Chile tours

The Best of Chile: Nature & Culture

Shared Tour

16 days / 15 nights

Please enquire for departure dates

A trip planned to offer a comprehensive visit to Torres del Paine National Park with two full days of exploration inside this celebrated World Biosphere area, as well as a visit to Cochamo, in the Lake District, an area of outstanding natural beauty. We will continue to the far North of Chile, the Altiplano, a vast plateau characterised by meadows crossed by deep gorges, dotted with lagoons, dark lava formations and occasional white sparkling saltpans. We end our adventure in the Atacama Desert, the driest place on earth. Pink flamingos, together with llamas, vicuñas, guanacos and many other species, can be found living in the many oases and lakes. Accommodation in Torres del Paine is at the innovative and comfortable EcoCamp, which features the latest technologies in sustainable design. In Cochamo, the charming Riverside Lodge consists of only three cabins, each with private bathroom. It has a private beach at the river and a lovely relaxation area. Food is especially taken care of and is delicious.

Itinerary

Day 1: Santiago
Arrive Santiago and transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon private city tour, including the Civic centre at La Moneda, Bellavista, Cerro San Cristobal and uptown Las Condes. Overnight at the Hotel Torremayor.

Day 2: Santiago, Torres del Paine
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Punta Arenas. Drive (256km/160 miles) to the picturesque seaport of Puerto Natales with box lunch en route. Continue (115 km/72 miles) to the Torres del Paine National Park, stopping at the Milodón Cave, a giant geological wander that once sheltered a prehistoric sloth. During the summer, the sun sets around 11pm, allowing plenty of daylight to admire the landscape en route. Arrive at the EcoCamp Las Torres for a welcome dinner and overnight. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 3: Torres del Paine
Drive across the park with sights of the impressive Paine Grande and Los Cuernos. Reach the shores of lake Pehoe and walk close to the Salto Grande waterfall, which pours the waters of Lake Nordenskiold over Pehoe. Continue walking softly over the Nordenskiold trail, to the lookout (1hr return). Once back at Lake Pehoe, board the vehicle and drive south to the shores of Lake Grey. After a box lunch by the lake, board the boat, which sails across the lake to the towering glacier walls (1.5hrs round trip). Weather permitting we will have the chance to walk gently (45 min.) over Lake Grey's windy beach, where icebergs frequently stop. Return to the EcoCamp for dinner and overnight. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 4: Torres del Paine
Spend the day doing short walks (2hrs) to observe the local wildlife. We may see guanaco herds, foxes, ñandus (Patagonian Rhea), condors and many birds. The trails around Lago Sarmiento feature a constant wide view over the Paine massif, with likely sightings of puma tracks. The puma (Chilean cougar) hides around the shores of Lake Sarmiento where shelters are normally carved in the calcium-carbonate soil. Return to the EcoCamp. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 5: Torres del Paine, P. Arenas
After breakfast at the EcoCamp, board the vehicle that drops you off in Puerto Natales and connect with the regular bus service to Punta Arenas. Overnight at the Hotel Los Navegantes. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 6: Punta Arenas, Cochamo
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Puerto Montt and then drive through amazing scenery to the Riverside Lodge in Cochamo. Before dinner, you will have time to enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Candlelit dinner and overnight. (Dinner)

Day 7: Cochamo
Full-day excursion to the virgin forests. We trek through an untouched valley with a local guide, admiring waterfalls and ferns. Lunch at an Andean lake, surrounded by 3,000 year old Alerce trees. Trek back to a Chilean farm to enjoy a special Chilean tea with a local family. Dinner and overnight at the Riverside Lodge. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 8: Cochamo, Santiago
In the morning you will get a horse riding instruction before leaving the hotel. Start riding along the Rio Cochamo into the Valdivian rainforest. Homemade picnic lunch on the trail. Return to the Riverside Lodge by teatime. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Santiago. Transfer to the Hotel Torremayor and overnight. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 9: Santiago
Full day vineyards tour. The fertile Maipo valley has given birth to some of Chile's most celebrated wines. This full day tour takes you to Cousiño and Concha y Toro vineyards, for wine tours and wine tasting. Overnight at the Hotel Torremayor. (Breakfast)

Day 10: Santiago, Arica
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Arica. Half day tour around the city and sandy beaches. Visit the fertile Azapa Valley and museum. Overnight at the Hotel El Paso. (Breakfast)

Day 11: Arica
Full day tour to the Lauca National Park, declared a World Biosphere Reserve by the Unesco in 1981. With its impressive array of mountains and volcanoes, this park offers great opportunities for wildlife spotting. There are more than 130 different bird species and 21 mammal species in this area. Overnight at the Hotel El Paso. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 12: Arica, San Pedro de Atacama
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Calama. Transfer to San Pedro de Atacama (98km), crossing the Cordillera de la Sal with amazing rock formations. Lunch and briefing on the excursions for the next four days (the order of the excursions could vary). As the sun goes down enter the silent Moon Valley and explore its extraordinary rock formations. Overnight Hotel Terrantai. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 13: Geysers del Tatio
(4,500m, 270km round trip)
Leave the hotel at 4.30am, in time to see the geysers in action at El Tatio. The boiling steam rises up to 40mt over the surface and some 900m from the underground. Drive back through dirt Andean roads with magnificent views over the Tocopurri and Sairecahur volcanoes. The evening is free to walk around the town and visit the picturesque church, square and handicraft market. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).

Day 14: Toconao-Salar de Atacama
Visit the small village of Toconao, well known for its volcanic rock handicrafts. On the way back we enter the immense and sparkling white Atacama Salt flat and then reach the beautiful Chaxa Lagoon, where flamingos and other Andean birds nest. In the afternoon, visit the Museo Arquelogico, then walk around the remarkable remains of the fortress of Quitor, 3 km from San Pedro. As the sun goes down, we enter the silent Moon Valley and explore its extraordinary rock formations. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 15: San Pedro, Santiago
After breakfast we drive about 135 km south east of San Pedro to reach the Pakana's Sentinels, a group of rocky structures in columns, which resulted from volcanic eruptions in the Tertiary Era. Transfer to Calama, in time for the evening flight to Santiago. Upon arrival transfer to the Hotel Torremayor and overnight. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 16: Santiago
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight. (Breakfast)

Prices

Please enquire for prices.

Note: Single accommodation is not available at the EcoCamp in Torres del Paine.

Prices include:

4 star accommodation in Santiago, Punta Arenas, Arica and San Pedro de Atacama; EcoCamp, with shared facilities, in Torres del Paine; Riverside Lodge in Cochamo; meals as shown (lunch may be a packed lunch); shared services, except private excursions in Santiago; bilingual local guides. At the Riverside Lodge in Cochamo, we always aim to allocate each couple or single traveller, their own cabin but, as space is very limited, this may not always be possible.

Prices do not include:

Travel insurance, gratuities, personal expenses and extras, meals not shown and beverages.