Chile
/ Bolivia
Lagoons and volcanoes of the Atacama between Chile and Bolivia
Réf : UCHIDECX
In summary
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Sports
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Duration15 days
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LevelBeginner
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DestinationChile / Bolivia
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AgeFrom the age of 18
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CO₂-Emissions4260 kg CO2
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Type of stayIn a group
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Languages🇫🇷French
In a few words
Undoubtedly one of the most spectacular landscapes on Earth ! Volcanoes soaring to over 5,000 meters, captivating colors, and starry skies! This adventure between Chile and Bolivia begins with a plunge into vast, arid landscapes. The Atacama Desert, with its characteristic white and ochre panoramas, contrasts sharply with the vibrant colors of Bolivia's lakes. Further south, you'll discover the white immensity of the Salar de Uyuni , a salt flat where the lack of relief is broken only by a few islets adorned with giant cacti. Further north, towering peaks and volcanoes are reflected in the cobalt waters of lakes teeming with flamingos and herds of vicuñas grazing freely. Back in Chile, you'll pass through picturesque villages with white churches topped with thatched roofs, where the locals take the time to enjoy life. You travel to the coastal desert and the city of Arica , where you will encounter some of the oldest mummies ever discovered! You end the journey gently, with visits to vineyards and exploration of the bohemian city of Valparaíso, a mythical port with a fascinating history.
The highlights
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The most beautiful sites of the Chilean Atacama and southern Bolivia
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Night in the Tomarapi community in Bolivia
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The discovery of lakes populated by pink flamingos and vicuñas
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Photos
Sport
Level
Hiking / Trekking
For those wishing to walk for up to 3 hours with minimal elevation gain (max. 300m) along roads, tracks, trails, or rolling terrain. Suitable for everyone.
In figures
Autre
- Average duration/day: 1h
- Average daily elevation gain: 56 m
- Maximum altitude: 4320 m
Management
During this stay, a supervisor will be present to guide and assist you.
Languages spoken:
🇫🇷
French
Supervisor
Supervisor
A French-speaking assistant will meet you at Santiago Airport and accompany you to your hotel in the city center. If you arrive on a different flight than the rest of the group, your transfer will be with a Spanish-speaking driver. From Day 3 to Day 12, you will be accompanied by a local, French-speaking guide from Calama Airport to Arica Airport. On Days 12 and 13, a French-speaking tour leader will take you on a tour of the vineyards and Valparaíso. The guides are chosen for their knowledge of the region and their experience in the field. They are passionate about sharing their knowledge and their land! The itineraries are designed to offer you the best possible acclimatization. The tour teams receive regular training in altitude safety.
Program
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Paris - Santiago
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
We take our overnight flight to Santiago, Chile. Meals are at your own expense or served on board.Day 1 -
Santiago, Chile
- Transportation 00h30
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Upon arrival at Santiago Airport, we are met by our French-speaking guide and transferred to our hotel. The day is free for us to relax or explore the Chilean capital. Meals are not included. Please note: depending on flight arrival times, rooms may not be immediately available. In such cases, we will leave our luggage at reception while we explore the city.Day 2 -
Santiago - Calama - San Pedro de Atacama
- Transportation 02h - 200km
- Activity Autre
- Duration of the activity 2h
- Maximum altitude 2450 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner not included
We depart for the airport and take a flight to Calama. We are met at the airport by our French-speaking guide who will accompany us throughout our tour of northern Chile and Bolivia. We travel to San Pedro de Atacama. In the afternoon, we visit the Valley of the Moon, passing through the Valley of Death and "Las 3 Marías," rock formations resembling a statue. We end our day in the Valley of the Moon to watch the sunset over the Andes Mountains. An unforgettable experience! Dinner is at your leisure.Day 3 -
Cactus Valley & Atacama Salar
- Transportation 182 km
- Activity Autre
- Duration of the activity 3h
- Positive elevation gain 500 m
- Maximum altitude 3500 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Our vehicle takes us for a short transfer to the Guatín Valley, where two rivers meet: the hot Puritama and the cold Purifica. The two rivers create a new channel, the Vilama, which contributes to the unique ecosystem of the Guatín Gorge. Here, you'll find impressive cacti called cardones and diverse vegetation, as well as rocky descents and waterfalls that make this hike a great adventure. (The Puritama hot springs are now privately owned and access is limited, so the activity will be hiking in the Valley of the Cactus.) We return to San Pedro de Atacama and then head to the Atacama Salt Flat (2,305 m), the largest salt flat in Chile, covering approximately 3,000 km². We travel to Laguna Chaxa in the heart of the salt flat, where we can observe pink flamingos. Return to San Pedro de Atacama. Dinner at your leisure.Day 4 -
Tatio Geysers - Stargazing Evening
- Transportation 02h
- Activity Autre
- Maximum altitude 4320 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We're getting up very early this morning (between 3 and 4 am) to visit the El Tatio geysers, located at an altitude of 4,320 meters on a limestone plateau surrounded by volcanoes. At sunrise, the spectacle is unique, with fumaroles and geysers reaching over 10 meters in height. We'll have breakfast amidst the fumaroles. We'll return to San Pedro de Atacama, passing through the small village of Machuca, situated at 4,000 meters, with its charming thatched-roof houses and mud walls, as well as its lovely church. Free time in the afternoon. In the evening, we'll take an astronomy excursion to observe the sky considered the clearest in the world (subject to visibility and outside of full moon periods)!Day 5 -
Laguna verde - Laguna Colorada - Villamar
- Transportation 08h
- Activity Autre
- Maximum altitude 4300 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
This morning, we crossed the border into Bolivia after completing customs formalities. At the border, we changed vehicles, as only 4x4 vehicles are suitable for driving in all conditions in the southern Lipez region. We visited the Blanca and Verde lagoons, located at the foot of the Licancabur volcano. We passed by the impressive fumaroles of the Sol de Mañana geysers, then reached Laguna Colorada. Its intense red color is due to the algae and plankton that live in its mineral-rich waters. We continued to the village of Villamar (4,050 m) where we spent the night. Note: the indicated travel time includes visits.Day 6 -
Villamar - Salar de Uyuni - Uyuni
- Transportation 05h
- Activity Autre
- Maximum altitude 3670 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We continue our journey through southern Lipez to reach the small town of Uyuni, gateway to the vast salt flats. Along the way, we pass through the Valley of the Rocks, a lava flow with interesting formations, and then the village of San Cristóbal, which was relocated to make way for mining operations. We arrive in Uyuni (3670m) in the early afternoon.Day 7 -
Uyuni Salar - Incahuasi Island - Tahua
- Transportation 05h
- Activity Autre
- Duration of the activity 2h
- Maximum altitude 3870 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
This day is dedicated to exploring the famous Salar de Uyuni, which covers an area of over 12,000 km². We visit Incahuasi Island, located in the heart of the salt flat, and uniquely dotted with enormous cacti. We stroll around the island, surrounded by this luminous white sea. We witness the sunset over the salt flat—an unforgettable experience! Overnight in Tahua (3,690m), on the edge of the salt flat.Day 8 -
Tahua - Sajama
- Transportation 10h
- Activity Autre
- Maximum altitude 4200 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner not included
This long day allows us to explore the camelid herding region, where we encounter immense herds of llamas. Perhaps we'll be lucky enough to spot the endemic ostrich (suri) or the armadillo (emblem of the Oruro region). Along the way, we discover numerous villages where life unfolds to the rhythm of sunrise and sunset. We return to the peaks of the Andes Mountains and their snow-capped volcanoes: Capurata, Acotango, Parinacota, Pomerape, and Sajama, at the foot of which we spend the night.Day 9 -
Sajama - Lake Chungara - Putre
- Transportation 03h
- Activity Autre
- Duration of the activity 2h
- Maximum altitude 4200 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner not included
A final look at Sajama before heading back towards the nearby border. We re-enter Chile through Lauca National Park and its famous Lake Chungara, where we take a short hike above the lake for a panoramic view of Parinacota (6330 m), Pomerape (6240 m), and Sajama (6542 m). We take the opportunity to visit the village of Parinacota, its church, and its craft market. Weather permitting, we'll take a short walk to the Cotacotani Lakes to see the Pachatas from a different perspective. We arrive in the village of Putre (3500 m) in the late afternoon.Day 10 -
Putre - highland villages - Archaeological Museum - Arica
- Transportation 03h
- Activity Autre
- Duration of the activity 2h
- Maximum altitude 3500 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner not included
From Putre, we travel to the village of Poconchile in the Azapa Valley. We visit this valley and its Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology, famous for its ancient mummies and petroglyph park. The journey continues to Arica, located on the Pacific coast. We visit this small city and its San Marcos Cathedral, partly designed by architects who worked with Gustave Eiffel. We also take an excursion to El Morro, a 110-meter-high rock formation overlooking the city and offering panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. Overnight in Arica, on the Pacific coast.Day 11 -
Arica - Santiago - Valparaiso
- Transportation 02h30
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Early in the morning, we depart for the airport to catch our flight to Santiago. Upon arrival, we head directly to Valparaiso (the drive from Santiago to Valparaiso takes 1.5 to 2 hours without a break). En route, we stop in the Casablanca Valley, which bears a striking resemblance to Napa Valley in California. We take this opportunity to visit a vineyard and taste some local wines. We arrive in Valparaiso in the late afternoon. Meals are not included. Note: Depending on your flight schedule, the itinerary for this day and the following day may be reversed. In that case, we will visit Valparaiso today.Day 12 -
Valparaiso
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Today we depart for a tour of Valparaíso, a city bursting with color thanks to its diverse architecture, seemingly suspended on the hillsides, and home to Chile's main commercial port. We'll stroll through its streets, discovering its historical and natural heritage—a veritable cultural rainbow brimming with flavors, art, and music. We'll immerse ourselves in the architectural and cultural legacy left by 19th-century Europeans in the hills of Alegre and Concepción. Return to your hotel in the late afternoon.Day 13 -
Valparaiso - Santiago - Return flight
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Free time depending on flight schedules, then transfer to Santiago airport, check-in and flight to France. Meals at your own expense or served on board.Day 14 -
Arrival in France
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Arrival in France. End of stay.Day 15
Note
Depending on weather and operational conditions, the guide reserves the right to modify this itinerary.
Accommodation
- Days 1 to 14
In town, special attention is paid to the location of accommodations to allow you to make the most of your free time. Some accommodations may not have heating. Note that outside of towns and San Pedro de Atacama, you will be traveling "in the middle of nowhere," often between 3,500 and 4,500 meters above sea level, and consequently, basic services (electricity, hot water, etc.) are, at best, very limited.
Accommodation list for this stay (for information purposes only, subject to availability):
- In Santiago : The NH Hotel, located at the foot of Cerro San Cristobal, puts you in the heart of the city. You have all the necessary services for a pleasant stay.
- In San Pedro de Atacama : Hotel TAKHA TAKHA, right in the heart of San Pedro, this oasis welcomes you to a peaceful setting. Enjoy your stay to the fullest.
- In Villamar : Hostal MALLKU CUEVA, this hotel is nestled into a rock in the heart of the South Lipez region. The walls are sometimes made of adobe, sometimes of the rock itself. An unusual experience in an extraordinary place. Limited internet access.
- In Uyuni : Hotel GIRASOLES, a simple hotel but which has all the required services.
- In Tahua : The TAYKA Salt Hotel – you're not dreaming, it really is a hotel made of salt bricks extracted from the Salar de Uyuni. You'll stay in this unique accommodation with a view of this immense salt flat.
- In Sajama : Hostal TOMARAPI ECO LODGE. This eco-lodge is run by families from the Tomarapi community. It's a collection of small houses built with local materials, offering incredible views of Mount Sajama as a backdrop. Basic comfort, shared dormitories. No internet access available.
- In Puture : Hotel QANTATI, you'll sleep in this establishment at the entrance to Lauca National Park. This modest accommodation offers a comfortable night's stay. Limited internet access.
- In Arica : Hotel CASA BELTRAN: this boutique hotel located in the very center gives you access to all the points of interest in the city as well as the Pacific coast.
- In Valparaiso : Hotel DIEGO DE ALMAGRO, just steps from the ocean, offers comfortable accommodation for a relaxing stay. Enjoy the swimming pool, spa, and jacuzzi between visits to this magnificent city of artists.
Access
Departure
Santiago Du Chili
Day 1
End of stay
Idem
Day 15
Go to the starting point
The nearest airport isSantiago
In Chile, we use scheduled flights departing from Paris. You will primarily fly with Iberia and Air France/KLM. Outbound flights are overnight, arriving the following day in Santiago with a layover. Return flights are also overnight, arriving the following day in France. Air France offers direct flights from Paris to Santiago, without a layover. Departures from some regional cities are also possible. This information is for guidance only.
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Price details
The price includes
- The international flight departing from Paris
- Domestic flights
- Air taxes
- Private vehicle transportation with driver
- Accommodation
- Supervision by a French-speaking guide and a local team
- Breakfasts from Day 2 to Day 14
- Lunches on days 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
- Dinners on days 5, 6, 7, and 8
- Entrances to national parks
The price does not include
- Insurance
- Airport transfer fees if the flight differs from the group's.
- Meals listed as free in the day-by-day itinerary but not included in the "price includes" section (10 to 20€ per meal)
- Personal expenses
- Drinks
- Tips
Options
- Double room : CHF85.50 / unit
- Double room : CHF85.50 / unit
- One-way transfer: airport-accommodation : CHF42.75 / person
- Return transfer: accommodation-airport : CHF42.75 / person
- Flex fare and insurance
Practical information
Specific formalities
Equipment
Decathlon Travel Partner
The Paulin team
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• 821 stays
For over 30 years, our local partner has been designing adventure walking trips around the world. Specializing in small-group treks, they cater to both casual hikers and seasoned trekkers seeking unspoiled natural environments and a return to the essentials. Their key strength? They own their own agencies in over 30 countries, guaranteeing complete trip creation from start to finish, without intermediaries. This direct, on-the-ground expertise ensures memorable active experiences and total freedom amidst breathtaking landscapes.
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