FASCINATION NORTH CHILE & ARGENTINA

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1 1/8 INTRODUCTION: This overland begins in the heart of the Atacama Desert and continues across the Andes into the coloured valleys of Northern Argentina. Slowly, and only for a brief moment, we make our way into the jungle and its lush vegetation. Then we return to Chile through the San Francisco pass, the same one that the conqueror Diego de Almagro borrowed in the 15th century. The area chosen for this program, which includes the province of Catamarca in Argentina and the Atacama region in Chile, stands out for its vastness and its colours, which seem to sprout from a painter s palette. Some of the world s highest volcanoes are hidden in this area: Ojos del Salado (6893m) is the guardian of them all. The trip ends on the Pacific coast. A journey into huge spaces and contrasts. A journey high above, close to the clouds...

2 2/8 DESCRIPTION OF THE TOUR: DAY 1: CALAMA (IN) - SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA Reception at Calama airport. Drive to San Pedro de Atacama. Excursion to the Moon Valley at sunset. Accommodation: Hotel Meals: - DAY 2: SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA Walk in the salty mountain range. Visit of the archaeological museum and Quitor fortress. In the afternoon, we go up to the Puritama hot springs where we enjoy an unforgettable bath. Transfer back to San Pedro de Atacama. Accommodation: Hotel DAY 3: SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA Excursion to the Atacama salt lake. Visit of the village of Toconao and the Jerez canyon. Then, we go up to Laguna Miscanti (4200m) and Laguna Miñiques from where we have a spectacular view on the high plateaus. Drive back to San Pedro de Atacama. Accommodation: Hotel DAY 4: SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA - TATIO GEYSERS - SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA We get up very early to go to the Tatio geysers (4300m) where we have breakfast. Pictures of the geysers. Drive on to Calama. On the way, visit of Caspana, Lasana and Chiu-Chiu. Arrival in Calama. Transfer Back to San Pedro de Atacama. Accommodation: Hotel

3 3/8 DAY 5: SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA - SUSQUES - PURMAMARCA Departure towards the border with Argentina visiting Pujsa salt lake, Monjes de la Pakana, Tara and Aguas Calientes salt lake. We cross the border at Approx 4200m by Paso pass. Once in Argentina we visit Susques. And the Salt lake of Salinas Grandes. We leave the high plateaus behind and come down to Purmamarca where we ll spend the night. Accommodation: Hosteria DAY 6: PURMAMARCA HUMAHUACA - TILCARA Full day excursion along the Famous Quebrada de Humahuaca Fantastic road following River Rio Grande. Everything here is authentically typical. We visit the Tilcara Pukara, Huacalera, Chucalesna, Uquia and Humahuaca. Lunch in local restaurant Return to Tilcara where we spend the night. Accommodation: Posada DAY 7: TILCARA JUJUY SALTA Transfer from Tilcara to Salta. We visit the Reyes hot baths. Lunch in Jujuy transfer to Salta. Short city tour with San Lorenzo (According to arrival time). Overnight in Salta. Accommodation: Hotel DAY 8: SALTA CALCHAQUI VALLEYS MOLINOS Full day excursion along the Calchaqui valleys. Visiting Quebrada del Escoipe, Cuesta del Obispo, Cachi, Seclantás, finally arriving to Molinos where we spend the night. Accommodation: Hostal

4 4/8 DAY 9: MOLINOS CALCHAQUI VALLEYS CAFAYATE Second full day along the Calchaqui valleys. Visiting Angastaco, Quebrada de las Flechas, San Carlos, Animaná, finally arriving to Cafayate where we spend the night. Accommodation: Hostal DAY 10: CAFAYATE TAFI DEL VALLE Morning excursion to Quebrada de las Conchas return to Cafayate. Departure to fuerte Quilmes where we have a brief stop over to visit this archaeological remains of this beautiful indigenous fortress. Transfer to Tafi del Valle from where we ll visit the menhires park. Return to Tafi del Valle. Accommodation: Hosteria DAY 11: TAFI DEL VALLE SANTA MARIA BELEN Departure towards Santa Maria. We catch Route Number 40 towards Belen visiting The nacimiento baths. Arrival in Belen. Brief afternoon walk along the town and surroundings. Accommodation: Hostal DAY 12: BELEN FIAMBALA Transfer to Tinogasta, and on to Fiambala. Relaxed afternoon at the Fiambala Baths to recover strengths before returning to Chile. Posibility of brief treks on the surrounding of the baths. Return to Fiambala where we spend the night. Accommodation: Hosteria, Dinner DAY 13: FIAMBALA PASO SAN FRANCISCO BAHIA INGLESA Full day ride into Chile and down to the Pacific Ocean coasts We cross into Chile along San Francisco Pass at the feet of the highest volcano in the world, Ojos del Salado (6893m) and it s neighbour Nevado Tres Cruces (6753m). We cross along the Maricunga Salt Lake and follow our road down to Copiapo. Brief Stop over and we

5 5/8 continue towards Bahia Inglesa where we ll spend the night face to face with the Pacific Ocean. Accommodation: Hosteria, Dinner DAY 14: BAHIA INGLESA (OUT) Transfer to Copiapó airport. END OF SERVICES. Meals: Breakfast PRIVATE SERVICE: We offer this program as Private Service. It departs at clients best convenience and require a minimum of 2 persons to run. Prices for these programs are subject to the number of booked clients. Private Services include BILINGUAL GUIDE (ENGLISH, FRENCH, ITALIAN, GERMAN) according to availability.

6 6/8 RATES: PRIVATE SERVICE (valid from 01/07/08 until 31/08/09 except in case of an important change of general prices and/or variation of the USD exchange rate in Chile and/or Argentina): 02 pers: USD 5060 / pers + flights 03 pers: USD 3890 / pers + flights pers: USD 3300 / pers + flights pers: USD 2860 / pers + flights pers: USD 2620 / pers + flights pers: USD 2760 / pers + flights pers: USD 2630 / pers + flights pers: USD 2490 / pers + flights Single Room Supplement: USD 650 / pers

7 7/8 INCLUDED: Accommodation in hotels/ hostels as mentioned (double/triple room basis) Meals as mentioned Drinks in Box-Lunch Private transportation during the whole trip Experienced, specialized, bilingual guides Driver(s) according to the group size Security equipment Excursions, visits, entrances, park fees as mentioned NOT INCLUDED: Flights and airport taxes All kind of drinks during restaurant and/or hotel meals Services in Santiago (hotels, transfers). Please ask us for further information. We would be glad to assist you. Single room supplement Tips Visa if necessary Personal insurance Personal equipment (see recommended items) Any other service NOT included in the program

8 8/8 RECOMMENDED ITEMS: SPECIAL CLOTHES Fleece Polar, Hiking Pants, Wind Jacket, Fleece Jacket Medium Weight, Shorts HEAD AND HANDS Sun Hat, Wool Cap, Gloves BOOTS Tennis Shoes, Sandals ADDITIONAL ITEMS Bathing Suit, Towel, Water Bottle, Binoculars, Day Pack (30l), High Quality Sunglasses, Sun Blocker Factor 30+, Camera SEASON: November - April PHYSICAL AND TECHNICAL LEVEL: For everyone Medium Difficult For experts Physical Level Technical Level x x RESERVATIONS (upon request):