Program (short):

Day 1: San Pedro de Atacama – Hito Cajon – Ojito de Perdiz (- / L / D)
Day 2: Ojito de Perdiz – San Pedro de Quemes (B / L / D)
Day 3: San Pedro de Quemes – Tahua (B / L / D)
Day 4: Tahua – Uyuni (B / L / -)

Day by Day

First day

In the morning transfer from San Pedro de Atacama in Chile to the Bolivian border at Hito Cajon. You will be pick up by our Bolivian driver and guide at the Bolivian / Chilean border so-called Hito Cajon. Not far from the frontier, within the Bolivian territory, is already waiting for you the first highlight of the Nature Reserve Eduardo Avaroa; the turquoise shiny “Laguna Verde” located at the foot of the majestic volcano “Licancabur”. After a stop you will travel through the Bolivian desert into the valley “Valle de las Damas del Desierto” or also know by the tourists as the “Salvador Dali desert” called over the rocks formed by the wind erosion and weather, unique in their shape and placed scattered in this vast desert. Subsequently, you will pass the ¨Salar de Chalviri¨ to reach the hot springs of Polques in which you will enjoy a relaxing bath surrounded by majestic landscapes. After this relaxing activity you will arrive to the geyser “Sol de Mañana”, a spectacle of hissing steam columns, located at almost 5,000 meters above sea level. In the heart of Eduardo Avaroa Nature Reserve you will reach with the absolute highlight of this southern desert region; the ¨Laguna Colorada¨, with legions of flamingos waiting to be photographed. Then you will visit the “Arbol de Piedra”, a stone figure created by wind erosion finally reaching the Siloli desert from where you sighted your hotel located right in the middle of a desert-style landscape. Overnight in the Hotel Tayka del Desierto (- / BxL / D).

Second day

The bouquet of colorful highland lagoons are waiting for you today!. The colorful mountain lakes: Cañapa, Hedionda, Chiarkota, Honda and Ramaditas where you can spot a large number of flamingos or other birds of the area. On the shore of these lakes you will enjoy the view of the currently active Ollague volcano whose peak are often covered with a snow cap in the desert sky. After driving through the salt flats of the ¨Salar de Chiguana¨ you will reach the community of San Pedro de Quemes. Check into the hotel and the afternoon and late afternoon you will do a short walk through the ¨Pueblo Quemado¨ (burnt village), which tells the story of the Pacific war. Overnight in the hotel Tayka de Piedra in San Pedro de Quemes (B/BL/D).

Third day

In the morning there is the possibility to take the optional service of the llama shepherding, because it is a one-hour nonpareil experience, transferring dozens of llamas directed by the shepherd who is interested of making the visitors get to know a small example of the relationship between the man and the llama, so vital for the people’s lives of these distant places. If you are a more active person you can do a short hike through the canyon of Sinalaco, which it is a narrow transverse incision in the mountain range with high cliffs near to the shore of the Salar. With the jeep you will climb a narrow gravel road on the flanks of the towering mountains until you reach the top entry of the Cayon. A 1 to 1.5 hours hike will take you through the narrow zig-zag of the canyon downhill, with a small passage where hand applying is required (but even the most insecure hikers can master this point!). Down the Canyon the landscape offers you a comprehensive view of the foothills of the Salar. After you have been picked up here at the exit of the canyon our vehicle will lead you now to the entrance of the biggest highlight of your tour in Bolivia: the Salar de Uyuni, the largest salt desert in the planet with approximately 12,000 km². You will then cross the salt lake, passing the Campanas islands, until you reach the north shore of the salt flat. Here at the foot of the Tunupa volcano you will find a place not visited by the conventional tourism despite the incomparable beauty of its landscape. There is a visit to the ruins know as the “Pucara de Ch’jini” which have several hundred years of history and are testimony of an ancient fortress with residential buildings, storage reservoir, guard posts, etc., you will reach the “Cathedral” top by a light climb of a narrow passage to enjoy an exposed lookout which opens an unforgettable view of the salt lake. Not far from Ch’jini located in Tahua your next accommodation is waiting for you, the Hotel Tayka de Sal (B/L/D).

Fourth day

Who does not want to miss a very special spectacle, get up early in the morning to admire the unique sunrise over the Salar! You will return to the hotel for breakfast. Enjoying the view at the flanks of the Tunupa volcano you will ascend to visit the cave and the mummies of Coquesa. From here the Salar lies literally at your feet. And because it is so beautiful and hardly to describe, today you will also have the opportunity again to enjoy the landscape of the Salar itself, crossing the Salar de Uyuni from north to east. Here you will visit the Incahuasi Island which is located in Salt Lake and is completely covered by a forest of giant cacti. A short trail takes you across the island where you can admire the centuries-old cactus that rise up to 12 meters into the blue sky. From the peak of the island you have a 360 ° viewpoint of the entire Salt flat.In the afternoon you will leave the Salar at Colchani where you will come near to the shore where the salt mounds are piled up to dry and are a sample of the method of salt processing in this region. You will visit one local family that’s runs a micro enterprise based on the salt to know, how the local ecomony works, based on a cooperative local model. At your arrival to Uyuni you will enjoy a short tour to the train cemetery. Arrival to Uyuni. (B / L / -)

Prices and Services

List of hotels:
1N: Hotel Tayka del Desierto, Ojo de Perdiz
1N: Hotel Tayka de Piedra, San Pedro de Quemes
1N: Hotel Tayka de Sal, Tahua
Meals included:
3x Breakfast
4x Lunch
3x Dinner
Services included:
1 Logistical support and on call emergency services are available 24hs.
2 Transfer from San Pedro de Atacama to the chilenean-bolivian border at the Hito Cajon (driver only)
3 Driverguide in Spanish language highly specialized for travel in the region (from Hito Cajon to Uyuni)
4 Private Transportation in 4WD, according to the program, equipped with satellite communication (from Hito Cajon to Uyuni)
5 3 nights in a double room
6 Meals as described in the itinerary (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner).
7 Local taxes
8 Statutory taxes and fees