TRAVESIAS EXPLORA

CROSSING THE ANDES MOUNTAIN RANGE
This TRAVESÍA crosses the Andes mountain range between the Atacama Desert, Chile, and Salta, Argentina.

Travelers to this region are given the opportunity to experience the beauty of volcanoes and salt flats interwoven between lakes and marshes throughout territory that rises higher than 4,000 meters.

The trip can be taken from Argentina to Chile, or vice versa. In Argentina, guests can visit Salta, one of the oldest colonial villages in Argentina, and also travel the ancient route used during colonial times between the Viceroyalty of Peru and the Viceroyalty of La Plata. Travel through the Calchaquíes Valley, another ancient route and one that features an imposing landscape with traces of the Atacaman Indian culture and other pre-Columbian cultures that once inhabited this region. The Cachi and Molinos villages here are important testaments to Spanish colonization.

The crossing through the Andes between Cachi and San Pedro de Atacama is across the same unforgettable route. On the Chilean side, guests explore the Altiplano and its volcanoes, and the desert oasis Atacama, the driest in the world, using Hotel de Larache, explora en Atacama, as a base. From here, by horse, foot or bicycle, guests can travel immense extensions of land and mystery, where they will find remains of the past that have allowed local cultures to maintain their traditions. For thousands of years, these lands have been the crossroads of commercial routes between villages in Bolivia, Argentina and the Pacific Coast.

The Hotel de Larache is a link between man, impermanent space and the mysteries of nature. It is a base for exploring with freedom and security.

TRIP DESCRIPTION
Length:
8 days / 7 nights

Departure:
From the Calama airport (Chile) or from the Salta airport (Argentina)

Trip season:
Year-round, with some climatic limitations from January to March due to the altiplanic winter.

Trip dates 2005:
From Chile From Argentina
March 31 April 9
April 24 May 3
May 22 May 31
June 19 June 28
July21 July 30
August 22 August 31
September 19 September 28
October 21 October 30
November 18 November 27
December 8 December 17

If beginning the trip in Argentina, arrival to the Salta airport must be before the afternoon.

Requirements:
Health compatible with the demands of the trip. Excursions are at altitudes of between 4,000 and 5,000 meters, with lodging at 3,500 meters.

Lodging:
4 nights in explora en Atacama, Hotel de Larache.
1 night in explora campsite -Tambo La Quesera-- Argentina.
2 nights in Finca Rancagua houses, a traditional hacienda in the outskirts of Cachi, Argentina.

Number of travelers:
Maximum 6.

PROGRAM:

a) Departing from Chile

Day 1
Arrival at explora en Atacama.

Days 2-3-4
Full days of exploration in Atacama.

Day 5
Departure to Argentina. High-attitude walk. Lakes, salt flats, volcanoes. Lodging at the Tambo La Quesera campsite at 3,500 meters high in Poma, Argentina, after passing Abra de Acay (4,895 meters high).

Day 6
Explorations and high-altitude walks in the Poma area. Visit to Cachi. Lodging in the Finca Rancagua houses.

Day 7
Explorations in the Calchaquíes Valley or walk toward el Nevado
de Cachi. Lodging in the Finca Rancagua houses.

Day 8
Departure to Salta. Explorations in the Cuesta del Obispo.
Arrival at Salta for the flight to Buenos Aires, or spend an extra night in Salta if interested in visiting the city. In this case, explora will leave the guest in a hotel.

b) Departure from Argentina

Day 1
Reception at the airport. Optional visit to Salta.
Departure to Cachi - Cuesta del Obispo - Walk (if there is still time).
Lodging at the Finca Rancagua houses.

Day 2
Explorations in the Calchaquíes Valley or walk toward el Nevado
de Cachi. Visit Cachi. Lodging in the Finca Rancagua houses.

Day 3
Explorations in the Poma sector. Lodging at the Tambo La Quesera campsite at 3,500 meters high.

Day 4
Departure to Chile passing through the Abra de Acay at 4,895 meters high.
Guests travel through vast, high-altitude regions, visiting lakes, salt flats and volcanoes. High-altitude walk. Arrival at explora en Atacama.

Day 5-6-7
Full day explorations in the Atacama Desert.

Day 8
Departure to Calama and Santiago.

explora staff:
explora guide, driver, cook.

Equipment:
Shoes for walking, boots for trekking, thermal wear (interior and exterior), parks, gloves, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, 20-40 liter backpack, passport and Argentine visa if necessary.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Location:
Leaving San Pedro de Atacama, the second part of the journey uses Cachi as a base, the word meaning "salt" in the Quechua language (the Calchaquí River is salty, and Cachi is the original village in the area). This village is located 157km from Salta, the capital of the province (1,650 km from Buenos Aires).

How to get there:
To Santiago, Chile, in an international flight, and connect with a 2 1/2-hour flight to Calama. explora transfers guests to explora en Atacama by van, about a 1-hour trip.

After crossing the Andes and traveling through the Calchaquíes Valley, the journey ends in Salta. An explora van takes guests to the airport, from where they may take a flight to Buenos Aires (about 2 hours, 15 minutes).

The trip can also be taken in the reverse direction, leaving from Argentina to Chile. An explora van picks up guests at the Salta airport. Finally, after the stay at the explora en Atacama hotel, explora staff transfers guests to the Calama airport.

Climate:
The altitude of San Pedro and Cachi is similar, as are the climactic conditions.

In the Atacama, the climate is excellent throughout the year, with more than 90% sunny days. During the winter (June, July and August) the average temperature during the day fluctuates between 9ºC (48ºF) and 24ºC (75ºF). During the summer (January, February, and March) the temperature is warmer, reaching highs of 32ºC (90ºF). Between January and March, there exists a phenomenon called the Altiplanic Winter, with occasional rain.

The climate of the Calchaquíes Valley is similar to that of the Atacama, a semi-desert zone with abundant sun and scarce rain (200 to 400mm). Temperatures vary between 20°C (68ºF) and 25ºC (77ºF), with highs of 35ºC (95ºF) during the summer and lows of 5ºC (41ºF). During winter nights, the temperature can drop to -5ºC (23ºF); and at the campsites that are above 3,200 meters, the temperature can drop even lower.

Altitude:
The first part of the trip, in San Pedro de Atacama, is at 2,443 meters. Nevertheless, some of the trips can reach up to 4,000 meters. If a guest chooses to climb a peak, the altitude can reach between 5,500 and 6,100 meters.

Heading to Argentina, the altitude can reach between 4,000 and 5,000 meters, an unforgettable journey that passes by volcanoes, salt flats and altiplanic lakes. In Cachi, the base for this trip, the altitude is approximately 2,500 meters.

Lodging:
During the first four nights, lodging is in explora en Atacama, en the Larache neighborhood, in San Pedro. The hotel has 50 rooms, all 33 square meters in size, with a living area, Jacuzzi, gourmet dining, a bar, room service, a store selling explora clothing and local arts & crafts, in-room telephone with national and international access, library, 4 outdoor pools, saunas, massage and horseback riding.

Once our guests are acclimatized, we begin the second stage of the journey, to the Andes mountain range, lodging the first night in an explora campsite. Guests sleep in high-quality tents with enough space for two people, and there is access to a kitchen and dining area. We serve gourmet cuisine, and there are bathrooms with hot and cold water.

Lodging the two following nights in Cachi are within reconditioned antique homes at the Finca Rancagua, with a commanding view of the Calchaquíes Valley. There is a kitchen, living area, and ample rooms with private bathrooms.

RATES
PROGRAM 7 NIGHTS
DOUBLE ROOM, USD 4915.-
SINGLE ROOM, USD 3365.-

Prices per person, in US Dollars

4 nights in explora en Atacama, 1 night in the explora campsite, and 2 nights in the houses of Finca Rancagua (Cachi).

GENERAL CONDITIONS

Programs include:
* Roundtrip transfer from the Calama airport and explora, and to the Iquique airport, the final destination of the trip.
* Lodging at explora en Atacama, in remodeled houses and in explora campsites.
* Full board. Bar.
* Daily explorations in groups of 6 people maximum, with bilingual guides, and equipment.
* Rates are per person, expressed in US dollars.
* Rates in US dollars are tax exempt according to decree D.L. 825 art. 12 for guests who are foreigners, not residents of Chile and pay in dollars.

Kids:
This trip is recommended for kids older than 12.

Pets:
It is not possible to bring pets on any TRAVESÍA explora.

Reservations:
All reservations must be made via written confirmation, either by fax (56-2 228 4655) or
e-mail (reservexplora@explora.com). explora will confirm reservations in the same manner as sent. Reservations will be considered tentative until the guest confirms and pays 30% of the total reservation fee. The remaining must be paid 30 days prior to the guest's arrival at the hotel. Programs at explora are non-divisible and cannot be transferred.

Changes:
Changes to confirmed reservations are allowed according to availability.

Penalties for cancellations are the following:
o 60 to 30 days prior to check-in: US$ 200 per room.
o 29 to 10 days prior to check-in: 30% of the total value of the reservation.
o 9 to 0 days prior to check-in: 100% of the total value of the reservation.

Liabilities:
explora reserves the right to alter, change or eliminate parts of the exploration itineraries without prior notice, when advisable for the well-being or safety of guests.

OTHER TRAVESIAS EXPLORA:

Travesía to the Salar de Uyuni and the High Plains of Bolivia and Chile

Crossing the Andes Mountain Range

Travesia to Patagonia

Trip to Easter Island

See More Tours | Request Price |

RIPIO TURISMO - Incoming Tour Operator Argentina & Chile- Leg. 10.687 Secretaría de Turismo de la Nación Argentina.
info@ripioturismo.com.ar

Ripio Turismo Website: www.ripioturismo.com.ar
Patagonia-Cruises is a website of Ripio Turismo EVT - www.patagonia-cruises.com.ar
Iguazu-Falls is a website of Ripio Turismo EVT - www.iguazu-falls.com.ar
Deluxe Tours is a website of Ripio Turismo EVT - www.deluxe-tours.com.ar

Design & General Idea: Nuevas Ideas© Consultora Turística - 1999-2010