Itinerary
- Day 1
Flight to Santiago
Your flight to Chile departs today, heading toward Santiago, the country's capital.
- Day 2
Santiago
After you land in Santiago with the Andes looming nearby, head to your hotel to settle in. Walk through the historic centre on foot and check out Santa Lucia Hill, the Moneda Palace, and Plaza de Armas where you'll find the cathedral and National History Museum. Later this evening, meet the rest of your group for a welcome drink and dinner.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome drink and dinner with travelling companions)
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Santiago's historic centre
- Visit to Santa Lucia Hill
- Visit to Moneda Palace (Government Palace)
- Visit to Plaza de Armas
- Visit to Cathedral
- Visit to National History Museum
- Welcome drink and dinner
Landmarks Santa Lucia Hill Moneda Palace Plaza de Armas Santiago Metropolitan Cathedral National History Museum - Day 3
Santiago to San Pedro de Atacama
Fly out to Calama and then transfer to San Pedro de Atacama in the arid Atacama Desert. During the afternoon, wander through the otherworldly landscape visiting the Salt Mountains, Death Valley, and Valley of the Moon to see unusual rock sculptures. Watch the sunset as mineral-rich rocks reflect the fading light.
Included Activities
- Flight to Calama
- Transfer to San Pedro de Atacama
- Afternoon sightseeing in Atacama Desert
- Visit to Salt Mountains
- Visit to Death Valley
- Visit to Valley of the Moon
- Sunset viewing with rock reflections
Landmarks Salt Mountains Death Valley Valley of the Moon - Day 4
San Pedro de Atacama
Head out early through the Atacama, starting at the village of Toconao and the salt-crusted Chaxa Lagoon in Los Flamencos National Reserve where three varieties of pink flamingos breed. Stop in Socaire village overlooking the salt flats, then travel to the intensely blue lagoons of Miscanti and Meniques surrounded by volcanoes. Grab a simple lunch in Socaire before returning to your hotel.
- Meals
- Lunch (Simple lunch in Socaire)
Included Activities
- Visit to Toconao village
- Visit to Chaxa Lagoon
- Los Flamencos National Reserve
- Flamingo viewing
- Visit to Socaire village
- Visit to Miscanti Lagoon
- Visit to Meñiques Lagoon
- Simple lunch in Socaire
Landmarks Toconao Chaxa Lagoon Los Flamencos National Reserve Socaire Miscanti Lagoon Meñiques Lagoon - Day 5
San Pedro de Atacama to Santiago
Start very early to see the Geysers del Tatio with more than 80 active geysers. Watch steam rise from the ground as the sun comes up over the Andes while you have a boxed breakfast. Stop at the village of Machuca on the way back to San Pedro de Atacama, then fly back to Santiago for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Boxed breakfast at Geysers del Tatio)
Included Activities
- Visit to Geysers del Tatio
- Sunrise viewing over the Andes
- Stop at Machuca village
- Flight back to Santiago
Landmarks Geysers del Tatio Machuca - Day 6
Santiago to Puerto Varas
Head to Puerto Varas, a charming town on Lake Llanquihue's shores founded by Swiss and German settlers. Known as the 'city of roses' for its flower-lined streets, you'll take an included tour to see German-style architecture. Climb Calvario Hill for views of the lake and Osorno Volcano. Later, visit Puerto Montt and the beach areas of Pelluco and Chinquihue, then have included dinner at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Dinner (Included dinner at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Included tour of Puerto Varas
- Visit to Calvario Hill
- Views of Lake Llanquihue
- Views of Osorno Volcano
- Visit to Puerto Montt
- Visit to Pelluco
- Visit to Chinquihue
- Included dinner at local restaurant
Landmarks Calvario Hill Lake Llanquihue Osorno Volcano Puerto Montt - Day 7
Lake Cruise to Peulla
Take a boat trip across the lake to Peulla, an ecological village within Vicente Perez National Park. View the emerald-green waters of the Petrohue Falls and sail on Todos los Santos Lake (weather permitting). You'll have lunch after checking out these natural areas.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch after viewing Petrohué Falls and Todos los Santos Lake)
Included Activities
- Boat trip to Peulla
- Visit to Vicente Pérez National Park
- Visit to Petrohué Falls
- Sailing on Todos los Santos Lake
- Lunch
Landmarks Peulla Vicente Pérez National Park Petrohué Falls Todos los Santos Lake - Day 8
Chiloé Island
Take a ferry to Chiloe Island just off Chile's coast. Walk through evergreen forests and see more than 150 wooden churches, timber houses built on stilts over the water, and the 560-metre-long hanging bridge connecting the island to Aucar islet. In the fishing village of Tenauaan, visit the farmers' fair and meet local people who invite you into their homes to share lunch.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch with local families in Tenaúan)
Included Activities
- Ferry crossing to Chiloé Island
- Viewing of evergreen forests
- Viewing of wooden churches
- Viewing of timber houses on stilts
- Visit to hanging bridge
- Visit to Tenaúan fishing village
- Visit to farmers' fair
- Lunch with local families
Landmarks Chiloé Island Aucar Islet Tenaúan - Day 9
Chiloé Island to Punta Arenas
Fly to Punta Arenas, Chile's southernmost city and your gateway to exploring Patagonia.
Included Activities
- Flight to Punta Arenas
Landmarks Punta Arenas - Day 10
Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales
Start early with a boat journey to Magdalena Island along the Strait of Magellan, following the same route as famous explorers including Sir Francis Drake and Charles Darwin. Find a designated national nature reserve home to around 60,000 pairs of Magellanic penguins. By afternoon, travel by road to Puerto Natales.
Included Activities
- Boat journey to Magdalena Island
- Visit to Magdalena Island national nature reserve
- Magellanic penguin viewing
Landmarks Magdalena Island Strait of Magellan - Day 11
Torres del Paine National Park
Spend the full day exploring Torres del Paine National Park with its granite peaks, sparkling lakes and glistening icebergs. Travel through Patagonia's rugged steppe where you might spot foxes, llamas and rarely seen pumas. Visit the Salto Grande waterfall and Pehoe and Grey Lakes. Your day ends at the Mildon Cave where pre-historic animal remains were discovered in the 19th century.
Included Activities
- Full-day visit to Torres del Paine National Park
- Travel through Patagonian steppe
- Visit to Salto Grande waterfall
- Visit to Pehoé Lake
- Visit to Grey Lake
- Wildlife viewing (foxes, llama, puma)
- Visit to Milodón Cave
Landmarks Torres del Paine National Park Salto Grande Pehoé Lake Grey Lake Milodón Cave - Day 12
Última Esperanza Sound Cruise
An included cruise takes you on the Ultima Esperanza Sound through beautiful scenery. View the 1,000-year-old Balmaceda glacier and you might spot cormorants and sea lions. Get off for a short walk to the foot of the Serrano glacier, a remarkable sight surrounded by snow-capped peaks and thick walls of ice. Finish the day with lunch at a cattle ranch.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at cattle ranch)
Included Activities
- Cruise on Última Esperanza Sound
- Viewing of Balmaceda glacier
- Marine wildlife viewing (cormorants, sea lions)
- Walk to Serrano glacier
- Lunch at cattle ranch
Landmarks Última Esperanza Sound Balmaceda Glacier Serrano Glacier - Day 13
Puerto Natales to Santiago
After breakfast, transfer to the airport and fly back to Santiago.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Flight to Santiago
- Day 14
Viña del Mar - Valparaiso
Start with a visit to the former home of Chilean Nobel Prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda, now a museum. Head to Vina del Mar, the 'Garden City', for lunch. Check out the unique Flower Clock, the Municipal Casino and Wulff Castle jutting out to sea. Finally, head to the coastal city of Valparaiso to explore.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch in Viña del Mar)
Included Activities
- Visit to Pablo Neruda's former home and museum
- Visit to Viña del Mar
- Lunch in Viña del Mar
- Visit to Flower Clock
- Visit to Municipal Casino
- Visit to Wulff Castle
- Exploration of Valparaiso
Landmarks Wulff Castle Flower Clock Municipal Casino - Days 15 - 16
Culinary Tour & Return
In the morning, take a culinary tour of the city's Central Market with a chef. Purchase traditional ingredients and learn how to prepare authentic dishes during a cooking class. Eat what you've prepared for lunch. Transfer to the airport for your flight back to the UK.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch of dishes prepared during cookery class)
Included Activities
- Culinary tour of Central Market with chef
- Purchase of traditional ingredients
- Cookery class
- Lunch of prepared dishes
- Flight back to UK
Landmarks Central Market
