, the geysers of El Tatio at sunrise
* The long spectacular drives across the altiplano by dirt roads, with always more salars, lagoons and volcanoes competing in beauty, with the Parinacota volcano and the Chungará lake in apotheosis
* The change of scenery, alone in the world with wild animals in the great natural spaces
* The friendly welcome from the few locals crossed on the way
* The wild and rugged North Pacific coast on the way back
Route Map
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D1 Calama A - San Pedro de Atacama B (101 km)
D2 San Pedro – Mirador de Aguascalientes – San Pedro (308 km)
D3 San Pedro – Paso de Jama – Hot springs of Puritama – Valley of the Moon – San Pedro (376 km)
D4 San Pedro – Geysers of El Tatio - Ollagüe C (292 km)
D5 Ollagüe – Colchane D (303 km)
D6 Colchane – Chungará lake – Putre E (268 km)
D7 Putre – Arica – Iquique F (451 km)
D8 Iquique – Tocopilla – Calama A (384 km)
GUIDE-COORDINATOR IN YOUR RENTAL CAR : Yes or No ?
* The guide-coordinator is permanently at your disposition.
* He/she speaks several languages, including necessarily English and the language of the country, this can be very helpful if you do not master it enough.
* He/she knows the route and stops at the best points of view.
* If necessary, he/she activates external services (insurance, mechanical repair, rescue,...).
* He/she takes care of check-in and check-out in hotels, restaurant orders, tourist sites entrance fees,...
* In the event of a puncture or a simple problem on the vehicle, he/she is the first to roll up his/her sleeves !
* Last but not least... He/she tells you about the country, the regions crossed, or even the places visited (when there is no local professional guide).
GUIDE-COORDINATOR IN AN ASSISTANCE VEHICLE : Yes or No ?
* The guide-coordinator is in the assistance vehicle, bringing all the advantages mentioned above.
* The assistance vehicle opens the convoy and carries the first aid kit, any excess luggage,... and basic accessories (rope...) in case your car gets stuck in sand or mud.
* In the event of a breakdown or incident on your vehicle, the assistance vehicle can go in search of help or take all or part of the occupants of your vehicle to the next town or stage.
BUT... If you prefer adventure in a small closed group (not alone) and you speak the language of the country, you can do without a guide and assistance vehicle. You will have maps and GPS in the car, the same advanced logistics (vehicle rental, hotels,...), and a 24-hour hotline to resolve any unforeseen event.
Day by Day Program
Day 1
• Meeting point at Calama Airport (CJC), to pick up the rental vehicles.
• Transfer to San Pedro de Atacama, 1h15 on a nice paved road, with lunar landscapes on arrival.
• Check-in and rest at our hotel.
• Late atfernoon walk in the charming town of San Pedro de Atacama, with dinner around the wood fireplace of a restaurant terrace.
CHECK LIST for your travel baggage
• Appropriate clothing for the dry climate and the high altitude of the altiplano
• Etc...
-> Will be shared with the participants
YOUR RENTAL CAR : 4x4 or 4x2
• Power 2.5 to 3.5
• Automatic steering (preferably or manual otherwise)
• Air conditioning
• Centralized closures
• Free mileage
• Theft / accident / civil
liability insurance
Constant guessing game on the altiplano of Great Northern Chile :
Is it a llama ?
Or an alpaca ?
Or a guanaco ?
Or a vicuña ?
To differentiate these four animals from the camelid family, all originating from the Andes cordillera, there are small details to know...
Etc...
LLAMA, ALPACA, GUANACO, VICUÑA :
HOW TO RECOGNIZE THEM ?
Accomodation
Comfortable single, double or twin suites with breakfast included and personalized customer service
Charming Hotels, Pousadas and Lodges in quiet and lovely areas, preferably surrounded by nature
Local Gastronomy
While enjoying fantastic landscapes, we can also feast on delicious local gastronomy !
Prices 01 Sept. 2022 - 30 June 2023
If you are interested in this trip, contact us directly, we will be happy to answer all your questions !
PRICE PER PERSON (With accommodation in double/twin suite)
1 person in the rental vehicle (Single suite included)
2 persons in the rental vehicle
3 persons in the rental vehicle
4 persons in the rental vehicle
Supplement for Single suite
PRICE FOR THE GROUP (Optional)
Guide-coordinator in the rental vehicle
Guide-coordinator in Assistance Vehicle
$ 5.525
$ 2.875
$ 2.145
$ 1.780
$ 462
$ 3.660
$ 6.025
* Fixed prices established in $ (USD)
** Payment by credit card up to 4 monthly payments (via Paypal), OR up to 6 monthly payments for Brazilian accounts (amount converted into BRL (R$) to finalize your purchase)
*** Discount 5% for immediate payment by bank transfer directly to our account
The invoice for your purchase will be sent to you instantly by e-mail.
Included
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All activities in the program
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Accomodation with breakfast
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Rental vehicle
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Radio/GPS
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Sites entrance fees in the program
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Travel File, organization, coordination
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Permanent guide-coordinator in rental or assistance vehicle (if you choose these options)
Not Included
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Flight ticket to/from CJC airport
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Drinks, lunches and dinners
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Rental vehicle expenses (fuel, tolls, parkings)
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Optional outdoor activities
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Personal expenses
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Private Travel insurance
CANCELLATION POLICY
Rescheduling or Cancellation by Customer
Rescheduling (according to availability) :
- Free of charge up to 45 days before the start of your package
- With 25% increase less than 45 days before the start of your package
Cancellation :
- Refund of 50% up to 45 days before the start of your package
- No refund less than 45 days before the start of your package
Rescheduling or Cancellation by Dream Sports Adventure
Dream Sports Adventure reserves the right to cancel the package in case of insufficient registration, force majeure or any other valid reason, and in such circumstances will propose to reschedule according to availabilities or to fully refund the packages already purchased, without however giving entitlement to compensation.