This morning we will get our hands dirty with an incredible ancestral pottery workshop led by ceramics artist, Barbara Tatane. We will get to know the potter, her work, her history, and the story of Atacama. We may each produce a vessel with the ancestral techniques of hand modeling, gaining an understanding of how the early inhabitants of this area crafted their potter. Following that, we might venture into the Valley of the Moon, a sanctuary of nature and geology. Here we find spectacular geological formations created through the conflicting pressures of the Andes and the Cordillera de Domeyko. The absence of plants and animal life and the lack of moisture make it the most inhospitable place on earth, but it also has the most breathtaking and iconic views in the entire region. Alternatively, we might go hiking to a lookout point at Catarpe with an amazing view across the Tambo Valley, a vantage point showing off the surrounding hills, farmland, and pastures. Another potential destination is Puritama hot springs, at an elevation of nearly 11,500 feet, it is a series of eight large pools of geothermal spring water, connected by wooden walkways. We find a paradise in which to enjoy and soak in the unique warm waters that range in temperature from 75ºF to 90ºF. 

This morning we check out from our hotel and visit the salt-heavy Cejar Lagoon where we enjoy a soak in the lagoon. We then head north, passing through Machuca, a unique traditional village at an elevation of over 13,000 feet previously used by local shepherds but now mostly uninhabited. After a picnic lunch in the village of Caspana, we set off on an afternoon hike that will lead us into our Extraordinary Atacama Camp. Extraordinary Atacama is an experience that integrates nature, culture, adventure, the night skies. It’s a way of getting to know the off-the-beaten side of Atacama and also immersing in the local community. A glamping experience in a pristine environment in the middle of the desert, set up privately for us and expertly hosted. We’ll venture into the desert at our own rhythm and pace. This evening we have a very special desert culinary experience. With a tailor-made menu and welcomed in by the melody of a stringed instrument, our dining will become a silent and spiritual experience in which we contemplate the immensity of the desert while tasting some Chilean delicacies and local wines. We then settle into our comfortable tents and a peaceful evening of phenomenal stargazing.

Today we make an excursion to the Tatio Geysers, a geothermal field sitting at 14,176 feet (4321 m) above sea level. We explore this incredible area consisting of large pools of boiling water and mud, geysers, fumaroles, and natural hot springs. Returning to our desert camp this afternoon, we will be joined by a professional astronomer and nightscape photographer for an unforgettable photography and stargazing experience. The beauty of the night sky has always been a source of fascination and inspiration for generations of people. Our planet is embraced by one sky of endless beauties, an eternal roof above symbols of all nations and religions, attesting to the unified nature of Earth and mankind. The sky connects us through time and space, takes us back to our roots, and shows us our future. This experience is an invitation to connect with the richness of our world and learn about astrophotography.

We’ll get an early start today to begin our five-hour drive across along the Panamerican Highway across the Atacama desert to the oasis of Pica. After lunch and a rest at a lovely ecolodge, we’ll visit an extraordinary example of 1000+ year old geoglyphs at Cerro Pintados which once served as guideposts between the Andes mountains and the Pacific Ocean for caravans crossing the Atacama Desert. The giant symbols, the largest collection of its kind in South America, are easily visible on the arid mountainside. This afternoon we’ll be offered a choice of a 45-minute descent on “fat bikes” through Pica’s dune field or a therapeutic soak in the Cocha Resbaladero hot springs. For dinner tonight we’ll be treated to an intimate farm-to-table dining experience and a lesson on preparing the popular pisco sour cocktail.

Today we make our way from the dry desert to the refreshing coastal breezes of the Pacific Ocean. On our way we have two incredible stops; the first is to take in the grandeur of the Atacama Giant, a massive geoglyph on the side of Cerro Unitas that researchers believe was a prehistoric astronomical calendar. We’ll next visit the ghost town of Humberstone, the largest of Chile’s abandoned nitrate towns. Until the early 1900s, northern Chile was mined for its valuable saltpeter - or Sodium nitrate - resources, which were valued as a fertilizer and an explosive. These mining towns were abandoned once ammonia was sythesized in a lab in the 1920s and are now falling to ruin in the harsh conditions of the Atacama Desert. We continue on to the coastal port city of Iquique, where the desert sand dunes collide with the vast Pacific Ocean, for a relaxed dinner and overnight.

Today we wander through Iquique’s historic city center, made prosperous in the saltpeter mining days of the nineteenth century and now a beach holiday destination. The city is surrounded by cliffs and an urban sand dune called “Cerro Dragon”. We’ll see the seafood market and sea lion hub of Caleta Riquelme and visit the Museo Regional de Tarapacá (MAR), the Regional Museum of Iquique. The museum houses the Chinchorro mummies that, at 8000 years old, are the oldest artificially preserved mummies in the world along with a history of the nitrate industry. Work on a new museum designed by Studio Libeskind was slated to begin in 2020 based on a design inspired by the city’s “Cerro Dragon” entitled ‘El Dragon de Tarapacá’. This afternoon we have the option to enjoy the beach or take a sailboat cruise through Iquique’s bay.

It’s time to say farewell to this extraordinary region and its rich culture. We’ll help you transfer to the Iquique airport for your departing flight. Head homeward or on to your next destination—or, if you'd like, spend a few more days exploring Chile. Until the next adventure!