Chile: San Pedro de Atacama – Easter Island

Reception and transfer to San Pedro de Atacama, from Calama airport. In the afternoon departure from the hotel to the Valley of the Moon (16:00 hrs. in summer and 15:00 hrs. in winter; the summer season begins on October 1). We will go to the road of the salt mountain range, where we will detour to know the beautiful valley that was formerly road transport for sulfur from San Pedro de Atacama. This is how we can appreciate the Valley of the Dinosaurs, the Valley of Death, where you get a spectacular panoramic view of the environment. We continue en route to the Valley of the Moon, where we will find geological formations that are the result of successive folds of the earth's crust. Towards sunset, the appearance of a daring painter's palette of golds and reds that shake the soul and sensibilities of man. 19 km. from San Pedro, in the Cordillera de la Sal, is the Valley of the Moon, declared a nature sanctuary and Natural Monument, protected by the uniqueness of its scenic beauty. It is formed by a depression surrounded by small hills with impressive sharp ridges. The tour is an imaginary journey to landscapes that do not correspond to our world, but only to other planets. In the valley it is possible to appreciate the saline sculptures known as Las Tres Marías, formed by wind erosion. We will visit the old salt deposits where we can appreciate the rock salt, a mineral that resembles quartz, which is nothing more than petrified salt that is found inside the deposits as at ground level in some sectors. Continuing with the excursion we will make a walk through the interior of the caves that still remain of the old deposits, to approach the Valley where the Great Dune is located. Return to the hotel.

MEALS: LUNCH-DINNER

HOTEL: SEE OPTIONS

Departure 09:00 hrs. From the hotel we will go to the Salar de Atacama, which is the largest in the country, where the Los Flamencos National Reserve is located. We will enter a small path to the Chaxa Lagoon, where we can enjoy a viewpoint and recognize the different species of flamingos existing in the area. After obtaining photographs of the different birds that are presented in this reserve, we will prepare to visit the most important lagoons in the area, located over 4,000 meters high, Miñique and Miscanti, which have a beautiful environment and blue waters. In Miñique, the coirón stands out in its surroundings, a small plant typical of the area, with which handicrafts and roofs are made for the houses. Miscanti is a nesting place for the tagua, a small black brownish bird. Both lagoons are born from the melting of the volcanoes of the same name, that is, Miñique and Miscanti. We will go to Toconao, located at 2,475 meters high, a small town that has the church of San Lucas and its small bell tower separated from the church, declared National Monument, built only in adobe and straw. We will visit the small workshop and craft fair in the area, rich in alpaca wool items and cactus crafts. Return to San Pedro at approximately 4:00 p.m.

MEALS: BREAKFAST-LUNCH-DINNER

HOTEL: SEE OPTIONS

Breakfast at the hotel. At 09:00 hrs departure from the hotel in San Pedro de Atacama. Today we will have a visit to the past of the Likan Antai Town (people of this land), their customs, traditions and memories from the arrival of the first inhabitants to the Atacama salt flat to the colony. Starting with the oldest habitational vestige, the village of Tulor, circular houses linked by passages and cellars very well preserved due to the climate and that most of it is under the sand. Then you pass through the ayllu (village) of Coyo where you will be welcomed with a tasting of typical products in "Sendero de Coyo". We will continue our journey to the Pucará de Quitor, a fortress built in 1536 invaded by the Spaniards. It has a spectacular view of the mountain range and the ravine, as it is above the level. We finish our excursion in San Pedro de Atacama with a visit to the Church before returning to the hotel. Accommodation.

MEALS: BREAKFAST-LUNCH-DINNER

HOTEL: SEE OPTIONS

Departure at dawn from hotel in San Pedro de Atacama (04:30 hrs.). We will head towards the Tatio Geysers, a geothermal field located in the Andes Mountains, being the highest in the world (4,200 meters high) and located 89 kilometers from San Pedro. It presents in the early hours of the morning an impressive activity of steam fumaroles produced by the high temperatures of its watery craters. It is surrounded by hills that reach 5,900 meters high. Around 07:00 hrs. the maximum expression of these steam and water fumaroles occurs with temperatures that reach 85ºC, and that emerge from the earth with force reaching approximate heights between 7 and 8 meters. On the way and in the place, it is possible to observe vicuñas, llamas, ñandúes and vizcachas, while in the flora the giant cactus, llaretas and coirón stand out. With its famous setting and spectacular scenery, the Geysers are clearly one of the most impressive attractions to visit.  On the way back we will see the majesty of the Andes Mountains, whose peaks seem at our fingertips. Later we will find Machuca, a small settlement of llama shepherds. The village is adorned by adobe houses and thatched roofs. A greenish bofedal gives it a special charm. Includes breakfast. Transfer to the airport. Flight to Santiago, overnight at the Holiday Inn Express Santiago Airport Hotel.

MEALS: BREAKFAST - LUNCH - DINNER

HOTEL: SEE OPTIONS

Transfer to the airport in Santiago. Reception at Easter Island airport and transfer to the hotel of your choice. Rest of the day at leisure.

MEALS: BREAKFAST-LUNCH

HOTEL: SEE OPTIONS

We start our tour around 08:30 hrs. from Hanga Roa towards the Archaeological Complex of Tahai, ceremonial center with 3 Ahu, Ahu Vai Uri with 5 Moai, Ahu Tahai with 1 Moai and Ahu Lo te Riku with 1 Moai. From this site you can appreciate wonderful landscapes. Then we go to the ceremonial city of Orongo, ancient and magnificent ceremonial city located on the western summit of the Rano kau volcano, it is composed of about 53 elliptical houses with slab walls and a small square entrance that looks at the sea. In this place the most important ceremony of the second period of the island was carried out, the election of the Tangata Manu (birdman) which was stopped approximately 150 years ago, product of the arrival of the first Christian missionaries. Return to Hanga Roa, total duration 3.5 hours.

MEALS: BREAKFAST - LUNCH - DINNER

HOTEL: SEE OPTIONS

Full day excursion departing from the town of Hanga Roa around 9:30 hrs. We will go to the South-East and Northeast coast of the island to visit the Ahu Vaihu temple, which is located 10 km from Hanga Roa and consists of a well-worked stone platform where we will find 8 Moais and 8 pukao scattered in the vicinity. Then we will pass by Ahu Akahanga, or also called "king's platform". Legend has it that the tomb of Hotu Matua'a would be near that place. Here we will find 4 platforms, 12 Moai, 8 Pukao and towards the interior of this Ahu you can see one of the best preserved villages on the island. Then we will continue the journey to Ahu Tongariki, which with its 15 moai is the largest Ahu on the island. Following the journey we will find Ahu Te Pito Kura, which has the highest statue of the island erected in an Ahu, the moai Paro (10 meters high and 85 tons with a Pukao of 11.5 tons) and next to this ceremonial temple is a large spherical stone that is identified as the navel of the world (Te Pito or Te Henua),  which, according to legend, was brought to the island by Hotu Matua'a in his boat. Continuing with our journey we arrive at Ahu Nau Nau, temple of complex construction due to its different levels where we will find 5 Moai with Pukao where we can see petroglyphs on the backs of the statues. We continue our excursion until we reach the Rano Raraku volcano and quarry, where most of the moai of the island were carved using the volcanic rock of its inner and outer slopes. You can see about 400 moais in various stages of carving. To finish our adventure, we go to the wonderful beach of Anakena, a beach of coraliferous white sands chosen for the arrival of Ariki Hotu Matua ́a and his sister Avareipua. Anakena corresponds to the name of a small cave in an adjacent ravine. Returning to Hanga Roa, we will make our last stop at Fundo Vaitea, a farm with an area of 6,560.80 hectares, which represents 39.6% of the total area of the island and was created to achieve an agricultural production capable of sustaining the needs of the entire island, which was achieved in part years ago. Return to the town Hanga Roa, total duration 8 hours.

MEALS: BREAKFAST-LUNCH-DINNER

HOTEL: SEE OPTIONS

Half day excursion where we start the tour around 15:00 hrs. from the town of Hanga Roa visiting Ahu Vinapu that was used by the islanders in 1.200 AD which includes 3 Ahu. The first has 6 Moai that are demolished and painted red, the second has a supposedly female Moai that had two heads and the third, the oldest, only stones are removed. We continue our way to the Puna Pau quarry, an archaeological site east of Hanga Roa in a small crater of red scoria, from there the Pukao or headdresses with which they crowned the Maoi were obtained. Along its old exit trace, there are still some unfinished and abandoned. We continue our journey to Ahu Akivi, which was the first scientifically restored Ahu on the island in 1960. The platform with 7 Moai is characterized by being one of the few located in the center of the island and that its statues face the rising sun. It is said that these 7 Moai represent the 7 young explorers sent before the arrival of Hotu Matua'a to reconnoiter the island. Our adventure takes us to the cave of Te Pahu, a place that was used as a dwelling and in times of conflict as a temporary shelter. With this we begin the return to Hanga Roa, total duration of 3.5 hours. MEALS: BREAKFAST - LUNCH HOTEL: SEE OPTIONS

Farewell and transfer from the hotel to the Mataveri airport. Flight to Santiago. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation.

MEALS: BREAKFAST

HOTEL: SEE OPTIONS

Recojo del hotel indicado y nos dirigimos al aeropuerto. recepción y traslado a su Hotel. Pick up from selected hotel and transfer to the airport. Reception and transfer to your hotel.

MEALS: BREAKFAST

HOTEL: SEE OPTIONS