Salt Flats and Highlights of the Andes Signature
Uyuni Salt Flats, Bolivia
San Pedro Atacama, Chile
11 Days Lima to Cusco
DAY 1 San Pedro de Atacama On arrival at Calama Airport, your driver will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall to transfer you to the small oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama, the gateway tourist centre for the Atacama Desert. Overlooking the Licancabur Volcano, its dramatic surrounding landscape ranges from desert, salt flats, steaming geysers and hot springs to fascinating rock formations. The rest of the day is free to enjoy at your leisure. This evening you will be collected from your hotel for Astronomy in the Desert, one of the best places in the world to observe stars, planets, and constellations. DAY 2 San Pedro de Atacama Start your day with a tour of San Pedro de Atacama, the archaeological capital of Chile. Located near the mouth of the main river that feeds the salt flat, this tour will orientate you and give you an understanding of the history, the town, and the surrounding areas. In the afternoon, travel across the Salt Mountain Range to reach the Valley of the Moon in time for sunset when the sun brings out the best of the valley’s incredible colours. (B)
DAY 3 San Pedro de Atacama There are no activities planned for the morning, allowing time to wander the streets of San Pedro de Atacama and browse the local stores at your leisure. In the afternoon, you’ll visit the Salar de Atacama, one of the world’s largest salt lakes, home to a variety of bird species, including the three types of flamingos, and one of the most important lithium reserves in the world. En route you will stop at the picturesque village of Toconao, built from white volcanic stone and then on to Chaxa Lagoon, we will be able and another dramatic sunset. (B) DAY 4 San Pedro de Atacama to the Bolivian Altiplano This morning you will be transferred from San Pedro de Atacama to Hito Cajon, the mountain pass on the border between Chile and Bolivia. After clearing Bolivian immigration, make your way to the village of Villamar. Along the way you will be rewarded with some of the most dramatic and beautiful landscapes in the world, stopping off for plenty of photo opportunities. This high-altitude desert environment is home to dozens of colourful lagoons, snow-capped mountains, llamas, flamingos, hot springs, and geysers. Tonight, your accommodation is unique as it has been built into a rock and offers a warm, cosy and Today is packed with jaw-dropping scenery. Pass through the Valley of Rocks, stopping off to view famous rock formations caused by wind erosion. Villages like Culpina, where the houses have been built from natural materials and San Cristobal, which was relocated from its original location because of the zinc and silver deposits in the vicinity. Continue to the famous train cemetery with dozens of abandoned and rusting trains imported from Britain over 100 years ago and then finally arrive at your accommodation – the luxurious Palacio de Sal Hotel. Made from salt bricks and located on the shores of Salar de Uyuni, this hotel is the perfect base to set off to explore the Uyuni Salt Flats the next morning. (B,L,D) DAY 6 Uyuni Salt Flat This morning we set off across the Great Salt Flats to Colchani village, where we observe the methods of salt extraction and salt processing. We continue to Incahuasi Island, an oasis covered with giant cacti up to 10 metres high. Continuing north to visit the pre-Colombian ruins of Pucarade de Ayque fort on the foothills of Thunupa volcano, we’ll then return to Palacio del Sal Hotel for your last evening in the world’s largest salt desert. Enjoy a dip in the swimming pool, soak in the jacuzzi or grab a drink from the hotel’s bar. (B,L,D) comfortable refuge from the desert night. (B, L) DAY 5 Bolivian Altiplano to Uyuni Salt Flat
Enjoy the unparalleled scenery of Chile, Bolivia and Peru on this 10 day itinerary. Start your journey in the Atacama Desert, before crossing to Bolivia passing volcanoes and colourful lagoons until you reach the world’s largest salt lake, the Salar de Uyuni.
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PERU
Puno
La Paz
BOLIVIA
Uyuni
CHILE
Villamar Mallcu
Calama
San Pedro de Atacama
ARGENTINA
Please note: Itinerary may differ dependent on departure date
Why you will love this itinerary
Experience some of the most spectacular scenery of Chile, Bolivia and Peru on this 11-day itinerary. You will travel through unparalleled scenery as you explore the Atacama Desert - the driest desert in the world and the Salar de Uyuni - the world’s largest salt lake. See colourful lagoons, volcanoes, geysers and hot springs.
Astronomy in the desert
Flamingo, Bolivia
22
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0800 131 900 | vivaexpeditions.com
0800 131 900 | vivaexpeditions.com
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