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Highlights
Experience one of the best overland tours in Chile and Argentina
Drive far, far into the Atacama Desert of Argentina and Chile, discovering a landscape unique from anywhere else.
Watch pink flamingos pick their way through great salty lakes, taking to the sky in pastel flocks.
Visit dramatic gorges, wide plateaus, museums, and sputtering geothermal geysers.
Stay in far-flung cities and towns, discovering what life in this unique region is really like.
The Atacama Desert Overland Tour lets you explore the spectacular Atacama Desert which is the driest non-polar desert in the world, lining the Pacific coast and the Andes Mountains. Used as an experimentation site for Mars-bound equipment, you’ll feel like you’re on another planet every day on the overland tour in Argentina and Chile.
This Atacama Desert driving tour takes you to valleys, gorges, and plateaus like you’ve never seen. Watch steam billow out of geothermal geysers, walk the shores of vast salt lakes and across salt flats, and see the evidence of millions of years of water and wind erosion in dramatic formations. End the days observing flocks of flamingos as the sun sets. With stays in unique desert towns, you’ll feel far away from your normal life on the Overland Across the Atacama Desert tour!
The Atacama Desert Overland Tour lets you explore the spectacular Atacama Desert which is the driest non-polar desert in the world, lining the Pacific coast and the Andes Mountains. Used as an experimentation site for Mars-bound equipment, you’ll feel like you’re on another planet every day on the overland tour in Argentina and Chile.
This Atacama Desert driving tour takes you to valleys, gorges, and plateaus like you’ve never seen. Watch steam billow out of geothermal geysers, walk the shores of vast salt lakes and across salt flats, and see the evidence of millions of years of water and wind erosion in dramatic formations. End the days observing flocks of flamingos as the sun sets. With stays in unique desert towns, you’ll feel far away from your normal life on the Overland Across the Atacama Desert tour!
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Atacama Desert Overland Tour itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Salta
Your Atacama Desert driving adventure begins in Salta, the capital city of the province of the same name. You’ll spend the afternoon on a walking tour of the colonial buildings, bustling streets, and pretty churches. You’ll make a stop at the High Mountain Archaeology Museum, seeing the “Children of Llullaillaco,” one of the most important archaeological findings of recent years.
Note: The Town Hall and the MAAM close on Mondays. San Miguel ‘s Market closes on
Sundays. The itinerary could be modified.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Salta
Meals: None
Day 2 Calchaquies Valleys and Los Cardones National Park
Today on this overland tour in Argentina and Chile is all about the natural beauty just outside of Salta. Drive to explore the Calchaquies Valleys, Los Cardones National Park, the Del Obispo Slope, Tin Tin Straight, and the Cachi and De Las Flechas gorges. Make sure you’ve got your camera charged!
Note: Pablo Díaz Museum closes on Mondays.
You’ll spend the night in Cafayate.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Cafayate
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 Free time in Cafayate and Back to Salta
Sleep in a bit or spend a little longer enjoying breakfast today, as you’ll enjoy a relaxed morning before heading back to Salta in the afternoon.
Note: The Vine and Wine Museum closes on Mondays.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Salta
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 San Antonio de los Cobres and Purmamarca
Early this morning, hop in the van and begin a drive along the Del Toro Gorge in Jujuy province. Stop in San Antonio de los Cobres for a stretch, then continue along the puna (plateau) to Salinas Grandes Salt Flat, a scene out of a movie.
After marvelling at the salt flat, it’s on to Purmamarca for the evening. The De los Siete Colores Hill is nearby, and it’s a scenic spot to admire as the sun sets.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Purmamarca
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 Humahuaca Gorge
Spend the morning exploring Jujuy province, an area defined by unusual rock formations. Get to know the Humahuaca Gorge, a Cultural and National Heritage Site.
Return to Purmamarca at the end of an adventurous day.
Note: There is an optional extension to visit Hornocal (De los Catorce Colores Hill) available, please enquire for more information.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Purmamarca
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 Travel to San Pedro de Atacama
Early today, begin your drive to San Pedro de Atacama. Enjoy the scenery of the desert passing by as you approach your hotel for the night,
Overnight Location: Hotel in San Pedro de Atacama
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 Atacama Salt Flats and Chaxa Lagoon
Spend this day of the Atacama Desert Overland Tour strolling the otherworldly Atacama Salt Flats, a wide partially-evaporated salt lake surrounded by red mountains. Watch out for flamingos here! Next up is Chaxa Lagoon, another favourite spot for local flamingos- fittingly, as it’s part of Los Flamencos National Reserve.
Watch the sunset at De la Luna Valley before turning in for the night.
Overnight Location: Hotel in San Pedro de Atacama
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 El Tatio Geysers
Rise early and grab your coffee before heading out to the El Tatio Geysers, the highest geothermal field in the world. Watch the steam fumaroles produced by the scorching craters, a crazy sight!
Tonight it’s back to San Pedro de Atacama.
Overnight Location: Hotel in San Pedro de Atacama
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9 Travel to Salta
After breakfast, it’s back to Salta. Savour your last few hours cruising through the Atacama Desert.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Salta
Meals: Breakfast
Day 10 Tour Concludes
On your final day of your overlanding in Chile and Argentina, you can spend your time as you please before it’s time to head to the airport. Adios!
Overnight Location: None
Meals: Breakfast
Atacama Desert Overland Tour Price and Dates
This guided overland tour in Argentina is run either as a private tour for your group only, or a shared tour for a mixed group and the price depends on the number of participants, the time of year, and whether you prefer a private or shared tour.Prices below are per person.
Departures between April and June
Private Tour
- Guided groups of 2 in double rooms: from USD3920 per person*
Accommodation on the Atacama Desert Overland Tour
This tour is based in hotels. Standard tour offers 3-star accommodation, but you can upgrade to 4 or 5-star hotels for an extra charge. Please reach out to us for more information on all your hotel options and an accurate quote.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
Rooms are double occupancy. If you would prefer a single room where available or you are a solo traveller, the required supplements are included in the listed prices.
What’s Included in the Overland Across the Atacama Desert Tour?
Meals
9 breakfasts are included.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 9 nights are included. Accommodations before or after the tour are not included but can be added as a supplement.
Transportation during the Tour
Transfers according to the itinerary are included. Transfers upon arrival and for departure are included. Luggage transfers are also included.
Also Included
- Guide services
- Museum and reserve tickets
Not included
- Flights
- Meals, drinks, or snacks not previously mentioned
- Gratuities
- Travel insurance
- Optional excursions
- Visas if required
- Anything not mentioned as included
Optional Extras
- Optional activities or excursions
- Additional nights before or after the tour
- How hard is the Overland Across the Atacama Desert tour?
- Do I need a visa to travel to Argentina or Chile?
- Are meals included on the Overland Across the Atacama Desert tour?
- Do I need insurance?
- How do I get to Salta to start this tour?
- Is the Overland Across the Atacama Desert tour in English?
- Where does the Overland Across the Atacama Desert tour end?
- Do I need special vaccines to travel to Argentina or Chile?
- Are there any travel restrictions for Argentina or Chile?
- When is the best time to travel to Argentina for this tour?
We rate this tour as a 2/5. This is an overland tour with only light daily walking required. However, you’ll be spending time at very high elevations (up to 4,400m!) which will make the walks feel harder than they are.
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.
9 breakfasts are included.
Yes, it is mandatory to have health and medical insurance to join this trip. Get your Travel Insurance.
You can fly into Martín Miguel De Güemes International Airport (SLA), where you will be picked up by your guide to begin your tour.
Yes, your drivers will be English-speaking.
The tour ends in Salta, where you will be dropped off at the airport.
Check with your family doctor.
Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.
The best time to visit Argentina for this tour is between November and February when the weather is at its warmest.
Customer Ratings
In EUROTUR we have been creating memorable trips since 1954 as one of the leading inbound DMCs for Argentina & South America, with our head office located in Buenos Aires, with branch offices in Patagonia (El Calafate and Ushuaia) and the Northwest (Salta city).
During our almost 7 decades of experience, we have been offering our clients a wide variety of products from luxury tours to expeditions and from traditional to unconventional voyages. Our travel experts are divided in specialized teams (Tailor Made, FITs, Groups, MICE) and work passionately to design innovative tours for passengers to enjoy each of our destinations in a different and interesting way, as well as provide constant support throughout their trip to guarantee an unforgettable journey. “Local knowledge, Team work and Permanent Training” are our trademarks in the industry.
We are members of WTTC, LATA, USTOA and ICCA just to name a few.
Argentina is a vast country gifted with natural contrasts and wonders! It is a place filled with unchartered land, open nature, culture, gastronomy, adventure, passion, experiences and so much more!
Travel with the experts! Travel with EUROTUR!
In EUROTUR we have been creating memorable trips for almost 7 decades. We are one of the leading inbound DMC for Argentina & South America with offices in Buenos Aires, Patagonia and the Northwest.
We work passionately to design innovative tours for passengers to experience each of our destination in a different and interesting way as well as provide constant support throughout the trip to guarantee an unforgettable journey.
Travel with the experts! Travel with EUROTUR!
