INTRODUCTION This tour is a suggested itinerary designed by our specialist team! Choose this itinerary or alter it to design your own Journey. This ten day trip offers a comprehensive tour of 's highlights including the desert, lakes district and Patagonia! Start in 's modern capital of Santiago before flying to the Atacama Desert, the driest desert in the world and recently made famous in "James Bond: Quantum of Solace". Following the Atacama you will head to the southern end of where you will spend some time in the scenic Puerto Montt Lake District. Finally you will make your way further south into deep Patagonia where you will have a chance to explore the Torres del Pain National Park - probably 's most famous tourist destination and a perfect finale to the trip! ITINERARY
DAY 1: Arrival transfer in Santiago On arrival at Santiago Airport, please make your way through Customs and Immigration and only exit from the green doors marked 'Meeting Point. Our representative will be holding a sign with your name on it and waiting for you outside this exit. Please only make contact with our representative. Should you have trouble locating him/her, please refer to the front of your itinerary for emergency contact details and only speak directly with our office in Santiago who speak good English. Santiago International Airport is undergoing extensive renovations which are due to continue to 2019. There are now two exiting gates and all travellers who have prebooked and prepaid for an arrival transfer, must exit from the green doors marked Meeting Point only. Due to these renovations there have been instances of Taxi Scammers taking advantage of the confusion so please follow these instructions and please note again if you can t locate our representative please call our local office and only speak directly with them. This service includes a driver and local English speaking guide who will provide you with any useful information needed for your stay. Santiago, s capital and largest city, lies in a valley surrounded by the snow-capped mountains of the Andes and the an Coastal Range. Founded in 1541, Santiago has been s capital since colonial times. It is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city and although it features many colonial buildings, it has grown into a modern metropolis and the cultural centre of the country. This morning, you will be collected from your hotel for your tour of Santiago. Visit both the old and new areas of the city. Highlights include the Plaza de Armas, the city's central square and the heart of the city s old colonial core. The Plaza de Armas is home to the beautiful 18th century Metropolitan Cathedral, the early 19th century Royal Court Palace that houses the Natural History Museum and the Central Post Office completed in 1882. Will continue along the Government Palace and where we will have the opportunity to walk through some of the most traditional streets and neighbourhoods. Visit Cerro Santa Lucia, the hill on which Santiago was founded in 1541, now a park with fountains and stairs leading to a fort and panoramic viewpoint across the city. On completion of your tour, you will be taken to your hotel. Please note this is small group tour and only operates in the morning.
DAY 2: Transfer to the airport for onward destination appropriate time and transferred to the airport for your onward flight. This service includes a Spanish speaking driver only. appropriate time for the transfer to the airport for your outward flight from San Pedro Atacama. The small oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama lies on an arid high plateau in the Andes Mountains in the heart of some of northern s most spectacular scenery. Overlooking the Licancabur Volcano, its dramatic surrounding landscape ranges from desert, salt flats, steaming geysers and hot springs to fascinating rock formations. The church, dating back to 1774 and featuring adobe, cactus wood and leather-bound beams and the Archaeological Museum are both worth a visit. This morning you will be collected from your hotel to visit the Salar de Atacama, one of the world s largest salt lakes and the most important lithium reserves in the world. At Chaxa Lagoon, we will be able to enjoy watching a variety of bird species, including the three types of flamingos that inhabit -Andean, an and James - and the pink color of their feathers. The deep blue of the Atacama sky, the altitudes of the Andean volcanos and the red sunset will bid us farewell before returning to San Pedro de Atacama. En route to the Salt Lake, visit the town of Toconao. The houses in this small picturesque village are built from bricks of white volcanic stone and its friendly inhabitants are famous for their fine wool knitting skills. On completion of the tour you will be taken to your hotel. Please note this is a small group tour.
DAY 3: Atacama Tatio Geysers Early this morning you will be collected from your hotel for your full day tour to the Tatio Geysers. Located 90 km northwest of San Pedro, the Tatio Geysers sit at an altitude of 4,320 metres above sea level and are said to be the highest geothermal field in the world. See the 100 geysers erupt water and let off steam to heights of up to 50 metres. Surrounded by spurts of water and vapor, enjoy the beauty of the Andes in its natural scenery. Then visit Pozón Rústico, where you will delight in the thermal waters the mountain range provides. On the way back to your hotel, drive downhill through a wonderful landscape where you can spot guanacos, vicuñas, flamingos and other wildlife. Please note this is a small group tour. This afternoon, you will be collected from your hotel to travel across Cordillera de la Sal (Salt Mountain Range) to reach the Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Moon), one of the main attractions of this region. Located 19km from San Pedro de Atacama, the valley's landscape resembles the surface of the moon with small but sharp crested hills created by the wind. This tour is available only in the afternoon when the setting sun brings out the best of the valley's incredible colours. On completion of this tour, you will be taken to your hotel. Please note this is a small group tour. DAY 4: Transfer to the airport for onward destination appropriate time for the transfer to the airport for your outward flight from San Pedro Atacama. On arrival, please make your way through to the Arrivals Hall where our representative will be waiting for you to transfer you to your hotel. He/she will be holding a sign with your name on it. Should you not be able to locate them, please refer to the front of your itinerary for emergency contact details of our representative office. Puerto Varas and Puerto Montt lie at the southern end of the Lake District under the shadow of the snow-capped Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes. Puerto Varas sits on the shores of Lake Llanquihue and is known as The city of Roses. Puerto Montt is 20kms from Puerto Varas on the Seno de Reloncaví Bay, the capital of the Lake District, and the last significant outpost of the region.
DAY 5: Puerto Montt: Peulla From Puerto Montt, head along the southern shore of Lake Llanquihue to reach the Petrohué National Park where you will find the incredibly beautiful Lago Todo los Santos (All Saint's Lake). Sitting neatly in the foothills of the Andes surrounded by lush forests, the lake s constantly shifting colours and incredible beauty will mesmerise you. Crossing the lake by boat, enjoy views of the Osorno Volcano, Mount Puntiagudo and Mount Tronador before reaching the tiny hamlet of Peulla where you have time to wander and explore before beginning the return journey. DAY 6: Transfer to the airport for onward destination appropriate time and transferred to the airport for your onward flight. Please note this service includes a local English speaking guide. On arrival into Punta Arenas, you will be met for your private transfer from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales. Puerto Natales sits on the shores of Seno Última Esperanza in an Patagonia, with striking views across the mountains. Once a relatively small fishing port, Puerto Natales now relies more on tourism, being the gateway to Torres del Paine National Park and the southern terminus of the ferry trip through the an fjords.
DAY 7: Full day Torres Del Paine National Park Torres del Paine is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful national parks, famous all around the world for its spectacular scenery, fauna and adventure activities. Declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1978, Torres del Paine is considered to be one of the most magnificent, untouched places on earth. Set off early from Puerto Natales, visiting the Milodon Cave and the village of Castillo, before reaching the park. Milodon Cave is a massive prehistoric cave where the remains of a giant ground sloth were discovered in the 1890 s. Once inside the park, make your way to the Salto Grande, a relatively small but incredibly powerful waterfall fed by the glacial melt waters before stopping for lunch at a hosteria. From here it s on to Lake Grey and the Glacier Grey before heading back to Puerto Natales. Along the way, enjoy incredible views of Lakes Sarmiento, Nordenskjold, Pehoé, Amarga and the mountains of the Paine massif like Torres, Cuernos and Paine Grande. Includes lunch and entrance fee.
DAY 8: Depart from Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas You will be collected from your hotel for your private transfer from Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas. On arrival at Santiago Airport, please make your way through Customs and Immigration and only exit from the green doors marked 'Meeting Point. Our representative will be holding a sign with your name on it and waiting for you outside this exit. Please only make contact with our representative. Should you have trouble locating him/her, please refer to the front of your itinerary for emergency contact details and only speak directly with our office in Santiago who speak good English. Santiago International Airport is undergoing extensive renovations which are due to continue to 2019. There are now two exiting gates and all travellers who have prebooked and prepaid for an arrival transfer, must exit from the green doors marked Meeting Point only. Due to these renovations there have been instances of Taxi Scammers taking advantage of the confusion so please follow these instructions and please note again if you can t locate our representative please call our local office and only speak directly with them. This service includes a driver and local English speaking guide who will provide you with any useful information needed for your stay.
DAY 9: Full Day Valparaiso Tour This morning you will be collected from hotel and travel west towards the Pacific Ocean, to Valparaiso, 's oldest port, known as the Jewel of the Pacific and the cultural capital of with festivals every year and a number of street artists and musicians. Its charming, picturesque and colourful houses are set on cobblestone alleyways in the hills that surround the city, creating a natural amphitheatre. In the 19th century, Valparaiso saw an influx of European immigrants. The historic quarter of Valparaiso was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2003 based on its unique architecture and urban design. The city s system of funicular lifts was declared one of the world s most endangered historical treasures by the World Monuments Fund in 1996. A short drive along the coast will allow us to have a perfect view of the hills and the city. We walk around the town to discover hidden treasures such as art galleries, small cafes, breweries and the house of the famous an Poet, Pablo Neruda. At the end of the tour, we will return to Santiago and you will be taken to your hotel. Please note this is a small group tour. DAY 10: Transfer to the airport for onward destination appropriate time and transferred to the airport for your onward flight. This service includes a Spanish speaking driver only. INCLUSIONS & DETAILS Accommodation Inclusions Difficulty Rating Single Surcharge Notes Tourist class hotels Accommodation on a bed & breakfast basis, Other meals where stated, All sightseeing, Airport transfers, Entrances/ permits, Transport, Tour guides, Internal Flights 2 (low level fitness required). FROM US$2,330, Subject to season and availability. Contact us for more details. Tour price includes the cost of internal flights. Museums in are closed on Mondays.
Price Dependent upon Season and availability SUSTAINABILITY Chimu Adventures undertakes a number of sustainability measures within its operations including: 1) Only using local guides and office staff to both maximise local employment opportunities and minimise carbon footprints. Local guides also ensure you benefit from the intimate knowledge, passion and culture of the country you re visiting. 2) Where possible, using locally owned and operated boutique hotels to maximise the return to the local community. 3) Chimu s Pass it on programme has provided funding to hundreds of local community projects in Latin America. Our aim is to empower local communities, helping them to develop their own infrastructure for the future. Since 2006, we have been working with Kiva (a well-known Non-Governmental Organisation), providing hundreds of loans to local businesses all over South America. 4) In our pre tour information we provide a range of tips and advice on how to minimise your impact on both local environments and communities. 5) Chimu Adventures offices also take a number of sustainability measures including carbon offsets for company vehicles and most staff travel. Chimu Adventure s internal processes are also structures to create a paperless office and to reduce waste. There are also internal programmes to help staff minimise their carbon footprint such as our staff bike purchase assistance plan which encourages office staff to commute to work via bicycle. Currently almost half of our office based staff commute to work via bicycle.