Private Tour San Pedro de Atacama - Salar de Uyuni - San Pedro de Atacama

Day 1

San Pedro de Atacama - Hito Cajones Border - Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve: Green Lagoon with views of the Licancabur Volcano - White Lagoon - Dalí Desert - Red Lagoon - Villa Mar - Valley of the Rocks - San Cristóbal - Train Cemetery - Uyuni - Colchani

The adventure starts at 07:30 a.m. when we pick you up from your hotel in San Pedro de Atacama. You will be transported in a shared tourist bus to the Hito Cajones border where and carry out the immigration procedures. First, you will visit the migration office in Chile and a few kilometers further you will complete the immigration procedures in the Bolivian office.

After completing the immigration procedures we will serve breakfast.

The journey will then take you to Bolivian territory, through the Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve. The national park has an area of 714745 hectares and reaches an altitude of 4000 to 6000 meters above sea level. The region has an exceptional scenic beauty, which is why it is one of the most important tourist attractions in Bolivia.

You will visit the Laguna Verde. The intensity of the green color of the lagoon depends on the wind in the area. In case there is no wind, you will see the reflection of the Licancabur Volcano in the crystalline waters.

The Green Lagoon is located at the foot of the dormant volcanoes Licancabur and Juriques which are part of the mountain range of the volcanic mountain range of Los Andes, in southwestern Bolivia. Both are on the border with Chile.

Then we will take you to observe the Laguna Blanca and cross the Desert of Salvador Dalí.

Lunch will be served in the dining room located in front of the Polques thermal water lake.

The adventure continues to the famed Laguna Colorada, which is a favorite nesting place for pink flamingos. The intense red color of the Laguna Colorada is due to red algae and other microorganisms that live in the water of the lagoon. The Laguna Colorada also has some white parts caused by deposits of borax located near the surface of the lake.

The Laguna Colorada is an immaculate and beautiful natural area inhabited by three species of flamingos: Chilean, James and Andean.

The next stop is the Valley of the Rocks also called Lost Italy, a site that hosts impressive rock formations.

You will then travel to the town of San Cristóbal and Uyuni. Three Kilometers before reaching Uyuni is the Train Cemetery, a place that houses dozens of old locomotives and wagons from the year 1890. The remains of these trains take us on an imaginary journey towards a time of flourishing progress, today transformed into a rustic metal graveyard ideal for taking spectacular photos

After travelling through the city of Uyuni we will transport you to the town of Colchani, where the famous Salt Hotels are located.

Lodging in a Hotel de Sal. The Salt Hotels offer rooms with private bathrooms, hot water, heating and WiFi Internet. Depending on availability, we will include lodging at Luna Salada Hotel, Hotel Palacio de Sal or at the Hotel de Sal Tayka.

Day 2

Observation of stars and sunrise inside the Salar de Uyuni - Incahuasi Island - Salt Statue of the Dakar Rally - Former Hotel of Salt Playa Blanca - Ojos del Salar - High Andean Jewelry Route: Laguna Cañapa, Laguna Hedionda, Laguna Chiarcota, Laguna Honda, Turquiri Lagoon - Observation of the Ollague Volcano - Cañon de las Viscachas

03:30 a.m. We will start the day traveling to the Salar de Uyuni to observe the stars and appreciate a beautiful sunrise. This is an unforgettable and unique activity especially during the rainy season when the salt flat looks like a giant mirror that reflects the starry sky. The most impressive moment of this spectacle is during the dawn, when the first rays of light flow through the immense sky shining on an incomparable landscape.

After sunrise we will return to your hotel where you will have breakfast and rest a little before continuing the journey inside the unique Salar de Uyuni.

During the dry season, the surface of the Salar is covered by almost geometric shapes formed from salt particles agglomerated into polygons. During the rainy season (December, January, February and part of March) the flat salt surface is covered with a thin still layer of water and resembles a giant mirror.

Visit the Incahuasi Island, home of millenary giant cacti (Echinopsis atacamensis) that grow up to 10 meters high. This island is a genuine witness of life inside the salt desert.

Climb the island until you reach the viewpoint, from where there is a 360 degree perspective of the Salar de Uyuni and a privileged view of the Tunupa Volcano.

The next stop is a salt statue erected to mark the passing of the Dakar Rally in Bolivia and the old Hotel de Sal Playa Blanca. Close by there is a small salt mound with numerous flags from all around the world. These flags have been left by travelers visiting the Salar de Uyuni.

On the way out of the Salar are the Ojos (Eyes) of the Salar which are small streams of water that flow from the interior of the earth beneath the salt. It is said that this water has healing properties due to its high saline acidic concentrations.

We will say goodbye to the Salar and travel to the southern parts of the Uyuni region, where we will enjoy the beauty of the High Andean Jewels Route made up by the following lagoons: Chiarcota, Hedionda (4532 meters above sea level), Cañapa, Laguna Honda(4114 meters) and the Turquiri Lagoon. Theese lagoons are surrounded by tall mountains and during the winter you can see the peaks covered by snow.

Lovers of nature and photography will really enjoy this area as it is impossible to take a bad picture of the landscapes, they are all worthy of a postcard.

On the way you will see various rock formations and the Ollague semi-active volcano (5870 meters high), located on the border between Bolivia and Chile.

The journey takes us through the vizcachas canyon where you will observe this cute rodent, a close relative of Chinchillas, in its natural habitat.

Accommodation will be at the Tayka Desert Hotel located in the middle of the freezing desert of the High Andes.

The hotel has rooms with private bathrooms, hot water and heating until 9:30 p.m. There are oxygen bottles at the reception, if required.

Day 3

Stone Tree - Laguna Colorada - Polques thermal pool (Laguna Chalviri) - Geothermal Field, Sol de Mañana Geysers - Laguna Verde - Hito Cajones - Back to San Pedro de Atacama

Within the Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve strange landscapes and basaltic rock formations shaped by the incessant wind, gigantic volcanoes, thermal waters and fumaroles await you.

The most admired rock formationis without doubt the Stone Tree.

Your journey continues and you will observe the Laguna Colorada and reach the of Sol de Mañana geysers located at 4850 meters above sea level. You will see mud and water boiling intensely. The hot steam that can reach heights of 10 to 50 meters, product of the pressure with which it is emitted.

You can then take a relaxing bath at the hot springs of Polques at 4500 meters. There is a small pool and changing rooms. The recommended time to stay in the pool is 20 minutes.

You will have lunch in a dining room located in front of the thermal water pool.

You will see the Green Lagoon, the Licancabur and Juriques volcanoes.

Afterwards a Chilean vehicle will take you to the migration office in Chile and later to your hotel in the town of San Pedro de Atacama.