Bike and Hike in Atacama Desert

Explore the hidden corners of the driest desert in the world on this five-day guided bike and hike adventure based in San Pedro de Atacama, northern Chile. Riding a hard-tail mountain bike or gravel bike, you'll pedal past ancestral farming hamlets into Moon Valley, cross the vast Atacama Salt Flat to lagoons where flamingos gather, and ride from the remote village of Río Grande to the vivid mineral layers of Rainbow Valley.

Time off the saddle is just as memorable. Hike among century-old cacti in Guatín Valley before soaking in the Puritama hot springs, enjoy breakfast beside the steaming El Tatio Geysers, then descend by bike from Machuca back to San Pedro. Evenings bring an Atacameño food tasting, stargazing grounded in Likan Antai cosmovision and a farewell dinner. Four nights at Hotel Casa de Don Tomás, a professional guide and full vehicle support round out this high-altitude escape.

Highlights:

• Riding the Atacama Salt Flat to the Chaxa, Cejar and Tebenquinche lagoons and their flamingos
• Breakfast at the El Tatio Geysers, the world's third largest geothermal field, then a downhill ride from Machuca
• Cacti Valley hike in Guatín and a soak in the Puritama hot springs
• Moon Valley and the colourful mineral layers of Rainbow Valley
• Stargazing under some of the clearest night skies on the planet
• Atacameño food tasting and an encounter with the Likan Antai indigenous community

Surface and terrain:
Off-road desert riding across salt crusts, clay ridges and rugged valleys, suited to a hard-tail MTB or gravel bike. All riding is at high altitude (2,300 m to 4,320 m), including a largely downhill ride from Machuca.

Weather:
June to October is the dry austral winter. Expect clear, sunny days of around 18-22°C, but nights in San Pedro often drop below 0°C and El Tatio can be -10°C at dawn. Intense sun and very dry air at altitude.

Suitable for:
Intermediate mountain bikers comfortable with off-road riding, days of up to 79 km and sustained high altitude. Suits active travellers who enjoy mixing cycling with hiking, culture and hot springs. Arriving a day or two early to acclimatise is recommended.