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A lot depends on where you want to be at the end of the three weeks - back in Santiago? some point north of Chile?

One route which is off the straight path is via through Ovalle to La Serena. It is a longer route and I am not sure what public transport is available as I have always done it by car. You would go in from Los Vilos, through Illapel and Combarbala (where the stone is from), past the Embalse La paloma and up to La Serena. From La Serena itself you should do at least a day trip up the Elqui Valley. Inland will have good weather to replace the coastal damp, although by August the weather will be changing for the better . If you can't manage the alternative route, just go to La Serena/Elqui Valley. From La Serena you can get buses to anywhere else in the north. Iquique is nice for a day or two and a visit to the old salitre ghost towns. San Pedro de Atacama is the obvious mecca in the north. From there you could head into Bolivia via the amazing salt flats. There are all sorts of alternatives.

Forgot the map:
http://www.mapas.mop.cl/CC2010/jpg/Lmina2_800000.jpg

Edited by: vnrose

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thanks, I'd like to finish in La paz, but I think it's a pity to make him visit maccu piccu once he's there (I'll see it anyway, not him).
Besides Atacama, what places in Bolivia ?