Day 1
The group flight arrives in the morning and those on land only arrangments will meet at the hotel. The rest of the morning is free to recover from the flight. In the afternoon we enjoy a city tour including the important sights of both historic and modern Santiago. We see the Presidential Palace, once the National Mint and thus called "La Moneda” and also visit the historic main square or "Plaza de Armas", the Cathedral, the "Palacio de la Real Audiencia", today housing the National History Museum, and "Casa Colorado" historic residence of the Governor in colonial times (the latter two buildings will only be viewed from the outside). Perhaps the best view of Santiago is from the summit of the Cerro San Cristobal, where a statue of the Virgin stands. San Cristobal is part of a tremendous park called Parque Metropolitano and from here we
continue uptown to see some of “Providencia“ – one of the noble parts of Santiago with elegant shops, first class restaurants and some futuristic high-rise buildings. CH (B)

Day 2
Today we head along the coast to the beautiful beaches of Viña del Mar, the ‘Garden City’, so-called for its many parks and green spaces. We visit one of the most attractive of these, the Parque Quinta Vergara with an amphitheatre and the Museo de Bellas Artes. An International Music Festival is held here every year. Viña del Mar is a lively city with attractive beaches, modern hotels, high-end restaurants and fashionable bars. The casino, built in 1932 and set amidst beautiful gardens, is a well kept Chilean tradition of elegance. In the afternoon we return to Santiago.

From Vina del Mar we journey to Valparaíso, the oldest port in Chile. While it is not the largest port it retains tremendous historical significance as well as being home to the Chilean House of Assembly and Senate. In 1989 when democracy, and thus the National Assembly, was reestablished it was transferred here from Santiago. During our city tour we shall visit the new government houses, the Plaza Sotomayor, the Plaza Victoria, the cathedral and the harbour area. High above the city there is a fantastic agglomeration of brightly painted homes. We also have to
chance to visit “La Sebastiana”; the former house of the Chilean writer and Nobel Prize Winner, Pablo Neruda. The upper and lower parts of the city are connected with 16 funicular railways constructed around the turn of the century when the city experienced tremendous growth. CH (B)

Day 3
In the morning we fly to Calama near the Atacama Desert where we transfer to our hotel in the town of San Pedro de Atacama. On route we should see spectacular views of the Cordillera de la Sal. At dusk we set out to the Valley of the Moon to see the sunset in this bizarre, almost lunar landscape formed by the erosion of salt mountains. Strange sculpted rock formations in the middle of the desert, with the Lincancabur Volcano in the background, make for a particularly rare experience. After sunset we return to San Pedro. CH (B)

Day 4
In the morning we visit the archaeological museum of Padre le Paige, with its famous collection of artefacts which show the development of the Atacameño society. The church of San Pedro dates from the 17th century and its roof is made out of cactus! In the afternoon we venture to see the Salar de Atacama. On route we visit the town of Toconao. The houses in this small picturesque village are built of bricks of white volcanic stone, which lend the town a very unique appearance. The church and its bell tower are also built from this bleached white volcanic stone. After Toconao we continue on to visit the world’s largest salt lake: the Salar de Atacama. Rich in minerals, including borax and lithium, it is home to various species of flamingos as well as many other birds. The Laguna Chaxa, part of the Reserva Nacional de los Flamingoes, offers a fantastic opportunity to get closer to these birds in their natural habitat. In the evening we return to the hotel. CH (B)

Day 5
The day can either be spent relaxing in and around the town of San Pedro de Atacama. Alternatively there is a very early departure for those who would like to visit the Geysers of El Tatio (optional). El Tatio is situated at 4500 metres above sea level on the Altiplano. The geysers are spectacular in the early morning. There are about 40 geysers, thermal wells and fumaroles in all and the early morning light striking the water and steam hurling up from the geysers, makes for an unforgettable experience. On our way back to San Pedro we shall see green bushes of Yareta shining in the sparse desert. In the early afternoon we reach San Pedro and the rest of the day will be at your leisure to explore the environs. You may like to visit the 800 year old pre-Inca fortress Pucará de Quitor nearby (also optional). CH (B)

Day 6
We transfer to Calama airport and fly to Santiago and then on to Puerto Montt, the capital of the Lake District. From the airport we begin with a city tour of Puerto Montt itself, the capital of the Lake District. Puerto Montt was founded in 1853 by German colonists on the site of an indigenous Mapuche community. Downtown we take time to walk about the main squares and historical monuments. Afterwards we visit the port itself including the fish market of Angelmó where there is a large handicraft market full of artisans and lots of fresh shellfish. From Angelmó
we continue on to Puerto Varas where we will be staying (half an hour north on the shores of Lago Llanquihue). Once here we shall enjoy a brief tour of the ‘City of the Roses’ as it has come to be called because of the tremendous variety of roses all over town. Afterwards, we transfer to our hotel and the rest of the day is free for your own exploration. SH (B)

Day 7
In the morning we set out for a full day inside the Lake District. First off we drive along the shore of Lago Llanquihue and enjoy breathtaking views of the volcanoes Osorno and Calbuco. Our first real stop will be at the Saltos de Petrohue where cooling lava fromthe Osorno Volcano formed a series of rapids and waterfalls. Together they form an impressive sculpture of extruded volcanic rock shaped by thousands of years of river flow. Upon arriving at the landing at Petrohue we board a small typical wooden boat for a short cruise of Lago Todos los Santos. Lago Todos Los Santos (All Saints Lake) is surrounded by high mountains and the lower slopes are thickly forested. As we pull away from the landing and the source of the river Petrohue, the view is quickly stolen away by the tremendous size and proximity of snow-capped Volcano Osorno behind us. We return to Petrohue and take an easy hike in the lower lava fields of Volcano Osorno - a wonderful experience. We continue for a visit of the Green Lagoon, Laguna Verde, before we return in the afternoon towards Puerto Varas. SH (B)

Day 8
In the morning we transfer to Puerto Montt airport to board a flight to Punta Arenas, Patagonia - the southernmost city in Chile. We drive north through the vast patagonian "Pampa" to Puerto Natales with terrific views on route of the Straits of Magellan and across the chilly antarctic waters to Tierra del Fuego. We arrive in Puerto Natales in the early evening. BH (B)

Day 9
An early start for full day driving inside Torres del Paine National Park. This is a busy day of travelling and walking including unforgettable views of the Towers and the Torres Massif, Lago Grey and Grey Glacier as well as the tremendous wildlife. We will do some short hikes to reach the most beautiful points of view of this National Park and, of course, also get to know the diverse wildlife. In the late afternoon we head for our cabins where we overnight. BH (B)

Day 10
In the morning we head back to the lodge in Puerto Natales. For those that would like to there is the possibility (optional) of returning by zodiac. After boarding the zodiacs we sail through Rio Serrano. The river ends at the Fjord Ultima Esperanza. Here we change to a boat and approach the spectacular Balmaceda Glacier flowing out from the eastern side of Bernardo O’Higgins National Park. We will also stop at the Perales farm. Afterwards we return to Puerto Natales. SH (B)

Day 11
Early morning flight back to Santiago. The rest of the day is free for private exploration. CH (B)

Day 12
The morning is free before the group transfer to the airport for the flight back to London. Those on land only arrangements will leave us in the morning. The group return flight to London is an overnight flight arriving home on day 13.

Tarif & Itinéraire complet de ce voyage d’aventure au Chili