- Ship
- 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners
On your first day in Antofagasta explore the city during the morning. Antofagasta is a refined blend of traditional Chilean town and British colonial city. See the Huanchaca Ruins and during a walking tour, visit the Plaza Colón and the Regional Museum with its overview of the saltpetre industry and how it affected the region. The final destination is La Portada, an enormous rock caressed by the sea and sand until a giant arch formed, before heading back to the ship for lunch.
In the afternoon enjoy some walks and hikes in the National Reserve La Chimba to see how plants and animals have adopted to life in the coastal desert and mountains. During your second day venture inland to see remains of Chile’s mining and saltpetre activities of the early 20th century. Driving east, reach the ghost town or oficina of “Chacabuco”. Although the town existed for a period of less than 15 years, it had been designed for 5,000 miners and had its own theater. The town became quite famous and was declared a Historic Monument in 1971, only to be used as a concentration camp two years later. Some of the buildings like the former theater have been restored with the help of the German Embassy and a saltpetre museum has been added. Another stop is made at the former railroad junction of Baquedano, where the old railroad station has been declared a Historic Monument and several of the old locomotives, wagons, the building to overhaul the engines and a small museum can be seen.
Optional overland excursion to visit the Atacama Desert — one of the driest places on earth:
Depart early for the five-hour ride to the charming adobe village of San Pedro de Atacama. Once you reach San Pedro have a look at the small church, a Historic Monument, and continue to the hotel grounds to have lunch. During the afternoon visit the archaeological site of Tulor. This former village complex has dates going back to the fourth century BC and circular walls and vaults are a typical architectural feature. Afterwards head to Valle de la Luna. In this unique lunar landscape observe numerous rock formations jutting out of the sand, eroded by wind into incredible shapes. At a lookout, enjoy a special cheese and wine tasting. Back at your hotel have dinner with live Andean music.
On your second day in the Atacama Desert visit the 740 km² “Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos” in the extensive Atacama Salt Flat - at 3,000 km² it's the third-largest salt flat in the world. During your drive to Chaxa lagoon you might see Puna plovers, yellow-billed teals, Andean avocets and Chilean and Andean flamingos. The Andean flamingos that migrate between Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina use this area as one of their most important breeding grounds. Returning to the hotel, a photo stop can be made at the Tropic of Capricorn crossing. The excursion ends in time to have dinner aboard Silver Explorer.