Plan Your Trip
The only Atacama Desert lodge in the San Pedro region that’s totally enveloped by natural surroundings, the Alto Atacama Desert Lodge & Spa blends seamlessly into its environment and appears as part of the terracotta-colored ridge that rises behind it. The Alto Atacama encourages guests to get off the beaten track, interact with the local indigenous culture and explore the desert’s varied and eerily beautiful landscapes by foot or bike. Geysers, hot springs, volcano climbs, mountain biking through desert canyons, and exploring ancient Incan ruins and petroglyphs are just a few of the 30 adventurous excursions offered, always led by highly trained local guides. As an example of a 5-day/4-night program, the following is a combination of cultural, adventure, expedition, contemplative and astronomical excursions that will allow you to make a genuine link with the desert highland plains. Keep in mind that while these excursions are designed for people who love nature and extraordinary landscapes, the vast majority of these outings do not require any special physical training or abilities.
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8:30 AM (approx.): Santiago de Chile Flight to Calama, Chile – If just arriving in Chile on an international flight and planning to proceed directly to Atacama, you will make your connection at the Santiago International Airport (Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport [SCL]), which will fly onward to the airport in Calama Chile (CJC), the closest airstrip to San Pedro de Atacama.
Otherwise, if you’re already in Chile and continuing your tour of the country, Surtrek representatives will privately drive you from your hotel to the airport, where they will assist you with your luggage and with checking in for your two-hour flight to the Calama.
In either case, plan on arriving and checking in at the airport at least one hour before your morning Calama flight.
1:00 PM: Departure for the San Pedro Oasis & the Alto Atacama Lodge – Upon landing at the Calama airport, uniformed Alto Atacama guides and staff will be there to welcome you in the luggage claim area. As they offer you a choice of refreshing juices, you’ll find the service throughout to be warm, considerate, friendly and refreshingly unstuffy.
After being assisted with your luggage, you will head off on a 1-1/2-hour private drive through the scenic Atacama Desert.
En route to San Pedro de Atacama, you will be served a delicious box lunch consisting of homemade baked goods, Chilean specialties, hot coffee and fresh juice.
After passing through the oasis village of San Pedro de Atacama, you will then continue for about a mile from San Pedro and approach the Alto Atacama Lodge & Spa, which blends seamlessly into the terracotta-colored desert, making it almost invisible from afar.
2:30 PM: Arriving at the Alto Atacama Lodge – Reaching the lodge, you will be led to your room, where you will have time to unpack, get settled in, shower and relax. No matter which of the three room categories you choose, each guest room has a private terrace, calming colors, red-tiled floors, a mini-bar, an en-suite shower room (no baths) and inviting beds.
4:00 PM (approx.): Eco-spa Unwinding – After having had a chance to get acquainted with your room and the surroundings, you may choose to relax at the lodge’s own eco-friendly spa. Enjoy the luxury of water in the desert and the tranquility of being removed from the rest of the world, or go for a swim in one of the pools overlooking the beautiful Catarpe Valley and its red mountains.
7:30 PM: Welcome Dinner – Dining at the Alto Atacama’s restaurant is truly a one-of-a-kind experience. Savor unique dishes made from locally grown organic produce such as socaire potatoes, native quinoa or chanar berries. The chefs at the lodge’s restaurant take pride in working closely with local farmers to give back directly to local farmers.
8:30 PM: Briefing on next day’s activities – Later this same evening, your guide will suggest optional activities available on Day 2. Just a few of the 30 adventurous excursions offered include exploring geysers, hot springs, volcano climbs, mountain biking through desert canyons, and exploring ancient Incan ruins and petroglyphs – excursions always led by your personal, highly trained local guide.
9:00 PM: Socializing / Relaxing / Turning in for the Night – After an already long day, you may wish to sit across from one of the lodge’s outdoor fire-pits to sip a post-dinner drink under the stars. The lounge bar offers a range of excellent Chilean wines, spirits and a Pisco sour made with locally grown leaves of the rica-rica plant.
7:00 AM: Buffet Breakfast – For your first desert sunrise, sit down to a sumptuous buffet breakfast featuring a wide variety of dishes, plus Chilean specialties and fresh fruit juices.
8:00 AM: Lican Antai Cultural Tour – The first traces of human activity in the area date back more than 10,000 years. Since then, the Atacama Desert has continued to be a hub of human interaction, a commercial crossroads for Andean peoples, and a proud cradle of Ancient cultural heritage. This tour offers guests the opportunity to explore the legacy left by indigenous populations – from the Lican Antai people, to the Tiwanaku culture, and later the Inca civilization. This is a chance to understand the heritage of these local hosts a little better.
For the Lican Antai culture tour, the first stop is the Tulor archaeological site, near the village of San Pedro. Some 2400 years old and well maintained, the site has been of great value in understanding many aspects of local history.
Then, we will travel to San Pedro to explore the old city and its church.
Finally, visit Pukara of Quitor – a pre-Hispanic village that provides an outstanding example of original native heritage.
11:00 AM: Return to the Lodge / Free Time – Returning to the lodge, before your lunch, you can experience the Alto Atacama gardens, a calming oasis of centuries-old ceramics, modern-day geoglyphs, indigenous plants, a salt-water pool and hand-carved rock beds.
1:00 PM: Lunch – The lunchtime dining experience at Alto Atacama takes advantage of local produce, filling the menu with innovative twists on north Chilean cuisine. With the potential for warm days and the hotel’s high-altitude location, the lodge’s expert chefs create dishes that are light and tasty, complementing local traditions with fresh, colorful salads, Peruvian corn, quinoa and a range of appetizing meat or vegetarian mains.
2:30 PM: Rock Art Outing (Hierbas Buenas – Rainbow Valley) – Rested, refueled and ready, we will strike out on the day’s second cultural tour: The Rock Art Outing.
This trip begins in the region of Hierbas Buenas. Here, you will find ancient petroglyphs, thousands of years old, which represent scenes of the local shepherd way of life, the people’s day to day lives and the growth of the farming communities.
Having explored the caves and rock faces, move onto Rainbow Valley, so called due to the multi-colored nature of its hills and cliffs, caused by the buildup of different mineral deposits and their reflection of the sunlight.
5:30 PM: Return to the Lodge / Free Time – Making our way back to the lodge, you’ll have time to shower, rest up and relax before dinner.
7:00 PM: Gourmet Dining – Tonight’s dinner will be in the main indoor dining room or one of the two outdoor dining rooms – the choice is up to you. Alto Atacama created this variety of intimate indoor and outdoor settings to provide guests the opportunity to be in the company of interesting people from around the world while tasting fine dishes and recipes and sipping from its incredible selection of Chilean wines.
8:30 PM: Briefing on next day’s activities – Your personal guide will again outline the details of tomorrow’s activities, explaining the places you will visit, the wildlife you might see, as well as more details on the history and geography of the Atacama.
9:00 PM: Socializing / Relaxing / Turning in for the Night – As always, guests have the run of a free open bar, including a selection of eminently sippable Chilean wines. Softly lit, decorated with artwork by local artisans, and dotted with comfy couches and overstuffed chairs, the indoor bar is just the place to curl up in as you work your way through the list and mingle with other international travelers. Then too, the lodge also has its own observatory and telescope for stargazing in the Atacama’s famously clear skies.
7:00 AM: Buffet Breakfast – A standard international breakfast will be served this morning, with a range of excellent buffet and cooked options. You’re sure to find that the level of comfort, service and cuisine on offer in such a challenging environment is truly exceptional.
8:00 AM: Wetlands – The Wetlands tour offers the chance to delve deep into the Andean landscape, observing a variety of wildlife.
The first stop is the wetland park of Quepiaco, an important protected area in the region and a great place to spot native bird species.
Next is the Salar de Pujsa, the largest reserve of its kind and the migration point for nesting flamingos to lay their eggs.
11:00 AM: Return to the Lodge / Free Time – Returning to the lodge, enjoy the luxury of water in the desert and the tranquility of being removed from the rest of the world, while taking a swim in one of the six outdoor pools and an outdoor Jacuzzi, overlook the beautiful Catarpe Valley and its red mountains. Stones from the surrounding desert form a wall of privacy for each of the pools, where the sense of being deeply renewed by the cleansing water as you gaze out into the desert is a unique experience.
1:00 PM: Lunch – As the focus at Alto Atacama is health and wellness, it ensures only the freshest local ingredients are used to prepare your daily meals. Today, the Ckelar Restaurant and its friendly staff will offer a menu of Andean and Chilean cuisine that caters to any dietary requirement. From the a la carte menu you can select from local specialties like sizzling parrilladas (mix of grilled meats), seafood risotto, Mediterranean-style salad and Chilean staples such as pastel de choclo (maize casserole).
2:30 PM: Pecan Monks – For this afternoon’s excursion, you might choose to visit the immense rock formations known as the “Pecan Monks,” noted for their sheer size and abrupt emergence from the desert floor.
5:30 PM: Return to the Lodge / Free Time – Making our way back to the lodge, you’ll have time to shower, rest up and relax before dinner.
7:00 PM: Gourmet Dining – The dining experience at Alto Atacama takes advantage of local produce, filling the menu with innovative twists on north Chilean cuisine. With the potential for warm days and the hotel’s high-altitude location, Alto Atacama’s expert chefs create dishes that are light and tasty, not heavy or overwhelming. This approach complements the local traditions with fresh, colorful salads, quinoa and a range of appetizing meat or vegetarian mains. Tonight’s dinner might feature mushroom quinoa risotto or lamb with tabouli and hummus, with the focus firmly fixed on using innovative techniques and a modern approach to both the flavor and presentation of these dishes, while also staying true to regional recipes and seasonal ingredients.
8:30 PM: Briefing on next day’s activities – Your personal guide will again outline the details of tomorrow’s activities, explaining the places you will visit, the wildlife you might see, as well as more details on the history and geography of the Atacama.
9:00 PM: Socializing / Relaxing / Turning in for the Night – Following an already full day, you may want a nightcap before retiring. The perfect spot for this is the lodge’s outdoor lounge, where you’ll witness a kaleidoscope of stars and other heavenly bodies in the clearest Chilean sky. As the temperature dips to become somewhat chilly, the roaring fire in the lounge bar makes for a warming and convivial spot in the evening. A sense of place is also created by the traditional Inca artworks and wall-hangings.
5:00 AM: Buffet Breakfast – An especially early breakfast will be served buffet-style, perhaps featuring cheese, cereal, style, ham, yogurt, bread and muffins, as well as scrambled eggs topped with linseed and served with homemade bread, muesli with yoghurt and fruit, espresso coffee and fresh juices.
6:00 AM: Tatio Geysers – “Grandpa crying” is the local name used to describe the Tatio Geysers, a geothermal field sitting at 4,321 meters above sea level. Beginning at dawn, we will head off to spend most of the morning exploring these geysers, which consist of large pools of boiling water and mud, fumaroles and natural hot springs. This is also a good chance to appreciate the unique flora and fauna adapted to flourish in this extreme environment.
11:00 PM: Andean Village Visit – While returning to the lodge, you will stop at Machuca, a traditional village previously used by local shepherds.
1:00 PM: Lunch – Back at Alto Atacama for your mid-day meal, you’ll find the lodge’s master chef will have prepared a noontime culinary journey that’s every bit as exciting as what you’ve seen in the desert this morning. This gastronomic adventure is sure to introduce you to more local favorites.
2:30 PM: Return to the Lodge / Free Time – Following a soothing shower to wash away the desert dust, meander around the lodge’s grounds to discover a stable of friendly llamas, in addition to rock art, local produce and six outdoor pools, each strategically placed to ensure maximum privacy and views across the river and rocky cliffs. Before dining, simply wander around soaking up the sunshine or even just sit on your balcony …camera in hand.
7:00 PM: Gourmet Dining – Like all nights, dinner will be simply world class. You will be able to enjoy a menu of fresh, delicious Chilean fare (with a bit of continental influence), whether served in the dining room or al fresco lounge. Promising to be a culinary feast for the senses, this evening’s dinner will be paired with select South American wines, or freshly pressed juice if you choose.
8:30 PM: Briefing with your guide on next day’s activities – Geysers, hot springs, volcano climbs, mountain biking through desert canyons, and exploring ancient Incan ruins and petroglyphs are just a few of the 30 adventurous excursions offered, always led by your highly trained personal guide from the area. You’ll met briefly with your guide to decide on your tomorrow’s activities.
9:00 PM: Evening Massage – Choose from a well-honed menu of classic message treatments, including deep-tissue and Swedish massages that use Weleda and organic Coesam products, or locally-inspired Altiplanic mud wraps and quinoa facials. Or, crank up the romance level with an under-the-stars couple’s massage. After (or between) treatments, relax on the outdoor terrace with chilled water and fresh fruit. The spa is open daily until 11:30 pm.
7:00 AM: Buffet Breakfast & Packing up – For your final breakfast at Alto Atacama, join everyone in the main dining room and order up some eggs any way you like them …even benedict- or omelet-style with your choice of filling. In addition to international breakfast standards like pancakes and French toast, Chilean specialties will also be in the buffet.
8:00 AM: Inca Pass – This challenging half-day trek begins with a climb to the base of the cornices of the Catarpe Valley, to marvel over the expansive views before your descent. After taking in the surrounding vista, you will begin the climb down through the dunes of the Mars Valley.
The first stop is Coca Stone, an ancient center for the trading of goods and animals, commonly a stop along old indigenous caravan routes. Here, hikers will also find an abundance of preserved rock art.
Next, the vast and arid Llano de la Paciencia showcases geological formations typical of the area, before you continue through the Mars Valley and eventually home.
1:30 PM: Lunch – The lodge’s outdoor bar and the pool-area dining room give you the choice of enjoying a leisurely lunch by the water and a meal paired with chilled glass of Chilean white wine as the sun warms your body.
3:00 PM: Drive to the Calama Airport – After lunch, you will be driven back to Calama. As you head to the airport, enjoy your last look back at the spectacular Atacama Desert, a unique region of inspiring natural wonders.
4:30 PM: Departing Flight to Santiago de Chile – Reaching the Calama Airport, Alto Atacama staff will be on hand to help you with your luggage, get you your boarding pass, and help you check in. At the airport’s security gate, your guide and Alto Atacama staff will say goodbye, truly hoping that you enjoyed your stay and your Atacama travel experience.
The return flight will take you directly to the city of Santiago, the capital of Chile, where you will be met by Surtrek representatives if you plan on continuing your tour in the country (otherwise you will be able to easily catch your connecting flight home or onward).
| Days | |||
| Catarpe Room | Quitor Room | Tilo Suite | |
| Double | Double | Double | |
| 5 | US$ 3,200 PP | US$ 2,600 PP | US$ 3,400 PP |
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