1-day hiking tour in the Atacama Desert, Chile

Discover the beautiful Atacama Desert in a 1-day hiking tour from Machuca to Río Grande villages, led by a guide from the Vulcano Expediciones team.

Andes

1 Day

All year

Low

Beginner

Description

The Atacama Desert is one of the largest and driest in the world. It covers a strip of land of 1,000 km along the Pacific coast, west of the Chilean Andes. Due to its unique landscape and abundant activities on offer, the Atacama Desert has lately become Chile’s top touristic destination.

This tour is a great opportunity to explore the typical, magical scenery and wildlife of the Andean plateau. We will hike about 5 hours along the Peñaliri River, at a maximum altitude of 4,000 m, from Machuca to Rio Grande, one of the most remote villages in the area. Along the way, we will probably see wild alpacas, guanacos, ducks and flamingos feeding.

We will depart at 8AM in a vehicle from the town of San Pedro de Atacama (2,408m) to Machuca, 80 km north. Once we arrive at Río Grande mid-afternoon, we will drive back to San Pedro, arriving around 5PM.

Before joining this trip, for acclimatization purposes, we recommend spending at least 3 days in San Pedro de Atacama, participating in other expeditions.

Interested in this adventure? Book your tour now!

If you are looking for other expeditions in Atacama, check out the 1-day ascent to Lascar Volcano or the 2-day ascent to Licanbur.

Price includes

Guiding fee
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

Details

More info

You need to bring at least 2 liters of water, comfortable and light clothes, hiking shoes, a wind-proof jacket, a backpack, sunglasses and sunscreen.

Meeting point

San Pedro de Atacama

About the guide

Vulcano

4.6

(21)

Tour Operator

We are a company dedicated to the service of alternative tourism ADVENTURE AND SPORT for all those who love experiences that combine a fascinating place with different, varied activities and flavored adrenaline.

About lead guide, Christian Fernandez:

I’m originally from Argentina, but live in Chile since 1998. Now I’m settled in the north of Chile, in San Pedro de Atacama, beautiful town in the heart of the Andean section of the dry Atacama dessert.

From there I organize many expeditions to beautiful peaks on a weekly basis. I’ve done more than 300 high altitude ascents, and more than 25 peaks over 6000 metres.

I speak English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Languages

Portuguese | English

Request more information

What people are saying about Vulcano

Marc

We expected breakfast and lunch (as described in the explore share details about the tour) but get just a banana and a few bars.

Christine

we were supposed to be 2 and paid extra money and we ended up with 2 additional persons!

Hannes

Christian is an awesome guide! Had lots of fun!

Mirka

It looks that company even do not know, that the guide yesterday canceled my trip. He said because of precast of electric storm. Sice that moment nobody from the company did not answer my phone. Weather around San Pedro was very nice. Of cause I do not know haw was on Pili. Anyway, I am horribly disappointed. Mirka

This is an easy assent! I ended up paying $200 for a two hour experience and an apple and piece of chocolate ( lunch 😳) If you plan on doing this hike which I highly recommend, don’t book it with these guys - total rip off!! You can go with a group for about $70 if you book locally from San Pedro! It’s a beautiful view from the summit! It’s not even hard to get there ( they drive you most of the way!) My guide was lovely, great chat, nice person but trust me $200 is a massive massive massive rip off for this ‘experience’