4WD Trans-Atacama Expedition

Arrival at Salta Airport. With a private transfer and bilingual guide you will be transferred to Patios de Cafayate. Rich in culture, wine and tradition, Patios de Cafayate Hotel & Spa embraces it spectacular views Calchaquí Valley vineyards. Take a stroll to the extensive gardens and admire traditional architecture and antique colonial patios. Antique furniture, artisan carpets, ceramic floors and penny royal baskets decorate each of the thirty guest rooms and suites.

Patios de Cafayate

This day will be used as an acclimatization and preparation day for the expedition. No obligations are planned for this day. Breakfast and dinner included.

There will be an evening briefing about the expedition ahead.

Patios de Cafayate - B, L, D

Leaving Cafayate, we continue now on a gravel road until the final day of this journey. A few kilometers ahead, we enter the Catamarca Province and we pass a city called Santa María del Valle de Yocavil and a few small other villages. The landscape becomes more and more desert-like as we continue our expedition. Mountain roads with huge climbing sand dunes are the scenery on the way to the edge of the Puna region: the big mountain plateau at 3.500 meters above sea level. From there on the road continues as a straight line across the desert and the wildlife (vicunas and foxes) tell us where we are: right in the middle of nowhere. After a long drive we will get to the village Antofagasta de la Sierra, situated among volcanoes. The road is an old lava flow of black stones and you will feel as though you have been transported to another planet.

Antofagasta de la Sierra lodge - B, L, D

8000-10000 years old, from the period in which nomad groups from the desert areas went searching for new hunting fields. To visit the caves we trek down through a canyon.

Then we will drive to a place with incredible petroglyphs depicting animals, hunters and shields, carved into big red volcanic rocks. On the way back to Antofagasta de la Sierra we will stop at the Antofagasta Volcano, a desert picnic somewhere halfway is part of the program. Once there, we will trek up to its crater to enjoy an astonishing view of the surroundings. Taking a different path on the way down, we come to another archaeological site next to the Antofagasta Lake in the midst of this unbelievable landscape.

Antofagasta de la Sierra lodge - B, L, D

Leaving Antofagasta de la Sierra, we continue westwards up to Antofalla where we will encounter our first Salt Lake. This is a flat stretch of land covered by salt: its formation process involves millions of years of rains carrying the natural salt sediments from the mountains down to the flat areas plus the evaporation effect due to strong solar radiation. "Antofalla" is a beautiful example where we can also see islands of old lava flown from the ancient Antofalla Volcano snow-capped in the background.

On our way to the small village of Antofalla we will share lunch in a family house. After lunch we return to the Salta Province where we will cross over 85 kilometers of pure salt on the biggest salt lake in Argentina: Salar de Arizaro.

The salt is white during the first part of the crossing and then turns red. It is just like being on the Moon first and then jumping onto Mars, all on the same day and much cheaper than a space voyage! The space trip finishes at Tolar Grande, a small village with an old train station. We will camp in the middle of the desert somewhere on the way to Mina de la Casualidad. The fully equipped mountain hardware Igloo + diner tent will be previously set. A traditional grilled dinner called “Asado” and wine tasting will be served.

Camp in the middle of the desert - B, L, D

Leaving Tolar Grande, we board the salt lake where we go west to the Lluallaillaco Volcano. We drive along the only paved road of the puna, linking Tolar Grande and the disused sulphur mine of Casualidad at an altitude of 5000 meters. After trekking to the top of the mine, we will drive back to Tolar Grande. This is a small village with an old train station. Dinner will be at a family house. We will spend the night at the French-Argentine refuge with 2 big rooms with 20 beds each and one bathroom with hot showers for each big room. Between the rooms there is a kitchen and dining-room.

French-Argentine refuge - B, L, D

Leaving Tolar Grande, we start dreaming! We enter The Valley of the Dreams: red sandstone mountains, strange rock formations and a few salt lakes with striking color contrast. After the Valley area, there is yet another salt lake called "Pocitos", before crossing the border Argentina-Chile at "Paso de Sico". We visit the amazing Laguna Miniques and Miscanti lying at an altitude of 4000 meters before crossing the Salt lake of Atacama and finally arrive at San Pedro de Atacama in Chile. Another long, glorious day is over. We will spend the night at the Alto Atacama Lodge.

Alto Atacama lodge - B

Free morning to visit the colorful village of San Pedro de Atacama and the archaeological museum. San Pedro de Atacama (San Pedro for short) is a small village located in one of the many oases which are founded in the Atacama region. Along this geographic zone rise some of the highest volcanoes of the Los Andes cordillera. In the afternoon we will visit the death valley before climbing to one of the summits of the valley of the moon to be filled with wonder watching the dusk and other salt mountains and volcanoes. We will spend the night at the Alto Atacama Lodge.

Alto Atacama lodge - B

We get up early today to arrive around 7am at the Tatio Geysers: It is a geothermal field located in the Los Andes Cordillera (4,200 meters above sea level) which at sunrise presents impressive steaming fumaroles produced by the high temperatures of their watery craters. On our way back, we stop in the Puritama valley to trek to the "Termas de Puritama", volcanic hot waters (30ºC) with falls and pools produced by the hot water of the Puritama River. They are located in a small canyon of amazing natural beauty and they represent an unforgettable experience. We will spend the night at the Alto Atacama Lodge.

Alto Atacama lodge - B

It will take us a full day from San Pedro de Atacama to Bolivia to explore the outstanding Laguna Verde y Colorado, home of the Andean filaments. We will spend the night at the Alto Atacama Lodge. No self-driving allowed in Bolivia!

Alto Atacama lodge - B

Leaving San Pedro de Atacama, we drive to the Jama pass with the impressive view of Volcano Licamcabur. Susco, Salinas Grandes, Pumamarca and the seven colors mountain before reaching the city of Tilcara. We will spend the night at the Las Terrazas Boutique Hotel.

Las Terrazas Boutique Hotel - B, L, D

We continue our expedition north visiting all the small towns that show us their way of living; farming fruits, vegetables and sheep. The people here cultivate their land the same way it was done 100 years ago. Once in La Banda, we will visit an archaeological site before enjoying the warm welcome of an aborigine tribe who will be waiting for us with a traditional lamb barbecue and potatoes. After lunch we will visit Humahuaca before driving back to Tilcara. We will spend the night at the Las Terrazas Boutique Hotel.

Las Terrazas Boutique Hotel - B, L, D

The Quebrada is basically a valley with extraordinary landscapes, home to a millenary culture and a rich history of events. Then we arrive to Purmamarca, a very beautiful little town with its famous "Cerro de los 7 Colores"; the square plaza with arts and crafts for sale. There we can't miss the traditional walk of the "Colorados". Then we drive back to Salta by the cornice path. We will spend the night at the Night House of Jasmines.

Night House of Jasmines - B

Free day at Night House of Jasmines.

Night House of Jasmines - B

Transfer to the airport for your return flight back home.

Night House of Jasmines - B