Journey Through The Ancient Cultures 12 Days / 11 Nights

Day 1, Santiago

At the arrival in Santiago, you will be received by one of our representatives, who will take you to the chosen hotel and help with the check-in procedures. At the scheduled time depart to a unique experience in Santiago, a half day city tour. The excursion to Santiago starts with the Civic Center and its neighborhood, continuing downtown to visit the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Main Square known as Plaza de Armas. Amaze yourself with the surroundings of the Main Square and the artists that randomly appear to make theatrical numbers. Just a block ahead is the Pre- Colombian Museum; which is considered one of Santiago’s best museums with pieces of art from American cultures that existed before 1492. Its statues, carvings, ceramics and textiles make this museum one to remember. Later take the bus and travel trough the typical streets of the Civic Center until you reach: La Moneda Presidential Palace. The excursion will continue via metro (subway) to Santa Lucía Station to visit a magnificent park called Santa Lucia and its unique castle. Leave Santa Lucia and walk towards the Bellas Artes Museum to view this impressive architectural work. Finish the expedition at Lastarria Neighborhood, a residential area with a neoclassic architecture from the beginning of the 20th century and cultural influence: art galleries, restaurants, coffee shops, cultural centers and off course: green areas. Hotel accommodation.

Included Meals:

Day 2, Santiago – Calama – San Pedro

Breakfast. At the scheduled time you will be picked up from the hotel and transfer to the airport to take the next flight. Arrive to El Loa, Calama Airport located in the Antofagasta Region. A representative of us will be waiting to assist you in the one hour drive trough salt flats, peculiar rock formations and sand dunes until you reach the chosen hotel in San Pedro de Atacama. In the afternoon, you will depart on an excursion to Moon Valley Depart the hotel at around 17:00 to visit a place with beautiful shapes and colors located 8km from San Pedro de Atacama. You can walk and enjoy a great geological spectacle that has been repeatedly compared with the surface of the moon, with its angular geology and rocks sculpted by millenniums of erosion. Visit the salt caverns before climbing the mayor sand dune where the kaleidoscope of colors that appear over the Andes are just marvelous. Return to San Pedro de Atacama approx. 20:00. Hotel accommodation.

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Day 3, San Pedro de Atacama

Breakfast. In the morning, after a local breakfast in the hotel depart to visit the Pukara de Quitor, a 12th Century (pre-Inca) fortress which was strategically located and easily defended on all sides, until the Spanish arrival with the advantage of horses weakened it. Pukara de Quitor, partially restored in 1992, is one of the most complete and impressive of these early defensive measures. Crossing the “Ayllos” or community farm areas, we arrive at Tulor, the site of the earliest known settlement in the area known as the “Aldea de Tulor”. This settlement is more than 2,000 years old and consists of circular dwellings interconnected by common passages and patios. Only part of the settlement is visible, the rest has being covered by the constantly moving desert sands. At an appropriate time return to San Pedro. Hotel accommodation.

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Day 4, San Pedro de Atacama

Breakfast. Wake up really early (Departing at 4:00 am), from the hotel to the Geysers del Tatio located at 98kms from San Pedro and at 4.300 m.a.s.l. Arrive at the geysers around 6:30am. To enjoy a picnic style breakfast and a guided stroll through this geothermal field to see the geysers and pools of boiling water and mud. The area takes on an almost surreal look at sunrise. Once the sun has risen and the thermal activity is calmed somewhat, we move to the area of the hot springs for a rejuvenating soak in 40°C water before beginning the return trip towards San Pedro. Hotel accommodation.

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Day 5, San Pedro de Atacama – Purmamarca

Breakfast.Transfer to the bus terminal to take the regular bus to Purmamarca. Upon arrival you will be assisted by one of our representatives who will take you to the hotel and help you with the check-in procedures. Transfer to the selected hotel for accommodation.

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Day 6, Purmamarca- Salta

After a delicious breakfast at the hotel, depart on a guided tour to Humahuaca Gorge. Leaving from Salta City and after a while you will get to the Purmamarca Village where you will have time to look closely at the well-known Hill of the Seven Colours, the Church and the Craft Market on the square, and even taking a brief stroll visiting its narrow streets and get in touch with the locals. Then, you continue towards Tilcara town, where you will visit the Pucará, which are ancient ruins, the Archaeological Museum, and Huacalera, with a unique event such as the crossing of the Capricorn Tropic, from where the colors of La Pollera del Coya Hill can be seen while having the opportunity of taking really good pictures at daylight. You will be taken to visit the town called Uquía and its church, where the paintings of the “Arcabuceros” Angels are the most important legacy kept in Cuzqueña School zone. The arrival in Humahuaca will be at noon; this town has an important Church and the Independence Monument (the Indian) of the sculptor Soto Avendaño. After lunch, on the route coming back to Salta city, you will look at La Paleta del Pintor (Paintor’s Palette) framing the town of Maimara and Purmamarca. Return to Salta city. Hotel accommodation.

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Day 7, Salta

Breakfast. Day at leisure. Today we recommend you to take a City tour around Salta (not included). After a delicious breakfast at the hotel, depart on a guided tour to the most important places in Salta: the Cathedral (1855) where Gral. Güemes, patriotic hero, rests; Cultural Center America, Historical Museum of the North (Town Council) with exhibitions of sacred art and rooms dedicated to old traditional families of Salta, "San Francisco" Church and, "San Bernardo" Convent, and the monument to General Güemes. We ascend to "San Bernardo" Hill to enjoy the panoramic view of the city. After a visit to "Batalla de Salta" Monument (Battle of Salta) - and "20 de Febrero" Park (February 20th Park), we go towards the outskirts and visit a summer village called "San Lorenzo", characterized by the subtropical microclimate and lastly a visit the Artisan Market where craftsmen of the entire province expose their original crafts. Hotel accommodation.

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Day 8, Salta - Cafayate

Breakfast at hotel. The journey starts in Salta and you will go up the famous Cuesta del Obispo, from an altitude of 1,100 m to 3,348 m/a/s/l in only 20 km. once in Los Cardones National Park you will descend to the Encantado Valley which marks a transition between two ecoregions: Monte (with jungle Like vegetation) and Pre-puna (An arid Plateau). If weather permits, you might be gifted with the majestic flight of a condor over you. Continuing with the trip, you will go across the Payogasta Village and a few minutes later you will arrive to Cachi for lunch time and will visit the picturesque chapel and the archaeological museum. Then you will continue to the south along the famous National Route No. 40 so as to go through other small villages such as: San Jose, Seclantás and Molinos, also known as “the poncho’s capitol”. Molinos has an historical chapel built in the 17th century and a Vicuñas breeding place (one species of Lamas) that belongs to a local artisanal cooperative. After Angastaco, you will start seeing one of the most strange landscapes in South America called "Quebrada de Las Flechas", where the strong contrast between desert, green valley and snow capped mountains on the background will take your breath away. After San Carlos, you will get into the most important wine areas of the region, first Animaná (name of the local Indian tribe) and finally the small city of Cafayate with 10,000 habitants surrounded by wineries and extended vineyards. Hotel accommodation.

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Day 9, Cafayate - Salta

Breakfast at hotel. In the morning you will have a couple of guided tour at some local wineries to see the wine process and then taste the different wines produced in the area. After lunch you will return to Salta over a nice asphalt route with many stops for excellent pictures of strange rock formations eroded by the wind and water. The name of the canyon is Quebrada del Rio Las Conchas and will connect you to the Lerma Valley so as to arrive again in Salta city. Hotel Accommodation.

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Day 10, Salta – Iguazú

Breakfast at hotel. At the set time, you will be transferred to the domestic airport to take your flight to Puerto Iguazú. Upon arrival you will be assisted by one of our representatives who will take you to the hotel and help you with the check-in procedures. Hotel accommodation.

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Day 11, Iguazú

Breakfast at hotel. Departure to the Argentinean Falls tour. The UNESCO declared this place Natural World Heritage in the year 1984. The tour has a lower path, a higher path and the “Garganta del Diablo” path. The Paseo Inferior (Lower Path): this round 1,200-metre-walk (0.8 miles) gives you a great view of the majority of the rapids and falls from a front and lower point of view. The distances range from a bird’s eye point of view of “Garganta del Diablo” (The Devil’s Throat) together with several Brazilian rapids, to spectacular close-ups to other falls. If you like to, you will be able to enjoy “Salto Bossetti” (the Bossetti Fall) splash. The Paseo Superior (Higher Path): this round 1,300-metre-walk (0.9 miles) will raise your adrenaline level because you will feel the vertigo of being at the edge of some waterfalls. This walk has a breathtaking scenery clif-point outlook .This is the less effort demanding walk of the three traditional ones. Garganta del Diablo Waterfall: to access this place, you will have to take the “Tren Ecológico de la Selva” (Ecological Jungle Train), and you must get off at the stop named after this waterfall. From there, you will start a stroll along the safe new catwalk floor which is a winding path that goes around the islands for 1,100 meters (0,7 miles) and ends in the large balconies located on the edge of The Devil´s Throat. Hotel accommodation.

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Day 12, Iguazú – Buenos Aires

Breakfast at the hotel. At set time, you will be transferred to the domestic airport to take your flight to Buenos Aires. Upon arrival you will be assisted by one of our representatives who will take you to the International Airport and help you with the check-in procedures to take your flight home.

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Know Before You Go

Passports and Visas

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Trip Preparation

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Climate & Clothing