Mountain Bike Atacama Desert Tour (6 DAYS)

Once you’ll get to the airport, a shared transfer will be waiting for you and you’ll be transfer to San Pedro de Atacama on a 90 minutes drive and arrive to selected Hotel or Hostel.

Our guides will meet you at 3 PM aprox and check out bikes for tour.

We’ll cycle from San Pedro de Atacama towards the greenest area called Catarpe Valley. We’ll have to climb towards an old tunnel until reaching Cornizas, where you’ll have one of the most spectacular views of this bike tour, admiring the Catarpe Valley and San Pedro River. The ride continues by Cornizas trail and ends at Death Valley, observing a geological phenomenon of enormous mineral sculptures formed by wind and rain, one of the highlights for this trip. Once we end, we’ll go by van back to your hotel in San Pedro de Atacama.

After breakfast, Then, we’ll bike from San Pedro de Atacama towards Moon Valley, a valley of statuesque, rocky formations. Salt emerges to the surface, covering the surface with a dry, whitish layer that gives the place a lunar aspect. We’ll visit the statues of salt called “Las Tres Marias“ , the salt mine, the salt caves and we will walk up by the sand dunes of the area until we reach the summit of the Big Dune. Here, you will see the whole valley at the sunset, while a spectacular change of colors happens in front of your eyes and enjoy a delicious cocktail. Afterwards we return to San Pedro de Atacama by van and drop you off at Hotel or town.

PM

We’ll drive towards Atacama Salt Flat and enter the National Flamingo Reserve. This National Reserve is formed by a gigantic depression of more than 3.500km2, located 2.300 masl, The Salar is the biggest salt field in Chile and its large quantities of salt make the surface white and rough. The dryness and altitude of the salt field allow an excellent panoramic view of the area. The bottom of the salt field is composed of an enormous lake, which receives water from mountain rivers and melting snow. As it has no runoff, several small lagoons have formed, where we can observe the three types of flamingos living in the area, the English, the Andean and the Chilean. Then, we’ll head to Socaire village at 3.300 masl to acclimatize and photograph the small church of San Bartolomé.
We continue our day driving to Miscanti and Meñiques lagoons of crystalline water and intense blue color at 4.350 and 4.100 masl where we’ll walk and visit this beautiful place. Once our walk ends, we’ll start a 15 km downhill by dirt road, where you’ll be able to see wildlife and amazing views of the Atacama Salt Flat and Volcanoes. Once we get to the asphalt, we’ll continue cycling until Socaire town, where we’ll enjoy a local lunch and get some energy for our last ride of the day. You’ll be able to cycle next to Atacama Salt Flat, until arriving close to Toconao town, where we’ll end our ride and drive towards San Pedro de Atacama.

After breakfast, we’ll head by vehicle towards Yerbas Buenas petroglyphs and visit this archeological site. Then, we’ll start biking towards one of the most beautiful and unknown places in Atacama, The Rainbow Valley, where you’ll bike by hills of amazing colors like violet, grey, calypso, red and blue, super rich on minerals. You’ll visit the Moai area and visit the east part as well, being able to see tall cactus on the way.
We’ll head back to San Pedro at 13:00 hrs aprox so you can enjoy lunch in town and be ready for our last ride together, the Cejar Lagoon bike ride.  

On the afternoon, we’ll head towards The Cejar Lagoon, where you’ll get the change to swim, enjoying the gravitational effect caused by the amount of salt condensed, floating very easily. Your eyes will be amazed with the beautiful turquoise color of the lagoon.
Afterwards, we continue to Ojos del Salar, seeing two small lagoons and end our day and tour enjoying a farewell cocktail at Tebinquinche Lagoon, admiring one for the best spots for sunset in Atacama Desert. Once our picnic ends, we’ll drive back to San Pedro de Atacama.

After breakfast we’ll drive to Cerro Toco camp base at 5.200 masl and start an amazing downhill until reaching town of San Pedro, admiring incredible views of the Atacama Salt Flat and Licancabur Volcano. On the way, you’ll be able to get close to some Llamas and Alpacas and combine dirt road with a fast descent to town. Once in town, you’ll have free time to enjoy lunch and relax in town.

Today, we’ll wake up at 04,00 am and drive to Tatio geysers, being able to see this beautiful thermo geologic field,  walking next to geysers and ending with a bath at the natural pools of The White Geyser. Afterwards, we’ll start cycling until Puritama hotsprings.

After swimming  and relaxing at the hotsprings, we’ll drive back to San Pedro or you can continue cycling until arriving to San Pedro town, where you’ll have free time to enjoy lunch, visit the museum or just relax in town.

After breakfast, you will have time to walk on town and buy some souvenirs for family or friends.
Depending on your departure flight, a shared transfer will pick you up at your hotel and take you to Calama airport. End of services