Your Travel Experience with Galapagos PRO
Day 1
Arrival in Santiago de Chile
After your morning arrival, the tour guide will welcome you and take you to the hotel. In the afternoon, you will discover the city and visit the most important sights.
Overnight stay in the selected hotel category. B&B
Day 2
Santiago de Chile - Mendoza
Transfer to the city office of the rental car company (without tour guide), where you will pick up your rental car. Then drive over the Cristo Redentor Pass or through the tunnel at Las Cuevas to Argentina and continue on the Ruta 7 to Mendoza.
The journey takes around 358 km and about 5 hours.
Overnight stay in the selected hotel category. B&B
Day 3
Mendoza
Day at leisure. Discover Mendoza and visit the wineries in the area.
Overnight stay in the selected hotel category. B&B
Day 4
Mendoza - El Barreal
Drive north over a pass around 3,000 meters high and enjoy the view of the three seven-thousand-metre peaks Mercedario, Aconcagua and Tupungato. Continue via Uspallata to the oasis village of El Barreal. On the way, we recommend a detour to Chile to see the impressive Puente del Inca rock formation.
The journey takes around 215 km and about 4 hours.
Overnight stay in the selected hotel category. B&B
Day 5
El Barreal
Today you will travel to the beautiful Galingasta Valley, which lies at the foot of Mount Mercedario.
Overnight stay in the selected hotel category. B&B
Day 6
El Barreal - Ischigualasto Nationalpark - El Chiflón
The journey continues to the bizarre “Moon Valley” of Ischigualasto, where you can take part in a guided tour (bookable on site). The tour then continues to El Chiflón.
The journey takes around 400 km and about 7 hours.
Overnight stay in the selected hotel category. B&B
Day 7
El Chiflón - Talampaya Nationalpark - Nonogasta
After breakfast, you will drive to the impressive Talampaya National Park with its mighty rock faces and bizarre stone figures. You can book a guided tour on site. Then continue to Nonogasta.
Please note: The Ischigualasto and Talampaya national parks may only be explored with a park ranger. It is therefore necessary to book a guided tour on site for the 6th and 7th day.
The journey takes around 250 km and about 3 hours.
Overnight stay in the selected hotel category. B&B
Day 8
Nonogasta - Cafayate
The journey continues north along the Ruta 40 via Belén and Hualfín through the sand steppe of Pozuelos to Santa María. There you enter the province of Tucumán. Visit the ruins of the Quilmes culture before continuing on to Cafayate. The region is famous for its white wines and is one of the best wine-growing areas.
The journey takes around 495 km and about 7 hours.
Overnight stay in the selected hotel category. B&B
Day 9
Cafayate - Cachi
Continue on the Ruta 40 through the bizarre lunar landscape of the Quebrada de las Flechas, pass the village of Molinos and continue your journey north to Cachi.
The journey takes around 170 km and about 4-5 hours.
Overnight stay in the selected hotel category. B&B
Day 10
Cachi - Salta
The journey leads through the Los Cardones National Park and the spectacular Cuesta del Obispo down to Salta.
The journey takes around 160 km and about 2-3 hours.
Overnight stay in the selected hotel category. B&B
Day 11
Salta - Purmamarca
Start the day with a visit to the archaeological museum. In the afternoon, drive along the winding road that winds through the dense jungle to La Caldera and further north. In the Quebrada de Humahuaca, the route leads to Purmamarca, where the famous “Mountain of the Seven Colors” shines in breathtaking diversity against the deep blue sky.
The journey takes around 180 km and about 3 hours.
Overnight stay in the selected hotel category. B&B
Day 12
Purmamarca - San Pedro de Atacama
You follow the spectacular Cuesta de Lipán pass road up to the shimmering white Salinas Grandes (salt lakes). From there, you drive via Susques and the 4,400-metre-high Jama Pass down to San Pedro de Atacama in Chile, which lies at 2,440 meters.
The journey takes around 450 km and about 6-8 hours.
Overnight stay in the selected hotel category. B&B
Day 13
Mondtal - Salar de Atacama
In the morning, you will drive through the surreal-looking Moon Valley. In the afternoon, you will visit Chile's largest salt lake, the Salar de Atacama.
Overnight stay in the selected hotel category. B&B
Day 14
Atacama Desert
Plan a visit to the Rainbow Valley today or explore the Miñiques and Miscanti lagoons at an altitude of around 4,000 meters.
Overnight stay in the selected hotel category. B&B
Day 15
El Tatio Geysire
We recommend setting off before sunrise to the El Tatio geysers at an altitude of 4,300 meters. There you can admire the up to 10 meter high steam columns in the first light of day - an impressive natural spectacle. The journey takes approx. 94 km.
Overnight stay in the selected hotel category. B&B
San Pedro de Atacama - Calama
Drive to the airport in Calama and drop off your rental car.
The journey takes around 100 km and about 1-2 hours.
Return flight to Santiago de Chile
Flight to Santiago de Chile.