Day 5: San Pedro de Atacama
Breakfast in the hotel.
Tatio Geysers & Machuca (half-day).
Today we will visit the impressive fumaroles of Geyser del Tatio over 4,000 meters high. Our trip starts early in the morning to see the sunrise in one of the most important geothermal fields in the world: The Tatio Geysers. There are more than 70 fumaroles from which steam jets emerge and form pools of boiling water. The most astonishing part of the day is the sunrise, between the contrast of the intensely blue sky and the pristine vapor of the geysers. In the middle of this impressive natural scenery next to the Andes, we will enjoy a refreshing breakfast that will allow us to warm up the body. The temperatures in this area reach 25ºC during the day, but in the mornings the minimum reaches 2ºC below zero. Then, we will visit the rustic pool, where you can enjoy a bath in Cordilleran hot springs. Taking the road back to San Pedro de Atacama, we will observe the beauty of the landscape, its valleys, native flora and fauna, where the charismatic vicunas and vizcachas stand out. Afterwards, we will stop at Machuca, an Atacameño town of just a couple of houses of adobe, straw and cactus wood, where its inhabitants are dedicated to tourism and they offer Andean crafts and typical cuisine such as llama meat, sopaipillas and empanadas. The stop includes a visit to the nice Church of San Santiago - patron of the town - and a small bofedal where flamingos, ducks and other birds live.
Included: Geysers del Tatio entrance fee. Transfer to Calama and flight to Santiago. Transfer to hotel.