The Best of Chile

Day 1 Santiago – Meet & greet at Santiago Airport and transfer to hotel. Afternoon city tour to see the most interesting attractions of this modern capital. 












Day 2 San Pedro - Valle de la Luna - After breakfast a transfer will take us to the airport to board our connecting flight. Upon arrival at the airport of Calama, we will be provided assistance and a transfer to San Pedro de Atacama and the unique Valley of the Moon. This natural attraction has stone and sand formations which have been created through the centuries by floods and wind and given the landscape an impressive range of color and texture, looking somewhat similar to the surface of the moon. Valle de la Luna was declared a Nature Sanctuary in 1982 for its great natural beauty and strange lunar landscape, from where in inherits its name. The valley is also considered one of the driest places on earth. A prototype for a Mars rover was tested there by scientists because of the valley's dry and forbidding terrains. Overnight in San Pedro de Atacama. (B) 



Day 3 San Pedro de Atacama - After breakfast we will visit the colonial church, constructed in 1577. San Pedro features a significant archeological museum, the R. P. Gustavo Le Paige Archaeological Museum, with a large collection of relics and artifacts from the region including several amazingly well preserved mummies. Ruins at Tulor showcase some of the oldest evidence of pre-Columbian cultures. We will then continue our morning tour to Pukara de Quitor, a fortress, conquered from the Inca in 1540 by the Spanish who had previously captured the fortifications from even older pre-Incan cultures. In the afternoon we tour Toconao, a village where the locals dedicate themselves to the manufacture of white volcanic stone sculptures. We continue to the huge Atacama Salt Lake, an inland sea formed millions of years ago. You will be overwhelmed by the vast emptiness with the white salt crusts stretched out in front of you as far as your eyes can see. It simply is one of the most spectacular and dramatic landscapes in Chile. Tourists also visit for other popular activities including sandboarding and stargazing, with the views of the stars from the Atacama Desert unrivalled across the continent. Overnight in San Pedro. (BL) 


Day 4 El Tatio - Machuca – An early morning departure to see the El Tatio Geysers, a geothermal field flanked by soaring peaks and the third largest in the world. The best time to see them is at sunrise when each geyser is surmounted by a column of steam that condenses in the cold morning air. The steam plumes disappear as the air warms up. It is also possible to bathe in the hot geyser water in a small pool. However parts of the field are very dangerous with a thin crust over almost boiling mud so ask your guide where you may go. We will visit Machuca, located 11,150 ft above sea level. Only a few shepherds still live in this former rest place for the ancient llama caravans that travelled the Inca Trail. It is an amazing place in the middle of the highland with a spectacular view of the Andes and the Atacama Salt Lake. Overnight in San Pedro de Atacama. (B) 




Day 5 Calama – Puerto Montt – Puerto Varas - After breakfast a transfer will take us to the airport of Calama to board our connecting flight. Arrival in Puerto Montt Airport, directly followed by a short city tour of Puerto Montt, settled originally by Germans in the late 1840’s. We continue to Puerto Varas, also known as the "City of Roses"; located on the shores of Lake Llanquihue (pronounced yan-kee-way), Chile's second largest lake, with the amazing volcanoes Osorno and Calbuco reflected in the crystal clear water. Overnight in Puerto Varas. (B) 

Day 6 Peulla - In the morning we will depart from the hotel and drive along the shoreline of Lake Llanquihue to Petrohué in the Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park. We can make an optional short stop to look at the famous Petrohué Falls, a sight worth seeing in any kind of weather. We will board a catamaran to sail across Lake Todos los Santos to Peulla enjoying beautiful views of the surrounding mountains on the way. We will have time for lunch at the Hotel Peulla and/or a walk to the nearby waterfalls.  Overnight in Puerto Varas.(B) 

Day 7 Chiloé Island - Departure to Pargua and crossing of Chacao Channel by ferry to Chiloé Island. We will either visit Ancud, famous for its traditional market featuring a wide range of seafood and crafts, or the well known houses built on stilts in Castro and other sights of interest in this town. If weather conditions allow, we will be able to visit the penguin islands “Islotes Puñihuil.” This site is notable for being the only known shared breeding site for both Humboldt and Magellanic penguins. Overnight in Puerto Varas. (B) 

Day 8 Puerto Varas - After breakfast you will drive to the historic train station of Puerto Varas and board the train to Frutillar Alto, enjoying a scenic ride of about 45 minutes during which you will have great views of the Lake Llanquihue and the volcanoes. After your arrival in Frutillar Alto you will be driven to the lower part of the town - Frutillar Bajo, situated on the shoreline of Lake Llanquihue and founded by German settlers around 1850. Here you will visit the outdoor museum dedicated to these pioneers. Afterwards you will be driven back to Puerto Varas and have the afternoon at leisure to shop or to relax. Overnight in Puerto Varas.(B)  

Day 9 Puerto Montt – Punta Arenas or Puerto Natales Morning transfer to the Puerto Montt airport for flight to Punta Arenas and eventual arrival at Puerto Natales. Depending on the time of the year, we will be avle to visit the penguin colony at Seno Otway. Overnight in Puerto Natales.(B)

Day 10 Punta Arenas - Torres del Paine National Park – Punta Arenas is the gateway to Chile’s most famous and scenic national park.  Enjoy the views as we pass through Laguna Amarga and Lake Pehoe. Local wildlife is abundant. Overnight in the park. (B) 








Day 11 Torres del Paine - Puerto Natales - The morning will be at leisure, and we recommend a visit to the Maggiorino Borgatello Museum or the Braun Menendez Residence.  In the afternoon we will leave the park and drive to Puerto Natales. On the way we will visit the Milodon Cave where archaeologists found the 12,000 year old remnants of a giant sloth. Overnight in an authentic Patagonian sheep farm. (BD) 

Day 12 Puerto Natales - Santiago - Transfer to the airport of Punta Arenas and flight to Santiago. Day at leisure for last-minute sightseeing or shopping. Overnight in Santiago de Chile.(B) 

Day 13 Santiago - Transfer to the airport for flight home. (B) Departures: Chile’s summer is between October and February, and there are guaranteed departure dates between these months to either join a group or for individual private tours. Request Rates & Availability today.  

INDIVIDUAL TOURS: Program includes: 12 overnights with breakfast, 1 lunch box, transfers and excursions with driver and bilingual guide, entrance fees. All services are private except the service on the catamaran to Peulla. Sequence of excursions may vary depending on departure day. The excursion on Day 7 (to Castro or Ancud) depends on the day of visit. On Day 9, upon arrival at the airport of Punta Arenas, travelers go straight to Puerto Natales (on the way there is a visit to the penguin colony in Seno Otway, depending on dates). On Day 10, from Puerto Natales travelers start with a tour to Torres del Paine. Local English speaking guides in each region.

Not included: Flights, beverages, porter, all other expenses.No farewell dinner in Puerto Natales included in this SIB program. 

IF YOU JOIN A GROUP PROGRAM
Program includes: 12 overnights with breakfast, 1 lunch box and 1 dinner, transfers and excursions with driver and English or German guide, entrance fees.
Not included: Flights, beverages, porters, all other expenses.

OPTIONAL ADD-ON to Easter Island also available.

Contact us for rates and availability