Today we will embark on a fascinating journey through the traces of the past in the driest Heart of the Desert in the world to learn about the beginnings of the valuable Atacameño culture.
Our Archaeological Tour in San Pedro de Atacama will take us on an exciting tour of the ancient civilizations that once flourished in this enigmatic region.
We will begin our experience today by visiting the "Pukará de Quitor". This 2.5-hectare pre-Incan construction is located at an altitude of 2,440 meters and 3 kilometers from San
Pedro de Atacama. It is on the slopes of a small hill, giving the area a strategic position. The buildings were made of stone and adobe and show the strong social organization of the Atacameños` ancestors against the Spanish conquerors and date back to the 12th century. They are currently considered a National Monument.
We will have time to visit this historic site and then head to the Tulor Village, which is more than 2,800 years old. Archaeology is undoubtedly an important source for understanding the ancient dimensions of this Atacama oasis, ever since it was first occupied by humans.
Father Gustavo Le Paige was the one who, in 1958, identified the first remains of the Village of Tulor, located 6 kilometers south of San Pedro de Atacama. This unique tour is generally guided by the locals, who will take us back to the beginnings and the first inhabitants of San Pedro de Atacama. Tulor
is a village built directly on the clay soil in the drainage area of the San Pedro River, which was eventually buried by the advancing desert.
It is characterized by its striking architecture composed of circular adobe houses, which blend harmoniously with the surrounding desert landscape. As you walk through its streets and squares, you`ll feel the past come alive, immersing yourself in a culture that lived in harmony with nature and relied on its ingenuity to survive in one of the most challenging environments in the world.
Before ending our historical tour, we will visit the San Pedro "Father Gustavo Le Paige" Archaeological Museum located in San Pedro. It is named after a Jesuit priest who dedicated almost his entire life to the search, collection, and study of archaeological remains from the area and the town of Licanantay.
After this incredible cultural and historical experience, we will return to San Pedro to cherish everything we saw and learned today.
We are waiting for you, don`t miss it!