Chile
To get our mini brochure for this holiday please click here, and we will email you a PDF copy.
Day One: Salt Flat and Sunsets
Upon arrival in Calama airport, you’ll be transferred to your hotel in the dusty desert town of San Pedro de Atacama – 2,407m above sea level and gateway to the incredible, arid landscapes of the Atacama plateau. In the afternoon, you’ll embark on a trip to the Cordillera de Sal, a vast mountain range dusted in white salt crystals. See the sweeping dunes of Death Valley before ending your first day in Chile by watching an unforgettable sunset among the sculptural sand formations of the Valley of the Moon, with a cocktail in hand.
Overnight in San Pedro
We offer a variety of hotel classes to suit different budgets. You can choose the style that’s right for you.
Select from Classic, Premium or Deluxe when booking, and click hotel name below for more details.
Classic - La Casa de Don Tomás
Premium - Altiplanico San Pedro Hotel
Deluxe - Cumbres San Pedro de Atacama Hotel
Meals included: None
Day Two: Adventure through Atacama
Spend the day exploring the lunar-like mountains and plains of the region. Your first stop is the Gran Salar de Atacama, the largest salt flat in Chile, where flamingos perch in plate-glass lagoons. You’ll break for lunch in Socaire, a tiny mining village with incredible views of the salt flat. Over a meal in a local house, you’ll learn about the ancient traditions of the villagers, who still revere Pachamama, the Inca ‘Mother Earth’ goddess. Then it’s on to the serene Altiplanic lagoons of Miscanti and Miñiques, 4,000m above sea level and backed by green and purple mountains. At this height, you feel incredibly close to the peaks and volcanoes that inspired ancient legends. After your tour, you will transferred back to your hotel for the night.
During your time in the Atacama, there’s the chance to book an optional two-hour ‘Big Bang’ experience on any night, beginning at 9pm under an unpolluted sky lit up with stars (please see Extras tab). The region is renowned as one of the best places in the world to stargaze and, over the course of two hours, you’ll learn more about the night sky from an incredibly knowledgeable guide who’ll help you spot stars with your naked eye and by telescope, as well as tell you more about the Big Bang, life and the universe. You’ll keep warm with a typically Chilean poncho and mug of hot chocolate, and you’ll finish your evening with a photo taken with the star-studded sky as a backdrop. Transfers to and from the hotel are provided.
Overnight in San Pedro
Classic - La Casa de Don Tomás
Premium - Altiplanico San Pedro Hotel
Deluxe - Cumbres San Pedro de Atacama Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
Day Three: Hot Springs and Geysers
It’s an early start, as you make your way to the vast geyser field of El Tatio, 4,320m above sea level. Here, fumaroles soar up to 50m from huge craters backed by unique fauna and mesmerising mountain scenery. The geysers are at their most dramatic in the early morning, when you’ll also see some of the region’s captivating wildlife – llama-like vicunas, nandues (which resemble ostriches), and cute viscacha rodents. You’ll savour a breakfast made and served at the geysers, then journey onwards to the Puritama Hot Springs, eight staggered natural pools packed with minerals, 3,475m above sea level. Navigate between them on wooden walkways through a rambling, rocky landscape: the water is a comforting 25-35 degrees. After your soak, you’ll be transferred back to your hotel for the night.
Overnight in San Pedro
Classic - La Casa de Don Tomás
Premium - Altiplanico San Pedro Hotel
Deluxe - Cumbres San Pedro de Atacama Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
Day Four: Welcome to Santiago
After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to Calama airport, ready for your onward flight to Santiago. Once you’ve landed, you’ll take a private transfer to your hotel (30 minutes). Then get acquainted with Chile’s complex capital with your private guide. Start on San Cristobal Hill, for knock-out views over the city from 800m up, before moving into its heart at the grand, colonial Plaza de Armas. From there, take in the cobbled streets and crumbling mansions of the old, colonial barrios before exploring Santiago’s modern eastern suburbs. The rest of the day is yours to settle in. Be sure to leave some time for once - a traditional Chilean evening snack.
Overnight in Santiago
Classic - Hotel Novapark
Premium - Hotel Plaza San Francisco
Deluxe - The Singular Lastarria Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
Day Five: Lush Country and Coastal Cities
Discover two not-to-be-missed coastal cities, on a drive from Santiago. Your private adventure takes you by car through the lush Curacaví and Casablanca Valleys, filled with vineyards, fruit plantations and forest reserves, towards lively Valparaíso. In this UNESCO World Heritage city, rainbow-hued homes climb the cliffs. The best way to explore is by foot, passing bright murals and funiculars that slope up steep alleys, as well as landmarks including grand Plaza Sotomayor and the busy, buzzy dockside of Prat Muelle.
Next, it’s time for contrasting Viña del Mar (‘Vineyard by the Sea’), a neatly-landscaped resort city that’s popular with Chileans and packed with pristine parks. You’ll visit some of these, as well as the skyscraper-topped seaside boulevard of Avenida del Peru, home to Chile’s oldest hotel, the del Mar. Then it’s time to return to Santiago for the night.
Overnight in Santiago
Classic - Hotel Novapark
Premium - Hotel Plaza San Francisco
Deluxe - The Singular Lastarria Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
Day Six: Gateway to the Strait of Magellan
Transfer to Santiago Airport before flying south to a town that English sailors once called ‘Sandy Point’: Punta Arenas on the Strait of Magellan (3hrs 25mins). This rich cultural heritage of this city draws on the nationalities of its founders, who came from Croatia, Spain, Italy, Germany and England, as well as Chile. When you’ve checked into your hotel, you’ll head out to admire the view to the Strait of Magellan from Mirador Hill, before driving to the Nao Victoria museum. Here, Charles Darwin’s ship, the HMS Beagle, has been lovingly recreated, alongside one used by Shackleton and another by Fernando Magellan.
Overnight in Punta Arenas
Classic - Diego De Almagro Punta Arenas
Premium - Hotel Cabo de Hornos
Deluxe - Dreams Del Estrecho Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
Day Seven: Walk with the Penguins
See the Strait of Magellan’s extraordinary wildlife, on a half-day boat trip to the Marta and Magdalena Islands. You’ll circumnavigate Marta Island, where rare seabirds live alongside elephant seals, austral dolphins and more than 1,000 sea lions (landing is forbidden in order to protect the native species). Then make for the shore of Magdalena Island, to walk among its 150,000-strong penguin colony. On the boat back to the mainland, look out for the Overas Tonina (Commerson’s dolphin), a rare black and white dolphin, found in only two places in the world. This trip is reliant on good weather. An alternative will be provided in bad conditions. End the day with a transfer to your hotel in Puerto Natales, the gateway to Torres del Paine (2hrs 50mins).
Overnight in Puerto Natales
Classic - If Hotel
Premium - Costaustralis Hotel
Deluxe - The Singular Patagonia
Meals included: Breakfast
Day Eight: Glacier Country
Explore the incredible landscapes of the Torres del Paine National Park, a protected area of Patagonian mountains, glaciers and lakes, which spans 700 square miles. After an early start, the hour-long drive towards the jade green Nordenskjold Lake will take you past lagoons and lush pastures where wild flocks of guanacos (llama) can be seen. From Nordenskjold Lake, walk to the Salto Grande waterfall and a viewpoint offering photogenic vistas over the Paine range. Then you’ll continue higher into the mountains by car, stopping to tramp across to Pingo River and catch your first glimpse of icebergs, followed by the dramatic Grey Glacier.
Overnight in Puerto Natales
Classic - If Hotel
Premium - Costaustralis Hotel
Deluxe - The Singular Patagonia
Meals included: Breakfast
Day Nine: On the Water
Take a boat trip past fishing cormorants, gliding condors and basking sea lions en route to the Balmaceda Glacier and the mountain of the same name, which soars to 6,675 feet. Then make an hour-long hike around the Tempanos lagoon, wandering through dense forest towards the immense Serrano glacier, before returning to your vessel and heading back to Puerto Natales to disembark. Upon return to Puerto Natales you will be transferred to your hotel in Torres del Paine.
Overnight in Torres del Paine
Classic, Premium, Deluxe - Tierra Patagonia
Meals included: Breakfast; dinner
Day Ten and Eleven: Time to Relax
The next two days will be at your leisure to do as much or as little as you want. If you just want to relax and take in the beautiful views Tierra's spa has that covered with a selection of amazing treatments, yoga and meditation programs, alternative therapies and facilities like the outdoor whirlpool, sauna and steam rooms, hydro massage and relaxation spaces. If you fancy a bit more activity, there's plenty to choose from. The hotel runs daily hike, bike and horse riding excursions as well as so much more. You could kayak across Lake Grey, gliding between the imposing arctic ice blocks, spend some time fishing or go on a birdwatching excursion. There's also walking tours giving you an insight into the local indigenous history and geological formations. After 3 days here, you'll feel deeply connected to the natural environment.
Overnight in Torres del Paine
Classic, Premium, Deluxe - Tierra Patagonia
Meals included: Breakfast; lunch; dinner
Day Twelve: Homeward Bound
After a final breakfast overlooking the mountains, you'll be transferred to Punta Arenas airport for your flight home.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overall meals included: 11 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 3 Dinners
What's included:
- Private English-speaking guides unless stated otherwise
- Private transfers and internal flights within Chile
- Meals as listed
- Mandatory taxes and service fees
- Entrance tickets and permits unless stated otherwise
- Watch the sunset in the Valley of the Moon with a cocktail
- Hot springs relaxation
- Boat and walking excursions in Patagonia
What's not included:
- International flights to/from experience:
call 0208 432 0885 for AX specially negotiated flight rates - Tips for guides, drivers, hotel and restaurant staff
- Any visa, customs, airport taxes or similar charges before or after the tour
- We cannot guarantee the included hotel breakfast for early departures
- Drinks during meals unless stated otherwise
- Personal expenses, such as laundry
- Optional Extras
If you intend to travel solo, contact us on 0208 432 0885
GETTING THERE
Typical return Economy flights from London cost around £1000 per person and take approximately 22 hours outbound, 22 hours inbound depending on exact flight configurations and layover times.
For this experience, we have found that the best option is normally to book a multi-stop international flight from London - Calama then Punta Arenas - London.
Experience start point: Calama (CJC). Arrive by 12pm on the first day of the tour. If travelling internationally we suggest arriving earlier to acclimatise to the altitude before the trip starts.
End point: Punta Arenas (PUQ). Suggested departure time: after 4pm.
Prices for departures to 30th October include a 20% Pioneers Club discount and are subject to Pioneers Club terms & conditions. Click here for more information about the Pioneers Club.
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