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Santiago and San Pedro de Atacama

Santiago & San Pedro de Atacama 7 days / 6 nights
Multi-destination
Santiago and San Pedro de Atacama — photo 1

A seven-day journey across Chile that pairs the capital with the Atacama desert, linked by a domestic flight.

It opens with three nights in Santiago, with a panoramic city tour of the historic centre and the modern eastern districts, and a full day on the coast at Valparaíso and Viña del Mar, taking in Pablo Neruda's La Sebastiana, the hillside quarters and the seaside gardens. A flight from Santiago to Calama then leads to three nights in San Pedro de Atacama, where an afternoon in the Valle de la Luna ends with sunset over the Cordillera de la Sal, and a pre-dawn excursion reaches the Geysers del Tatio at 4,200 m before returning through the village of Machuca. Accommodation is offered in three categories, from Turista Superior to Lujo.

Highlights

Santiago city tour: La Moneda, the Plaza de Armas, Cerro Santa Lucía and Barrio Lastarria
Valparaíso and Viña del Mar, with Pablo Neruda's La Sebastiana and the Museo Fonck moái
Valle de la Luna and the Mirador de Licanantay at sunset
Geysers del Tatio geothermal field at 4,200 m
The village of Machuca and the bofedales de Putana
Domestic flight Santiago – Calama for San Pedro de Atacama

Day-by-day itinerary

Day1

Day 1: Arrival in Santiago

Private transfer from Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL) to the selected hotel in Santiago. The drive takes about 30 to 45 minutes over some 20 km to the city centre, depending on the hotel location and traffic, in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle.
Day2

Day 2: Santiago city tour

After breakfast, a panoramic city tour of Santiago in semi-private service (minimum 2 travellers), from about 08:30 to 14:00. From the hotel it takes in the contrasts between the historic centre and the modern eastern sector: Avenida Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins (the Alameda) and the neoclassical Palacio de La Moneda; the Plaza de Armas with the Cathedral, the Correo Central and the Municipalidad de Santiago; the ascent of Cerro Santa Lucía; the Parque Forestal, the Museo de Bellas Artes and Barrio Lastarria; crossing the Mapocho river to Barrio Bellavista; and the eastern districts of Providencia, Las Condes and Vitacura, with the Parque Bicentenario, before returning to the hotel.
Day3

Day 3: Valparaíso and Viña del Mar

After breakfast, a full-day excursion to the coast in semi-private service (minimum 2 travellers), from about 08:30 to 17:00. Crossing the Curacaví and Casablanca valleys, it reaches Valparaíso for its views from natural viewpoints and a photo stop at La Sebastiana, the house-museum of Pablo Neruda (entrance not included). It continues through the historic quarters, riding a traditional funicular and walking the Alegre and Concepción hills, the Paseo Yugoslavo and the Paseo Atkinson. In Viña del Mar it takes in the Casino, the Reloj de Flores (flower clock), the Museo Fonck —home to the only Easter Island moái on the mainland— and the Quinta Vergara, before returning to Santiago.
Day4

Day 4: Santiago – San Pedro de Atacama

After breakfast, private transfer from the hotel in Santiago to Arturo Merino Benítez Airport (SCL) for the domestic flight to Calama. On arrival at El Loa Airport (CJC), transfer to the selected hotel in San Pedro de Atacama — about 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes over some 100 km across the Atacama desert, a scenic altiplano drive.
Day5

Day 5: Valle de la Luna

Afternoon excursion (PM service) from the hotel to the Valle de la Luna and the Mirador de Licanantay, in the Cordillera de la Sal within the Atacama desert. It takes in the Tres Marías, the Cañón, the Anfiteatro, the Victoria salt mine and the great dune, ending with sunset from the Mirador de Licanantay as the desert changes colour beneath the volcanoes. About 14:30 to 18:30, in semi-private service (minimum 2, maximum 15 travellers). Not recommended for pregnant women, people with heart conditions or children under 8.
Day6

Day 6: Geysers del Tatio, Machuca and Vado de Putana

Pre-dawn excursion from the hotel to the Geysers del Tatio geothermal field at 4,200 m: the largest geyser field in the southern hemisphere, with around 80 geysers and their columns of steam, explored for about an hour and a half. The return crosses the Andes, with the high-altitude wetlands (bofedales) of Machuca and the Vados de Putana, ending in the village of Machuca. About 04:30 to 12:00, in shared service by minibus (maximum 30 travellers, no minimum). Not recommended for pregnant women, people with heart conditions or children under 8.
Day7

Day 7: Departure

Transfer from the hotel in San Pedro de Atacama to El Loa Airport (CJC), Calama — about 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes over some 100 km across the Atacama desert — for your departure flight.

Suggested hotels

Hampton by Hilton Santiago Las Condes
Standard
Las Condes

Turista Superior category option in Santiago (3 nights).

Hot buffet breakfast Restaurant Gym Rooftop with jacuzzi 24-hour reception Minimarket
Manquehue Metro Station (50 m) Parque Araucano (10-min walk) Parque Arauco Costanera Center
La Casa de Don Tomás
Standard
San Pedro de Atacama

Turista Superior category option in San Pedro de Atacama (3 nights).

Outdoor pool Garden À la carte restaurant Buffet breakfast Free WiFi
Plaza de Armas of San Pedro de Atacama (under 10-min walk) Gustavo Le Paige Archaeological Museum (under 10-min walk) Valle de la Luna (short distance by excursion) San Pedro de Atacama
Pullman Santiago Vitacura
Superior
Vitacura

Primera Superior category option in Santiago (3 nights).

Outdoor pool Gym Mediterranean restaurant 8 meeting rooms Underground parking Free WiFi
Club de Golf Los Leones (across from the hotel) Costanera Center (~2.5 km) Arturo Merino Benítez Airport (~18 km) Vitacura
Cumbres San Pedro
Superior
San Pedro de Atacama

Primera Superior category option in San Pedro de Atacama (3 nights).

DoubleTree by Hilton Santiago Kennedy
Luxury
Vitacura

Lujo category option in Santiago (3 nights).

Outdoor pool Spa Gym Mediterranean restaurant Terrace Garden
Parque Bicentenario (~2 km) Costanera Center (~3 km) Arturo Merino Benítez Airport (~18 km) Vitacura
Noi Casa Atacama
Luxury
San Pedro de Atacama

Lujo category option in San Pedro de Atacama (3 nights).

Two pool areas Restaurant Bar Local-products shop Free WiFi
San Pedro de Atacama square (1-min walk) Iglesia de San Pedro (nearby) Valle de la Luna (short distance by excursion) San Pedro de Atacama
Essential, Premium and Luxury categories available. Final accommodation is confirmed by date and availability.

What's included

Included: Accommodation in the listed hotels or similar of the same category (6 nights: 3 in Santiago, 3 in San Pedro de Atacama)
Included: Daily breakfast and hotel taxes where applicable
Included: Airport–hotel–airport transfers
Included: Santiago panoramic city tour in semi-private service
Included: Valparaíso and Viña del Mar excursion in semi-private service
Included: Valle de la Luna excursion in semi-private service
Included: Geysers del Tatio, Machuca and Vado de Putana excursion in shared service
Included: Amenities: a bottle of wine per reservation and a power adapter

What's not included

Not included: International and domestic airfare (including the Santiago–Calama flight)
Not included: Airport and tourism taxes and visa fees
Not included: VAT (IVA 19%) on hotel rates where applicable
Not included: Meals not mentioned in the programme
Not included: Drinks unless explicitly stated
Not included: Tips and gratuities (porters, restaurants, guides and drivers)
Not included: Entrance fees not mentioned (for example, La Sebastiana)
Not included: Personal expenses and optional services
Not included: Travel insurance
Not included: Anything not expressly mentioned as included

Booking & policies

Are the prices shown net or retail?

Rates are net (wholesale) and reserved for travel agencies and tour operators, who sign in to see them and add their own margin. Public visitors see an indicative retail “from” price; the net rate is never shown outside the agency portal.

How is a booking confirmed?

Most bookings are confirmed immediately and the voucher is emailed within minutes. When a service shows “In process”, RUMBO LIBRE is confirming final availability with the receptive operator at destination — usually within 24 to 48 business hours.

What is the cancellation policy?

Cancellations follow Clause 7 of the Terms: more than 30 days before the service, no penalty and a full refund; 15 to 30 days, 25%; 8 to 14 days, 50%; 3 to 7 days, 75%; less than 72 hours before commencement or a no-show, 100%. Certain destinations — Patagonia, the Amazon region and high-demand dates in peak season — apply stricter terms, stated in the quotation. The schedule above is indicative: the conditions that apply to each booking are those confirmed in the quotation, and may be stricter in high season, on public holidays or where a supplier applies its own policy.

Can dates or passenger names be changed after confirmation?

Amendment requests must reach RUMBO LIBRE at least 72 business hours before the service begins. Changes are managed with the receptive operator subject to availability, and any resulting rate difference applies. For private services, a name change may require re-issuing the booking at the current rate.