Atacama & Uyuni
Desert & Altiplano, Chile - Bolivia
Explorations in
Atacama & Uyuni
Activity
Difficulty
Areas
PASTORES
Lodge Uyuni
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Hike -
Easy
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Half-day
This exploration borders the salt flat to reach a shepherds’ area and watch herds of llamas, sheep, and goats. We get to watch estancias...
More details >PASTORES
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Exploration Path
This exploration borders the salt flat to reach a shepherds’ area and watch herds of llamas, sheep, and goats. We get to watch estancias and rest areas, some of which are old and others in use at present. A contemplative walk that gazes the rural lifestyles of Andean area’s locals.
CHILTAICO
Lodge Uyuni
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Hike
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Easy
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Full-day
We visit the Pukará, a rock stronghold that used to serve as protection for Andean villages. We then descend through the community trail...
More details >CHILTAICO
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Exploration Path
We visit the Pukará, a rock stronghold that used to serve as protection for Andean villages. We then descend through the community trail with views to the salt flat and cross crop and grazing lands. During the crop season, we can see crops of quinoa, fava beans, carrots, onions, and potatoes.
QHAPAQ ÑAN
Lodge Uyuni
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Hike
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Moderate
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Full-day
This hike crosses an old trail marked by apacheta rocks that connects two villages. We will be surrounded by Andean wildlife and watch...
More details >QHAPAQ ÑAN
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Exploration Path
This hike crosses an old trail marked by apacheta rocks that connects two villages. We will be surrounded by Andean wildlife and watch species such as llamas, vicuñas, sheep, and even foxes or pumas. The trail is currently abandoned, but it has existed since Inca and even pre-Inca times.
QUEÑOA
Lodge Uyuni
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Hike
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Advanced
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Full-day
We take our 4-wheel drive vehicle to a viewpoint at the Tunupa Volcano. From there, we walk bordering the southeast hillside, with broad...
More details >QUEÑOA
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Exploration Path
We take our 4-wheel drive vehicle to a viewpoint at the Tunupa Volcano. From there, we walk bordering the southeast hillside, with broad views to the Uyuni Salt Flat and the villages around it. The road is harsh, crossing through rock formations and queñoa forests, a tree that grows at high altitude areas. We drive through some complex sections and difficult crossings.
ISLA PESCADO
Lodge Uyuni
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Hike
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Moderate
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Half-day
We will walk across one of the salt flat’s largest islands. A prominent formation with typical Altiplano vegetation to which we climb...
More details >ISLA PESCADO
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Exploration Path
We will walk across one of the salt flat’s largest islands. A prominent formation with typical Altiplano vegetation to which we climb in the middle of the Uyuni Salt Flat. Gazing towards the horizon gives us a sense of vastness. The typical sound of salt extends below the vast landscape at our feet.
COLORES DEL TUNUPA
Lodge Uyuni
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High Mountain Ascent
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Advanced
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Full-day
We arrive in the village of Coquesa to follow a communal route, escorted by a local guide. Up the trail we see the elevated landscapes...
More details >COLORES DEL TUNUPA
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Exploration Path
We arrive in the village of Coquesa to follow a communal route, escorted by a local guide. Up the trail we see the elevated landscapes of the Uyuni Salt Flat. We cross ancient Andean burial sites, a place to see their tomb systems in caves and fabric in vessels. This is an experience with tradition and culture in the area.
ISLAS DEL SALAR
Lodge Uyuni
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Bike
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Moderate
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Half-day
We leave the lodge riding across quinoa crops. We cross Andean villages to access the Uyuni Salt Flat and arrive in Maimura Island...
More details >ISLAS DEL SALAR
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Exploration Path
We leave the lodge riding across quinoa crops. We cross Andean villages to access the Uyuni Salt Flat and arrive in Maimura Island. As we leave the populated area to enter the solitude of the salt flat, we actually feel the vastness.
URQU
Lodge Uyuni
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Bike
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Advanced
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Half-day
We drive to a high point in the Tunupa Volcano and begin our way down riding our bikes. Along the road there is a broad view of the...
More details >URQU
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Exploration Path
We drive to a high point in the Tunupa Volcano and begin our way down riding our bikes. Along the road there is a broad view of the Uyuni Salt Flat, crossing grazing lands, particularly of llamas. Along the road we get to see a large number of stone walls (pircas), of a pre-Incan origin, with diverse construction, protection, and grazing uses by Andean peoples.
TARA
Lodge Uyuni
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Bike
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Moderate
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Half-day
We leave by bike and begin to ride until we cross a large section of the Uyuni Salt Flat. We hear the sound of the wheels cutting the salt...
More details >TARA
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Exploration Path
We leave by bike and begin to ride until we cross a large section of the Uyuni Salt Flat. We hear the sound of the wheels cutting the salt and far views to the horizon. We arrive in Isla Pescado, to feel the vastness of the surrounding white plains. We return along the same road.
ISLA MAIMURA
Lodge Uyuni
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Bike
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Easy
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Half-day
We start at Caquena and tour the village that features sustainable actions. While exiting we see crops and orchards, as well as llama...
More details >ISLA MAIMURA
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Exploration Path
We start at Caquena and tour the village that features sustainable actions. While exiting we see crops and orchards, as well as llama and sheep herders in their daily routine. We then enter the salt flat up to Maimura Island. We drive back to the lodge.
LA PUKARA
Lodge Uyuni
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Overland
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Easy
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Half-day
We drive from the lodge to the Salar viewpoint, with views to the vastness of the white landscape. We then have the option of walking...
More details >LA PUKARA
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Exploration Path
We drive from the lodge to the Salar viewpoint, with views to the vastness of the white landscape. We then have the option of walking to the Pukará. This stronghold is a stone construction that served as protection for villages; there are still vestiges as a token of its role. These buildings are full with the history of Andean peoples.
APU
Lodge Uyuni
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Overland
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Easy
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Half-day
We drive up to a plain with queñoas and llareta moss. This particular type of vegetation grows in high areas, contrasting with the immutable...
More details >APU
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Exploration Path
We drive up to a plain with queñoas and llareta moss. This particular type of vegetation grows in high areas, contrasting with the immutable horizon of the salt flat. There will be views to the Tunupa Volcano and the Uyuni Salt Flat while we wander through scarce woods. Several birds follow along.
ANCESTROS
Lodge Uyuni
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Overland
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Easy
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Half-day
This exploration tours small villages that are relatively isolated because they are bordering the salt flat. We begin the tour from the Tajamari...
More details >ANCESTROS
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Exploration Path
This exploration tours small villages that are relatively isolated because they are bordering the salt flat. We begin the tour from the Tajamari River to arrive in Guajala, a farming area with irrigation channels. We then travel to Caquena, a village we can tour and appreciate an Andean ranching. We will also visit a small school in Chiltaico.
INTI
Lodge Uyuni
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Overland
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Easy
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Half-day
We drive to the Uyuni Salt Flat to watch the sunrise (“inti” in Quechua language). The amazing changes in the light cover the immensity...
More details >INTI
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Exploration Path
We drive to the Uyuni Salt Flat to watch the sunrise (“inti” in Quechua language). The amazing changes in the light cover the immensity of the landscape, and gradually, the temperature rises with the sun, transforming it in a unique experience.
KILLA
Lodge Uyuni
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Overland
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Easy
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Half-day
We drive to the Uyuni Salt Flat to see the sunset and then the moonrise (“killa” in Quechua language). The light changes in intensity...
More details >KILLA
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Exploration Path
We drive to the Uyuni Salt Flat to see the sunset and then the moonrise (“killa” in Quechua language). The light changes in intensity through the white ocean under our feet, and the sky lightens up in reddish tones. During full moon, the sunset can be seen to the west while the moon rises to the east.
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