RIDE

Mountain Bike Routes

 Ayllu de Quitor
01 and San Pedro de Atacama
Departure from Alto Atacama, biking across the beautiful Valley of Catarpe
appreciat ing local crops. Visit the village of San Pedro de Atacama.
We cont inue along the Ayllu de Quitor unt il reaching Alto Atacama.

HOURS
Map Winter 9:30-13:00 Hrs.
Summer 9:30-13:00 Hrs.
· Duration: Half Day. 2 hours.
· Total distance: 10 km.
· Difficulty: Easy.
· Average Altitude: 2.460 meters.
· Equipment: Binoculars, first-aid kit,
tool kit, gloves, helmet, Giant Bicycles, Satellite
phone, Radio communicat ion and guides
trained in first aid in remote areas (Wilderness
First Responder) NOLS.

· Distances: 7 km.
· Slope: Descent of 40 meters.
· Geographic Location: Southeast San Pedro
de Atacama
 Catarpe Valley
02 Departing from Alto Atacama we pedal 500 meters to the Pukara of Quitor,
where we cross the San Pedro River to enter the valley of Catarpe, eventually
reaching the church that is located 7 kms away from the Lodge.

HOURS

Map Winter
Summer
9:30-13:00 Hrs.
9:30-13:00 Hrs.
· Duration: Half Day 3 hours.
· Difficulty: Easy.
· Total distance: 15 km.
· Average Altitude: 2.460 meters.
· Equipment: Binoculars, kit, tool kit,
gloves, helmet,, Giant Bicycles, Satellite phone,
Radio communication and guides trained in first
aid in remote areas (Wilderness First Responder)
NOLS.

· Distances: 14 km.
· Slope: Ascent of 60 meters.
· Geographic Location: Northwest of San
Pedro de Atacama.
 Laguna Cejar
03 Departure from Alto Atacama through the Ayllu of Quitor, passing the Ayllu de Conde Duque,
continuing along Yaye and Solcor until the Ayllu de Solor, we continue to Ayllu of Poconche
taking the dirt road detour to get to Laguna Cejar (1 hour approx.) and return to Alto Atacama.
The characteristic of this lake is that one floats as in the Dead Sea, for the large amount of
salt content in its water (400 grams of salt per 1 liter of water).

HOURS

Map Summer 9:00-13:00 Hrs. · Duration: Half day (3 hrs. maximum by bike).
Winter 9:00-13:00 Hrs.
· Difficulty: Medium.
· Total distance: 21.6 km.
· Height: 2.410 meters above sea level.
· Acclimation Required: None.
· Equipment: Binoculars, first-aid kit, tool kit,
gloves, helmet, Giant Bicycles, Satellite phone, Radio
communication and guides trained in first aid in remote
areas (Wilderness First Responder) NOLS.
· Remark: Tickets, list of hikers, guide, and
driver.

· Distances: From Alto Atacama San Pedro de

Atacama to 3 km. From San Pedro de Atacama to Poconche
crossing 7km. From Poconche to the junction (red sign
Laguna Cejar) 2km. Signboard to Algarrobo about 5km. And
from Algarrobo until you reach Laguna Cejar: 4 km approx.
· Slope: Descent of 60 meters.
· Geographic Location: Southeast of San Pedro de
Atacama.
 Paso del Inca
04 We leave from Alto Atacama to the Catarpe Valley. We take the detour to the old tunnel,
where we ascend to reach the base of the ledges. Here we begin a descent that will take us
to the Piedra de Coca, Stone of Coca, a second stop of interest. We continue our descent to
the Llano de Paciencia, Plains of Patience, where we connect with the road that leads us
back to San Pedro de Atacama by the Mars Valley route. We return to the Lodge by an
internal road of the Ayllu de Quitor.

HOURS
Map Summer 8:30-13:00 Hrs.
Winter 8:30-13:00 Hrs.
· Duration: 3 hours.

· Difficulty: Hard.

· Height: 2.600 meters above sea level.

· Acclimation Required: Yes, two nights in San Pedro.

· Equipment: Binoculars, kit, tool kit, gloves,

helmet, Giant Bicycles, Satel l ite phone, Rad io
communication and guides trained in first aid in remote
areas (Wilderness First Responder) NOLS.

· Total distance: 29 km.

· Slope: Ascent and descend of no more

than 200 mts.

· Terrain: Most of the time is by dirt road

with calamine presence for water runoffs. The last stretch
is paved before entering the Valley of Mars.
 Desert Valleys
05 We leave the Lodge pedaling at an altitude of 2470 m south-east, for about 500 meters then
turn left and cross the San Pedro River, and so continue uphill along the valley of Quitor
where we can observe along the riverbed foxtails, brea, Algarrobo and chañares, among
others.
At approximately km. 6 this fork takes us to the old road between San Pedro-Calama, facing
a steep slope of about 2 and a half km until arriving at the old tunnel of this road which dates
back to 1930. Inside is a rockslide that does not allow vehicular traffic for total trip safety.
After crossing the tunnel and a deserved rest and hydration, we start our descent by tracks
from water runoff created by the gentle slope of the western wall of the Cordillera de la Sal,
facing the Llano de Paciencia, until reaching the " Piedra de la Coca "(the old route of
shepherds in which you can see a large rock, and that in its cracks and hollows can be seen
small balls of chewed coca leaves and thrown into the rock). Continue riding south to the
existing road junction with Calama-San Pedro.
From here the route is the same as the Stone of Coca excursion with the difference that
instead of taking the road to San Pedro (left), we cross the road across the Llano de Paciencìa
to reach the west entrance of the Valley of the Moon, back across the Cordillera de la Sal,
in an easterly direction through the Tres Marías (rock formations sculpted by wind and
named by Father Gustavo Le Paige), the central crater of the Valley Luna and the big dune.
Then cont inue pedaling the path of vichufita (compacted salt and minerals) to the
internat ional road and reach Saint Peter's after 38 gruel ing kilometers

HOURS
Map Winter 8:30-13:00 Hrs.
· Duration: 4 - 5 hours.

Summer 8:30-13:00 Hrs. · Difficulty: Medium-difficult.

· Altitude: 2.470 - 2.750 meters above sea

level..

· Acclimation Required: 2 days in San Pedro.

· Equipment: Binoculars, kit, tool kit, gloves,

helmet,, Giant Bicycles, Satel l ite phone, Rad io
communication and guides trained in first aid in remote
areas (Wilderness First Responder) NOLS.

· Total distance: 43 km. Full Circuit.

· Slope: Ascend and descend of no

more than 200 mts.

· Height (points of interest in the route):

Alto Atacama: 2.470 m. and the old tunnel linking Calama
to San Pedro: 2.750 meters above sea level.

· Geographic Location: Circuit at 360 ° around the

lodge.
 DEVIL’S SLOPE
06 Descent
Early departure from Alto Atacama, with the bikes loaded on the van, hydrating constantly
until the base of the Sairecabur volcano where we find an old sulfur mine base. There we
start with preparations including a last check of our Giant bicycles, tire pressure, brakes,
etc., for the descent down the Devil’s Slope and the Puritana hot springs.

HOURS
Map Winter 8:00-14:00 Hrs.
Summer 8:00-14:00 Hrs. · Duration: 4 hours with stops.

· Difficulty: Difficult (experts only).

· Average Altitude: Between 2.470 and 3.800 m.

· Equipment: Binoculars, first-aid kit, tool kit,

gloves, helmet,, Giant Bicycles, Satellite phone, Radio
communication and guides trained in first aid in remote
areas (Wilderness First Responder) NOLS.

· Distances (to travel between different stations): From

Lodge to the base of the volcano Sairecabur 44 km. These
are the same 44 km. you pedal back with the support van
always behind us.

· Slope: 1.500 m. Descent.

· Geographic Location: Northeast of San Pedro de

Atacama, in the route to the
Tatio Geysers
 DEVIL'S THROAT
07 The route starts from Alto Atacama, after a brief explanation from the guides, heading for
the Pucara of Quitor, before crossing the San Pedro River and entering the Catarpe Valley,
crossing the same river several times until km 4 where we turn right into the Devil’s Throat,
a canyon in the Salt Mountains, with beautiful formations of salt, clay and chalk, to the
church of Catarpe where we rest for a few minutes. Returning via the same road to the
Lodge.

HOURS
Map Winter 9:30-13:00 Hrs. · Duration: 3 hours.
Summer 9:30-13:00 Hrs.
· Difficulty: Easy.

· Altitude: 2.500 meters.

· Acclimation Required: None.

· Equipment: Binoculars, first-aid kit, tool kit,

gloves, helmet, bike GIANT, Satellite phone, Radio
communication and guides trained in first aid in remote
areas (Wilderness First Responder) NOLS.

· Total distance: 18 km.

· Slope: 100 meter ascent.

· Geographic Location: North.

· Terrain: Dirt road and then a canyon of

sand and past traces of the salt
mountain range.
 Desert Lakes
08 This beautiful and challenging ride also begins at Alto Atacama, and takes the same path
to the Laguna Cejar, After a dip in the Laguna, we take our mountain bikes again and head
south by a path of almost only salt until the Salar, where we will find two lakes in the middle
of the Salar, where we can also freshen up under the grueling desert sun. In this place, we
put together a picnic of sandwiches, drinks, juices and some cold beer.
After a brief rest, we take our bikes again and head to the final destination of this tour, Lake
Tebinquiche. We return to the Lodge via the same route but with a completely different
perspective.

HOURS
Map Winter 9:00-16:00 Hrs.
Summer 9:00-16:00 Hrs. · Duration: 6 -8 hours.
· Difficulty: Difficult.
· Average altitude: 2.300 meters.
· Acclimation Required: At least one day in San
Pedro de Atacama.
· Equipment: Binoculars, first-aid kit, tool
kit, gloves, helmet,, Giant Bicycles, Satellite phone, Radio
communication and guides trained in first aid in remote
areas (Wilderness First Responder) NOLS.

· Total distance: 65 kms. approx.

· Slope: Descent of 70 meters.
· Terrain: The terrain is dirt road with
calamine, very fine sand
and dust.
· Location: South of San Pedro de
Atacama.
 Valle de Marte
09 Mars Valley
The route starts from Alto Atacama road to the village in south-east direction. After 2 km
we take a detour by a very narrow alley of chañares and adobe walls, until the C-23 (Calama-
San Pedro) to the sign that says Cordillera de la Sal, and from that point we are only 4
kilometers away of the large dune of the Valle de Marte.
Return to the Lodge via the same route.

· Duration: 3 - 4 hours.
· Difficulty: Easy
· Average altitude: 2.400 meters.
· Acclimation Required: No.
· Equipment: Binoculars, first-aid kit, tool
kit, gloves, helmet, Giant Bicycles, Satellite phone, Radio
communication and guides trained in first aid in remote
areas (Wilderness First Responder) NOLS.

· Total distance: 15 km. approx.

· Slope: Ascent of 120 meters.
· Terrain: The terrain is dirt road to
the detour of the Cordillera de Sal, and thereafter the road
becomes more technical, with sand and gypsum and salt
crusts.
· Geographic Location: Southwest.

HOURS
Map Winter
Summer
9:00-12:30 Hrs.
9:00-12:30 Hrs.
 CULTURAL Mountainbike
10 This tour is very quiet, more of a stroll to soak up the culture that dates back over 12,000
years. First we visit the Pukara Quitor, ruins inhabited by the Atacameños, afterwards a brief
walking tour through the ruins, then to the second archaeological site called the Village of
Tulor, older than the previous.
Return to the Lodge via an alternative route through various Ayllus of San Pedro de Atacama.
(Ayllu = agricultural community center)

HOURS
Map Winter 9:00-13:00 Hrs. · Duration: 4 hours.
Summer 9:00-13:00 Hrs.
· Difficulty: Medium.

· Average altitude: 2.400 meters.

· Acclimation Required: None.

· Equipment: Binoculars, first-aid kit, tool

kit, gloves, helmet, Giant Bicycles, Satellite phone, Radio
communication and guides trained in first aid in remote
areas (Wilderness First Responder) NOLS.

· Distance: 16 kms.

· Slope: Descent of 50 meters.

· Terrain: The terrain is dirt and

calamine road, some parts
of asphalt across the town
of San Pedro de Atacama.
Mountain Bike PROGRAMS (Minimum 2 passengers)
RECOMMENDATIONS AND ADVICE
Pedaling in the Atacama desert can become very dangerous if proper precautions are not taken, such as a great hydration
the day before, during and after a day of mountain biking. It may be only water, as well as sports drinks that work very well.
Also a good and balanced diet consisting of plenty of carbohydrates and fats, before exercise, and then proteins afterwards
to recover tissues and muscles.
Some technical tips to those for whom mountain biking is more than sport, bring your own bike, or nothing more than your
shoes with bindings, saddle, helmet and gloves, so that the ride will be even more gratifying
PROGRAM PRICE
The prices are the same as the “All Inclusive” prices listed in www.altoatacama.com
per day, per person.

BEGINNERS (83 Kms.)

DAY 1
AM. Ayllu Quitor and San Pedro de Atacama.
PM. Katarpe Valley.
DAY 2
AM. Laguna Cejar.
PM. Evening Free (Maybe Salar de Atacama or Moon Valley by Van).
DAY 3
AM. Cultural Mountain bike.
PM. Garganta del Diablo.

INTERMEDIATE (94 Kms.)

DAY 1
AM. Valle de Marte.
PM. Garganta del Diablo.
DAY 2
AM. Paso de Inca.
PM. Evening Free (Maybe Salar de Atacama or Moon Valley by Van).
DAY 3
AM. Laguna Cejar.
PM. Ayllu Quitor and San Pedro de Atacama.

EXPERTS (190 Kms)

DAY 1
AM. Garganta del Diablo.
PM. Mars Valley with sunset in the Mirador of Kari.
DAY 2
FULL Desert Lakes (Lunch at Ojos del Salar).
DAY 3
AM. Desert Valley (Valle de la Luna).
PM. Free (Salar de Atacama) - (Aperitif).
DAY 4
AM. Descent "Devil’s Slope".