Discover the rich variety of Chile from the barren beauty of the Atacama desert to the mountains and lakes of Patagonia.
Departures: Daily (from September to April)
Length: 12 days / 11 nights
Destinations: Santiago / Atacama Desert / Chilean Lake District / Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia
Highlights: Tour the capital city of Chile, travel north to explore the Atacama desert and its salt lagoons and geyser fields, in the Lake District visit Chiloe Island and in Patagonia visit the UNESCO World Heritage Torres del Paine National Park.
Tailor Made: This is a suggested holiday that can be booked exactly as described if you wish or that can be used to help inspire you on the fascinating journeys and destinations in Chile. Like all our holidays this itinerary can be tailored, customised and crafted by our friendly experts to suit your own travel style, personal requirements, wishes, budget and interests. Simply get in touch to discuss, and we would be delighted to create a truly personalised holiday for you.
Holiday Itinerary
Arrive in Santiago and transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon embark on a delightful city tour through Santiago. On foot explore the central area including the main Plaza de Armas, the cathedral and the famous Ahumada Boulevard, before transferring to vehicle for an onward journey through the old-town area and Bellavista up to San Cristobal Hill for stunning views of the Andes mountains on the horizon.
Meals: None
Overnight: Hotel in Santiago
This morning you will transfer to Santiago airport to take a short flight to the city of Calama in far northern Chile. From Calama you will travel to the famous town of San Pedro de Atacama on a journey through the Salt Mountain range. This afternoon visit the Salt Mountain, Mars Valley and Moon Valley. You will spend the late afternoon watching the beautiful sunset at Moon Valley as the milky way stars come to life twinkling in the sky all around you.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Hotel in San Pedro de Atacama
Fabulous full day excursion through the Atacama region. Spot flamingos grazing in the beautiful Chaxa Lagoon on the Atacama salt flat and visit the high altitude lagoons of Meniques and Miscanti (4500m above sea level). These lagoons are located in the Flamingos National Reserve and are surrounded by incredible volcanoes creating a stunning backdrop to this wonderful scenic viewpoint. The tour also includes visits to the altiplano towns of Toconao and Socaire.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight: Hotel in San Pedro de Atacama
Today you will depart early (around 4am) to journey to visit the Tatio geysers. This stunning geyser field is located at 4300m above sea level and is one of the largest geyser fields in the world with around 80 active geysers erupting, bubbling and boiling at heights of up to 6 metres. If you wish you can bathe in one of the thermal pools before returning to San Pedro de Atacama (passing views of volcanoes on the way). The afternoon is free time to explore the crafts markets in San Pedro de Atacama.
Meals: Breakfast (boxed breakfast during journey)
Overnight: Hotel in San Pedro de Atacama
This morning you will transfer from your hotel to take a flight from Calama airport to Puerto Montt in the Chilean Lake District (with a transit in Santiago airport). In Puerto Montt we will meet you and you will then visit this delightful city to admire its beauty and architecture, and will continue to visit the traditional fishing village of Angelmo. Later you will arrive in the town of Puerto Varas which is situated on the shores of Lake Llanquihue with fabulous views of the volcanic surroundings. This town was settled by Germans in the 19th century and is famous for its stunning views but also its German-influenced architecture.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Hotel in Puerto Varas
After breakfast in your hotel you will set off on a tour through the region surrounding Puerto Varas following the stunning coastal road along the lakeside. First stop will be the delightful town of Frutillar famous for its architecture and views of the lake and surrounding volcanoes, and as well as admiring the town you will visit the German Museum to learn more about the history of this region. In the afternoon you will travel to Petrohue River Falls, a powerful waterfall, and finally to Todos los Santos Lake before returning to Puerto Varas.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Hotel in Puerto Varas
This morning you will travel to Pargua from where you will take a ferry to Chiloe Island. First stop on the island is the delightful village of Quemchi followed by a stop to Aucar to explore the 500m long pedestrian bridge to visit the tiny cemetery located on a small island. The tour will continue to visit the beautiful wooden church at Colo which, along with the other churches of Chiloe Island, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. This fantastic day concludes with a visit to the village of Tenaun to admire the traditional houses and the town of Castro to visit the church, admire the "palafitos" houses built over water and explore the crafts market.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Hotel in Puerto Varas
This morning we will collect you from your hotel and escort you to the airport at Puerto Montt for a short flight to Punta Arenas. On arrival at Punta Arenas you will travel by bus to Puerto Natales for the evening.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Hotel in Puerto Natales
Today you will embark on a cruise expedition leaving the port at Puerto Natales. Your cruise will pass the Ultima Esperanza Fjord and journey for around 3 hours to reach the ancient Mount Balmaceda glacier to spot sea birds including cormorants and other wildlife such as sea lions. The cruise continues before stopping at the end of the fjord where you will disembark to enjoy a short trek overland to see the majestic Serrano Glacier. In late afternoon you will return to Puerto Natales.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight: Hotel in Puerto Natales
Today is a full day tour to visit the Torres del Paine National Park. The first place you will visit is Milodon Cave, a giant natural cave structure that is famous for being the location where bones of a giant extinct anteater were discovered in the 19th century. The tour then continues through the Patagonia landscape providing fantastic opportunities to spot the wildlife (and herds of sheep!) before reaching Torres del Paine National Park itself. The park offers an incredible opportunity to admire both stunning scenery and fabulous wildlife, and it is not uncommon to spot herds of guanacos (similar to llama) grazing amidst scenic surroundings. You will visit the impressive Salto Grande waterfall on the Paine River with views of the mountain massif of Torres del Paine visible in the background. The tour concludes with visits to the beautiful Lake Pehoe and Lake Grey for vistas of the Grey Glacier in the distance.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight: Hotel in Puerto Natales
This morning you will return to Punta Arenas by bus and from there we will escort you to the airport for a flight to return to the capital city Santiago. On arrival in Santiago we will meet you and escort you to your hotel for the evening.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Hotel in Santiago
At the appropriate time we will escort you from your hotel to Santiago airport for your return flight home.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: N/A
Included
- Four domestic flights within Chile (Santiago - Calama / Calama - Puerto Montt / Puerto Montt - Punta Arenas / Punta Arenas - Santiago)
- All excursions
- English-speaking guides for all excursions
- Entry fees to all sites included in the itinerary
- Accommodation
- All meals detailed
- Transfers to / from airports or hotels as required
- All transport and travel within Chile
Not Included
- International flights to/from South America. We exclude international flights to give the option to compare flight pricing or use airmiles, however we can include and provide international flights as part of your holiday and any international flights booked through us would be ATOL-protected as part of your package with us. Depending on time of year, departure airport and airline preference flight prices start from around £600pp economy. If you would like us to quote on international flights just let us know your preferred departure airport when you enquire.
ATOL PROTECTION
This is a flight-inclusive package holiday. All the flights and flight-inclusive holidays on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.atol.org.uk/atolcertificate.
Contact Us if you want more information or want to book this holiday. One of our South America holiday specialists will be more than willing to help.
