Chile
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Day One: Welcome to Chile
Arrive at Santiago airport and leap straight into the vibrant Chilean capital. Once you’re settled at your hotel, you’ll set out on your first exploration of its streets with your private guide at your side, uncovering varied attractions from the lively central fish market to the grand Plaza de Armas and the boho Bellavista District. Finish up on San Cristobal Hill, for incredible views over the city, with the towering Andes beyond.
Overnight in Santiago
Classic: Hotel Principado Express
Premium: Hotel Best Western Marina Las Condes
Deluxe: Sheraton Santiago Hotel And Convention Center
Meals included: None
Day Two: Coast and country
It’s contrast after contrast on your second day in Chile, as your private guide and driver take you off exploring seaside cities and country vineyards. Leave Santiago for the lively port of Valparaiso, a favourite of poets and artists where rainbow-hued streets are criss-crossed with hill-climbing funiculars. By comparison, the neighbouring resort city of Viña del Mar is ordered and manicured, with summer homes speckling a rocky coast. Take in its casino and chic shops, then head inland towards the wineries that flourish in the foothills of the Andes. Joining other guests, you’ll take a tour through the vineyards, witnessing the bottling process and visiting two renowned bodegas, before ending with a wine-tasting session. Oenophiles can max out this experience with the option to become a winemaker for a couple of hours, using the same tools found in oenology laboratories to create their own vintages (for related costs, please see the Extras tab).
Overnight in Santiago
Classic: Hotel Principado Express
Premium: Hotel Best Western Marina Las Condes
Deluxe: Sheraton Santiago Hotel And Convention Center
Meals included: Breakfast
Day Three: Towards Easter Island
Time to make for one of the most mysterious destinations on earth – Easter Island, a place of UNESCO-protected monuments, castaway beaches and deserted prairies. Over the next few days, you’ll also get acquainted with the unique culture of the Rapa Nui people. After your 5.5-hour flight from Santiago to the island, there’s the option to travel to the Tahai Ceremonial Complex, home to some of the incredible ahu (sacred ceremonial sites) of the Rapa Nui National Park. You’ll arrive in plenty of time to watch the sunset in this bewitching landscape, before being transferred back to your hotel or a restaurant of your choice (your guide can help with recommendations and reservations). To make your first evening on Easter Island even more special, we can arrange for a bottle of Champagne to be served as you watch the sun go down. For related costs, please see the Extras tab.
Overnight on Easter Island
Classic: Hotel Otai
Premium: Hotel Hanga Roa Ecovillage And Spa
Deluxe: Hotel Taha Tai
Meals included: Breakfast
Day Four: Ahus and amazing beaches
Get set for a day-long adventure exploring the highlights of Easter Island. You’ll be whisked off by private car to the south coast to search out the remote, unrestored ahus in the dramatic bay of Hanga Te’e and Akahanga, the burial place of the first king of the island. Then it’s on to the legendary quarry of Rano Raraku, home to almost 900 abandoned moai (monolithic human figures), around one third of which lay scattered on the slopes of an extinct volcano complete with crater lake. Next, you’ll visit recently-restored Ahu Tongariki, the largest on the island with 15 moai. Following this, you’ll make for the east coast, home to the gigantic Paro Moai (the largest ever erected) and the ‘navel of light’, a stone said to give off mana (magnetic energy). Top off your day with a dip in the warm Pacific waters off powder-white Anakena Beach, with the restored ahus of Nau Nau and Ature Huke adding to the memorably idyllic backdrop.
Overnight on Easter Island
Classic: Hotel Otai
Premium: Hotel Hanga Roa Ecovillage And Spa
Deluxe: Hotel Taha Tai
Meals included: Breakfast, packed lunch
Day Five: Caves, volcanoes and ancient legends
Camera at the ready! You’ll get awesome views across the whole of the island on a drive up the extinct volcano of Rano Kau. Visit its dramatic crater lake and the ruined village of Orongo, once home to a birdman cult known for its dangerous cliff-face race to find the first sooty tern egg of the season. Petroglyphs documenting the custom remain. From here, you’ll drive to unrestored Ahu Vinapu and Ana Kai Tangata – the Cave of the Cannibals. After a break for lunch back at the hotel, you’ll set off again, driving to the middle of the island and the seven restored moai at Ahu Akivi, thought to represent the seven explorers first sent to the island by king Hotu Matua. Visit the other-worldly unrestored site of Ahu Hanga Poukura, then head to Puna Pau, the quarry where the red stone topknots of some of Easter Island’s statues were made. You’ll round off your day in atmospheric Tahai.
Overnight on Easter Island
Classic: Hotel Otai
Premium: Hotel Hanga Roa Ecovillage And Spa
Deluxe: Hotel Taha Tai
Meals included: Breakfast
Day Six: The ride of your life
See Easter Island’s monument-scattered scenery on a horse-ride across its incredible landscapes. On your three-hour adventure, you’ll journey along the west coast towards the moai at Ahu Akaviki, unusual because they are among the only inland statues to face towards the sea. Travel onwards up Ma’unga Terevaka, the highest of Rapa Nui’s three extinct volcanoes. You’ll have plenty of time to admire the fantastic views from the top, before continuing your ride back to the town of Hanga Roa.
Depending on the season, we can also offer a trip to see the sun rise behind the dramatic restored moais of Hanga Nui Bay. Choose to enjoy a private breakfast served in this incredible setting with the Peninsula of Poike as a backdrop, or return to your hotel for food before continuing with the day’s adventures. For related costs, please see the Extras tab.
Overnight on Easter Island
Classic: Hotel Otai
Premium: Hotel Hanga Roa Ecovillage And Spa
Deluxe: Hotel Taha Tai
Meals included: Hotel breakfast
Day Seven: Goodbye Rapa Nui
After breakfast, your driver will transfer you to the airport, ready for your onward journey home.
Meals included today: Breakfast
Overall meals included: 6 Breakfasts
What's included:
- Private English-speaking guides unless stated otherwise
- Private transfers and internal flights, unless stated otherwise
- Meals as listed
- Mandatory taxes and service fees
- Entrance tickets and permits unless stated otherwise
What's not included:
- International flights to/from experience: call 0208 432 0885 for AX specially negotiated flight rates
- Optional extras listed
- 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
SUITABILITY FOR FAMILIES : Suitable for families with kids over the age of 8 years.
If you intend to travel solo, contact us on 0208 432 0885
To check out all our Chile's trips, click here!
GETTING THERE
Typical return Economy flights from London cost around £1000 per person and take approximately 15 hours outbound, 15 hours inbound depending on exact flight configurations and layover times.
Experience start point: Santiago (SCL). Arrive by 12pm on first day of tour. If travelling internationally we suggest arriving earlier to acclimatise to the altitude before the trip starts.
End point: Santiago (SCL). Depart Santiago after 4pm. You will depart Easter Island after breakfast. Return flight to Santiago takes roughly 6 hours.
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