Explore the incredible natural wonders of the Atacama Desert on an adventurous overland excursion that presents a unique perspective of this hauntingly beautiful landscape and the indigenous Atacameños people that inhabit it.
Hinweis: Any guests travelling with Portable Oxygen Concentrators (POC) or CPAP breathing machines should read further below for airline stipulations with regards to bringing this equipment on tour.
Tag 1
After proceeding through immigration and customs at the Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport in Santiago, a local guide will meet you at Exit 4 and accompany you to your transportation, which will head directly to the Mandarin Oriental hotel. Check-in ist um 15 Uhr. Although every effort will be made to have rooms available before then, it cannot be guaranteed.
The day will be at your leisure with lunch on your own. However, a set group dinner will be served at the hotel.
Hinweis: Be sure to separate luggage that will not travel with you to the Atacama Desert. It will be collected on Day 2 and
stored until you return on Day 5. Luggage left behind must be properly tagged with your name and suite number on the ship. Bring all valuables, medications and documents with you.
Tag 2
Following check out from the hotel, you will transfer to the airport for the 2 hour flight to Calama, which is in the same time zone as Santiago. Upon arrival, you will collect your luggage and proceed outside, where a guide will be waiting to accompany you to your hotel
Afterwards, you will check into the Hotel Cumbres San Pedro in the village of San Pedro de Atacama. It lies on the edge of the Atacama Salt Flat, one of the largest in South America. This small village is considered an oasis within the altiplano, the highland area of the northern Chilean Andean Mountains. Surrounded by volcanoes and small settlements whose inhabitants lead a traditional life, it is only an hour drive from Calama.
In time, you will depart for the Atacama Salt Flat, Chaxa Lagoon and Toconao, a town built from volcanic rock. The Atacama Salt Flat is in the Los Flamencos Natural Reserve, a surprisingly large and arid landscape stretching north to south over a vast expanse. You can also marvel at the Chaxa Lagoon, a spectacularly beautiful setting, which is split into various clear water lagoons, inhabited by both Andean and James flamingos.
You will then head to Toconao, a traditional colonial-style village known for the bell tower of the San Lucas church, which has been declared a National Monument. Agriculture and crafts are the principal source of income for its inhabitants, and there will be opportunities to purchase items handmade from volcanic rock.
After returning to the Hotel Cumbres San Pedro, you will enjoy dinner at a nearby restaurant before spending the evening at the hotel.
Tag 3
Following breakfast at the hotel, you will transfer to the outskirts of town to a trail where entire communities once traveled in a caravan through the Atacama Desert. As you move along, the guide will describe the lifestyle of the ancestral people and how they tamed wild llamas and other camelids, which you may see along the way.
The landscape is stark yet beautiful and the absolute silence of the desert will be quite remarkable. At the end of the journey, you will toast the experience with a cocktail and then return to the hotel to relax.
Later, you will attend an enlightening lecture on the ecology of San Pedro. This region is home to numerous plants and butterflies that are found nowhere else on earth, yet there is very little scientific knowledge about them. However, the local Atacameños communities possess traditional knowledge about the environment, which has allowed them to prosper in this unique and fragile desert ecosystem.
Lunch at a local restaurant is followed by some free time at the hotel after which you will visit the indigenous Atacameños people, also known as the Licanantay. A local family will demonstrate how they irrigate their orchard and describe their daily life and culture. You will also witness a ceremony that honors Mother Earth and presents her with an offering to give thanks. You may participate in the ceremony, if you wish.
Later at dinner, you will taste some of the ancestral dishes from this region that may include llama, guanaco paté, goat's milk cheese and carob flour bread. You might also sample local quince liqueurs. During the meal, a folkloric group will perform and teach you the basic steps of cueca, the national dance of Chile.
Before returning to the hotel for the evening, the guide will elaborate on how the ancestral people interpret the desert astronomy.
Tag 4
You will depart early in the morning, so you can see the sunrise at Tatio geysers, one of the most important geothermal fields in the world with more than 70 geysers spurting boiling-hot vapor. They look particularly spectacular in the morning, as there is usually a beautiful contrast of colors between the intensely blue sky and the white vapor from the geysers.
Afterwards, you will enjoy breakfast in this amazing setting in the shadows of the Andes. By then, the temperatures will be more comfortable, as it can be quite chilly in the early morning.
On the return to San Pedro de Atacama, you will travel through beautiful landscapes with sweeping views of valleys and perhaps spot wildlife such as vicuñas and vizcachas; the first a camelid, the second a rabbit-like mammal.
Along the way, you will stop in the Atacameños village of Machuca. It is comprised of about two dozen houses built from clay, straw and cactus wood. Here, you might sample traditional foods such as squash bread and a Chilean version of empanadas. You will also browse the San Santiago Church, which is named for the patron saint of the village, and visit the wetlands, where you may spot flamingos, ducks and other birds.
Following lunch at a nearby restaurant, you will proceed to Moon Valley, a geological wonder in the Los Flamencos National Reserve. During the tour, you can take in the extraordinary shapes of the landscape, which look remarkably lunar. From here, the views of the Andes and its volcanoes will be particularly spectacular. As dusk falls, the sky will turn red and gold.
After returning to the hotel for dinner, you will proceed to the observatory in San Pedro de Atacama. You will first observe the sky with the naked eye, as the guide points out the stars and constellations and describes how the sky changes in relation to the latitude. You will then observe different types of nebulae and star clusters through telescopes. There are 10 of them, each offering a different orientation of the sky. Later, while enjoying a beverage, you may ask questions of the astronomers before returning to the hotel for the evening.
Tag 5
After checking out of the hotel, you will proceed to the Calama Airport and fly to Santiago. You will then settle in for a panoramic tour of the city, concentrating on atmospheric areas such as the Old Town, which retains much of its 19th-century Neo-Classical architecture and charm. You will visit attractions such as the Cathedral of Santiago and the Plaza de Armas before settling in for lunch at a restaurant.
The city tour will then continue with stops at the lookout atop San Cristobal Hill and the artisan market Pueblito los Dominicos. In time, you will head for the Mandarin Oriental hotel for check in and to fresh up before the farewell dinner at a nearby restaurant.
Tag 6
After breakfast, you will drive to Valparaiso, a colonial city that UNESCO deemed a World Heritage site for being “an excellent example of late 19th-century urban and architectural development in Latin America.” While driving through the steep winding streets of the city, you can expect to pass by the Parliament building, Fisherman’s Wharf, Plaza Sotomayor and the Naval Academy. You will also ride a funicular to an elevated lookout that offers magnificent views of the city and the bay beyond.
You will then head to the pier in San Antonio and embark on the cruise ship.
Landprogramm – Schritt für Schritt
• Die Reihenfolge der besuchten Sehenswürdigkeiten kann abweichen, um Verkehrsstaus zu vermeiden. Die angegebenen Zeiten sind nur Richtwerte und dienen an dieser Stelle nur Informationszwecken. Änderungen vorbehalten.
• Reiserouten mit den aktuellsten Details werden ausgestellt, wenn Sie Ihre endgültigen Kreuzfahrtunterlagen 21 Tage vor der Kreuzfahrt per E-Mail erhalten. Bei Ankunft in Ihrem Hotel erhalten Sie eine finale Reiseroute von unserem Betreiber vor Ort mit einem Willkommensbrief. Bitte sehen Sie sich den Brief und die finale Reiseroute genau an, falls weitere Änderungen vorgenommen wurden.
• Die Hotels, die in Ihrem Landprogramm enthalten sind, entsprechen den Hotels in diesem Dokument, falls Sie vor Beginn des Landprogramms keine anderen Informationen erhalten haben.
• Gäste, die nicht wie vereinbart an Tag 1 eines geplanten Landprogramms erscheinen, zählen als „Nicht erschienen“. Ihr Platz im Hotel wird dann freigegeben.
Zusätzliche Übernachtungen
• Sollten Sie Extraübernachtungen über die Kreuzfahrtgesellschaft buchen, holen wir Sie Ihren Flugzeiten entsprechend ab und bringen Sie zum Hotel. Check-in ist um 15:00 Uhr (Änderungen vorbehalten). Mahlzeiten außer dem Frühstück sowie Aktivitäten organisieren Sie bis zum 2. Tag des Programms in Eigenregie.
• Wenn Sie einen frühen Flug gebucht haben, empfehlen wir, eine zusätzliche Übernachtung zu buchen, da Ihr Zimmer nicht vor 15:00 Uhr bezugsfertig sein wird.
• Wenn Sie zusätzliche Übernachtungen selbst buchen, ist der Transfer nicht inbegriffen.
Tag 1
Meet and Greet at Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport in Santiago, Chile, per your flight details.
Transfer directly to your hotel in Santiago.
15:00 Uhr Check in at the hotel.
The remainder of the day is at your leisure, lunch is on your own.
21:00 Uhr Set group dinner at the hotel.
Overnight at the Mandarin Oriental hotel or similar hotel
Abholung und Transfer
• Die endgültigen Kreuzfahrtdokumente werden 21 Tage vor Beginn der Kreuzfahrt per E-Mail gesendet. Die Telefonnummer des Betreibers vor Ort finden Sie auf der 1. Seite, sollten Sie den Betreuer für die Abholung nach Ankunft am Flughafen nicht finden. Beachten Sie, dass der Betreuer möglicherweise anderen Gästen hilft und nicht sofort sichtbar ist, wenn Sie den Gepäckabholungs- und Zollbereich verlassen.
• Halten Sie nach einer Person mit einem Schild mit dem Logo der Kreuzfahrtgesellschaft und möglicherweise Ihrem Namen Ausschau. Bitten Sie im Zweifel Mitarbeiter des Flughafens um Hilfe, um zum Treffpunkt für Transfers zu gelangen oder unseren Betreuer zu informieren.
• Abholung und Transfer werden für Gäste organisiert, die am ersten Tag des Landprogramms anreisen oder wenn zusätzliche Übernachtungen über die Kreuzfahrtgesellschaft gebucht werden. Die Abholung erfolgt entsprechend den Flugdaten, die Gäste bitte mindestens 14 Tage vor Beginn der Kreuzfahrt einsenden. A transfer is not included for guests arriving independently before the program start date.
• Sollten wir Ihre Flugdaten nicht erhalten haben oder sich Ihre Flüge ändern, ohne dass das Destination Services Team an Land darüber informiert wurde, können wir keinen Transfer bereitstellen. Gäste müssen in diesem Fall auf eigene Kosten zum Hotel des Landprogramms reisen. Bitte kontaktieren Sie umgehend die Reservierungsabteilung, sollten sich vor der Abreise Flugdaten ändern.
Day 2 – Timings subject to change based on actual flight details
05:00 Uhr Wake-up call, a breakfast box will be provided.
06:00 Uhr Depart for the airport
06:45 Uhr Check in for the flight to Calama
08:15 Uhr Fly from Santiago to Calama (flight details TBA and subject to change)
10:20 Uhr Arrive at Calama Airport
11:00 Uhr Transfer to the hotel
12:15 Uhr Check in (rooms may not be quite ready)
13:00 Uhr Lunch at the hotel
14:30 Uhr Depart for the Atacama Salt Flat and Toconao
15:30 Uhr Visit the Atacama Salt Flat and Toconao
19:30 Uhr Drive back to San Pedro
20:30 Uhr Dinner at a local restaurant
21:45 Uhr Return to the hotel
Overnight at the Hotel Cumbres San Pedro or similar hotel
Tag 3
Frühstück im Hotel
08:15 Uhr Depart for the ancestral caravan area
08:30 Uhr Visit the ancestral caravan area
11:30 Uhr Drive downtown for an ecology lecture
12:00 Uhr Lecture
13:15 Uhr Lunch at a local restaurant
15:00 Uhr Free time at the hotel
19:00 Uhr Licanantay experience
20:00 Uhr Dinner
21:00 Uhr Return to the hotel
Overnight at the Hotel Cumbres San Pedro or similar hotel
Tag 4
05:30 Uhr Pick up for Tatio and Machuca excursions with breakfast
13:40 Uhr Lunch at a restaurant
15:30 Uhr Depart for and visit Moon Valley
19:40 Uhr Farewell dinner in San Pedro
20:50 Uhr Drive to the observatory
21:00 Uhr Activity at the observatory
23:00 Uhr Drive back to the hotel
Overnight at the Hotel Cumbres San Pedro or similar hotel
Day 5 – Timings subject to change based on actual flight details
06:30 Uhr Wake-up call, a breakfast box will be provided
07:30 Uhr Check out of the hotel
09:30 Uhr Arrive at the airport and check in for the flight to Santiago
11:00 Uhr Fly from Calama to Santiago (flight details TBA and subject to change)
13:00 Uhr Arrive in Santiago for a city tour
14:00 Uhr Lunch at a local restaurant
15:15 Uhr Continue the city tour
18:00 Uhr Check in at the Mandarin Oriental hotel
19:00 Uhr Transfer to a restaurant for a farewell dinner
19:30 Uhr Dinner
21:00 Uhr Depart for the hotel
21:30 Uhr Arrive at the hotel
Overnight at the Mandarin Oriental hotel or similar hotel
Tag 6
08:00 Uhr Breakfast at the hotel
09:00 Uhr Depart for Valparaiso
10:50 Uhr Arrive in Valparaiso for a guided visit
11:30 Uhr Depart for San Antonio
13:00 Uhr Arrive at San Antonio´s pier for embarkation
Things to consider
•This program is active and fairly rugged and is recommended only for physically-fit adventurous guests.
•This overland excursion involves reaching high altitudes of approximately 8,000 feet at the town of San Pedro de Atacama. Due to the altitude, consumption of alcohol is not recommended and care should be taken with physical exertion. Guests should remain hydrated by drinking plenty of water or juice.
•Traffic conditions may affect the timings on this excursion.
Voraussichtliches Wetter
San Pedro de Atacama is an oasis located 2.443 meters (8,015 feet) above sea level. The climate is lovely all year long. Its summer months (January, February and March) see an average daytime temperature of 27 C (81 F) and an average nighttime temperature of 16 C (61 F).
Was Sie mitbringen sollten
Light, loose clothing that can be layered, comfortable and sturdy walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen, cameras, chargers and a jacket or sweater for cooler temperatures.
Währung
Chilean Peso. U.S. dollars are not accepted, however, exchanging currency in Chile is simple, especially if you have clean, undamaged bills. Some merchants will not accept $100 bills.
Stromspannung
In Chile, the power plugs and sockets are types C and L. The standard voltage is 220 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz. Bring your own universal travel adaptor if you have electronic devices, as the hotels do not provide them.
Erforderliche Papiere und Visa
A passport that is valid at least 6 months after travel is required. Please check with your local embassy for any visa requirements for your nationality.
VERY IMPORTANT
The name on your cruise booking, passport and any visas if required, must all be exactly the same for flight ticket purchase, otherwise guests may be denied travel by flight. Please ensure that all documents are identical in spelling to the names provided for your cruise reservation including first, middle and last name. Manifests generated by the cruise line must match your travel documents.
Failure to have the required documents ahead of time will result in denial of travel, and guests will have to pay for any expenses incurred in order to not proceed with the program.
Luggage Information (subject to change)
Regularly scheduled flights are used on this excursion, therefore baggage is limited to one piece per person weighing no more than 50lbs (22 kg). One piece of standard carry-on luggage per person is also permitted. Excess luggage of up to 1 piece per person can be stored at your hotel in Santiago, where you will be re-united with it on Day 5. Guests who choose to bring all luggage with them will be subject to airline excess or overweight luggage fees payable upon check-in for the flights.
Carriage of Portable Oxygen Concentrators (POC) or CPAP breathing machines on internal flights per airline regulations (subject to change as each airline has their own regulations)
1. Guests must obtain a doctor’s certificate that notes their medical condition and the need to carry this equipment with them on flights.
2. The certificate should have attached a picture of the equipment with its description/specifications especially with regards to the type of batteries used (lithium/dry or other type).
3. These documents need to be sent to the Land Program Team via Reservations at RSSC at least one month prior to travel so that our local operator can begin the notification process with the airline(s).
4. Failure to comply with the above regulations may result in a denial of this equipment at the airport for which Regent Seven Seas Cruises nor our local ground operator be responsible for.
Unterkunft
Hotel Cumbres San Pedro de Atacama
Avenida Las Chilcas S/N, San Pedro de Atacama, Región de Antofagasta, Chile
Telefon: +56 55 285 2136
Mandarin Oriental in Santiago
Presidente Kennedy Avenue #4601 Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile
Telefon: +56 2 2950 3088
* Eine Änderung der Hotels findet nur in unvorhergesehenen Fällen statt. If the hotel is substituted, it will be similar and with equal ratings and standards, and guests will be notified in advance. Sollten Gäste vor Abreise nicht über Änderungen informiert werden, findet die Übernachtung in dem in diesem Programm aufgeführten Hotel statt.
Im Programm enthalten:
•2 nights at the Mandarin Oriental in Santiago or similar hotel – Superior Room
•3 nights at the Hotel Cumbres San Pedro or similar hotel – Superior Room
•Breakfast or breakfast box daily per the itinerary
•Lunches and dinners per the itinerary including 1 mineral water or soda and 1 glass of wine per person
•Economy-class flights Santiago – Calama –Santiago. Direct flights are not guaranteed.
•All touring and entrances per the itinerary
•Excess luggage storage (1 piece per person) in Santiago Days 2 - 5
Bitte beachten Sie: Gäste, die ihre eigenen Flüge buchen (unabhängig von der Kreuzfahrtgesellschaft), sind dafür verantwortlich, dass sie der Kreuzfahrtgesellschaft die aktualisierten Abreiseinformationen mitteilen, sodass der Transfer arrangiert werden kann. Wenn Sie unabhängig von der Kreuzfahrtgesellschaft weitere Nächte buchen, kann bei Anreise kein Transfer bereitgestellt werden. Wenn wir nicht bis mindestens 14 Tage im Voraus Ihre Flugdaten erhalten, werden keine Transfers bereitgestellt.
Program does not include
• Speisen oder Getränke, die oben nicht aufgeführt sind
• Trinkgelder für Fahrer und Fremdenführer
• Sonstige Ausgaben im Hotel, einschließlich Minibar und Zimmerservice
•Excess or overweight luggage fees on flights
Hinweis: Mehrtägige Landausflüge umfassen in der Regel ausgedehnte und längere Unternehmungen, während kürzere Ausflüge ein moderateres Programm bieten. Alle Programme sind jedoch verschieden, und die Teilnehmer sollten sich auf unterschiedliche Straßen- und Wegeverhältnisse einstellen, z. B.: Steigungen, Sand und Kies oder unbefestigte Wege. Gelegentlich wird auch Treppensteigen verlangt. Rollstuhlfahrer und Gäste mit eingeschränkter Mobilität wenden sich bitte im Voraus an die Kreuzfahrtgesellschaft und erkundigen sich, ob die gewünschten Ausflüge ganz oder nur teilweise für ihre individuelle Situation geeignet sind.
Hinweis: Alle Programme an Land sind beschränkt und gelten vorbehaltlich der Verfügbarkeit. Programme, bei denen nicht die Mindestanzahl an erforderlichen Teilnehmern erreicht wird, können gestrichen werden. Die aufgelisteten Preise unterliegen Änderungen aufgrund von unerwartet eintretenden Kostensteigerungen für Transport, Landprogramme und Währungsschwankungen. Einmal erworben, ist der Preis garantiert und unterliegt keinen weiteren Änderungen. Landprogramme sind spätestens 60 Tage vor dem Start der Kreuzfahrt zu buchen. Stornierungen, die 60 Tage oder weniger vor dem Abfahrtsdatum erfolgen, unterliegen einer Stornogebühr von 100 %. There are no refunds for unused portions of any program. Gäste, die nicht wie vereinbart an Tag 1 eines geplanten Landprogramms erscheinen, zählen als „Nicht erschienen“. Ihr Platz im Hotel wird dann freigegeben.
