Chile’s Atacameño Cultural Experience Tour

Your cultural experience in Atacameño starts in Arica, Chile’s northernmost city where you’ll be picked up from the airport and taken to your hotel in Arica.

Check in and get settled, then enjoy a bite for lunch. In the afternoon, discover the most important sights of the city on a guided tour, including highlights such as Plaza Colon, the Cathedral of San Marcos, the Cultural House and the Fishermen’s Mole. End with an ascent to Mount El Morro, which offers a spectacular panoramic view over the city.

The second day of your Atacameño tour starts with a visit to the impressive Moon Valley (Valle de la Luna). This wondrous valley is located about 18 km west of San Pedro de Atacama and is part of the nature reserve Los Flamencos, which is co-administered by the Atacameño communities.

This dream-like place, one of the most spectacular in the Atacama Desert, owes its name to the unique geological formations that resemble a lunar landscape. Stand in awe as you explore the area and examine the strange sculptures that nature has created from salt and clay.

Following lunch, the tour continues to the northern part of the Atacama Salt Flat. It is the largest salt flat in Chile, created millions of years ago by the upheaval of the Andes Mountains and the Cordillera Domeyko. The octagonal salt crusts in the middle of the world’s driest desert are truly an impressive sight. It is possible to observe three different species of flamingo, which feed on the lakes´ salt brine here.

To finish off this memorable day you’ll visit Laguna Cejar. Here, visitors can float on the water without moving, due to its high salt concentration.

Today your time Atacameño tour is dedicated to the traditions of the Atacameño people. The Lama Caravan (walking with llamas) is a truly unique experience that allows reliving this centuries-old way of transport in the desert, while the guide explains about this symbolic Andean animal.

Afterwards you’ll head to the Salt Mountains, the Cordillera de la Sal, an impressive mountain range consisting of folded sedimentary rocks with salt deposits. Here we visit the community of Ayllu Vilama, whose water mill has been used by the villagers for a century. You have the opportunity to help with some community’s daily activities.

A unique cosmic experience awaits you this evening, where community members will introduce you to the world of Andean astronomy. The traditional systems of the Likan Antai use the stars for orientation and the cosmic energies for the regulation of their life energy.

Today, your Atacameño tour in Chile comes to an end. Following your final breakfast, Chilean style, a transfer will take you back to the airport in Calama to depart.