Tour Overview
Santiago will be the starting point of a fascinating 11-day journey in one of the world’s most unique countries. Chile is a land of contrasts and striking beauty that offers an enviable combination of natural wonders, excellent services, and security, making for a splendid travel experience. A land of extremes, in terms of both its geography and its climate, with the heat of the deserts in the north and the cold of the glaciers in the south, earning Chile the reputation as a Land of Fire and Ice.Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1: Santiago, ChileUpon arrival to Chile’s capital city, you are met and transferred to your hotel for check-in. Hotel Atton Santiago El Bosque: Atton El Bosque is a brand new built property located in the best location and safe area of Santiago, featuring 240 luxurious rooms with King or Queen beds. Amenities include air conditioning in every room, safe deposit box, buffet breakfast, Internet access, garage parking, pool and fitness facility. The property also features a restaurant/bar and excellent views. Enjoy an afternoon city tour. This comprehensive tour begins with a visit to the neoclassical La Moneda Palace, home of Chilean presidents until 1958 and today the seat of the government. Also visit the Pre-Colombian Art Museum, one of South America's finest museums with exhibits of pre-Colombian cultures from Central America to the Andean region. After this interesting visit, walk with your guide to the heart of Santiago and to the recently remodelled Plaza de Armas. From here view the Cathedral (finished in 1789) and the buildings housing the Central Post Office and City Hall, both national monuments of colonial vintage. Also visit the conical San Cristobal Hill with an impressive panorama of the city. On its 1145-foot crest stands the huge statue of the Virgin; beautifully lit at night. Welcome dinner at Restaurant “El Otro Sitio” this evening, including round-trip transfers.
Dinner
Hotel Atton El Bosque Day 2: Santiago- Winelands
Full day Winelands tour. Head south of Santiago where the soil and climate produce wine of the highest quality, the best known of which is Concha y Toro. Here you will find vast fields of grapevines of the purest French ancestry, because Chile was one of the very few countries not affected by the worldwide philoxera plague in 1863. This along with an ideal climate and significant investment over the past two decades has made Chilean wine some of the best in the world. Viña Concha y Toro was founded in 1883 at Pirque, in the Maipo Valley, by the Spanish nobleman Don Melchor de Concha y Toro. The visit begins in the Plaza Don Melchor where you are welcomed by your expert, bilingual guide. With a glass of Casillero del Diablo in hand, you can immerse yourself in the aromas and flavors of this centennial setting. Stroll through the dense parkland and gardens that have been maintained as they were in the days of Don Melchor. You will also have an opportunity to visit the old casona, the former residence of the Concha y Toro family. It was here that, over a hundred years ago, the largest winemaking company in Chile was born. Continue to Viña Santa Rita and enjoy a traditional lunch at restaurant Doña Paula. After lunch, tour the vineyard. Located in the Andes foothills, in the town of Alto Jahuel, Santa Rita is one of the main wineries in the Maipo Valley. The Mediterranean climate, with warm, dry summers and an average rainfall of 330 mm per year, has given this area recognition as being one of the best grape growing areas in the world, especially for Cabernet Sauvignon. The vineyards surrounding Santa Rita’s winery are planted at about 800 m above sea level, on gradients between 3 and 6 percent on soil that is enriched by strata from the Andes Mountains. The soil is sandy – though reasonably heavy in alkaline due to ionic calcium deposits from the Maipo River.
Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel Atton El Bosque Day 3: Santiago- Temuco- Villarrica
Transfer to the airport for your flight (not included) to Temuco. Upon arrival in Temuco transfer to your hotel in private vehicle. En route stop for a visit ay the Hueche Ruka Community for a fascinating insight into the traditions of the Mapuche peoples of Chile’s South. "The People of the Earth" is what the Mapuche call themselves. These native people were here in the south of Chile long before the conquistador Pedro de Valdivia discovered the region in the mid-1500s. Enjoy a demonstration of the community’s principal artistic and creative activities, its gastronomy and handicrafts. Continue to Villarrica, some 60-minutes drive southeast of Temuco, in the shadow of the beautiful Villarrica Volcano on the eastern side of Lake Villarrica. The city of Villarrica was founded by Geronimo de Alderete in 1552. The city is located at the edge of Villarrica Lake and surrounded by the snow-capped cone of the active Villarrica Volcano (2,700 meters above the lake). Pucón is Villarrica’s more modern neighbor; a lively town that is now regarded as Chile’s active adventure capital. Your hotel: The Hotel Antumalal is more than a hotel; it is an experience you will find nowhere else. Designed by the famous Chilean architect, Jorge Elton in 1945, it was built as a tribute to Bauhaus architecture: modern form and function completely integrated with its surroundings. To this day it has managed to preserve its unique character, but has all the amenities of a luxurious boutique hotel. Each of its 22 rooms is paneled with local wood and stone, warmed by its own private fireplace, and has wall-sized windows overlooking Lake Villarica and gardens. The rooms are accented by original pieces of Bauhaus-style furniture, meticulously maintained to preserve the original look and feel.
The hotel itself is surrounded by 13 acres of park and gardens, with access to private beaches on the lake, a swimming pool, tennis court and numerous waterfalls. The restaurant and terrace boast the best views you will find anywhere in Pucón, and are a perfect place to watch the sunset while enjoying Chile's famous Pisco Sour and sampling the excellent cuisine. Located just 2 kilometers from Pucón, Chile, the Antumalal provides a peaceful retreat with easy access to all that the adventure capital of Chile has to offer: river rafting, horseback riding, thermal hotsprings, fishing, mountain biking, trekking, skiing (water and snow!), climbing the volcano, golf and much more.
Breakfast
Antumalal Hotel Day 4: Villarrica
Half-day tour of the Lake District. The Chilean Lake District, located 700 miles south of Santiago and one of the world’s scenic jewels. Here you will find crystal waters, lush green forests, rapids and waterfalls, snow-capped volcanoes and azure blue skies. Morning visit to Pucón and surroundings, including the Volcanic caves of the Villarrica Volcano. Discover the exciting sensation of entering one of only two volcanic caves open to visitors in the world. Make the 300 meter descent and to observe the geological constitution. Set upon the volcano’s hillsides, at 2,847 meters above sea level (8,540 feet), is the most well-known ski center in the region, offering a wonderful view of the valley and lakes on a sunny day. The remainder of the day is at your leisure.
Breakfast
Antumalal Hotel Day 5: Villarrica
Full day excursion to Huerquehue National Park. An early start this morning to visit the national park, a mountainous 12,500-hectare (30,900-acre) natural reserve, located a short drive from Villarrica. The park offers a wide variety of hikes that traverse dense beech forests containing native vegetation such as coigües, lingues, and araucarias. Araucarias are unique old-growth trees that live for more than a thousand years. The araucaria is known as the Tree of the Mapuches because its Pehuén seed has sustained the Mapuche people for generations. The hiking paths in Huerquehue National Park lead to pleasant waterfalls and gurgling brooks or to splendid vistas of the Andes and Volcano Villarrica. Enjoy the evening at leisure.
Breakfast, Box Lunch
Antumalal Hotel Day 6: Villarrica
You will have today to relax at the Huife Thermal Springs. This is the most modern and complete thermal center in the area. It has three big pools, one with water reaching 40ºC, another at 38ºC, and the final one much cooler. For the truly active, alternatively (at additional cost) there is an opportunity to climb the Villarrica Volcano. The ascent of this active 2,840-meter mountain is not technically difficult, but it does demand good physical condition. A 6.30am start is required in order to reach the base camp where you will be kitted out with boots and other equipment. The sight of the crater is overwhelming. It has a diameter of 200 square metres and deep within it you can see red lava bubbling and a sulphurous smoke climbing towards you. The views from the top are sensational. The climb is roughly 4 hours, and the descent 2-3 hours. Whichever you decide, the evening will be at leisure to wind down after the day’s activities.
Breakfast
Antumalal Hotel Day 7: Villarrica- Temuco- Santiago- Calama- Atacama
Transfer to Temuco airport to board your return flight (not included) to Santiago. Upon arrival you will be met and assisted to your connecting flight (not included) to Calama. Calama is your gateway to the geological and archaeological wonders of the central desert. Upon arrival in this oasis town, you will be welcomed by the hotel or lodge personnel and transferred overland to your desert lodge, in the heart of the Atacama Desert. This is the world’s driest landscape, cut off from storm systems by high-pressure air currents and by Chile’s twin mountain ranges. No precipitation has been recorded here since the days of Spanish colonization, four hundred years ago.
Surrounded and embraced by the Cordillera de la Sal (Salt mountain range) and close to the pre-Colombian ruins of Quitor, Alto Atacama offers one of the most astonishing settings in the world. Silence, colors and the rugged texture of the mountains around will be the introduction for the Alto Atacama experience.
Alto Atacama is located in the fertile Catarpe valley, just 3 kilometers away from the San Pedro plaza. Our total area is 3.5 hectares, with a park area of 2 hectares. Alto Atacama has been built in the style of a traditional adobe settlement, complete with llamas and native crops. All elements were carefully designed to integrate with the indigenous building patterns of the Likanantay people. The Hotel has state of the art facilities, staying simple. We have a complete Spa, Yoga fields, hot springs, wooden decks with 6 swimming pools, international bar and a cozy common room with a big fireplace. Add the most impressive sights of the Milky Way to all of that and you can start getting the picture. Our 32 rooms are spacious, decorated with local crafts and all of them have a private terrace with a great view. They follow the Alto Atacama concept, which is, simple luxury, tranquility and space. Prior to dinner this evening, your guide will describe the excursion options available over the next three days.
Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel Alto Atacama Days 8, 9 & 10: Atacama Desert
Three full days of adventure in the desert lie ahead. There are many activities available, something for all tastes, interests, ages and levels of fitness. All activities are classified by type (by vehicle, on foot or bicycle) length (full or half-day) and difficulty. The level of difficulty is rated as follows: Easy: excursions on flat or gently undulating ground, much of which is covered by van. These excursions require no acclimatization to the altitude of the Atacama Desert. Medium: some rocky or sandy terrain, short climbs of moderate steepness and/or long treks. Some excursions require a few days of acclimatization to the altitude of the Atacama Desert. Difficult: tough terrain, long and/or steep climbs up to 4,000 meters above sea level. These excursions are physically demanding and require acclimatization time. When undertaking strenuous activities at altitude, you should take the following precautions: · Consult your doctor before leaving home if you have a history of cardiovascular illness, hypertension or obesity.
· Avoid heavy or greasy food prior to an excursion.
· Drink plenty of water throughout the day to avoid dehydration.
· Avoid Alcohol. Recommended clothing/equipment:
· Backpack.
· Swimming gear.
· Sandals.
· Layers of clothing: thermals, fleeces, etc.
· Trainers or trekking boots.
· Trekking shorts or detachable trousers.
· Sunblock, UV sunglasses and sun hat.
· Gloves, hat and good quality jackets for excursions at altitude. Excursions:
Each night guests meet with the guides in the bar to discuss options for the following day. There are eight options per day: By vehicle: Lilanantai Culture tour: after a short walk from the hotel to Pukara de Quitor, we drive to the historic old town of San Pedro. There, we will stroll around the picturesque town, visit the church and highly respected museum. We then drive to the archaeological ruins of Tulor- a 2,800-year-old settlement- visiting a variety of ancient villages along the way.
Duration: half day.
Level: easy
Altitude: 2,440 meters
Acclimatization: none required. Tocanao/Atacama Salt Flats: On the way to the famous salt flats of San Pedro de Atacama, we visit the lovely town of Tocanao and the Valle Escondido de Kunza (the hidden valley) where we visit the church and artisan market stalls in the central plaza. From here, we continue our journey to the saltflats. On arrival, there is a gentle 20-minute walk to the Laguna de Chaxa where we can see wild flamingos and other birds native to the area. Later, when the setting sun catches on the mountains and the lagoons, you will see one of the most incredible sunsets the world has to offer.
Duration: half day
Level: easy
Altitude: 2300m
Acclimatization: none required Sunset at Moon Valley: A 20 minute drive brings us to the spectacular Moon Valley. This is one of the most famous national parks in Chile and for good reason. The enormous sand dunes and dramatic rock formations create a stunning lunar landscape born of land lifts and centuries of erosion. The sunsets here are extraordinary and no visit to San Pedro is complete without a trip to the Moon Valley to watch the sun go down.
Duration: half day
Level: easy
Altitude: 2450m
Acclimatization: none required Valle de Jere: A 45-minute drive from the hotel takes us through the village of Tocanao to the Quebrada de Jere (Jere Gorge). A gentle walk through beautiful, cultivated gardens allows you to appreciate the centuries-old irrigation systems that enabled man to settle in the area. The verdant vegetation, thanks to the Jere River, provides a wonderful contrast to the dryness of the surrounding desert. During this tour, we will also see a number of pre-historic petroglyphs: drawings carved into the rocks that acted as signposts for the Incas on their travels to and from the sea.
Duration: half day
Level: easy
Altitude: 2475
Acclimatization: none required The Tatio Geysers: We leave the hotel before dawn to arrive at the famous geysers at daybreak: the steam and vapors are all the more impressive with the cold and the light of the early morning. At the geyser field, we will also see geysers thermal pools, mud fountains, colorful rock formations, hot streams and flora and fauna. The return journey is quite stunning with an abundance of wildlife and beautifully contrasting landscapes.
Duration: half day
Level: medium (due to the altitude)
Altitude: 4321m
Acclimatization: two days Altoandina Lagoons: A two and a half hour drive, southeast from the hotel brings us to the high Andean lagoons of Miscanti and Miñiques. Beautiful snowcapped mountains and a wide variety of flora and fauna surround the lagoons. The lagoons provide a stunning contrast and the combined effect is an amazing explosion of colors from white, blue and silver through to red, pink and yellow.
Duration: full day
Level: medium
Altitude: 4200m
Acclimatization: three days The Altiplanic Villages: A two and a half hour drive takes us across the high plains to the lovely village of Caspana. On the way, we will enjoy a wide variety of wide life native to the area such as llamas, vicuñas, zuris, foxes and vizcachas. We will have lunch in Caspana, which is famous for its white liparita stone buildings and its narrow paved streets. We then visit the tiny village of Chiu-Chiu, which dates back to 3000 BC. This is a good excursion for your last day at Alto Atacama as the villages are in the direction of the airport in Calama.
Duration: full day
Level: medium
Altitude: 3322m but up to 4500m at one point
Acclimatization: three days Tara Salt Flats: From the hotel, we drive towards the Andean cordillera. The journey takes us through the wonderful meadows of Quepiaco where you can also see the Pakana Monks, incredible rock formations created by years or erosion. We will have a buffet lunch at the salt flats while enjoying the local flora and fauna, before returning to the hotel.
Duration: full day
Level: medium
Altitude: 4300m
Acclimatization: three days Trekking: Moon Valley: A 30-minute drive takes us to Moon Valley. Once inside the national park, we will begin a 9km trek through the dunes, gorges and flats that have helped make San Pedro famous throughout the world.
Duration: half day
Level: medium (a three hour trek covering 9km)
Altitude: 2450m
Acclimatization: none required
Note: this excursion is not recommended for people with vertigo Quezala Gorge: We drive south taking the east flank of the Atacama salt flat, the town of Talabre is where we start our trek. Located at the footsteps of the active Lascar volcano Talabre is a fine example of an altiplanic village, defying ages & ashes. The trek follows the river that carves the beautiful Quezala Gorge.
Duration: 2 hours
Level: medium
Altitude: 3500 m
Acclimatization: none required Los Colorados: From the hotel, we take a short drive along the ancient road, which crosses the Cordillera de la Sal. From here, we begin a delightful trek along the top of the cordillera, which provides panoramic views of San Pedro, the oasis, the salt flats and the snow-capped Andean mountains. We descend via the dunes of Moon Valley.
Duration: half day
Level: medium (a two and a half hour walk covering 7km)
Altitude: 2700m
Acclimatization: none required
Note: this excursion is not recommended for people with vertigo Kari Gorge: A 20-minute drive from the hotel brings us to the Kari viewpoint from where we will walk along a narrow path into the Kari Gorge. Here, you can see spectacular rock formations of gypsum, clay and salt and see how the wind and water have left their mark over thousands of years.
Duration: half day
Level: medium (a two hour walk covering 5km, some very steep descents)
Altitude: 2600m
Acclimatization: none required
Note: this excursion is not recommended for people with vertigo Los Cardones Gorge: A 45-minute drive takes us to Guatin where we will walk through this lovely gorge, carved over the centuries by the Vilama River. During the walk, you can enjoy the beautiful contrasts provided by the rocks and vegetation.
Duration: half day
Level: medium (a two walk covering 4km, some steep/slippery terrain)
Altitude: 3166
Acclimatization: one full day Alto Katarpe: This trek takes you to the viewpoint at Catarpe with its stunning views across the cordillera and the Catarpe Valley. We will visit the old administration center of the Incas and see a wide variety of petroglyphs, which, thousands of years ago served as crucial forms of expression for the local inhabitants. We return to Alto Atacama by the lush San Pedro River and the village of Catarpe
Duration: half day
Level: easy (a two hour walk covering 5km)
Altitude: 2721m
Acclimatization: none required
Note: this excursion is not recommended for people with vertigo Tambo Katarpe: A 15-minute drive takes us to the village of Catarpe. Here, we visit the old church and enjoy a gentle walk through wonderful plateaus and gorges until we arrive at the tambo of Catarpe. A tambo is where the Incas stored vital provisions for their regular trips from the Andes to the sea and back. This excursion gives visitors a wonderful cultural insight into the lives of the Incas.
Duration: half day
Level: easy (a one and a half hour walk covering 3km)
Altitude: 2510m
Acclimatization: none required Katarpe/Devil’s Gorge: We drive 15 minutes to the village of Catarpe. After visiting the church, we trek through the gorges of the Cordillera de la Sal. Leaving via the Devil’s Gorge, through spectacular high walls of salt, clay and gypsum.
Duration: half day
Level: medium
Altitude: 2530m
Acclimatization: none required Waillar: A one hour drive brings us to the small town of Machuca. We trek along the Machuca River, following an ancient shepherd’s route and passing the old farm at Peñaliri with its lovely cultivated terraces, until we reach Rio Grande. Today, Rio Grande is home to less than 100 people, the majority of whom work the land to produce lettuce, corn, alfalfa and potatoes and to raise herds of llamas, sheep and goats.
Duration: full day
Level: medium (a five hour trek covering 14km)
Altitude: 3800mAcclimatization: two days Cycling tours: Katarpe Valley: We cycle from the hotel along the river into the heart of the lovely Catarpe valley. This bike ride takes in the village of Catarpe, the old Inca administrative center and the tambo. A tambo is where the Incas stored vital provisions for their regular trips from the Andes to the sea and back. This excursion gives visitors a wonderful cultural insight into the lives of the Incas.
Duration: half day
Level: easy (a three hour bike ride covering 15km)
Altitude: 2500m Acclimatization: none required Ayllu de Quitor/San Pedro Village: This gentle bike ride takes us across the beautiful Quitor valley and into the town of San Pedro itself. Along the way, you can enjoy the stunning landscapes, flora and fauna, which have made the area so popular with travelers in the world.
Duration: half day
Level: easy (a two hour bike ride covering 10km)
Altitude: 2460m
Acclimatization: none required Cejar Lagoon: We cycle from the hotel through San Pedro and then along a flat and sandy route to the Lagoon. The lagoons are of a striking white color, which contrast with the surrounding mountains and vegetation. And, because they are located inside the Salar de Atacama, the lagoons are extremely salty which makes swimming in it quite a floaty experience.
Duration: half day
Level: medium (a two hour bike ride covering 22km)
Altitude: 2410m
Acclimatization: none required
Note: if you want to swim in the lagoon, we advise that you take waterproof sandals, as the ground is very hard and jagged in places. Inca Pass: From Alto Atacama, we cycle up to the cordillera until we reach an old tunnel that cuts though the cordillera. The tunnel is an amazing feat of engineering built by the Chilean government early in the XX century to reduce traveling times from the Andes to the sea. We pass through the tunnel and return to the hotel via Mars Valley.
Duration: half day
Level: difficult (a three hour bike ride covering 20km with two steep climbs)
Altitude: 2700
Acclimatization: two days The Desert Valleys: We cycle towards Mars Valley and climb up to the Cordillera viewpoint. From here, you can see across the oasis and the salt flats to the snow-capped Andes. On our way back to the hotel, we pass through the famous Moon Valley.
Duration: half day
Level: difficult (a three hour bike ride covering 30km)
Altitude: 2600m
Acclimatization: two days
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotel Alto Atacama Day 11: San Pedro de Atacama- Calama- Santiago- Depart
Transfer to Calama airport and board your flight (not included) to Santiago. Upon arrival to Santiago airport, you will be met and assisted with your international connecting flight.
Breakfast
