CALAMA - SAN
PEDRO DE ATACAMA
Excellent and only access way between the villages. Description
Cross the domeyco mountain range in Barros Arana almost at 3.000
mts., where is a desviation (km 55) well indicated to the village
of Rio Grande
and San Bartolo.
At Yerbas Buenas
you have the chance to observe petroglyphs art and if you are lucky
guanacos too.
 ROUTE
TO THE MOON VALLEY
Regular state and only access way to the Cordillera de la Sal (mountain
range of the Salt) by the old road that cross the famous Valle de
la Luna (Moon Valley). The place has two entrances where you pay
a fee $1500 per person and children $500.
Description
Well indicated, you get to the Cordillera
de la Sal at the same time to
the Valle de
la Luna Park (Moon Valley). This
mountain range has amazing geological formations of 2600 mt. altitude,
is one of the oldest of the world (40 millions years). It expanse
from north to south by the west side of the great Salt Flat of Atacama
at least 70 kms. Once getting inside the park, exist touristic stops
to visit, like Las Cavernas,
las Tres Marias,
Las Minas de Sal
and La Gran
Duna at the central
crater or Anfithearer,
where is classic to wait for the sunset. Is convenient to do night
visiting when you have full moon time. The Valle de la Luna is considered
humanity patrimony (Unesco) and is not allow to camp or to do fire.
 ROUTE
TO TATIO GEYSER
In general regular state. Double access to the geothermic field
Tatio Geyser.
From San Pedro de Atacama are 98 kms. and from Calama 130 kms.
Description
Two ways drive up the Cordillera
de los Andes (Andes mountain range)
to the chilean highland (altiplano)
with the possibility to visit atacamenian highlands villages, big
ravines with privilege views and wild flora and fauna of the zone.
· By San Pedro de Atacama
way, with more frecuencies of the tourism agencies. Is nice to visit:
Machuca
village, Puritama
Hot Springs, Putana
river, Tata
Torres camp and to watch cactus
at Guatin valley (Purifica, Vilama river).
· By Calama way
you have more chances to visit a lot of native villages with beautiful
churches, such as Chiu
Chiu, Ayquina,
Caspana,
Toconce
and Cupo.
Also to visit places like Lasana
(Pukara), Turi
(Pukara, and hot springs) and Paniri
(big cactus and mystery volcano).
Also the amazing petroglyph
art by the north of Loa river (TAIRA) and the mystery of Laguna
Inka Coya.
 ROUTE
TO THE SALT FLAT OF ATACAMA
Good state and only way to drive the east side of the great Salt
Flat of Atacama with an amazing view to the Cordillera de los Andes
(Andes mountain range, Licancabur
and Lascar active
volcanoes) with the chance of indicated access to visit some lagoons,
salt roads, lithium minning and flamingoes
natural reservation.
Description
The way has good road signals. In south direction the altitude start
to go down a few meteres in compare with San Pedro.
To the south is nice to visit: Tambillo
(Tamarugo
woods), Toconao
(Jerez
ravine), the Flamingo
national reservation (Chaxa
lagoon) ruled by Conaf (entrance fee $2000 per person) and the village
of Peine (petroglyph art and thermal pool). Just before Peine
is the way to Antofagasta,
direct escape by the amazing
salt highway, crossing the entrance of the minning
Sociedad Chilena El Litio and by the road non indicated and private
of the minning Minsal (SQM). The Salt Flat of Atacama has the more
big lithium reserve of the world (40%).
 INTERNATIONAL
ROUTE PASO SICO
Mixed (asphalt till Socaire and ground till the border) and only
route to go to the Altiplanic
Lagoons in Chile and for to cross to Argentina at
the km 225 (Sico Pass)
in direction to San
Antonio de los Cobre. Main international commercial
transportation route of the zone that goes to the noreast of Argentina.
Fuel and obligated customs only is possible in San Pedro de Atacama.
Description
After Toconao
go right till Socaire for to go up the highlands (altiplano) where
exist the chance to see impressive volcanoes, several sides lagoons,
salt flats with wonderful colours and just a few wild fauna of the
zone.
On this drive is nice to visit
Talabre, Camar
and Socaire
villages, Miscanti,
Miniques and
Tuyajto
lagoons, also Aguas
Calientes and El
Laco Salt Flat.
By Talabre
village you can go to Lascar
active volcano and Lejia
Lagoon for to continue by an old international road to Argentina
(Huatiquina Pass).
Going by El Laco salt flat to Argentina
exist the police and SAG (Servicio Agricola y Ganadero) border control
and 10 kms. after (Sico) you find Gendarmeria Argentina where you
do your custom obligations.
Have to think that you only have available fuel in San Pedro de
Atacama. Coming back you have a nice view to Atacama Salt Flat and
local restaurant at Socaire village.
 INTERNATIONAL
ROUTE PASO JAMA
Excellent and only way to Bolivia by
Hito Cajon (km 45), for to continue right to Argentina
by Paso Jama (km 160). The firsi important village in Bolivia is
Uyuni
(Salt Flat of Uyuni) and by Argentina
is Salta
city.
Main international commercial transportation way of the zone to
the noreast of Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil (Mercosur).
Obligated custom duties only in San Pedro de Atacama.
Description
You go up ruggly to the altiplano for to find amazing volcanoes,
several colours lagoons, rivers that end up in salt flats with thousand
of flamingoes, strange rocks formation and a lot of wild fauna of
the zone.
During this driving is important to visit Quepiaco
River, where it starts Pujsa
Salt Flat (direction without road signals for to go
to Pili Volcano
6100 mt.). Exactly at km 100 you find strange rocks formation called
Pacana Monks
(moais) for to go to Salar
de Tara non indicated road signals. A little further
the Salar
Aguas Calientes beside
the Negra Lagoon
(small geysers). At km 165 is the border Chile Argentina (Paso
Jama). Ruggly end up the excellent road into a ground way,
5 kms. in front is the obligated custom Gendrmeria Argentina.
 RUTA
AL SALAR DE UYUNI
From San Pedro de Atacama you take the international road Paso
Jama, at km 45 you have an indicated desviation for 5 km
till the border Chile Bolivia. The route to Uyuni village is very
bad. It is important to ask for support to guides for to visit the
Salt Flat of Uyuni. Only bolivians companies has the main touristic
routes of the zone. Ask at the bolivian embassy for to get through
your vehicles to Bolivia.
Description
The roads are very bad and have few road indications, also with
altitudes over 4000mt. Sometimes because of the rain, the rivers
go high level and cut off temporary the roads. However is the most
impressive touristic road attending by the tourist of the bolivian
altiplano, for to meet with amazing landscape of incredible colours,
strange rocks formation, thousand of flamingoes and the best view
of the biggest salt flat of the world (Uyuni
Salt Flat).
Among the stops more recognized are:
The Verde,
Blanca, Colorada,
Cañapa, Honda
and Hedionda
Lagoons, the Sol de
Mañana Geyser, the Isla
del Pescado, the Licancabur
and Ollague
volcanoes, the Salt
Hotel and the villages of San
Juan, Colchani
and Uyuni.
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