Santiago, Torres del Paine, Lakes Region and Atacama Desert

• Day 1:

  Upon arrival you will be met by guide and driver and taken to your hotel. Santiago of Chile is a modern and busting city, with more than 6 million inhabitants; it was founded on February 12 of 1541 by the Spaniards. On our trip from the airport to the Hotel you will receive an overview of the city, history and artistic architecture, where the government Palace, La Moneda is located, Constitution square, Ministries, etc. We will go along the main street of Santiago, La Alameda to see Santa Lucia hill, national library and much more. Tonight, is your welcome dinner at the hotel and then spend the night.

• Day 2:

  Full day Valparaiso and Viña del Mar with winery. You begin by discovering the history of Viña del Mar by its main streets and avenues, museums, and Palaces, as you travel along the coast towards Reñaca, Chile’s most famous beach town, before heading round the bay to Valparaíso. In Valparaíso, our first stop is at the “Artillería” lift which will take us to the “21 de Mayo Viewpoint”. You will continue around and across the “cerros” to the “San Luis square” to discover “Cerro Concepción” and “Cerro Alegre” on foot, before descending to the “Plaza Sotomayor” via the “El Peral” lift. The tour ends along the main city avenues passing Chile’s parliament building and samples of the historic architecture which helped Valparaíso to become a World Heritage Site. On the way, back to Santiago you will stop in a winery for a wine tasting.

• Day 3:

  After 4.5 hours of travel we will arrive to our Hotel Rio Serrano located in the middle of Torres del Paine National Park named by UNESCO a biosphere preserve. Tonight, after a delicious dinner you will spend the night to prepared for your next day.

• Day 4:

  Full Day to Torres del Paine Massif. You will enjoy a unique and unrepeatable landscape, Patagonia is undoubtedly the world epicentre of natural beauty, where mountain glaciers, mountains, rivers and lakes, waterfalls, native forests, glaciers, fjords, archipelagos, islands, islets, ice fields and steppes Magellan make up a brutal nature that overwhelms.

• Day 5:

  Today you will visit the glacier on Grey Lake, an amazing experience in the park. You will take a small boat to get to the ferry and from there a 5 hours trip to this amazing natures wonder. You will enjoy getting close to the glacier and enjoy the marvelous blue reflected on the ice, sometimes you can hear the ice cracking and catch a beautiful picture of this spectacle.

• Day 6:

  After breakfast departure transfer to Punta Arenas’ Airport. Reception at Puerto Montt Airport and transfer to hotel on private service with English speaking guide. Then enjoy a half-day City Tour Puerto Montt & Puerto Varas. Departure from hotel to get acquainted with the city of Puerto Varas, founded by German settlers. We will visit Philippi Hill, a municipal park containing many species of native tree and a scenic overlook from which we can enjoy a beautiful view of the Bay of Puerto Varas and the city. You then drive through the residential neighbourhood with its beautiful gardens, arriving at Calvary Hill, which provides another view of the city. You then pass through the downtown area where we can observe all the commercial activity and Casino. We then take the Lakeside Drive Bordering Lake Llanquihue. After seeing Puerto Varas you head to Puerto Montt, capital of the 10th Region where we will see its streets, people and typical architecture.

• Day 7:

  Full Day Excursion Ancud & Puñihuil. Departure from your hotel to the enchanting Chiloe Island. You head first towards Puerto Montt and then take the turn-off to Pargua, a small fishing village whose inhabitants work in the extraction of sea urchins. At times divers can be seen arriving back in port after a long day of work. On arriving in Pargua you board a ferry to cross the Chacao Canal. You will have a chance to observe the great variety of marine birds, sea lions, and the playful dolphins that accompany us during the approximately 30-minute crossing. Chacao, founded in 1567, and its church dating from 1710, were visited by Charles Darwin in 1834. In his book The Voyage of the Beagle he describes the town in several passages. After a brief stop, we take a rural road to Caulin Bay, along one of the principal bird migration routes. Afterwards, you will be heading for the beach of Puñihuil in order to board a boat that will take you to the islets where both the Magellanic and the Humboldt penguins meet, this is the only place in the world where these two species cohabit and it is considered as the main

• Day 8:

  Departure from the hotel at the appointed time following the southern shoreline of Lake Llanquihue on the international route that links Puerto Varas with Bariloche, Argentina. You pass through beautiful landscapes such as Rio Pescado, where during the season anglers can be seen wading in the river fishing for trout. You stop here to see a beautiful Catholic chapel built of wood in the neogothic style and covered with alerce shingles. From here you continue through Puerto Arthur and Los Riscos with the imposing Osorno Volcano as a backdrop. On reaching the locality of Ensenada we take the road leading into Vicente Perez Rosales National Park. We notice how the vegetation and the ground change dramatically due to the volcano’s close proximity. You arrive at the cascades on the River Petrohue, where you walk along easy trails observing the Valdivian Rainforest in all its splendor. Through the moss-covered trees we get a glimpse of the natural ecosystems. There is also the chance of a bird accompanying you to the falls. Finally, you reach Lake Todos los Santos, where there will be time for picture taking of this natural wonder and to enjoy the trails in this sector of the park. From here you return to your hotel. Transfer Out to Puerto Montt Airport to Santiago.

• Day 9:

  Arrival transfer from Calama Airport to hotel in San Pedro de Atacama. After the reception at Calama’ Airport, we will drive through the beautiful landscapes while crossing the Plain of Patience. You will then pass through the Cordillera de la Sal. The rest of the day will spend enjoying the hotel amenities, surrounded by nature in the lush Catarpe Valley in the Salt Mountains and close to the Plaza of San Pedro de Atacama. You can also opt for a half day tour to acclimate

• Day 10:

  Full Day excursion Atacama Salt Flat, Toconao town and Altiplanic Lagoons. At 4500 mts. these lagoons are surrounded by impressive volcanoes originated by the rising of the Andes in ancient geological times; they get their underground water from thaws. On the way, you will also visit Socaire, a town of the Atacama basin. Visit to Toconao, the liparita stone craftsmen village, sunset at Chaxa lagoon, in the middle of the salt flat, pink flamingos’ habitat and nesting area.

• Day 11:

  Departure time from the hotel is at 04:30 am for the El Tatio Geysers located 98 km. from San Pedro de Atacama and 4300 meters above the sea level. The trip will be made while is dark. You will arrive to this spectacular part of our altiplano around 07:00 am. The temperature at this time is normally below zero. You will then eat breakfast and go on a guided hike through the geothermal field, observing the plumes of vapor fumaroles, pools of boiling water, and high mountaintops, all of which is a stunning glimpse of nature at sunrise. You will then continue on the hot spring of a rejuvenating soak in 40ºC or 104ºF water before beginning the return trip to San Pedro de Atacama through breathtaking mountainous scenery in the Andes.

• Day 12:

  Full Day Excursion Route of Llaretas. The Route of Llaretas: This is specially designed route to adequately acclimate to ascend volcanoes of high altitudes. Its name of Llaretas comes from the plant grows close to rocks in this area and is used as fuel by the local herdsmen to make fire. The route begins by going around the Cenizal hill to the east of the El Tatio Geysers at 4000 mts. and then descends though rocks on a footpath, barely marked by animal tracks.

• Day 13:

  Half Day excursion to Quitor Pucara Fortress. Visit Quitor Pukara Built in the twelfth century, with a strategic location on the slope of a hill and defended by a ravine overlooking the river, the Pukara Quitor an ancient Inca fortress in 1540 was occupied by the Spanish. Large and small stones joined with mortar of land were the materials used in its construction. However, the pukara had to be restored for the first time in 1981 and second since 1992 thanks to contributions from a Spanish bank. Return to the hotel. Transfer to Santiago Airport

Included

• Transfers and excursions as described on the itinerary.
• Hotel accommodation based on standard rooms.

Not Included

• Airline tickets
• Airport Taxes
• Early check in and late check outs at Hotels
• Any tips at airport, hotel, restaurants, etc.
• Transfers, excursions and meal not specified in the itinerary

Notes:

• This is only a quotation; no reservations are made.
• Prices are subject to change at the moment of confirmation.
• Services are quoted in private basis in Santiago and surrounding with English speaking guide. Services in San Pedro de Atacama and Patagonia are provided based on all inclusive program.