On this day trip to Tulor Village and Pucará de Quitor, we’ll visit two important archaeological sites in northern Chile that reveal the Atacameño and indigenous culture of this region of South America.
Day Trip Details
At the scheduled time, we’ll pick you up from your hotel in San Pedro de Atacama and head to two of the area’s most important archaeological sites.
After a 15-minute journey, we’ll first arrive at Tulor Village, one of the oldest sites in northern Chile. Over approximately 45 minutes, we’ll explore this archaeological site located at around 2400 meters (7874 feet) above sea level.
During the visit, we’ll learn about the history of this fascinating place, one of the earliest settlements in the Salar de Atacama basin. The sand of this arid region has preserved the site beneath the dunes, dating back to the 4th century BC. We’ll explore the way of life of that time and interpret the remains found at the site.
Next, we’ll head to Pucará de Quitor, an ancient pre-Inca fortress built around the 12th century. This structure is key to understanding the history of the Atacameño culture, also known as Licantay, which maintained close ties with the Tiwanaku culture, a pre-Columbian civilization that predates the Incas.
We’ll explore different areas of this archaeological site to understand the history of this ancient stronghold, which in the 16th century witnessed conflicts between the Incas and the Spanish over local strategic control.
Finally, we’ll return to your hotel in San Pedro de Atacama, where this 5-hour day trip will come to an end.