Atacama Desert Tour & Lodge

ATACAMA & EXPLORA LODGE – 4 Days

Experience Atacama Desert with tailored tours

Travel to the Oasis of San Pedro de Atacama, located 2,500 meters (8,202 feet) above sea level in Chile’s Region of Antofagasta, in the middle of the Atacama Desert. The oasis is irrigated with water from the San Pedro and Vilama rivers, which have their tributaries in the area’s mountains. While evidence of human existence in this area dates back over 10,000 years, the first signs of an organized settlement belong to a nomadic tribe of hunter-gatherers, who lived approximately 7,000 years ago.

Day 1 – San Pedro de Atacama / Explora

Upon arrival, you will be taken to Explora Lodge (Private Service).

Explora Atacama is located in Ayllu de Larache (initially a community based on the kinship of the ancient Aymara people), near the village of San Pedro de Atacama.

The 17-hectare (42-acre) grounds comprise 20 indigenous parcels, some with timeworn pathways and buildings that Explora is committed to preserve out of a profound respect for the area’s original inhabitants.

Upon arrival at the lodge a local guide will explain the available activities.

Day 2 – Atacama

During the morning you will enjoy the activity that you have chosen.

The Lodge offers over 40 different guided hikes, bike rides, high mountain hikes and horseback rides, in groups of maximum 8 travelers. All our excursions have different difficulty levels, ranging from easy to expert, and different durations, from half day to full day.

Our recommendations: The Puritama hot springs, Guatín-Puritama (half day hike) and Quebrada de Nacimiento (full day hike), Cerro Toco (half day high mountain hike), Quebrada del Diablo (half day horseback ride), Piedra de la Coca (half day bike ride).

If you have chosen a half day tour, at midday you will have lunch in the lodge and then you will have free time to walk along the several self-guided interpretation trails or simply enjoy the facilities of the lodge (swimming pool, sauna, steam bath facilities, open-air jacuzzis, etc.)

In the evening you can enjoy stargazing sessions at the Explora observatory.

Day 3 – Atacama

Day at leisure to do any other activity from the great variety offered by this amazing lodge.

We recommend that you consult about the dinners in the lodge’s Quincho. In this barbeque area, two to three times a week, you can enjoy a traditional barbeque of lamb, beef and fish, as well as other local dishes – all accompanied by Andean music and song and dance performances by accomplished local artists.

Day 4 – Explora/ San Pedro de Atacama

This day, after breakfast, you will have free time to explore any of the self guided trails, or just to relax at any of the areas of the lodge.

At appropriate time in the afternoon, you will be transferred to the airport in private service to take your flight.

Reserve this trip

Included

– Transfers mentioned in the itinerary

– 3 nights in Atacama Lodge

– Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner mentioned

– Tours described in the itinerary

– Bilingual guide (English / Spanish)

Not Included

– International or Domestic Flights

– Travel / Medical Insurance – To get a free quotation please follow this link: World Nomads

– National Park or Reservations Entrance Fees

Accommodation & Prices

ATACAMA & EXPLORA LODGE – 4 Days

DOUBLE

USD

*Prices in US Dollars.
*Valid until April 2020 (Not valid in Christmas, New Year and Carnival).

Prices are per person, based on 2 people in double occupancy.
Single rates are available on request. Flights are not included in the price, but can be arranged on request.

Reserve this trip

Flights needed for this itinerary

No local flights are needed for this itinerary. Tour begins in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

If you plan to visit other destinations in the region, local flights cost approximately $100 to $250 USD per segment (destination).
We offer special rates on flights for this tailor-made itinerary.

Included

– Transfers mentioned in the itinerary

– 3 nights in Atacama Lodge

– Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner mentioned

– Tours described in the itinerary

– Bilingual guide (English / Spanish)

Not Included

– International or Domestic Flights

– Travel / Medical Insurance – To get a free quotation please follow this link: World Nomads

– National Park or Reservations Entrance Fees

Trip Reviews

ATACAMA & EXPLORA LODGE – 4 Days

Theo van der Linden

(5 / 5)

Guides gave lots of information, in Spanish and English and full of humor!

Dear Patty,

We just returned from a 3week South America trip. It was great and I will reply gladly to your questions.

We searched on internet and learned about Say Hueque. We decided to travel with you because the comments over the 6day trip Attacama-Uyuni were really good.

I would say our highlight were the good guides who gave lots of information. We only stayed in e one hotel, the Don Tomas hotel in San Pedro.

We had short excursions and one large: the three day 4wd to Uyuni. The El Tunio exursions was great. Early to get up but worth it. The 4wd tour was awesome with highlights and depths (the overnight stay in the refugee: ‘basic’ accommodation was an understatement). Although an experience, it took many hours to recover from it.

I forgot the name of the guide to the El Tunio geysers – he was awesome (I believe he is an San Pedro artist). He gave lots of information, in Spanish and English and full of humor!

16.08.17

Comments About:

Atacama & Uyuni, Featured Trips

Barbara & Michael Lipner

(5 / 5)

The best of traveling with you was the immediate responses we got from the very beginning of the planning all the way through the entire trip. We were able to make a last minute change and you made sure it went through.

Dear Patty,

Thank you for being available when we needed clarifications on our trip!!! Knowing you were a text away was very comforting.

We do not remember where we found you. We had used you for booking airline tickets on our trip to Argentina. Our friends also booked the tickets with you and some tour in Iguassu Falls. All those arrangements were good so we contacted you again.

The best of traveling with you was the immediate responses we got from the very beginning of the planning all the way through the entire trip. We were able to make a last minute change and you made sure it went through.

All the hotels were fine. Cannot really say one stood out.
Same thing with excursions. They varied somewhat and the guides were very different. We really did enjoy the morning tour we added in Atacama although the climb up the hill was a bit of a challenge.

Each guide was very different. Some were better than others but no one stood out as do not use again.

There was a different way to see penguins. Might have tried that now that we know the Magdalena Island tour is often cancelled due to weather.

Do you think we should post on the Argentina site at Trip Advisor. We were in Chile. Not sure which forum to use. What would you suggest?

Kind regards,

Barbara