A survey by foot of the prehispanic route connecting the Highlands of Lipez (Department of Potos, Bolivia) to the Formative Period sites of Ghatchi and Calar (Vilama river basin, San Pedro de Atacama, Chile), allowed us to analyze roadworks, rest sites, ceremonial places, signalling structures and transportable artifacts that stand out as evidence of interregional mobility. We discuss and propose indicators for the recognition of the early stages of caravanning, and trace the possible origins of the main users of this route during the Formative Period. Results demonstrate this to be the oldest route so far described in Chile.