Plan Your Trip
Chile's barren yet strikingly beautiful Atacama—the driest in the desert world—is the setting for this adventure based at the Hotel Cumbres San Pedro de Atacama. During your stay, the hotel offers you a unique experience that combines comfort, relaxation, cuisine and excursions that allow you to explore the mystique of northern Chile.
The hotel’s excursion staff is a team of highly specialized bilingual guides who will accompany you on a variety of local trips as you experience the area’s most fascinating sites. Whether trekking, on horseback, or riding in a 4X4 vehicle, during your stay at Hotel Cumbres your guide will lead you on daily excursions to discover the world of the Atacama Desert.
This itinerary is an example of the activities that you can experience during an 8-day/7-night stay at the hotel, selecting from the more than 20 half-day and full-day outings on the hotel’s excursion menu – which you can choose from according to your own particular interests and abilities. Whether you visit geysers, saltpans, high-Andean lagoons or other surrealistic geological and geographic attractions, you’re sure to find this to find this an unforgettable once-in-a-lifetime experience in one of the earth’s most amazing locations.
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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 immediately on to Atacama, travelers typically make their 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 help you 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 2-hour morning flight to Calama.
1:00 PM (approx.): Departure for the San Pedro Oasis & the Cumbres Atacama Lodge – Upon landing at the Calama airport, uniformed Hotel Cumbres 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.
You will then pass through the oasis village of San Pedro de Atacama and continue for about a mile to the Hotel Cumbres Atacama. Nestled behind an ancient adobe wall, you could easily pass by and not realize that a contemporary lodge lies within. When entering the complex, though, you’ll see the private patios, as well as tall trees providing natural shade, and open-air communal areas for enjoying the world’s clearest skies. Undoubtedly, your first impression will be that Hotel Cumbres is the perfect place to enjoy the very best of the Atacama.
2:30 PM (approx.): Arriving at the Cumbres Atacama Hotel – Entering 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 two categories of guest quarters you choose (Superior Double or the Junior Suite), each provides marvelous dark-wood floors, king-sized beds fitted with crisp white linens, and an ottoman lounging area, which all complement the rustic exteriors of adobe, stone, wood, and thatched roofs.
4:00 PM (approx.): Moon Valley Horseback Riding – Saddle up for this late-afternoon horseback ride through a canyon of the Salt Mountain Range, which is a rugged expanse of natural stone and sand sculptures that were hewn from an ancient lake, millions of years ago.
These “salt mountains” provide a privileged perch from which to soak up views of the valley and beyond, offering an unbeatable introduction to this exceptional region.
After crossing the San Pedro River and reaching the San Isidro Chapel, we’ll arrive at the wind-sculpted Moon Valley just in time for sunset, as the light casts a magical glow over the rough, rocky land all around you. Relish the kaleidoscope of colors as the sun dips lower and lower, leaving you with an awe-inspiring image you won’t soon forget.
5:30 PM: Return to the Lodge – Making our way back to the lodge, you’ll have time to dust yourself off, shower, rest up and relax before dinner.
7:00 PM: Welcome Dinner – Tonight, your welcome dinner will be served at the lodge’s Kunza Restaurant. Before dining, on your table you’ll find a welcome pot of chachacoma tea – a local remedy to ease your adjustment to the Altiplano’ high altitude. Shortly after, you’ll be served a sophisticated International or Andean fare, whether quinoa tabbouleh, empanadas, or chupe de mariscos (a seafood stew).
8:30 PM: Briefing on the Next Day’s activities – Later this same evening you’ll meet with your guide will discuss your excursions planned for the next day. In this briefing, your guide will offer useful tips on what to bring, what to wear, and what you can expect so that you’re fully prepared when you head out from the lodge to the Altiplano Lagoons in the morning.
9:00 PM: Socializing / Relaxing / Turning in for the Night – After a long and hectic first day, you may wish to sit across from one of the lodge’s outdoor lounge areas 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, in addition to Chilean specialties and fresh fruit juices.
8:00 AM: Altiplano Lagoons – Starting out on this full-day tour, we’ll drive for an hour and a half, ascending the vast and barren Altiplano high plateau. Once arriving, you’ll soak in the stunning scenery of Miscanti and Miniques Lakes, two natural jewels of northern Chile. Split from a single body of water by volcanic lava flow, the two brackish-water lakes lie in the shadows of the mighty Miniques Volcano and are at the foot of the towering Cerro Miscanti Mountain. As such, these two lagunas provide a magical contrast between their deep blue surfaces that perfectly reflect the white snowcapped mountains that surround them.
Located in the breathtakingly beautiful Los Flamencos National Reserve, these lagoons were witnesses of the first human settlements in the area – some 6,000 years ago! Today, this mix of highland desert, mountains and ice is the ideal site for not only photography but also wildlife watching; as you’ll see, as the lakes’ colorful waters and white shores welcome a large variety of flamingoes and ducks, as well as foxes, llama-like vicunas and alpacas, and ostrich-like ñandus.
Finding yourself immersed in this postcard-perfect valley surrounded by arresting mountainous relief, you’ll undoubtedly realize that the great scenic beauty of the heart-shaped Miscanti Lake and the Miñiques Lagoon are true gifts of nature.
12:00 PM: Altiplano Picnic Lunch – The Cumbres Atacama lunchtime picnic experience takes advantage of local produce, filling the menu with innovative twists on northern Chilean cuisine. With the potential for cool days in the Altiplano Lagoons high-altitude location, the lodge’s expert chefs will create picnic meals that are hearty and filling, complementing local traditions with fresh, colorful salads, Peruvian corn, quinoa and a range of appetizing meat or vegetarian mains.
6:00 PM: Return to the Lodge / Free Time – Returning to the hotel after our full-day Altiplano excursion, you’ll have time to shower, rest up and relax before dinner.
7:30 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. Cumbres 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 sipping its incredible selection of Chilean wines.
8:30 PM: Briefing on the Next Day’s Activities – Your 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 Desert.
9:00 PM: Socializing & Relaxing / Turning in for the Night – As every afternoon and evening, 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, as Chile’s star-filled sky serves as a ceiling for the Cumbres restaurant and bar, you can always do some stargazing of the world’s clearest skies with a glass of wine in hand.
7:00 AM: Buffet Breakfast – A savory international breakfast will be served this morning, with a range of excellent buffet and cooked options from which to choose. Guests find that the level of comfort, service, and cuisine on offer is truly exceptional, especially in this challenging desert environment.
8:00 AM: Moon Valley / Kari Viewpoint & Gorge Hiking – Located less than six miles from San Pedro, Moon Valley enchants tourists with its random formations of sand and stone, whose textures and colors have been achieved over millennia from raging floods, intense sun, and unforgiving winds.
To fully take in this mesmerizing lunar-like landscape, this morning you’ll visit the Kari Viewpoint, also known as the “Piedra del Coyote” (“Coyote Rock”). This rocky outcrop rests high above the valley affording sweeping views of the otherworldly setting below. Standing on the edge of the Salt Mountain Range, you’ll peer down into Moon Valley, where geologic patterns are weaved throughout a dry, river floor. As this overhanging rock is a perfect vantage point, it has become a famous spot for taking take pictures that reflect the essential jaggedness and intense color of the Atacama.
Rugged and rocky, part desert and part alpine, Moon Valley is a bizarre scene to step into, but that’s exactly what we’ll do as we hike along a narrow path down into the Kari Gorge below. Here, you’ll find crackling walls of salt crystals and sand dunes, along with spectacular rock formations of gypsum, clay
and crusty carpets of even more salt. With volcanoes featuring across the skyline and jagged rocks filling the foreground, you’ll have to fight the urge to fill an entire memory card with shots as we proceed on this extraordinary trail.
1:00 PM: Buffet Lunch – After returning the hotel, the Cumbres’ Relais & Chateaux restaurant and its friendly staff will have specially prepared Andean and Chilean cuisine. You can opt to try one of the local specialties with ingredients like parrilladas (a mix of grilled meats), seafood risotto, Mediterranean-style salad and Chilean staples such as pastel de choclo (maize casserole).
2:00 PM: Garganta del Diablo – Rested and refueled, this afternoon you’ll saddle up a Chilean steed and ride on horseback through a labyrinth of dunes, a desert oasis, and ancient ruins. Experiencing fantastic views just behind every nook and cranny of the route, we’ll reach a valley that cuts through the Cordillera de la Sal located just a couple miles north of San Pedro de Atacama.
Called La Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s Throat), this gorge stands out for the bizarre caves and curious rock formations found here, as well as for its wildlife consisting of desert lizards, foxes, and hares. On your horse, you’ll make your way through a narrow passage surrounded by ridges, until finding a detour that leads to “El Tunel,” a passageway that runs through the mountain. Concluding a great ride to an equally stunning site, we’ll then loop back to the hotel on our mounts.
5:30 PM: Return to the Lodge / Free Time – Making our way back to the lodge, you’ll have plenty of time to shower, rest up and relax before dinner.
7:00 PM: Gourmet Dining – For tonight’s dinner, you might select mushroom quinoa risotto or lamb with tabbouleh and hummus. The chef’s focus is always firmly fixed on using innovative techniques and a modern approach to both the flavor and presentation of such dishes, while also staying true to regional recipes and seasonal ingredients.
8:30 PM: Briefing on the Next Day’s activities – Your guide will again outline the details of tomorrow’s activities, explaining how to prepare for your mountain biking trip across the Atacama Salt flat, what to bring for experiencing Cejar Lagoon, the wildlife you might see, as well as more details on what to expect during your morning and afternoon excursions.
As you will be leaving the next day, your guide will also confirm your exact pick-up time, reconfirm your flight, tell you what to expect at the airport, inform you how to pay your bar tab, and provide other useful information.
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 clear Chilean sky. As the temperature may dip to become even chilly, the roaring fire pit outside in the lounge makes for a warming and convivial spot in the evening.
7:00 AM: Morning Wake-up Call / Buffet Breakfast – A savory international breakfast will then be served this morning, with a range of excellent buffet options. You’re sure to find that the level of comfort, service, and cuisine on offer is truly exceptional, especially in such a challenging environment.
8:00 AM: Toconao Village – This morning’s Atacama excursion will take us south to the desert village of Toconao. During the drive there, be sure to look out of your window and lay eyes upon the ever-present Licancabur Volcano, who in turn gazes watchfully over the Atacama Desert.
Toconoa itself is a quiet town with typical colonial architecture, where white stone buildings stand out in the middle of the red dunes of the Atacama Desert. The village is famous for its handicrafts made from alpaca, cactus and volcanic rock, as well as for the Iglesia de San Lucas church and its adobe bell tower, both built in 1744 and each declared National Monuments. You’ll have a chance to leisurely stroll around the square, where you might want to pick up a traditional indigenous handicraft, sample a delicious fruit drink, or try some dried-figs and apricots.
10:00 AM: Atacama Salt Flat – Leaving the village behind, we will experience the otherworldly scenery of the Salar de Atacama, a vast expanse of salt that — at 1,200 sq. miles (3,000 sq. km) — is said to be the largest in Chile, while dotted with Altiplano lagoons and surrounded by towering volcanoes. Take the time to soak up this staggering scene, cameras at the ready, marveling at the endless stretch of dried salt glittering beneath a clear blue sky.
11:00 AM: Chaxa Lagoon – In the midst of the rough lifeless crystals of the salt flat is an oasis of activity. You’ll find this in the pungent Chaxa Lagoon, the most easily accessible flamingo-breeding site in Los Flamencos National Reserve.
As you stroll along the water’s edge, you’ll marvel at the scores of pink flamingos and other birds that manage to live next to this remarkable body of water in the middle of a salt desert.
1:00 PM: Picnic Lunch – While you’ve been observing those magnificent pink creatures feeding in their natural habitat, the Cumbres staff will have specially prepared an Andean and Chilean picnic spread for your Chaxa Lagoon excursion. You can opt to try one of the local specialties with ingredients like
parrilladas (a mix of grilled meats), seafood risotto, Mediterranean-style salad and Chilean staples such as pastel de choclo (maize casserole).
5:30 PM: Return to the Lodge – Having made our way back to the lodge after a full day of exploring, you’ll have time to freshen up and relax just a bit before dinner.
7:00 PM: Gourmet Dining – For your dinner tonight, perhaps you’ll decide on mushroom quinoa risotto or lamb with tabbouleh and hummus. In any case, the chef’s focus is firmly fixed on using innovative techniques and a modern approach to both the flavor and the presentation of these dishes, while also staying true to regional recipes and seasonal ingredients.
8:30 PM: Briefing on the Next Day’s Activities – Your guide will again outline the details of the next day’s activities, explaining the places you’ll visit, what to bring, what to wear, and the highlights to look forward to.
9:00 PM: Relaxing & Socializing / Turning in for the Night – Following another 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 even chilly, the roaring fire in the lounge bar makes for a warming and convivial spot in the evening.
5:00 AM: Buffet Breakfast – As today’s early morning excursion will take you out into a cold, high-altitude environment, the lodge’s expert chefs will create hot breakfast dishes that are hearty and filling. In addition, international breakfast standards like pancakes and French toast will be in the buffet.
6:00 AM: Tatio Geysers – The Atacama Desert is an endless wonderland when it comes to natural geology, and the El Tatio Geysers prove just that! You’ll have to get up before dawn to enjoy the show just as the sun rises, which is when El Tatio is most impressive given the angle of light that casts through the haze as steam billows from the ground.
Before dawn, we’ll head off to spend the whole morning exploring the largest geothermal field in the southern hemisphere. Referred to by locals as “Grandpa crying,” the Tatio Geysers sit at 2.7 miles (4,321 m) above sea level and consist of some 70 beautiful fountains of water and steam spewing into the air. Along with these are 60 pools of boiling water and bubbling mud, in addition to a number of natural hot springs and small fumaroles (openings in the ground that emits steam and gases).
Once at this chilly site, you’ll also have a chance for some warm bathing in a swimming pool specially installed in this volcanically heated geothermal field.
While traveling to and from the site, this will be a good chance to appreciate the unique plant and animal life that has adapted to this extreme environment; so keep your eyes peeled for llama-like vicuñas, foxes, wild donkeys, and flamingos, among several other species.
1:00 PM: Lunch – Later, while returning to San Pedro, we’ll stop in the village of Machuca for lunch in a typical local restaurant. Here, you might want to choose from Chilean specialties such as quinoa, lucuma, traditional Atacama patasca stew, and papas andinas (native purple potatoes). More daring adventurers may even want to sample the llama meat served-up in town. You can also sample ice cream made from desert fruits like algarrobo or chañarr.
2:30 PM: Machuca: While in Machuca, we’ll tour this tiny village situated high up in the Chilean Altiplano. Seemingly suspended in the ancient past, this traditional settlement is known for its adobe, cactus wood, and straw buildings, as well as its Andean handicrafts.
To get a good sense of life in the Andes, we’ll walk among this settlement’s handful of houses, meet with locals, and learn all about this small community’s history and traditions. We’ll then visit the Machuca church, a simple, picturesque white building with sky-blue doors. You can also discover the traditional handmade products of the inhabitants, whose livelihood largely depends on these handicrafts and llama breeding.
4:00 PM: Return to the Lodge / Free Time – Following today’s “steamy,” full-day excursion, rest up and relax before later dining.
7:30 PM: Gourmet Dining – Tonight’s à la carte dinner will feature enough options to please a range of different tastes and diets. Sit down with your companions for a freshly prepared à la carte dinner. Enjoy a delicious three-course meal, paired with a choice of fine international wines.
The hotel’s modern, sophisticated menu is light on carbs and sauces, as some guests will order seafood dishes like tuna ceviche, squid ink risotto, or a green-banana-breaded pan-fried grouper filet stuffed with crabmeat. Alternatively, meat-lovers can order up grilled rib-eye steak, roasted pork or another hearty fare. Desserts —- like pears simmered in red wine or moist chocolate cake with chocolate sauce — simply sparkle at Cumbres.
8:30 PM: Briefing on the Next Day’s Activities – Your guide will outline the details of tomorrow’s full day of activities on the Atacama Salt Flat, explaining more about this site and what to bring along on this excursion.
9:00 PM: Socializing & Relaxing / Turning in for the Night – Relax in comfy couches and overstuffed chairs as you enjoy Cumbres’ open bar while sharing stories about your Atacama excursions with other international guests. A lengthy list of Chilean wines features a 2008 Amaral Sauvignon Blanc and a very food-friendly 2007 Aliwen Cabernet Sauvignon–Syrah, while Cumbres also offers a selection of premium wines for an additional fee.
Before turning in for the night, you can also do some end-of-the-day stargazing in the Atacama skies from the lodge’s outdoor lounge.
7:00 AM: Buffet Breakfast – Experiencing your first desert sunrise, sit down to a sumptuous buffet breakfast featuring a wide variety of dishes, in addition to Chilean specialties and fresh fruit juices.
8:00 AM: Tara Salt Flats – The Tara Salt Flat is one of the lesser-visited of the Atacama region, but it’s a perfect spot for avid photographers to try out their skills.
Set off towards the salt flat by road and take in the striking scenery outside your window: mesmerizing mountains scraping the sky above, and desert vegetation inhabited by birds such as flamingos, coots, and ducks.
After this initial journey, step out to be met with an imposing presence: The Monjes de la Pacana (the Monks of Pacana”), towering pillars of rock that echo the Moai statues of Easter Island, although these have been carved by nature – not humans! Get up close to witness their variation in color and shape, the remains of volcanic eruptions that were named “monks” as they appear to stand impossibly tall and straight, given their vast size.
Continue on to the Tara Salt Flat, sprawling over the Vilama Volcano’s crater and home to a diverse ecosystem that bestows a rainbow of color across its still waters and surrounding vegetation. Look out for creatures like the Andean fox, vicuna, Tawny tuco-tucos, puna plovers and flamingos, as you lap up the serenity of this enchanting landscape.
12:00 PM: Altiplano Picnic Lunch – While still in this high plateau region, you’ll be served a Cumbres Atacama lunch that takes advantage of local produce, filling the menu with innovative twists on northern Chilean cuisine. With the potential for cool days in the Altiplano Lagoons high-altitude location, the lodge’s expert chefs will create piping-hot picnic meals that are hearty and filling, complementing local traditions with fresh, colorful salads, Peruvian corn, quinoa and a range of appetizing meat or vegetarian mains.
6:00 PM: Return to the Lodge / Free Time – Returning to the hotel after your full-day Altiplano excursion, you’ll have time to shower, rest up and relax before dinner.
7:30 PM: Gourmet Farewell Dining – The lodge will mark your last evening at the hotel by pampering you with flavor-filled Chilean dishes. Alternatively, select one of the carefully preparing contemporary international plates that use the wild choices of fresh ingredients that the Atacama region has in store. In either case, the lodge will offer exceptional service for your ultimate farewell indulgence.
8:30 PM: Briefing on the Next Day’s activities – Your 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 Desert.
As you will be leaving the next day, your guide will also confirm your exact pick-up time, reconfirm your flight, tell you what to expect at the airport, inform you how to pay your bar tab, and provide other useful information.
9:00 PM: Socializing & Relaxing / Turning in for the Night – As with every afternoon and evening, 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 wine list and mingle with other international travelers. Then too, as Chile’s star-filled sky serves as a ceiling for the Cumbres’ restaurant and bar, you can always do some stargazing into the world’s clearest skies.
6:30 AM: Buffet Breakfast & Packing up – For your final breakfast at Cumbres Atacama, join everyone in the main dining room and order up some eggs any way you like …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.
Following breakfast, you’ll have time to pack your luggage for your afternoon departure.
8:00 AM: Atacama Salt Flat Mountain Biking – For your final Cumbres lodge excursion, we’ll get in gear for some mountain biking across the Salar de Atacama (the “Atacama Salt Flat”). An unbeatable sight, this 1,000 square mile salt lake is the center-stage of surprise.
9:30 AM: Cejar Lake – One of these wonders is the Cejar Lagoon, a turquoise jewel whose waters are even saltier than the Dead Sea, meaning they provide for a great floating effect. When testing the lagoon’s incredible saltiness, you’ll see for yourself how your body floats without the least difficulty, like you’re flying, making it almost impossible to sink! And despite being located at over 2,000 meters above sea level, you’ll be surprised by the lagoon’s pleasant, almost warm waters. All of this makes any visit here a relaxing and fun-filled experience.
Adding to the dreamlike character of this aquamarine lake in the middle of the world’s driest desert, you may spot some of the pink flamingos that occasionally feed here. All of this combines into a color-filled spectacle and an unforgettable experience.
12:00 PM: Return to the Lodge / Free Time – After getting back to the Cumbres Atacama following a morning of biking and bathing, why not complete the revitalization of your spirits by availing yourself of the experienced hands of Cumbres’ expert masseuse?
1:30 PM: Lunch – For your farewell lunch, you’ll have the choice of dining indoors or enjoying a leisurely meal by the pools for a lunch paired with a chilled glass of Chilean white wine as the sun warms your body.
3:00 PM: Drive to the Calama Airport – After lunch, while being driven back to the airport in Calama, 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, Cumbres Atacama staff will be on hand to help you with your luggage, get your boarding pass, and help you check in. At the airport’s security gate, your guide and Cumbres staff will say goodbye, truly hoping that you enjoyed your stay and your Atacama travel experience.
If you’re like most travelers to Atacama, your departing flight will take you back to the city of Santiago, the capital of Chile, where you will be met by Surtrek representatives if planning to continue your tour in the country (otherwise, you’ll be able to easily catch your connecting flight home or onward).
| Room | ||
| 7 Days | US$ 2,920 PP | US$ 4,120 PP |
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