Space Atacama 2024 Itinerary (Tentative)

Friday, May 24:
Travel from Washington DC Dulles / Santiago

Saturday, May 25:
Travel from Santiago to Calama to San Pedro de Atacama.
•    Flight to El Loa airport, Calama (CJC), Time TBA.
•    Arrive at El Loa airport.
•    Travel to San Pedro de Atacama by minibus.
•    Arrive at Hostal, unpack, rest.
•    Explore San Pedro de Atacama.
•    Dinner in San Pedro de Atacama.
•    Return to hostal/ Reflections.

Sunday, May 26:
Day of Archaeology and Night of Astronomy: Exploring the ancient past of San Pedro de Atacama and the stars above.
•    Breakfast (hostal)
•    Bike trip to Pukará de Quitor (Fortress of Quitor)
•    Lunch, San Pedro de Atacama
•    Museo Arqueológico Padre Le Paige (Father le paige Archeological Museum)
•    Rest/ Free Time.
•    (Optional): Bike trip to Tulor Archeological site.
•    Dinner in San Pedro de Atacama.
•    Late night stargazing tour.
•    Return to hostal.

Monday, May 27
Excursion: River Hike along the Quebrada de Quatin and the visit to the thermal pools of Puritama.
•    Breakfast (hostal).
•    Travel north by minivan towards Puritama.
•    Continue on to Quebrada de Guatin. (Guatin gorge).
•    Hike through the Quebrada de Guatin. This will be a moderate 3-hour hike down into the Guatin gorge following alongside the Purifica River. After our hike we’ll travel on to the Puritama hot springs and relax for a few hours in the crystal clear, warm thermal pools of river. Packed lunch provided.
•    Afternoon return to Hostal.
•    Dinner in San Pedro de Atacama.
•    Late night Astrophotography workshop.
•    Return to hostal/ Reflections.

Tuesday, May 28:
Excursion: Hike through Rainbow Valley and visit to the Petroglyphs of Yerbas Buenas.
•    Breakfast (hostal)
•    Excursion: Travel by minivan to Rainbow Valley.
•    Hike: Rainbow Valley. This will be a moderate 2-hour hike through the colorful Rainbow Valley.
•    Continue on to Yerbas Buenas. Explore Inca and pre-Inca Petroglyphs of Yerbas Buenas.
•    Return to Hostal.
•    Afternoon Rest/ Free Time.
•    Dinner in San Pedro de Atacama.
•    Return to hostal/ Reflections.

Wednesday, May 29:
Excursion: Day long trip to Salar de Tara and Hike.
•    Breakfast (hostal)
•    Excursion: Travel by minivan east to Salar de Tara in the Los Flamencos National Reserve.
•    Explore Salar de Tara and environs. This will be series of short hikes around the surreal rock formations and along the high-altitude lake of Tara. The entire excursion is about 5 hours. Packed lunch provided.
•    Afternoon return to Hostal.
•    Afternoon Rest/ Free Time.
•    Dinner in San Pedro de Atacama.
•    Return to hostal/ Reflections.

Thursday, May 30:
Excursion: Day long trip to Tatio Geyser field and the Pre-Columbian town of Machuca.
•    Breakfast (hostal)
•    Excursion: Travel by minivan northeast to the high-altitude Tatio Geyser field, third largest geyser field in the world.
•    Hike: 1-2 hour guided hike through the Tatio Geyser field.
•    Continue on to the Pre-Columbian town of Machuca.
•    Lunch in Machuca.
•    Afternoon return to Hostal.
•    (Optional) Sandboarding trip on the dune of the Valley of Death – for beginners.
•    Dinner in San Pedro de Atacama.

Friday, May 31:
Morning visit to Valle de la Luna (the Valley of the Moon) and afternoon visit to ALMA observatory.
•     Breakfast (hostal)
•    (Optional) Long bike ride to Valley of the moon or remain in San Pedro.
•    Explore Valley of the Moon.
•    Lunch in San Pedro.
•    Afternoon Visit to ALMA observatory.
•    Dinner in San Pedro de Atacama.
•    Return to hostal.

Saturday, June 1:
High altitude hike to the top of Cero Toco
•    Breakfast (hostal)
•    (Optional) High altitude hike to the top of Cerro Toco or remain in San Pedro. Having acclimatized over the past 4 days, we will hike to the top of the dormant volcano Toco, overlooking the Atacama Salt Flat. Travel by minivan east to the trailhead hear the top of Cerro Toco. Three-hour hike to the top and return. This is a strenuous high-altitude hike.
•    Lunch in San Pedro
•    Afternoon – Rest/on your own in San Pedro.
•    Dinner in San Pedro de Atacama.
•    Return to hostal/ Reflections.

Sunday, June 2:
Flight from Calama to Santiago. Explore the Chilean coast and visit to town of Cachagua.
•    Early am Travel by minibus to airport, Calama. Breakfast on minibus.
•    Calama to Santiago (Flight info: TBA)
•    Arrive at Santiago airport.
•    Travel by minibus to west coastal town of Valparaíso (UNESCO World Heritage Site). 1.5 hour drive.
•    Lunch in Valparaiso
•    Afternoon visit and walking tour of the town with visits to the Caleta Portales (main fishing market), La Sebastiana museum and Cerro Concepción.
•    Travel north to the seaside town of Cachagua by minibus. 1.5 hour drive.
•    Evening arrival at Hostal in Cachagua

Monday, June 3:
•    Breakfast (hostal)
•    (Optional) Morning hike to Cerro El Boldo summit. 3-hour hike.
•    Lunch in Cachagua
•    Afternoon hike: coastal trail/Cachagua to Zapallar. Views of penguins, Cachagua island. 3-hour hike.
•    Group Dinner: Typical Chilean asado.
•    Return to hostal. Evening in Cachagua

Tuesday, June 4:
Visit the capital city of Santiago. Nighttime flight back to US.
•    Early morning return to Santiago by minibus. 2 hour drive.
•    Walking tour of Santiago Centro and short hike up Cerro Santa Lucía (site of Pedro de Valdivia's founding of the city and of Chile's first observatory).
•    Lunch and afternoon visit to art galleries and artist studio.
•    Evening return to Santiago airport by minibus.
•    Late evening Flight from Santiago to Washington, D.C.

Tuesday, June 5:
•    Midday arrival to Washington, D.C.