Andean Altiplano Explorer

This itinerary will take you to some of the dizzy heights of Argentina, Chile and Bolivia, giving you the chance to explore the Atacama Desert, the famous Salar de Uyuni and other remote parts of Bolivia and also the Northwest of Argentina, where you will drive through some of the country's driest and most impressive landscapes. This is an itinerary of breath taking landscapes and scenery and at points will reach heights of up to 5000m above sea-level.


Tour Includes:

  • Two domestic flights in economy class.
  • 8 nights in Boutique Hotels. 2 nights in lodges. 2 nights in a winery.
  • 12 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 7 dinners.
  • Private vehicle, normally a saloon car for one or two people. Some hotels provide their own transfers and will generally be on a shared basis.
  • Local English Speaking Guides for sightseeing on a private or shared basis, including all entrance fees.
  • Private transfers to and from all airports


Departures: Daily

Comments:
This itinerary will take you to altitudes of up to 5000m above sea-level.

Flight Inclusive Price:
Based on return economy class flights with Iberia; from London Heathrow to Santiago, and returning from Buenos Aires to London. This will add 2 days onto your itinerary. UK Airport Passenger Duty and airport taxes are also included.

Tour Prices:
Whilst all best endeavours are made to ensure the prices for private journeys on our website are accurate - given the nature of peak season air supplements and fuel surcharges - prices given above may vary depending on departure date and availability.

How to book your Private Journey

Andean Altiplano Explorer

Andean Altiplano Explorer

Day 1: Santiago de Chile - San Pedro de Atacama
When you arrive in Santiago you will be met by a local guide and assisted to check in for your onward flight to Calama, where you will be met and transferred to your accommodation in the town of San Pedro de Atacama. (D)

Day 2: San Pedro de Atacama
Over the next couple of days you will be able to experience the sights and sounds of the Atacama Desert with expert guides from the hotel. There are a wide range of excursions to choose from catering for all levels of fitness, for example trekking in the Salt Mountain range and the Guatin and Puritama ravines, visiting the petroglyphs of Yervas Buenas and the Rio Grande village, not forgetting the Cejar Lagoon, Moon and Death Valleys and the sunrise trips to the Tatio Geysers, there are a huge range of excursions and activities to choose from. (B, L, D)

Day 3: San Pedro de Atacama
Full day of excursions in the desert from your hotel. (B,L,D)

Day 4: San Pedro de Atacama - Uyuni
This morning you will be taken by private vehicle from San Pedro de Atacama to the Bolivian border at Hito Cajon. Our Chilean representatives will now hand you over to our Bolivian representative who will be waiting on the other side of the border to greet you and take you on to Uyuni. (B, L, D)

Day 5: Uyuni
This morning you will be picked up from your hotel early to watch the sun rise over the surreal landscape of the salt desert before heading out onto the vast, impressive Salar de Uyuni. Your journey will take you to the local salt factory, the Tunupa volcano, cold-water springs, Fish Island and other smaller islands. You'll also stop at caves formed by underwater volcanic eruptions and fossilised coral reefs - here you'll find the Coquesa mummies. (B,L,D)

Day 6: Uyuni - Tupiza
You will be collected from the brilliant whites of Uyuni and the Salt Flats and taken to Tupiza, a journey of approximately 4 hours. (B,L,D)

Day 7: Tupiza - Villazon - Puramamarca
Today you will continue your journey towards the border with Argentina, stopping in Villazon to meet your new driver who will take you all the way to Purmamarca in the northern province of Jujuy. Today will involve a lot of driving but you will be driven through some beautiful scenery and landscapes and will be able to stop along the way to take photos and admire the views. Today can be seen more as an excursion than a simple transfer; you will be on the road for between five and six hours. (B)

Day 8: Puramamarca - Salta
This morning your guide will collect you from your hotel and will take you south to Salta, visiting the Salinas Grandes, San Antonia de los Cobres and Lipan en route, touching on the route of the famous Train to the Clouds, which crosses canyons and valleys. (B)

Day 9: Salta - Cafayate
Today's drive will take you through more breath taking scenery, driving south from Salta to the town of Cafayate, famous for its wine production, stopping at the small town of Cachi en route, where you will be able to admire the town square and cathedral. (B)

Day 10: Cafayate
Day at leisure in Cafayate. (B)

Day 11: Cafayate - Salta - Buenos Aires
This morning you will be transferred back to Salta, via the Quebrada del Rio de las Conchas. On arrival you will be taken to the airport in time for your onward flight to Buenos Aires. You will be met in Buenos Aires by a local guide and transferred to your accommodation. (B)

Day 12: Buenos Aires
This morning your guide will take you on a short city tour of Buenos Aires, visiting some of the highlights which include a trip to the colourful neighbourhood of La Boca, Recoleta and its famous cemetery and the 'Casa Rosada' on the Plaza de Mayo. This evening you will be taken to soak up Buenos Aires' famous night-time atmosphere with a live Tango show and three course dinner. (B, D)

Day 13: Buenos Aires
Transfer to the airport for your flight back to London. (B)

How to book your Private Journey

Andean Altiplano Explorer

Without flights

DatesTypePrice Per PersonSingle Supplement 
1 Jan 12 - 31 May 12Adult Price From£5,090 £850 Make an Enquiry
Adult Price From£4,400 £850

With flights from the UK

DatesTypePrice Per PersonSingle Supplement 

* Please note the prices shown above are based on two persons sharing a twin or double room

Andean Altiplano Explorer

Please select the regions you are interested in.

Cafayate Wine Resort

Cafayate

Situated 3km outside Cafayate in the mountain foothills, this beautiful, simply designed wine lodge has a commanding...

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Tierra Atacama Lodge

San Pedro de Atacama

A gorgeous boutique lodge on the outskirts of San Pedro de Atacama, the Tierra is a situated within extensive gardens...

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Legado Mitico

Buenos Aires

Well located in the lovely Palermo Soho area of Buenos Aires, this small boutique hotel is a charming, warmly welcoming...

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Legado Mitico Salta

Salta

Well located in the historic quarter of the city, just a few blocks from the main central plaza, this small boutique...

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El Manantial Del Silencio

Purmamarca

This peaceful boutique retreat in colonial style splendour is stunningly situated in Purmamarca, the most idyllic...

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Mitru Hotel

Tupiza

The best hotel in the town of Tupiza, this lodge is still very simple in style but comfortable and clean. It is well...

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Luna Salada Hotel

Uyuni and Salt Flats

Located on an elevated piece of land on the edge of the Uyuni Salt Flats, the Luna Salada is a fantastic hotel built...

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Stone Hotel

San Pedro de Quemez

"El Hotel de Piedra" (spanish for Hotel of the Rocks or Stone Hotel) is made of volcanic rock, and is located on the...

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How to book your Private Journey

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More useful information when travelling to:
Chile

Flight Information

There are no direct flights to Santiago from London. There most common route is usually via Madrid with Iberia which takes around 16hrs.

Useful Tips

• Pack layers for any trip to Chile as its length creates varying weather conditions

• For internal flights make sure you get a 'vista cordillera' seat to see the best views of the Andes from the air

• With 4300km of coastline try some seafood during your stay; Cantolla (king crab) is delicious

• Take sturdy walking boots for the Torres del Paine National Park to support your ankles

• A tripod is essential for taking night sky photos in the Elqui Valley and Atacama Desert

When To Go

With Chile being such a long country, its coastline is some 4,000 miles, the climate can vary enormously. Broadly speaking it is hot and dry in the north, warm and occasionally wet in the middle and cold in the south.

As one would expect the coastal areas are generally cooler and the rainy season is from May through to August. Like Argentina the mountainous lake district is cool most of the year with November - March being the most favourable time to visit, but also attracting the most visitors.

The Chilean side of Patagonia is as unpredictable as the Argentinean - Tierra del Fuego has summer temperatures as high as 11degrees in summer time but during the winter months is so cold that much of it becomes impassable for anyone other than mountaineers.

Chile is also home to one of the driest areas on the planet; The Atacama Desert which is hot weather all year round.

Off the coast is Easter Island with a tropical climate that can be heavily influenced by winds and ocean currents. January and February are generally the hottest months but it is largely fine all year round.

Packing List

Below is a list of general items you might take with you on a Wild Frontiers trip to Chile.

Luggage:
It is best to use a soft bag - rucksack/hold-all/duffel bag - so it can be transported and stored more easily.
A small daypack is practical for keeping general items (e.g. camera, books, wallets etc.) at hand when your main luggage is out of reach. It is also handy for day trips and excursions.

Clothing:
In general you should bring clothes you feel comfortable with, so as a guide we suggest a packing list like this:
• 4 x Light cotton shirts or T-shirts, short sleeved and long.
• 2/3 pairs of cotton trousers. If preferred, women can wear dresses and skirts
• 2 x Lightweight jumpers or sweatshirts
• Good quality fleece or warm jumper
• Warm jacket
• Down jacket or warm ski jacket
• Set of lightweight waterproofs (poncho provided)
• Warm nightwear
• Swim suit or trunks
• Gloves
• Warm Hat
• Wide brimmed sun hat or cap
• Change of clothing for the evenings
• An extra “outfit” if you’d like to dress up a bit on occasion
• Pair of recreational shoes (adventure sandals or trainers)

Equipment:
The following is useful extra equipment for your trip:
• Travel towel, travel soap and toiletries
• Torch and spare batteries (LED head-torch keeps your hands free)
• Pair of good quality sunglasses
• Water bottle
• Plug adapter (see ‘Electricity’ section)

Personal First Aid Kit:
• Any prescription medication required (please inform the tour leader at your pre-departure meeting about these)
• Antibacterial dry hand wash
• Painkillers: paracetamol & ibuprofen
• Rehydration salts (Gastrolyte)
• Travel motion-sickness tablets if required (e.g. natural ginger tablets)
• Diarrhoea remedies
• Antihistamines
• Cold/flu decongestants
• Mosquito Repellent
• Insect bite cream
• Laxatives
• Plasters/Bandage/Steri-Strips/Blister pads
• Sunscreen (30+ factor)
• Moisturiser/after sun cream/lip balm
• Contact lenses and solution if required
• Tweezers
(A kit with most of this in is available at www.nomadtravel.co.uk)

Optional Extras:
• Ear plugs (if sharing a room / camping)
• Alarm clock
• 3-4 plastic carrier bags are very useful for dirty washing, dirty shoes and rubbish
• Binoculars
• Small packs of tissues
• Money belt or secure pouch for money and passport etc.
• Eye patches if light affects your sleep
• Sewing kit/scissors
• Writing materials
• Spare batteries/camera memory cards
• Swiss Army knife
NB: If you wear glasses, it is advisable to bring a spare pair since opticians are rare. If you wear contact lenses you may find that climatic changes and dust can create visual irritation, therefore, it is advisable to bring a pair of glasses.

You might be tempted to buy a few souvenirs here and there, so leave a little room for those extra purchases!!

Hand Luggage:
Although it is very rare that luggage goes missing on flights, it has been known to happen and so it’s a good idea to carry a spare top, toothbrush, wash kit, underwear and any other essentials in your hand luggage so that you can at least freshen up while waiting for your bags to catch you up. If you wear your sturdy shoes/boots it will also reduce weight in your luggage and keep them safe.

Practical Information

Time:
Chile is 3hrs behind GMT.
A useful website to check the time zone differences is www.worldtimezone.com

Food and Alcohol:
Food and alcohol " really means beef, lamb and wine " one of the treats of travelling to Chile. If you are a vegetarian or have special dietary needs you can also be catered for; however in South America the type of food may be limited. Please let us know your requirements as soon as possible so we can make any arrangements to cater for your needs.

Electricity:
Those bringing video & digital cameras that require battery chargers should also bring a 2-pin European-style adapter. In most hotels you can charge from the mains using a travel adaptor plug.

Money:
In Chile the unit of currency is the Peso.
To check out the latest exchange rate for the places that you are visiting you can go to www.oanda.com
A few points to help you plan:
• US dollars are the easiest to exchange in South America although all major currencies are manageable.
• Traveller’s cheques are only exchangeable in large towns and cities and incur a higher charge to do so.
• The cities are often similar to modern European locations and can take credit card payments and have ATM’s nearby.
• If using ATM machines, be sure to notify your bank before you travel, sometimes specific cards are required to work

Language & Religion:
While Spanish is the official language of Chile it is distinctly accented and quite unlike that of neighbouring South American countries. Other languages spoken are German in the south and English more frequently by the younger generation since mandatory teaching occurred within schools. Chile is a predominantly Christian country with 70% being Roman Catholic, 15% evangelical (referring to all non-catholic churches) and about 8% atheists or agnostics.

Cultural Sensitivity:
At Wild Frontiers we are very aware of the ethical impact tourism can have on ancient cultures. We realise that taking a group of tourists through such a region can have a negative impact on the lives of those who live there and on all our tours we therefore go to great lengths to minimise the negative and accentuate the positive…after all, there are also many good things that the tourist can bring.

To help this process we ask that our clients do not hand out pens or sweets to children. As one sign in Egypt emphatically put it, ‘Please don't make beggars out of our children!' No matter how well intentioned, in our opinion the dolling out of free gifts fosters a ‘beggar mentality' that is ultimately extremely destructive to a society. In addition we do not condone giving out money to beggars or ‘students'.

However, we also realise that we are exceptionally privileged to be travelling in areas where most of the people have far less than us and that the desire to ‘help' can be very powerful. As a result we ask that you refer to your trip dossier for information on the Wild Frontiers Foundation which supports specific projects in the areas where we travel.

Photography:
Please remember, we are guests in the countries through which we travel and we may sometimes inadvertently cause offence by taking photographs without first asking permission.

Also many countries have very strict rules about taking photos of army, police or any official personnel; restrictions apply at borders, bridges and any government building. Please exercise care in this regard as the penalty may be to have your film and/or camera confiscated.

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