A Bespoke Journey Through
Chile & Bolivia
As this is a desert region, you can expect settled and sunny weather in any month. The Atacama Desert and Bolvian Salt Flats are an ideal destination in the southern hemisphere winter, from April to October, when the weather is mild and the skies are clear. Very occasional rain in the months between January and March can lead to dramatic and beautiful desert blooms but also flash flooding.
This length of time allows you to spend time in San Pedro de Atacama adjusting to the altitude and environment, enjoying the journey through the Altiplano, and also making the most of the experiences at Uyuni.
This itinerary is just a starting point for your luxury Chile and Bolivia holiday. At Journeysmiths, every journey is thoughtfully crafted around you - your interests, your pace, your idea of perfection. Let this inspire you, then get in touch to start designing something truly your own.
Highlights of Your Luxury Chile & Bolivia Itinerary
Unwind at an exclusive lodge in the Atacama Desert, with private guides and awe-inspiring stargazing beneath crystal-clear skies.
Discover sculpted red canyons and salt-encrusted cliffs with guided hikes or horseback rides through this surreal desert landscape.
Marvel at vivid lagoons dotted with flamingos, framed by towering volcanoes and mineral-rich plains on a high-altitude desert adventure.
Travel overland through remote mountain passes, steaming geysers, and vast wilderness on a thrilling bespoke journey across the Andes
Watch the sun melt into the world’s largest salt flat – a mesmerising moment of colour and silence in untamed Bolivia
Connect with local culture through visits to remote Bolivian villages and markets, guided by your expert private driver.
From desert domes to salt flats, enjoy world-class stargazing and deep tranquillity, far from light pollution and modern distraction.
This journey is tailor-made to your style – whether slow-paced and scenic or active, immersive, and rich in discovery.
“I believe that discovery never properly comes to anyone who stays still. We need a journey with a purpose and a dreamlike destination that can be reached with some effort. Along the way, there’ll always be fascinating waypoints to be discovered. The Atacama and the Altiplano will teach you not to stay where you are but to head out into new territory.”
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An Oasis in the Atacama, Chile
This is the cool oasis that serves as the gateway to this amazing trip, and there’s no better place to adjust to the altitude and low humidity than in the four linked pools of Explora’s luxury desert lodge on the outskirts of town.
Refreshed, you’ll then want to wander the pathways around ancient buildings in more than 17 hectares of surrounding grounds before coming back to an evening festival of Andean music on the patio of an adobe house. In the clear desert air at 2,407 metres, the lodge’s observatory is an unmissable perk.
Time for Desert Forays in Chile
The first couple of days here present opportunities to venture out into the canyons of the La Sal and Domeyko mountain ranges to experience and get accustomed to the desert. In town, there are two fascinating museums: one devoted to the archaeology of the ancient Atacama civilisations and the other to meteorites.
Also within reach are the Puritama hot springs, where the warm pools lie in a canyon floor surrounded by swaying golden fountain grasses. If you can’t wait for the salt flats of Bolivia, Salar de Atacama is another possible excursion.
Our journey with Journeysmiths went beyond our expectations. The planning process was thorough, and the team provided valuable insights and recommendations. The destinations were breathtaking, and the personalized touches made us feel special. We couldn't have asked for a better travel partner.
Atacama and the Border with Bolivia
Having climbed more than 2,000 metres to an altitude as high as the peaks of the Alps, you’ll be in the realm of Sol de la Mañana, a field of geysers, fumaroles and geothermal pools. The mosaic of salt flats, wetlands and lagoons reveals further marvels, such as the great flocks of flamingos. Under the vivid blue dome of the high-altitude sky, the intensity of their pink plumage is almost implausible.
Astonishing too are the rock formations, some of which are so monumental that they are called ‘cathedrals’. They have certainly existed longer than any church made by humans.
Bolivia’s Altiplano
A modern but temporary building such as Chituca is just the latest page in a chapter of human involvement in this seemingly inhospitable landscape. Ancient petroglyphs and shepherd shelters remind us that people have ventured here, and colourful quinoa plantations show that the Altiplano has many uses.
Jewel-like lagoons dot the Altiplano, including mysterious Laguna Turquiri, with its towering rock formations and pincushion yareta plants lining its shores. Known sometimes as Laguna Negra – the Black Lake – it is also home to endemic black ducks and many other bird species.
Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats, Bolivia
The view of the salt flats from Explora’s luxury Uyuni Lodge on the slopes of Tunupa volcano is extraordinary. From here, there are excursions out onto the flats in vehicles, on foot and by bike, perhaps to one of the cactus-clad islands that rise out of the salt.
A trek up the volcano to over 5,400 metres is a challenge that many will relish. You’ll only get higher when you fly out from Uyuni airport.
Tips from the Team
- This itinerary can also be fitted into 10 days, with one fewer day in San Pedro de Atacama.
- Combine this amazing trip with another one in South America. Perhaps consider Explora’s Patagonia Lodge, or even Easter Island at Explora’s Rapa Nui Lodge.
- You’ll fall in love with Chile if you stay for a few days in a vineyard hotel in the Wineland region. Consider the extraordinary Vik Chile.
- For a dose of culture, consider enjoying one of the many sophisticated hotels in Santiago. With great views from its rooftop pool, you can’t beat The Singular.
- Make the most of all parts of this journey to enjoy incredible stargazing. The area round San Pedro has several international observatories, including the European Southern Observatory. The Chituca Lodge has a great binocular telescope.
Other Places to Stay
Consider extending your trip by staying in one of these luxury locations around ChileConsider extending your trip by staying in one of these luxury locations around Chile
The Singular Santiago is an urban boutique hotel in the very centre of the lively Chilean capital. The outside of the building has a definite grandeur and an almost palace-like feel. Once you enter, however, it’s clear every effort has been made to make you feel both relaxed and comfortable.
As it was the very first luxury hotel to open in Patagonia, Explora Torres del Paine is an undeniable part of South American history. It is also a place of polished expertise when helping guests to get the most out of its impressive location. It is the only luxury hotel in the area to be open year-round, so it is ideal for a cozy winter interlude.
Explora Rapa Nui Hotel is the perfect base from which to discover the secrets and exquisite charm of remote Easter Island. This hotel aims to link man to the mysteries of nature, and it does it in style and luxury.
Vik Chile is a stunning avant-garde retreat and spa, perched on a lakeside hilltop with views over its vines towards the towering Andes Mountains.
Explora Lodge sits within a rugged landscape crisscrossed with fast flowing mountain rivers and dotted with photogenic lakes. Owners Douglas and Kristine Tompkins, who first came here almost 30 years ago, have created one of the most beautiful, peaceful places to stay in Patagonia.
Vira Vira is a relaxed yet luxurious lodge located in Chile's picturesque Lake District. Surrounded by dramatic landscapes of glacial lakes, snowy-tipped volcanoes and lush rainforests, Vira Vira is perfectly positioned for exploration and adventure.
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