EXPLORA TRAVESIA

Arrive into Calama airport where you will be met by your Explora guide and driven to the oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama, your home for the next four nights and the starting point of your Explora Travesiá.

San Pedro is the gateway to the Atacama Desert, an area of extraordinary landscapes and wildlife. Over the coming days you’ll discover the surroundings with your guide and gradually acclimatise to the high-altitude of the Andes, in preparation for your journey into Bolivia.

Explora Atacama offer an incredibly varied excursion program, from the cultural to more adventurous. There are trails to explore on foot, bike or even horseback, as well as hot springs, deep ravines to explore, high-altitude geysers and some of the clearest skies in the world (which are best seen from Explora’s own observatory).

Stay: Four nights at Explora Atacama (2,400m)

Today your Chilean adventure comes to an end, as you leave the Atacama and cross the Andes into Bolivia, home to even higher and otherworldly scenery.

With your Explora guide and driver you will travel through the rough but stunning terrain of the Eduardo Avaroa Reserve, passing by the mesmerising Laguna Blanca and Laguna Verde. Visit the Sol de la Mañana geysers and a myriad of wetlands and lagoons.

Laguna Colorada is the perfect spot to see flamingos in their natural habitat, and also where you will savour lunch as you gaze at the colours of the Altiplano vividly mingling. Afterwards continue to Explora’s Ramaditas Mountain Home, a remote lodge high on the Altiplano and where you’ll hopefully be greeted to a clear Andean night sky.

Stay: One night at Ramaditas Mountain Home (4,075m)

The wondrous landscapes are never-ending as you continue closer to the Uyuni Salt Flat. In the morning you will set off to Explora’s Chituca Mountain Lodge, where you will spend the night – on the way you will travel through ancient mines and valleys, with a chance to explore on foot . The Turquiri Lagoon, with its great diversity of birds and rock formations, is the perfect setting for a restoring lunch, followed by the time to explore the region in greater depth: you may choose between hiking or alternating drives and short walks.

After exploring you will continue towards Chituca, where you will learn about the culture and way of life of the locals before arriving at the lodge in time for dinner.

Stay: One night at Chituca Mountain Home (3,732m)

This morning you have the choice of roaming the cactus forest and the ancient agricultural terraces near the lodge, or visiting the village of San Pedro de Quemes, a former Spanish settlement with bewildering panoramic views of the Altiplano and the salt flat.

Afterwards continue to Gruta de Las Galaxias, an astonishing cave with rare geological formations where you will discover a fascinating part of Andean history. The journey continues and the scenery suddenly changes as the ground beneath you becomes a brilliant white – you have arrived onto the Salar de Uyuni, or more commonly known, the Salt Flats. An area of more than 10,000 km2, it is the largest and highest altitude salt flat on Earth.

A stop for lunch is made on the Salar and there is the option of a hike over Isla Pescado, a rocky outcrop covered in cactuses and with wonderful views from the summit. Afterwards continue to Explora’s Uyuni Lodge, your final stop on your Travesiá. The lodge overlooks the Salar and is on the slopes of Tunupa Volcano.

Stay: Two nights at Uyuni Lodge (3,681m)

Take in the astounding view over the Salar from the comfort of the lodge, all whilst enjoying a delicious breakfast.

Your guide will help you decide which explorations you would like to do today. One option is to hike the multi-hued slopes of the Tunupa Volcano, which sits at 5,432 m.a.s.l/ 17,835 f.a.s.l. For those hardy enough to make it to the top, you are greeted to spectacular views.

You can also cycle across a section of the Salar, which is a wonderful experience and is followed by a late afternoon sundowner. Or for something more gentle, cruise the slopes of the volcano and stop at villages along the way.

After a nourishing breakfast, drive across the eastern area of the Salar de Uyuni towards the Uyuni airport, recalling all the experiences over the past days as you gaze into the rare beauty and enormity of this extraordinary place.

Note: Should your Travesía start from Uyuni, please consider beginning the crossing after spending at least 2 nights above 2,500 m.a.s.l/ 8,202 f.a.s.l., so as to give your body time to adapt to local conditions and prepare for the journey ahead.