GREAT NORTHERN CHILE Self Driving Tour

Welcome to the Great Northern Chile ! Enjoy the altiplano with its fabulous mountains, volcanoes, lagoons and wild animals...

The northernmost point of our route : the Parinacota volcano (alt. 6348m), a natural masterpiece of aesthetics and symmetry, with its eternal snow and its reflection in the magnificent Chungará Lake (alt. 4517m) at its feet.

The southernmost point on our route : the Red Stones lake (alt. 4000m), in the Salar de Aguascalientes, not far from San Pedro de Atacama...

A dirt road leads to the Miscanti and Miñiques lagoons (alt. 4100m) on the way back to the Salar de Atacama, just enough time to admire their turquoise blue waters and the perfect symmetry of the Miñiques lagoon.

The pretty little church of Socaire (alt. 3500m), on the edge of the Salar de Atacama.

The Valley of the Moon, a few kilometers from San Pedro de Atacama, is worth a visit, especially for the sunset...

The Chilean altiplano (alt. 4000m) above San Pedro de Atacama, towards the border with Argentina, with its volcanoes and ochre-orange desert lands...

... and beautiful salt lagoons of course !

The geysers of the Tatio, a spectacle of nature at sunrise : the water of the underground layers, boiling, put under pressure, springs from the ground from all sides, dissipating its water vapours...

At dawn, at an altitude of 4320m, even well dressed, it is cold... and the cloud of still hot water vapor is welcome to warm up !

It's beautiful, you can get close, but not too close, a slip in boiling water could be fatal.

Surprise... Going up to a pass in El Chorro area, after a bend, appears a ñandú rhea, South American ostrich and the largest bird in America, which has wings but cannot fly. It will run in front of us for hectometres before disappearing into the wild.

On the altiplano of the Great Northern Chile, there are only wide open spaces and wildlife, and nothing can disturb its tranquility, if not the activity around the Collahuasi copper mine which overlooks a beautiful salt lagoon.

Crossing the Pica area, with its lagoons and small salars dominated by mountains and volcanoes

The Salar de Huasco (alt. 3800m), between Ollagüe and Colchane, known for its pretty salt lagoons with pink flamingos.

Stop at the highest pass (alt. 5150m) of the Road Trip, after crossing the Salar de Huasco

And always these superb multicolored mountains and volcanoes which embellish the landscape on both sides of the road. Here going down to Colchane.

The church of Isluga, near Colchane

Llama or guanaco or vicuña ? A guessing game throughout the Road Trip...

A small lake filled with flamingos in Ancuyo, inside the Isluga Volcano National Park (alt. 4000m)

So... Llama or guanaco or vicuña ? No doubt, it's a family of llamas, the mother and her babies, by the side of the road, wild but not shy. Just respect social distancing !

The Isluga Volcano National Park (alt. 4000m), known for its altitude flora (shrubs, cacti, queñoas) and its volcano (alt. 5218m)

Further north, the road crosses the splendid Salar de Surire (alt. 4200m), home to rare species (rhea, quati, juarjual duck, vicuña, alpaca,...)

Crossing the Lauca National Park (alt. 3200 to 6300m), with its lakes, lagoons, swamps, streams and its important shrubby flora.

On the altiplano of the Great Northern Chile, there are no paved roads, only dirt roads, without any signage. The risk of getting lost really exists, a good GPS and a satellite phone are mandatory. Punctures or mechanical problems can also spoil the adventure ! But hey, when it's just a small puncture, we change the tire and continue on the road...

Summary

GREAT NORTHERN CHILE 8 days, 7 nights

Calama ↠ San Pedro de Atacama (3 nights) ↠ Ollagüe (1 night)

↠ Colchane (1 night) ↠ Putre (1 night) ↠ Iquique (1 night) ↠ Calama

Optional : + 2 days for a volcano ascent at 5000m altitude

Forget the stress of everyday life, take a little break to spend a few days in fabulous landscapes !

Our route starts and ends in Calama. 2485 kms in 8 days !
3 days around the Salar de Atacama to acclimatize to the altitude, discover the altiplano with its superb lagoons, its volcanoes, the Valley of the Moon for the sunset, the geysers of El Tatio for the sunrise, the hot springs of Puritama,... and visit the typical villages, including of course San Pedro de Atacama.
Then 3 days to drive across the altiplano to the north, between 3500 and 5000m above sea level, along the Bolivian border, to the majestic Parinacota volcano which is reflected in Chungará lake. The landscapes are spectacular, with (almost) nobody on the dirt roads, just wild animals looking at us like aliens.
Finally 2 days to descend from the atiplano and return by the Pacific coast, wild and swept by the waves.
A breathtaking mix, with a guaranteed change of scenery, for lovers of wide open spaces.

HIGHLIGHTS

* San Pedro de Atacama, the Valley of the Moon, the lagoons and volcanoes of the altiplano above the Salar de Atacama, the geysers of El Tatio at sunrise
* The long spectacular drives across the altiplano by dirt roads, with always more salars, lagoons and volcanoes competing in beauty, with the Parinacota volcano and the Chungará lake in apotheosis
* The change of scenery, alone in the world with wild animals in the great natural spaces
* The friendly welcome from the few locals crossed on the way
* The wild and rugged North Pacific coast on the way back

Route Map

D1 Calama A - San Pedro de Atacama B (101 km)

D2 San Pedro – Mirador de Aguascalientes – San Pedro (308 km)

D3 San Pedro – Paso de Jama – Hot springs of Puritama – Valley of the Moon – San Pedro (376 km)

D4 San Pedro – Geysers of El Tatio - Ollagüe C (292 km)

D5 Ollagüe – Colchane D (303 km)

D6 Colchane – Chungará lake – Putre E (268 km)

D7 Putre – Arica – Iquique F (451 km)

D8 Iquique – Tocopilla – Calama A (384 km)

GUIDE-COORDINATOR IN YOUR RENTAL CAR : Yes or No ?

* The guide-coordinator is permanently at your disposition.

* He/she speaks several languages, including necessarily English and the language of the country, this can be very helpful if you do not master it enough.
* He/she knows the route and stops at the best points of view.

* If necessary, he/she activates external services (insurance, mechanical repair, rescue,...).
* He/she takes care of check-in and check-out in hotels, restaurant orders, tourist sites entrance fees,...

* In the event of a puncture or a simple problem on the vehicle, he/she is the first to roll up his/her sleeves !
* Last but not least... He/she tells you about the country, the regions crossed, or even the places visited (when there is no local professional guide).

GUIDE-COORDINATOR IN AN ASSISTANCE VEHICLE : Yes or No ?

* The guide-coordinator is in the assistance vehicle, bringing all the advantages mentioned above.

* The assistance vehicle opens the convoy and carries the first aid kit, any excess luggage,... and basic accessories (rope...) in case your car gets stuck in sand or mud.

* In the event of a breakdown or incident on your vehicle, the assistance vehicle can go in search of help or take all or part of the occupants of your vehicle to the next town or stage.

BUT... If you prefer adventure in a small closed group (not alone) and you speak the language of the country, you can do without a guide and assistance vehicle. You will have maps and GPS in the car, the same advanced logistics (vehicle rental, hotels,...), and a 24-hour hotline to resolve any unforeseen event.

Day by day program

Day by Day Program

Day 1

• Meeting point at Calama Airport (CJC), to pick up the rental vehicles.

• Transfer to San Pedro de Atacama, 1h15 on a nice paved road, with lunar landscapes on arrival.

• Check-in and rest at our hotel.

• Late atfernoon walk in the charming town of San Pedro de Atacama, with dinner around the wood fireplace of a restaurant terrace.

CHECK LIST for your travel baggage

• Appropriate clothing for the dry climate and the high altitude of the altiplano

• Etc...

-> Will be shared with the participants

YOUR RENTAL CAR : 4x4 or 4x2

• Power 2.5 to 3.5
• Automatic steering (preferably or manual otherwise)
• Air conditioning

• Centralized closures
• Free mileage
• Theft / accident / civil

liability insurance

Constant guessing game on the altiplano of Great Northern Chile :

Is it a llama ?

Or an alpaca ?

Or a guanaco ?

Or a vicuña ?
To differentiate these four animals from the camelid family, all originating from the Andes cordillera, there are small details to know...

Etc...

LLAMA, ALPACA, GUANACO, VICUÑA :

HOW TO RECOGNIZE THEM ?

Accommodation

Accomodation

H - 220418-19 - San Pedro - Terra Luna Atacama 2.jpg

H - 220416-18 - San Pedro - Atacama Lodge Rukazen.jpg

H - 220416-18 - San Pedro - Atacama Lodge Rukazen 5.jpg

H - 220418-19 - San Pedro - Terra Luna Atacama.jpg

H - 220419-20 - Ollagüe - Hostal Salar Alconcha 4.jpg

H - 220420-21 - Cariquima - Hosteria Tata Inti (3).jpg

H - 220421-22 - Putre - Terrace Lodge 4.jpg

H - 220421-22 - Putre - Terrace Lodge.jpg

H - 220422-23 - Iquique - Hotel Diego de Almagro.jpg

Comfortable single, double or twin suites with breakfast included and personalized customer service

Charming Hotels, Pousadas and Lodges in quiet and lovely areas, preferably surrounded by nature

Local Gastronomy

Local Gastronomy

While enjoying fantastic landscapes, we can also feast on delicious local gastronomy !

Dinner around the wood fire in San Pedro de Atacama

A very pleasant ritual in San Pedro de Atacama, when the temperature drops at night... Restaurants serve tasty food, Chilean wines are really good, and the wood fire warms everyone up !

Llama meat

On the Chilean altiplano, it is easier to eat llama meat than beef! Meat with a fairly neutral taste, not the most tender, but to be tasted at least once. Usually fried and served with corn and cheese.

Quinoa

The Chileans of the Altiplano have long incorporated quinoa from neighboring Bolivia into their daily diet. Consumed in flour, soups, salads, tortillas, pies, risottos and even in juice !

Ceviche

The most famous dish, with different versions in Latin America, especially in Chile and Peru. Prepared with local raw fish (often Reineta or Corvina), marinated and seasoned with lemon, and served with onions, garlic, merkén, coriander, cumin, salt, olive oil and red peppers. A delight !

Lomo a lo pobre

Tenderloin of beef topped with one or more fried eggs and fries, and fried onions. Sometimes also with rice and fried plantains. Eaten for lunch or dinner.

Roast lamb in the oven

Lower limb of the lamb, less meaty but tastier than the upper limb. A delight that mixes meat, bone and cartilage. Prolonged cooking tenderizes the meat and detaches it from the bone.

Asado de cabrita

Roast goat meat. Just delicious !

Cazuela

Stew of meat or fish with a wide variety of vegetables, topped with potatoes, rice, pasta or cornmeal. "Cazuela" is the Spanish name for the frying pan, traditionally made of terracotta, used for various culinary preparations.

Empanadas

Small turnovers stuffed with meat, cheese, shellfish,... A daily staple in Argentina, but also present in Chile. A delicious snack not to be missed !

Sopaipillas

Fried snack, sweet or savory, made with pumpkin paste, wheat flour, butter and common seasoning. Usually accompanied by a vinaigrette type sauce (Pebre). A delight !

Pastel de choclo

This corn cake is actually a stew of meat with eggs and olives, covered with a green corn paste...and sugar, making it a sweet and sour dish.

Salmon

Chile is world famous for its salmon (2nd world producer after Norway). Usually cooked in olive oil and garnished with fine herbs, then served with salad or potatoes...

Seafood

Chile, with its 4,270 km of coastline, is a major producer of seafood. Chileans taste it, tourists love it ! Some are extraordinary : the jaira crab, the loco and picoroco molluscs,...

Choripán

The famous "chori", for the barbecue or as a snack, a kind of sandwich with two slices of bread and a sausage (chorizo) in the middle, usually seasoned with chimichurri or Creole sauce, and garnished with lettuce and tomatoes.

Chilean wines

Accompanying a dish with wine is part of Chilean culture, and for good reason : most local wines are excellent and cheap ! Most often produced in the Central Region of Chile, but not only... To be tasted absolutely, if only to increase your life expectancy !!

Pisco Sour

Not recommended at altitude. Do not deprive yourself otherwise, it's so good ! Cocktail made with pisco (grape brandy), lemon, a few drops of angostura, sugar and ice cubes. Without egg white in Chile, unlike Peru. The 2 countries dispute the legitimacy of the origin of the pisco sour...

Dinner around the wood fire in San Pedro de Atacama

A very pleasant ritual in San Pedro de Atacama, when the temperature drops at night... Restaurants serve tasty food, Chilean wines are really good, and the wood fire warms everyone up !

Llama meat

Quinoa

The Chileans of the Altiplano have long incorporated quinoa from neighboring Bolivia into their daily diet. Consumed in flour, soups, salads, tortillas, pies, risottos and even in juice !

Ceviche

Lomo a lo pobre

Tenderloin of beef topped with one or more fried eggs and fries, and fried onions. Sometimes also with rice and fried plantains. Eaten for lunch or dinner.

Roast lamb in the oven

Lower limb of the lamb, less meaty but tastier than the upper limb. A delight that mixes meat, bone and cartilage. Prolonged cooking tenderizes the meat and detaches it from the bone.

Asado de cabrita

Roast goat meat. Just delicious !

Cazuela

Empanadas

Small turnovers stuffed with meat, cheese, shellfish,... A daily staple in Argentina, but also present in Chile. A delicious snack not to be missed !

Prices

Prices 2024

If you are interested in this trip, contact us directly, we will be happy to answer all your questions !

PRICE PER PERSON (With accommodation in double/twin suite)

1 person in the rental vehicle (Single suite included)

2 persons in the rental vehicle

3 persons in the rental vehicle

4 persons in the rental vehicle

Supplement for Single suite

PRICE FOR THE GROUP (Optional)

Guide-coordinator in the rental vehicle

Guide-coordinator in Assistance Vehicle

$ 5.430

$ 2.915

$ 2.285

$ 1.965

$ 614

$ 3.334

$ 4.531

* Fixed prices established in $ (USD)

** Payment by bank transfer directly to our account (amount converted into your local currency at the daily exchange rate)

The invoice for your purchase will be sent to you by e-mail after your payment.

Included

All activities in the program
Accomodation with breakfast
Rental vehicle
Radio/GPS
Sites entrance fees in the program
Travel File, organization, coordination
Permanent guide-coordinator in rental or assistance vehicle (if you choose these options)

Not Included

Flight ticket to/from CJC airport
Drinks, lunches and dinners
Rental vehicle expenses (fuel, tolls, parkings)
Optional outdoor activities
Personal expenses
Private Travel insurance

CANCELLATION POLICY

Rescheduling or Cancellation by Customer

Rescheduling (according to availability) :

- Free of charge up to 45 days before the start of your package

- With 25% increase less than 45 days before the start of your package

Cancellation :

- Refund of 50% up to 45 days before the start of your package

- No refund less than 45 days before the start of your package

Rescheduling or Cancellation by Dream Sports Adventure

Dream Sports Adventure reserves the right to cancel the package in case of insufficient registration, force majeure or any other valid reason, and in such circumstances will propose to reschedule according to availabilities or to fully refund the packages already purchased, without however giving entitlement to compensation.