Hiking - Atacama Desert Trek Northern Chile Chile This is one of the most exciting programs for trekking lovers around the world; explore the challenging highlands of Atacama, the world’s driest and oldest desert! The Atacama desert, in the north of Chile, is the driest place on earth. The desert is so dramatic that, at first sight, it appears never to have sustained any life.  However, pink flamingoes together with Llamas, Vicuñas y Guanacos and many other species of fauna and flora can be found living in perfect harmony in the many oases and lakes located in the area. The volcanoes that crown the Atacama desert are among the tallest  on earth and their summits used to be sacred sanctuaries for the ancient Incas.  Trekking in Atacama Desert region will take us off the beaten path, into areas not accessible by vehicle and trodden only by local natives and their lama or goat herds. We will encounter small villages, archaeological remains, Andean wildlife along with the most spectacular desert & mountain landscapes, always crowned by high dormant volcanoes. This program is an excellent complement to any of the Patagonia treks in order to witness Chile’s dramatic contrasts. Moderate altitude trek, 5-6 hrs per day. Acclimatization necessary. 3 nights Hotel in San Pedro & 3 nights basic Camping. Walk free of heavy packs. Carry small daypack only. Meeting: Calama-San Pedro Airport:   Transfer:

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Day 1, The Adventure Starts!
Arrival in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
We arrive at Calama’s Airport and drive to San Pedro de Atacama. As we drive we can appreciate the impressive rock formations of the Cordillera de la Sal, which is the entrance to one of the most special areas of Chile. Once in San Pedro we enjoy our briefing lunch, receiving a useful introduction to the trip about to start. In the afternoon we do our first hike in the silent and amazing Valle de la Luna; we walk over sand dunes until we reach the point from where we will witness a beautiful sunset, intensified by the warm color tones throughout the Valley. Then we come back to town and overnight in San Pedro.

Day 2, Trekking through San Pedro River
From San Pedro to San Bartolo, Atacama Desert, Chile
Once we finish the breakfast we board the van and go to the great Fortress of Quitor, which dates from the twelfth century and reveals the pre-Inca architecture in the region of Atacama. Then we start a walk to the mouth of River San Pedro, entering in the small canyons that limit its stream. As we enter the canyon our walk turns into an amphibious trek given that the path crosses the river in different spots surrounded by strange geological formations. We finally enter a small valley that we cross until arriving at the ghost town of San Bartolo, a former mining enclave, now abandoned. We camp there and tonight we will have the first sample of the amazing starry nights of Atacama. 

Day 3, Exploring the Heart of Atacama
From San Bartolo to Rio Grande, Atacama Desert, Chile
We initiate the day with a demanding trek which will makes us gain altitude as we leave the river bed and move towards the plateau level, meanwhile we observe the abandoned mines, old and with many legends. The trail continues through the river canyon and we start watching the giant cactuses that emerge from the arid and barren desert together with other strange life forms that are based on the banks of the river. There are some areas of the valley that are so dry that scientists have not found life there yet, not even bacteria. After crossing a section of the canyon we finally arrive at Río Grande Village, one of the few original indigenous communities of Atacameño people that still remain. We camp on the banks of the river and, if we are lucky, we will get to know some of the local villagers. 

Day 4, The Great Desert Ascension
From Rio Grande to Machuca, Atacama Desert, Chile
Today we are beginning the most challenging day of the trek in terms of physical demand. Once we finish breakfast we start trekking towards Machuca Village. The trail continues along the course of small streams that give form to narrow and beautiful valleys inhabited by native people and their herds of llamas. We continue gaining altitude as we border steep desert canyons, until we reach the awesome bofedales of Machuca, over-water grass lands full of wildlife from which we enjoy an amazing view of Licancabur Volcano, the sacred mountain of the Atacameño people. At this point we will have exceeded the 13.000ft above sea level. We camp next to a big bofedal and we dedicate our time to rest while we get acclimatized to the Altiplanic weather.

Day 5, Descent by the Altiplano Canyons
From Machuca to Guatin, Atacama Desert, Chile
After a hearty breakfast we leave the bofedales of Machuca and start descending through the canyon. It will be a long journey though easier than the previous days as the terrain gradient will make ‘gravity’ support us through the complete journey. If we do a good time, those who enjoy natural pools will have the option to visit Puritama Hot Springs. We finally arrive to Guatin Village which still holds on native ancient customs and infrastructure. We camp near the Village. 

Day 6, The Cherry of Atacama
From Guatín to the Salar, Lagoons and San Pedro, Atacama, Chile
We get up and feel the satisfaction of having completed a challenging and wonderful trek; we have crossed the heart of Atacama with the same explorer spirit of its first inhabitants. As a reward for our efforts we will be transferred on a van to see the amazing Salar de Atacama, home of astonishing birds like the Chilean Pink Flamingos. Then we continue driving towards the “cherry” of Atacama: the marvelous Miscanti and Miñiques Lagoons, plenty of turquoise waters that contrasted with the yellows of the Altiplanic lands make this place an incredible landscape. Once we are ready, we go back to our starting point, the town of San Pedro de Atacama, arriving at the hotel where we initially stayed.  

Day 7, Goodbye Atacama!
Departure from San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
After completing one of most powerful treks of the planet, we take this day to relax and wander around the town, visit its handcrafts shops, church, museum, and feel the mixture between native culture and the sophisticated modernity installed by foreigners, including Chilean people from big cities who decided to leave behind ‘civilization’ and move to this place. In the afternoon we go to Calama’s Airport on time to take our flight, goodbye Atacama!

Transport
In Atacama the transportation is on minivans that normally seat from 8 to 14 persons. When we have only 2 to 4 persons we use smaller vehicles, usually 4x4, driven by the tour guide. The vehicle will be of your use exclusively with the limitation of their use to the given itinerary and time schedules.

Physical Demands
Trekking in Atacama requires much more physical preparation than most vacations. In this program you will be trekking between five to seven hours a day for 4 continues days, mostly on dry sandy terrain. On the 4th day the trail through high lands (average 4,100mt / 10,500ft) which will also constitute a demanding factor. Although the treks themselves are not particularly strenuous, their length and challenging terrain will be more taxing than expected. Please keep in mind that the weather in Atacama changes from day to night causing the temperatures to drop considerably. These weather conditions can easily affect both the body and the morale. You need to be in excellent health and physical condition to enjoy such an experience.



Itinerary Modifications
We reserve the right to change the order of the days in any itinerary under the sole discretion of the trip guide and based on operational considerations. The trip guide can also modified, change or eliminate part of the itinerary based on safety/weather considerations.

Summer:
Farther north, in Atacama, the weather vary, and follows a desert hot-day / cold-night pattern. On a sunny day, daytime temperatures can be very pleasant, ranging between 15°C - 20°C (low 60s and low 70s F). Nighttime temperatures will most likely be in the 0°C - 5°C (23s and 40s F)

Winter:
In Atacama the weather varies following the mentioned desert warm-day / cold-night pattern. On a sunny day, daytime temperatures can be pleasant, ranging again between 13°C -20°C (low 60s and low 70s F). Nighttime temperatures will most likely be in the -10°C - 0°C (23s and 40s F)
Atacama Desert is the driest place on Earth! So any time of the year you come don’t expect rain at all – if it rains when you are there you might consider it almost a miracle! 

**Atacama Desert is one of the driest places on Earth!  So any time of the year you come don’t expect rain at all – if it rains when you are there you might consider it almost a miracle!

Luggage, Clothing & Travel Accessories:
(this is only a guideline)

Try to go as light as possible and take only the essentials. Excess baggage can be a burden to you and to our support personnel. Keep in mind that there are limits on how much your duffel bag can weigh because of weight restrictions on both international and domestic flights (usually 20 kg/40 lbs. for domestic flights)While you are camping, your city clothes can be safely stored in a separate duffel bag at the hotel in San Pedro de Atacama.

Luggage:


Duffel bag. We ask that you bring one duffel bag for your gear with a lock. Make sure your duffel is sturdy.

Daypack. It should have a capacity of 20 to 30 liters (1500 to 2000 cubic inches), and can double as your carry-on bag.

Spare roll-up duffel. Consider bringing a small, roll-up nylon duffel (lockable) to store your city clothes.

Support & Storage:

NOR 030 7 Day Atacama Trek: A support vehicle will help us on days 3 to 6 to carry part of your personal belongings from starting to finishing points each day. So during the treks you will only have to carry your day pack.

Clothing:

Trekking in Atacama requires to bring comfortable and adequate clothing to hike during warm days and also protect you from cold weather during nights. For the cold moments we recommend you to layer with synthetic clothing (such as polypropylene, capilene, or pile). Synthetic fabrics are the most effective barriers against the cold. Wool and wool/synthetic blends are also suitable. We have not included quantities for each item listed. Use your own judgment, based on the length of your trip and overall packing/weight restrictions for your luggage.

Underwear

Regular underwear. Synthetics are easier to wash and dry.

Synthetic thermal underwear. You need a lightweight long underwear top and bottom of a
polyester-type fabric. Wool and wool/synthetic blends are also suitable.

Shirts

Long-sleeved, synthetic or wool shirt.

Short-sleeved synthetic or cotton/synthetic T-shirts.

Sweater/Jacket

Medium-weight sweater or jacket of synthetic fabric, such as fleece.

Trousers

Full-length pants, preferably of quick-drying synthetic fabric.

Hiking shorts, preferably of quick-drying synthetic fabric.

Pile/fleece pants, ideal for around camp.

Headwear

Sun hat with wide brim, preferably with a chinstrap to keep it from blowing off.

Bandanna. It will keep your neck from getting sunburned and can double as a hand towel.

Wool or pile hat or ski cap.

Foul Weather Gear

Gore-Tex wind parka.

Handwear

Gloves or mitts (wool or pile).
Socks

Medium weight synthetic socks (we recommend Thorlo® Lt. Trekking).

Athletic socks (synthetic for easy washing and drying) that are suitable for the shoes you’ll be
wearing while in towns.

Inner socks (synthetic) that can be washed and dried quickly.

Footwear:
This is where the rubber meets the road - take care in your choice. Sturdy, properly fitting footwear can make your trip much more pleasurable. If you’re buying new boots for this trip, please break them in advance by wearing them as often as possible before the trip.


Medium-weight, all leather, sturdy trekking boots with padded ankle, good arch support, and a
lug sole traction. Your trekking boots should be well broken in, and suitable for prolonged
walking on sandy and rocky terrain. Running shoes or Nike hiking shoes are NOT appropriate
for this trip.

Tennis shoes to wear in camp (optional).

Teva-type sandals for walking in the river (NOR 030)

Comfortable walking shoes to wear while in towns.

Sleeping gear (only for NOR 30 7 Days Atacama Trek)

Sleeping bag, with temperature-comfort rating of –10°C/-5°F)

Full or 3/4 length Therm-a-Rest sleeping pad.

Air pillow (optional)

Other Items

Swimsuit (for hot springs)

One set of casual city clothes that are dressier than your trek clothes (for the cities).

Hiking sticks (optional but highly recommended). These are helpful, if not essential, to relieve
the impact on your knees during long downhills. Some people use them on uphills as well;
however, it is not recommended to make an habitual use out of them (it could compromise the
natural balance of your legs and ankles). We recommend to practice with one, or two, before
the trek/hike. This is only a recommendation and not for everybody.

Travel Accessories

Wide mouth water bottles, 1-liter capacity. Bring two and make sure they are leak-proof, heavyduty
plastic (preferably Nalgene brand). Lightweight plastic bottles, such as Evian-type bottles
and the kind used by bicyclists, aren’t recommended—they leak and break.

Toiletry kit—soap, toothbrush, and so on.

Mosturizing lotion. The air in Atacama is very dry.

Ace bandage or brace if you’re prone to sore knees or ankles.

Sunglasses (very important)

Spare pair of prescription glasses, prescription sunglasses, or contact lenses. (Attention contact
lens wearers: Atacama is very dusty—plan to wear glasses some of the time)

Sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher. The sun in Atacama is much more intense than you probably
imagine.

Sunscreen lipstick of SPF 15 or higher.

Small flashlight with spare batteries, or small headlamp with spare batteries.

Small padlocks or combination locks for your duffels.

Plastic bags of various sizes for keeping things sorted out in your duffel. Zip-lock bags work
well. (They’re also great for camera gear)

Nylon stuff sacks to stash your bulky gear into.

Towel and washcloth.

Personal first aid kit.

Swiss Army-type pocket knife with can opener and scissors.

Optional Travel Accessories

Camera and plenty of film or –if digital- plenty of memory!.

Binoculars.

Watch.

Toilet paper is provided while camping, but you may want to bring one or two rolls of your
favorite brand.

Repair kit with needle, thread, and safety pins.

Reading and writing material.

Spanish/English dictionary.

Your favorite snack food. We’ll have plenty of excellent food, but you might want to bring along
your favorite snack food (such as raisins or chocolate). Although we accommodate
vegetarians, meat is one of Chile’s main staples. Vegetarians might want to bring some protein
supplements.

Personal Medical Kit
We bring a basic first aid kit for emergencies, but you must bring your own personal first aid supplies. Please discuss this matter with your physician, as well as medications you should bring with you, such as antibiotics, pain killers, allergy medicine (epi-pens for allergic reactions to bee stings), etc.

** No trip reports found with the tour ID you provided.

Hotel in San Pedro de Atacama
The private programs use very nice 3 stars hotels located in San Pedro center. The Expeditions Groups uses clean and cozy 2 stars hotels. The small San Pedro settled in the middle of the Atacama Desert has restrictions of water supply so some limitations in the use of water facilities could arise depending in the town supply circumstances, e.g. low water pressure, problems with laundry facilities, etc. Additionally consider prices in San Pedro to be higher than those you find in Santiago or other big cities; this is normal due to the cost increase in the supply chain in most items you find in San Pedro.

Camping
The tents arranged for this program are typical mountain tents with enough room for a 2 people overnight in comfortable conditions. We provide all the camping gear nevertheless you have to bring your own mat and sleeping bag (please ask us for mats and bags rental rates). Our team will be responsible for setting up the tents in the camping site. There will be also a big and comfortable dining tent for enjoying dinners and breakfasts. 

- 2 hotel nights in San Pedro: 3 stars (private) / 2 stars (group expeditions).
- 4 nights camping.
- Meals:
day 1: L
day 2: B, BL, D
day 3: B, BL, D
day 4: B, BL, D
day 5: B, BL, D
day 6: B, BL
day 7: B
B: breakfast, L: lunch, BL: box lunch, D: dinner.

Staying Healthy:
We supply plenty of clean drinking water when trekking out of San Pedro de Atacama and you will be able to refill your water bottle if necessary. You should let your guides know that you need water before your water bottle is completely empty. The food served to you is safe and prepared hygienically
by an experienced staff.

Laundry:
Laundry service is not available at the camps but you’ll be able to do some hand laundry there.

Communications:
Fax machines, telephones and Internet access are available in Calama and San Pedro de Atacama.

Tack:
Horses:
Pace:
Level:		(2 to 3 out of 5)
Riders:		Min 4	Max 16

Passports
Passport valid for at least six months required by nationals referred to in the chart.
Passport Note
Passports issued to children must contain a photo and state the nationality.

Visas
Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to 90 days except the following:
(a) 1. nationals of Greece for up to 60 days and nationals of Romania for up to 30 days.
(b) transit passengers continuing their journey on the same or first connecting aircraft provided holding required travel documents for onward destination and not leaving the airport transit lounge.

Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).
Visa Note
2. Nationals of Australia, Canada and the USA entering Chile for touristic purposes will be charged a processing fee payable on arrival and in cash only. For nationals of  Australia, the fee is US$56; for nationals of Canada, the fee is US$132; and for nationals of the USA, the fee is US$100 .

Passport Required?
British	Yes
Australian	Yes
Canadian	Yes
USA	Yes
Other EU	Yes
Visa Required?
British	No
Australian	No/2
Canadian	No/2
USA	No/2
Other EU	No/1
Return Ticket Required?
British	Yes
Australian	Yes
Canadian	Yes
USA	Yes
Other EU	Yes