Atacama
Desert & Altiplano, Chile
Explorations in
Atacama
Activity
Difficulty
Areas
Matancilla
Quebradas Intermedias
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Hike -
Easy
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Half-day
We take a van to the Domeyko Mountain Range where we walk following a creek that used to be a route for gathering and bartering caravans...
More details >Matancilla
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Exploration Path
We take a van to the Domeyko Mountain Range where we walk following a creek that used to be a route for gathering and bartering caravans. The walk ends at the Rainbow Valley formed by huge multicolored walls of mineral-rich soils. We return by van.
204 m 669 ft
-263 m -863 ft
3.231 m 10.598 ft
3.134 m 10.280 ftElevation Profile
Wanaku
Quebradas Intermedias
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Hike
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Moderate
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Full-day
We take a van to the Domeyko Mountain Range, where we walk through trails that were formerly used as transit and bartering routes...
More details >Wanaku
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Exploration Path
We take a van to the Domeyko Mountain Range, where we walk through trails that were formerly used as transit and bartering routes and where we can still see remains of the Atacameño culture. We continue to the Rainbow Valley, a place with huge multicolored walls that explain the geological shaping of the Atacama region.
410 m 1345 ft
-336 m -1102 ft
3.292 m 10.798 ft
3.198 m 10.489 ftElevation Profile
Incahuasi
Quebradas Intermedias
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Hike
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Advanced
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Full-day
We start walking in an old farmhouse at the foot of the volcanoes of the Andes mountain range. We will enter the Jorquencal gorge...
More details >Incahuasi
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Exploration Path
We start walking in an old farmhouse at the foot of the volcanoes of the Andes mountain range. We will enter the Jorquencal gorge where we will explore the varied vegetation, history and study of the Andean cat in the Puritama reserve. After crossing a varied landscape we will arrive at the Puritama hot springs, to rest there. Return by van to Explora.
181 m 594 ft
-832 m -2729 ft
4.195 m 13.760 ft
3.537 m 11.601 ftElevation Profile
Volcán Blanco
Altiplano
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Hike
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Advanced
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Full-day
We take a van to the Tatio Geysers, where we first walk up and then down a creek to reach an unknown warm water river, the Blanco River...
More details >Volcán Blanco
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Exploration Path
We take a van to the Tatio Geysers, where we first walk up and then down a creek to reach an unknown warm water river, the Blanco River. We walk along the river’s bed near geysers and mineral formations unique to this geological landscape.
31 m 101 ft
-421 m -1381 ft
4.408 m 14.458 ft
4.226 m 13.861 ftElevation Profile
Peñaliri
Quebradas Intermedias
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Hike
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Moderate
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Full-day
We take a van to Machuca, an Andean Plateau village. We begin exploring a wetland and then walk along a creek to the Grande River...
More details >Peñaliri
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Exploration Path
We take a van to Machuca, an Andean Plateau village. We begin exploring a wetland and then walk along a creek to the Grande River. In this exploration we can see fauna and typical Andean farming terraces. We have lunch at Peñaliri, an abandoned village.
*Temporarily unavailable. Consult other exploration options with your Explora guide at the destination.
273 m 895 ft
-1056 m -3464 ft
4.012 m 13.159 ft
3.218 m 10.555 ftElevation Profile
Kimal
Montaña
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High Mountain Ascent
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Moderate
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Full-day
We ride a van for two hours to the Domeyko Mountain Range, until we reach the Kimal hill, the source of one of the most iconic Atacameño...
More details >Kimal
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Exploration Path
We ride a van for two hours to the Domeyko Mountain Range, until we reach the Kimal hill, the source of one of the most iconic Atacameño legends. We walk up a steep trail to the summit with panoramic views to the salt field and the mythical Licancabur and Juriques volcanoes. We descend and return to the hotel.
695 m 2280 ft
-752 m -2467 ft
4.266 m 13.992 ft
3.594 m 11.788 ftElevation Profile
Toco
Montaña
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High Mountain Ascent
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Moderate
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Half-day
We leave by van and head to the Andes Mountains, an hour from Explora, where we begin ascending...
More details >Toco
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Exploration Path
We leave by van and head to the Andes Mountains, an hour from Explora, where we begin ascending. We take a steep trail up to the summit with views to Bolivia, Argentina, and the surrounding volcanoes.
*Ideal introduction to high mountain.
520 m 1706 ft
-520 m -1706 ft
5.610 m 18.401 ft
5086 m 16682 ftElevation Profile
Kezar
Quebradas Intermedias
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Hike
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Easy
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Half-day
We start our exploration at the Puritama River creek. We descend to walk along the creek following the river bed between large rock walls...
More details >Kezar
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Exploration Path
We start our exploration at the Puritama River creek. We descend to walk along the creek following the river bed between large rock walls, shrubs and cacti over an irregular terrain. At the end, we arrive at the Puritama Hot Springs to enjoy the amazing properties of these thermal waters.
231 m 758 ft
-60 m -198 ft
3.538 m 11.605 ft
3.365 m 11.037 ftElevation Profile
Corona
Montaña
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High Mountain Ascent
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Advanced
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Full-day
We take a van for two hours up to the base of the Corona Hill. There, we begin ascending through a challenging terrain due to the presence of...
More details >Corona
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Exploration Path
We take a van for two hours up to the base of the Corona Hill. There, we begin ascending through a challenging terrain due to the presence of crags and loose sand that make movement difficult. At the summit, we see different volcanoes, among them the Lascar with its typical vent.
769 m 2522 ft
-769 m -2522 ft
5.262 m 17.259 ft
4.506 m 14.780 ftElevation Profile
Soquete
Montaña
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High Mountain Ascent
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Advanced
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Full-day
We start walking through mud geysers, crossing green valleys with high Andean flora and fauna. After passing through different geological...
More details >Soquete
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Exploration Path
We start walking through mud geysers, crossing green valleys with high Andean flora and fauna. After passing through different geological formations we reach the needle, its particular summit formed by eruptions and carved by the erosion of wind and water.
883 m 2896 ft
-883 m -2896 ft
5.366 m 17.600 ft
4.487 m 14.717 ftElevation Profile
Sairecabur
Montaña
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High Mountain Ascent
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Expert
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Full-day
After a one-and-a-half hour drive by van, we reach the Sairecabur Volcano’s caldera, where we begin ascending. We walk through rocks...
More details >Sairecabur
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Exploration Path
After a one-and-a-half hour drive by van, we reach the Sairecabur Volcano’s caldera, where we begin ascending. We walk through rocks, stones and loose crags and cross a former sulfur mine before taking the final steep hike.
We will reach the highest point of our explorations at the summit of the "mountain of rain", the meaning of its name.
294 m 964,3 ft
-292 m -958 ft
5.984 m 19.628 ft
5.654 m 18.545 ftElevation Profile
Colorado
Montaña
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High Mountain Ascent
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Expert
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Full-day
We take a van during two hours up to the base of the Colorado Volcano to begin ascending an increasingly steep slope...
More details >Colorado
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Exploration Path
We take a van during two hours up to the base of the Colorado Volcano to begin ascending an increasingly steep slope. We’ll walk among loose rocks up to the summit. We’ll hike down a scree slope.
934 m 3064 ft
-983 m -3224 ft
5.780 m 18.958 ft
4.800 m 15.744 ftElevation Profile
Licancabur
Montaña
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Expedition
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Expert
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Full-day
After having conducted several explorations at more than 4,000 m.a.s.l. and gradually acclimatizing our body, we leave by van...
More details >Licancabur
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Exploration Path
After having conducted several explorations at more than 4,000 m.a.s.l. (13,123 f.a.s.l) and gradually acclimatizing our body, we leave by van from explora to a remote camp in Bolivia on the sixth day. Once settled in the camp, we take a walk across the areas of the Verde and Blanca lagoons, from where we have a good view of the Licancabur Volcano. The next day we wake up early to begin walking before dawn. We use headlamps to light a well-marked trail. Halfway along the ascent we watch the dawn over the Blanca and Verde lagoons. We reach the summit after walking for several hours. From here, we have a view to the crater and the world’s highest lagoon. Descent can be challenging due to steep slopes and unstable terrain. We cross oldInca ruins on the way back.
*This expedition requires a minimum stay of 7 nights and an advanced exploration request of at least 60 days. A visa is required to enter Bolivia.
1298 m 4257 ft
-1295 m -4248 ft
5.916 m 19.404 ft
4.623 m 15.163 ftElevation Profile
Séquitor
Cuenca del salar
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Horseback Ride
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Easy
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Half-day
We horseback ride to the ayllus located in Séquitor, Yaye, and Checar, Atacameño social and farming communities that are also...
More details >Séquitor
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Exploration Path
We horseback ride to the ayllus located in Séquitor, Yaye, and Checar, Atacameño social and farming communities that are also considered small oasis in the middle of the desert. Here, vegetable gardens still prevail and the Atacama construction technique using adobe and straw roofs is still seen.
42 m 137,4 ft
-42 m -137 ft
2.431 m 7.974 ft
2.410 m 7.905 ftElevation Profile
Solor
Cuenca del salar
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Horseback Ride
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Easy
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Half-day
We travel to the ayllu in Solor, located to the south of San Pedro. Here we can see one of the oasis’s most developed farming areas...
More details >Solor
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Exploration Path
We travel to the ayllu in Solor, located to the south of San Pedro. Here we can see one of the oasis’s most developed farming areas. On our way, we can see typical desert constructions –using adobe and straw roofs– and we go across a small irrigation canal. Before we return, we visit the mythical Librería del desierto.
64 m 211 ft
-64 m -211 ft
2.431 m 7.974 ft
2.400 m 7.872 ftElevation Profile
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