Our flight from Santiago went north to the city of Calama and then it was over an hour by van to the small town San Pedro de Atacama. Ironically, in Patagonia we never were very far above sea level but here we were at 8000' elevation. This desert is reportedly the driest place on earth. After a week in Patagonia with nothing but good weather, that trend was a given here. San Pedro is a small town of low structures, muted tones and narrow dirt roads.
It was a low-key day, which I appreciated since acclimating to the altitude would get things off to a good start. Our accommodations at Terrantai Lodge were quite nice. An internet connection enabled us to check on the rest of the world after a week away. I would call that a mixed blessing.
An afternoon excursion to ancient ruins included the Tulor village and the fortress Pukara de Quitor. These structures date back to about 800 AD. The altitude was obvious to me as we climbed to the top of Pukara. It wasn't much of a problem for Margie, who lives at 5000.' Our final stop was the archaeological museum in town, which helped give a context to the ruins.
We were referred by a satisfied client and the booking of the trip was everything we wanted to do, and they listened to the types of hotels, sightseeing, etc. we wanted to do.
Jan S
1 week ago
Rapa Nui was on my bucket list for a long time so I worried that it would not meet my expectations. Our tour could not have been better. Our guide was knowledgeable and professional with an understanding of the island that made it come alive. I would and have recommended this trip to everyone that will listen.
elisa wright
3 weeks ago
Mary Curry is the BEST! I have worked with her for multiple family trips for over 10 years, and she is responsive, works within your preferences and budget, has great suggestions and has personal travel experience at many of the locations. We prefer active family vacations and Adventure Life and Mary Curry make sure that is what we get!
Heather Spanbauer
1 month ago
My tour operator was helpful. Unfortunately she was unable to get my single-supplement canceled. Not too many tours charge for that anymore and I almost canceled my trip because of that.
Joel
2 months ago
Excellent communication and coordination for our proposed trip. It couldn't have been smoother, and any question we did have was rapidly addressed. It has made the whole process nearly seamless.