1

Don't know much about the tours but there is a lot to see. I'm planning to rent a car and drive at my own discretion. It's just a bit more research. I'm willing to split the cost! ? A compact is $300 a week. Super cheap! Gas is too I think...

2

"Gas is too I think..."

Outside the US gas is measured in liters, not in gallons, in Chile 1 liter = 800 pesos approximately, that is some 1.7 USD, therefore 1 gallon is some 6.8 USD.

In Atacama region it might be more expensive.

I think that is not cheap.

3

I guess. It might be worth it.
Pack extra gas, water, food. It is a desert... And I refuse to follow some tour around. I much rather run the risk of getting lost than be stuck in a smelly bus. But then I can break down... Ahh what did u do to me!

4

I like having my own transport (and was happy to have it in San Pedro de Atacama, Uyuni, and all points between). But there's an awful lot you're not going to see in your little rental car due to lack of local knowledge as well as the need for ground clearance and 4 wheel drive. Plus, I'd say if you were expecting cheap gas you haven't gotten very far in your research.

Did I see on another thread you're planning to rent in Santiago? If so, there's a long, boring drive between Santiago and San Pedro de Atacama. You'll have lots of time to contemplate the advantages of those comfy, supercamas buses.

I had an off-road-capable motorbike. I still took some tours, including one which involved a "smelly bus." There were lots of places I went on my own as well, but I sure didn't regret the tours.

To the original poster: sorry, no direct input for you. Tour agencies shift and juggle so much that specific recommendations are almost as likely to be wrong as right anyway: you get a good guide, but I get a bad one; your vehicle breaks down, mine doesn't; your tour goes just as planned, mine never fills up so they palm me off on another agency entirely without warning me that all the promised amenities have been changed. Etc. Personally, I'd do it on the ground when you arrive: that way you can at least meet people face to face, and will probably collect current recommendations from other tourists.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

5

I miss the "edit" function.

OP, I glanced at that tour. There's certainly nothing special about it, and nothing you need to plan in advance if you want to do the whole thing on your own: there are lots of tours to those places, and no particularly difficult routes or destinations. If you enjoy having a tour agency make all your plans and arrangements, do the obvious thing. If not, booking a hotel in S.P. de A. in advance wouldn't hurt if you've got special tastes, but all else can be found within ten minutes of arriving by bus from Calama.

Mark

6

Yah you guys are right. I'm going to get a hotel and then book stuff when there.

7

Thanks for the insight Mark.

8

Hey jonatcardoqui! I think we chatted before the TT went down. I will be traveling from Santiago in March up to Peru and am looking for travel buddies. We should stay in touch!

9

Yeah I remember!
Gonna try to beat the winter and make it as south as I can starting match 1 st. Not sure how long that's gonna take. But if thing change ill hit u up. : )