The Cacti of Chile Tour

A comprehensive tour for the cactus obsessed, this 15 day/14 night journey begins in Calama, and ends in Santiago de Chile.

TOUR DETAILS

Tour Interest: Exotic flora including cactus, bromeliads and other succulents, geology, history, culture exchange
Tour Type and Mode: Overland, all inclusive
Tour Duration: 15 days – 14 nights
Group tour Dates: September 1st – 15th 2024. Private tours run on request all year.
Starts/Ends: Starts in San Pedro de Atacama, ends in Santiago de Chile
Difficulty: Easy to moderate, activities can be adjusted depending on fitness level
Best time to Go: September – November to see the most plants in flower
Price: $4,980 USD per person. All inclusive. Single Occupancy $550 USD. See payment options below.

Featured plant families and genera:

More than 65 different Chilean cactus species and other exotics, including;

Copiapoa: cinerea, cinerea ssp. columna-alba, solaris, kranziana, gigantea (haseltoniana), rupestris, hypogaea, atacamensis, humilis, laui, dealbata, longistaminea, calderana, griseoviolacea, echinoides, coquimbana and more.

Eriyosyce: aurata, esmeraldana, rodentiophila, villosa, chilensis, taltalensis, napina, odieri, malleolata, krausii, subgibbosa, henrichiana, curvispina (+ various subspecies) + many more.

Eulychnia: saint-pieana, acida, breviflora, taltalensis, chorrosensis, iquiquensis, castanea + more. Leucostele (Trichocereus/Echinopsis): atacamensis, deserticola, coquimbanus, litorales and chiloensis. Soehrensia formosa, Miqueliopuntia miquelii, Oreocereus leucotrichus, Maihueniopsis camachoi, crassispina, ovata, Cumulopuntia boliviana.

*Other Exotics: Euphorbia lactiflua, thinophila and copiapina (Euphorbiaceae). Dioscorea fastigata. Deuterocohnia chrysantha and various Puya chilensis, alpestris, boliviana, berteroniana, and various Tillandsia species (Bromeliaceae). Azorella compacta (Apiaceae). Many endemic members of the Amaryllidaceae family. Alstroemeria species and Bomarea ovallei (Alstroemeriaceae). Jubaea chilensis The Chilean Wine Palm (Arecaceae) + other wild flowers and much more!

Featured fauna:

Chilean and Andean Flamingo, Chilean Fox, Puna Rhea, Guanaco, Vicuna, Llama, Variable Hawk

Included activities requiring park entry fees:

Salar de Atacama, Geysers el Tatio, Pan de Azucar National Park, Llanos de Challe National Park, Valle del Encanto, Bioparque Puquen, La Campana National Park

Daily Itinerary

Day-1: Pick up at Calama Airport – transfer to San Pedro de Atacama
Day-2: San Pedro de Atacama – San Pedro de Atacama
Day-3: San Pedro de Atacama – Antofagasta
Day-4: Antofagasta – Taltal
Day-5: Taltal – Taltal
Day-6: Taltal – Chanaral
Day-7: Chanaral – Chanaral
Day-8: Chanaral – Caldera
Day-9: Caldera – Huasco
Day-10: Huasco – Huasco
Day-11: Huasco – La Serena
Day-12: La Serena – Pichidangui
Day-13: Pichidangui – Los Andes
Day-14: Los Andes – Santiago
Day-15: Santiago – Airport Transfer

What’s Included?

All private transportation, transfers, road-tolls and excursions from the beginning to the end your tour. Bilingual English/Spanish speaking guide. Admission fees to all nature reserves. Accommodation on a twin/double basis. All breakfasts, box-lunches, dinners. One non-alcoholic drink with dinner. Fresh water in the vehicle during field trips. All meal inclusions will begin from dinner on day one, to breakfast on day fifteen. Your full time tour leader will be your primary contact, accompanying you from your airport pick up to departure.

What’s Not Included?

International and domestic airfares, airport and visa taxes. Tips to guides, drivers, hotel & restaurant staff etc. Alcoholic drinks or extra drinks with meals and at other times during the tour. Personal travel and medical insurance. Souvenirs. Medicines. SIM cards and internet. Anything not specified under “What’s included?”

Arrival and Departure

We recommend you arrive to Calama Airport – CJC and depart from Santiago International Airport – SCL. It is advisable that you arrive at least one day before your tour begins so we can leave on time on the first day. Please contact us if you have any questions about our tours or need assistance with planning.

Deposits

To secure your group tour booking, please make a deposit of 30% of the overall price via bank transfer (transfer details provided upon request) or via PayPal to cactusexplorertours@gmail.com. We are happy to split any bank transfer costs 50/50 with you. Full payments must be made via bank transfer required no later than 60 days before your tour departure when we will also send specifications of what you need to bring for your trip. We look forward to guiding you in Chile!

Contact us directly for private tours and prices.