day 1: Calama – Chiu Chiu
(altitude 2525m)

Meet & greet at 13:00hrs at the airport of Calama. Your trip leader Paul will be waiting for you at the airport). Transfer to the village of Chiu Chiu by minibus. (1-hour drive). Check-in at the guesthouse in Chiu Chiu. We will have lunch in a local restaurant and stroll along the typical Atacama village. Night in guesthouse.

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day 2 : Chiu Chiu – Puente del Diablo

After breakfast and before getting onto our horses we visit the oldest church of Chile, the church of San Lucas of Chiu Chiu, build in 1600.  Time to ride, so we leave the village behind us and set off with a trot towards the lake Laguna Inka Coya. From there we follow the riverbed of Rio Salado, climbing all the will till Puente del Diablo (devils bridge), a natural bridge over the narrowest point of the canyon of the river Salado. It is here in the plains next to the river bed that we will set up our camp. One million stars to look at!... Some prefer to sleep in the tent, some prefer to sleep in the open air to fall asleep looking at the milky way.

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day 3 : Puente del Diablo - Turi
(altitude 3100m)

Nothing is more spectacular than waking up in the desert. After coffee and a good breakfast at the campsite, we mount our criollo horses and continue our desert expedition. We ride along the river Rio Salado and follow part of the pilgrim route of the Virgin Ayquinas. The mighty volcanoes San Pedro, San Pablo, and Paniri are watching us from nearby. We continue along the canyon where we probably come across herds of lamas and goats until we reach the vast plains of Turi (3,100mts). We arrive at the foot of pucará Turi where we set up camp.

 

day 4 : Turi – Caspana

(altitude 3600m)

What about having on early bath in the natural mineral baths of Turi who offer you comfortable swim before getting in the saddle. We ride and visit the Pucara of Turi, the largest fortress built by the Atacameño people. We continue our expedition to Caspana and visit this typical village. This village is surrounded by a fertile valley where we see its many terraced crops and fruit trees. The village has only 400 inhabitants and the houses are built in liparita clay (400 inhabitants), we can visit the Church built in 1641 which is declared a national monument. Overnight in camp.

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day 5 :  Caspana – Turcapo 

Early wake up, as we have a long day of riding today. We leave the village of Caspana and climb the dizzying rocky landscape following an Inca trail until we reach a high plateau. We continue our ride in a southeasterly direction passing at the foot of the mountains of Cablor. After four hours of riding, we arrive at the Chita mountain. We follow our path to the top of the plateau where we ride for about four more hours with a breathtaking view of all the peaks and volcanoes surrounding us. At the end of our day, we descend a long slope that leads us to the bottom of a huge and very rugged canyon with small salt flats. We visit one of the few locals who live in a natural cave and continue to ride in the canyon till we reach Turcapo. We set up camp in a corral of local villagers.