| Departures | Duration | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| - Private departures from Buenos Aires (Please consult us) |
14 Days |
Expedition 4WD, trekking in Atacama, from the Puna in Argentina to Chile and Bolivia. |
| Group size | Prices (2 p base) | Physical and technical level |
|---|---|---|
|
Private. From 2 to 8 people. |
Private departure:
Base 4: from 2985 USD |
Low. No special technical level is required. |
Day 1 Buenos Aires - Cafayate
Reception at the international airport of Buenos Aires. Domestic flight to San Miguel de Tucuman. At your arrival, our team will welcome you and drive you to the town of Cafayate, after a 120km drive. The little town (11 000 inhabitants) at 1600 meters high, is well known for the quality and originality of its wines. Arrival at Patios de Cafayate. Rich in culture, wine, and tradition, Patios de Cafayate Hotel & Spa embraces its spectacular views of the Calchaquí Valley vineyards. Take a stroll through our extensive gardens and admire traditional architecture and antique colonial patios.
1 night Patios de Cafayate
Day 2 Cafayate - wineyards
Free day at Cafayate. Visit of the cellar of the Bodega "El Esteco". Briefing of the next days of expedition in the evening. 1 night Patios de Cafayate.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 3 Into the Puna
Leaving Cafayate, we continue now on a gravel road until the last day of this trip. A few kilometers ahead, we enter the Catamarca Province and pass by a city called Santa María del Valle de Yocavil and a few small villages. The landscape becomes more and more desert-like as we travel. Mountain roads with huge climbing sand dunes are the scenery on the way to the edge of the Puna region: the big mountain plateau at 3.500 m above sea level.
Then the road is a straight line across the desert and the wild life (vicunas and foxes) tells us where we are: right in the middle of nowhere. After many hours driving we will get to the village Antofagasta de la Sierra, situated among volcanoes. Now the road is an old lava flow of black stones and you will surely believe you have been transported to another planet. A breath-taking experience. Check in at the Antofagasta de la Sierra lodge (double rooms with private bathroom).
Meals included: Breakfast, Box Lunch.
Day 4 Archeology and volcano's trekking
After breakfast we will visit two important archeological sites near Antofagasta de la Sierra with a local guide. Here we find caves with rupestrian paintings, some 8000-10000 years old, from the period in which nomads groups from the desert areas went searching for new hunting fields. To visit the caves we trek down through a canyon. Then we will return to the vans to get to a place with incredible petroglifs depicting animals, hunters or shields, carved into big red volcanic rocks. Returning to Antofagasta de la Sierra, we can have lunch at the hotel or have a picnic somewhere in the desert on the way to Antofagasta Volcano. Once there, we will trek up to its crater (1 ½ h) to enjoy a great view of the surroundings. Taking a different path on the way down, we come to another archeological site next to the Antofagasta Lake in the midst of the unbelievable landscape....
Meals included: Breakfast, Box Lunch.
Distance: 198 km
Day 5 Over the Salt Lakes
Leaving Antofagasta de la Sierra, we continue westwards up to Antofalla, our first Salt Lake. This is a flat stretch of land covered by salt: its formation process involves millions of years of rains carrying the natural salt sediments from the mountains down to the flat areas plus the evaporation effect due to strong solar radiation. "Antofalla" is a beautiful example where we can also see islands of old lava flow from the ancient Antofalla Volcano snow-capped in the background. On its side we get to the small village of Antofalla where we will share lunch in a family house. After lunch we go back to Salta Province where we will cross over 85 km of pure salt on the biggest salt lake in Argentina: Salar de Arizaro. The salt is white during the first part of the crossing to then turn red. It´s just like being on the Moon first and then jumping onto Mars, all on the same day and cheaper than a space voyage!
The space trip finishes at Tolar Grande, a small village with an old train station. We will spend the night at the French-Argentine refuge with 2 big rooms with 20 beds each and one bathroom with hot showers for each big room. Between the rooms there is a kitchen and dining-room where we will have breakfast. Dinner will be at a family house.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch in a family house.
Day 6 Mina de la Casualidad
Leaving Tolar Grande, we board the salt lake to west to the Lluallaillaco Volcano. We drive along the only paved road of the puna, linking Tolar Grande and the disused sulfur mine of Casualidad 5000 meters high.
Meals included: Breakfast, Box Lunch.
Day 7 To San Pedro de Atacama by Sico pass
Leaving Tolar Grande, we start dreaming. We enter The Valley of the Dreams: red sandstone mountains, strange rock formations and a few salt lakes with striking color contrast. After the Valley area, there is yet another salt lake called "Pocitos", before crossing the border Argentina-Chile at "Paso de Sico". We visit the amazing Laguna Miniques and Miscanti lying at 4000 meters high before crossing the Salt lake of Atacama and finally arrive at San Pedro de Atacama in Chile. Another long, glorious day is over.
Accommodation 3-star hotel
Meals included: Breakfast, Box Lunch.
Day 8 Moon Valley and death Valley
Free morning to visit the colorful village of San Pedro and the arquelogical museum. San Pedro de Atacama (San Pedro for short) is a small village located in one of the many oases which are founded in the "altiplano". Along this geographic zone rise some of the highest volcanoes of the Los Andes cordillera. In the afternoon, we will visit the death valley before before climbing to one of the summit of the valley of the moon to be filled with wonder watching the dusk other salt mountain and volcanos.
Accommodation 3-star hotel
Meals included: Breakfast, Box Lunch.
Day 9 Tatio Geysers - Trekking to Termas de Puritama
We get up early today to be around 7 at the Tatio Geysers: It is a geothermal field located in the Los Andes Cordillera (4.200 mt over the sea level) which at sunrise presents impressive steaming fumaroles produced by the high temperatures of their watery craters. In our way back, we stop in the Puritama valley to trek to the "Termas de Puritama", volcanic hot waters (30ºC) with falls and pools, produced by the hot water of the Puritama river. They are located in a small canyon of amazing natural beauty and they represent an unforgettable experience.
Accommodation 3-star hotel
Meals included: Breakfast, Box Lunch.
Day 10 Laguna Verde y Colorada
Full day from San Pedro de Atacama in Bolivia exploring the outstanding Launa Azul y Colorada, home of the andean flaments.
Accommodation 3-star hotel
Meals included: Breakfast, Box Lunch.
Day 11 To Tilcara by Jama pass
Leaving San Pedro de Atacama, we drive to Jama pass with the imponent view of Volcano Licamcabur. Susco, Salinas Grandes, Pumamarca and the 7 colors mount before reaching after a long day the typical city of Tilcara.
Accommodation Las terrazas hotel
Meals included: Breakfast, Box Lunch.
Day 12 Quebrada de Humahuaca
The Quebrada, is basically a valley with extraordinary landscapes, with a millenary culture and lots of historic events that took place during its infinite existence. Then we arrive to Purmamarca, a very beautiful little town with its famous "Cerro de los 7 Colores", its typical square plaza with art crafts for sale. There we can't miss the traditional walk of the "Colorados". Then, we continue north visiting all the small towns that show us their way of living, cultivating fruits and vegetables and sheep too. This people cultivate their land the same way it was done 100 years ago. Once in La Banda, an archaeological site will be discovered before enjoying the warm welcome of an aborigine tribe who will be waiting for us with a traditional lamb barbecue and potatoes. After lunch we will visit Humahuaca before driving to Salta by the corniche path.
Accommodation Finca Valentina.
Meals included: Breakfast, Box Lunch.
Day 13 Salta - Buenos Aires
Free day to visit Salta. Transfert to the airport. Flight to Buenos Aires. Reception by our team. Transfert to your hotel.
accommodation 3-star hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast.
Day 14 Buenos Aires
Free morning. Transfer to the international airport. End of services. Meals included: Breakfast.
BOOKING
To book this trip, please fill the booking request form or simply contact us by e-mail booking@zekeseven.com
