Excursion description
We will begin this extraordinary journey through the fascinating beauty of the Atacama coast landscape, where we will immerse deeply in the geological history and witness the formidable and complex formation process of this particular part of the Atacama Desert, being able to see live the intrusive plutonic rocks formed since the beginning of the Jurassic, as well as the evident El Morro Fault that flagrantly exposes the evidence of the enormous force of the sliding of the Nazca Plate beneath the continent, both processes leading the formation and uprising of the great Morro that observes and dominates the entire bay.
After passing through the ledges of Bahía Cisnes, where we can see rocks that more than 600 years ago a strong earthquake generated a gigantic tsunami that moved rocks full of marine fossils from lower elevations to the upper terraces of today, we will continue along the coast until we reach the cliffs of Salto del Gato, where we will be able to marvel at the different platforms generated by the erosion of the sea and the wind, as well as the different geological layers that show the formative processes of the coastal edge, showing with extraordinary evidence how the Bahía Inglesa Formation was deposited 16 million years ago on the Jurassic igneous rocks, where we will be able to appreciate the intense exposure of mollusk fossils, bone remains of cetaceans, birds, seals, among many other species that have inhabited this part of the Pacific for more than 8 million years while understanding how changes in sea levels were creating successive marine terraces during the last millions of years.
Next, we'll enjoy the beauty of the coastal wetland at the mouth of the Copiapó River and its exuberant biodiversity. We'll be able to spot different types of birds such as swans, taguas, herons, the seven colored bird, and playeros, among many others, including flamingos, all of which live in perfect communion amidst the fusion of the sweet and salt waters of the river and the sea.
Finally, we'll visit the impressive "Salt Pyramids," witness hills corresponding to Yardangs. Their geoforms display magnificent structures sculpted by the wind and scarce rainfall over millions of years. Here, you can observe different strata composed of soft sedimentary rocks mixed with evaporite salts (marine terraces) and the fossil stratum of the Bahía Inglesa Formation. Unmissable!
Value per person
CLP 60.000
Includes
Pick up and return to hotel or place to be coordinated, lunch in natural habitat and snack.
Schedule
9:30 to 13:30 or 16:30 to 20:30 hrs.
Minimum value
Because the excursion is private and therefore exclusive for each group, in order to carry out the itinerary, a minimum total value of CLP 180.000 must be considered
Recommendations
Trekking shoes or similar, sunscreen, lip moisturizer, sunglasses, hat and water for personal use.
Policy of postponement and cancellation of reservations
Our bookings materialize well in advance, which normally causes our schedule to fill up in advance and no longer admit the entry of new ones. For this reason, bookings may be postponed at no additional cost if the postponement is made at least 60 days before the start of the program. In this case, the payment made as confirmation will remain intact for the next date. Bookings that wish to be canceled will have a 100% refund of the payment as long as their cancellation is made at least 90 days in advance; If the cancellation is made between 90 and 60 days, the refund will be 50%. After that period there will be no right to refund.