About your tour
Spectacular snow-capped volcanoes, lakes and waterfalls plus a unique and vibrant culture await you in Chile.
Holiday highlights
Santiago de Chile City sightseeing
Puerto Montt City sightseeing
Puerto Varas Orientation tour
Petrohue Rapids
Vicente Perez National Park
Lake Todos Los Santos Catamaran boat journey
Punta Arenas Orientation tour
Puerto Natales
Torres del Paine National Park Full day excursion
Your Price Includes
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Flights: UK - Santiago de Chile - Puerto Montt - Punta Arenas - Santiago de Chile - UK
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Accommodation on tour in twin room with private facilities
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Local guide will accompany the tour in each centre
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Porterage at hotels during tour (for one suitcase per person)
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Transfers between overseas airports and hotels
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All local and airport taxes/service charges
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Meals on tour 8 breakfasts (B)
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Travel on tour by coach or minibus
Extend Your Holiday
Wines of Chile
Chilean wine is a fine representative of the New World wine, which is steadily increasing in popularity and reputation. Spend some time exploring the wonderful picturesque areas responsible for this phenomenon.
DAY 10 (Wed): Maipo Valley. Travel south from Santiago through Maipo Valley, bound by the Andes and the Coastal Range. Today visit two prestigious wineries - Viña Undurraga and Viña Santa Ines. Viña Undurraga is one of the flagship Chilean wineries. The founder - Don Francisco Undurraga, brought vines from France and Germany and planted them, where they thrived in the Chilean climate. The surrounding parkland also reflects French heritage, as it was designed by a French artist. Visit the old bodegas and beautiful casonas and learn about wine production, its storage and enjoy a tasting. Afterwards we travel to Viña Santa Ines, which was founded by an Italian, who decided that Maipo Valley was a utopia for wine growing. Having quickly gained a following for the quality of their wines, the winery has expanded, yet still remains in the original family. After a tour of the winery, sample some of the wines produced here. (B)
DAY 11 (Thu): Casablanca Valley. Today we travel to Casablanca Valley, an area filled with large wineries, with a world-class reputation for white wines. Today we visit three famous wineries. Viña Veramonte was chosen for the similarity of the land to California's Napa Valley and Carneros. The large winery specialises in using state of the art technology, and has earned international acclaim for its Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Primus. Viña Mar is the newest winery in the area, created by a team of experienced Chilean born winemakers. The winery is located on a hill and provides stunning views out over the tranquil valley. Viña William Cole was created for the sole purpose of crafting fine wine, and as this has continued to happen the winery has expanded to an impressive size of 130 hectares. Each of the wineries visited today include tastings and tours of each unique method of production. After an enjoyable day among the vines return to Santiago. (B)
Day 12 (Fri): Santiago - UK. Transfer to Santiago airport for your overnight flight to the UK. (B)
DAY 13 (Sat): Home landing in the UK.
Note: Please note that the itinerary is subject to change.
Atacama Desert
Discover more of Chile's ancient past and astonishing natural landscape during this visit to the volcanic area of San Pedro de Atacama, with contrasting dry desert plains and steaming geysers.
DAY 10 (Wed): Santiago - Calama - San Pedro de Atacama. In the morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Calama, gateway to the desert. From here head to your hotel in San Pedro de Atacama. (B)
DAY 11 (Thu): San Pedro de Atacama. Included sightseeing. Today experience the natural wonders of this desert area. Firstly we discover more of the town on a walking tour - located at almost 8,000 feet above sea level! One of the main features of the town is Church of San Pedro and the Museum of Padre Le Paige - an important archaeological centre. From there we visit the Atacama Salt Lake, the second largest salt flat in the world - almost 65 miles long and dating back millions of years. Continue on to the small village of Toconao, renowned for its production of unique small sculptures made from locally mined white volcanic stone. Discover more about the past as you visit Pukara de Quitor, an Inca fortress built in the 12th century. In the late afternoon we drive to Moon Valley, named for its lunar-like rock formations and tranquillity, to enjoy a sunset over this incredible area. (B)
DAY 12 (Fri): San Pedro de Atacama. A free day to marvel at the wonders of the Chilean desert, perhaps join our optional excursion (departing at 04:00) to the Tatio Geysers, located at an altitude of 14,175 feet. Its steaming chutes of water are at their best between 06:30 and 08:30am. On the way back to San Pedro we stop at the Banos de Puritama where you can enjoy a refreshing soak in the thermal spring pools before returning to your hotel. (B)
DAY 13 (Sat): San Pedro de Atacama - Calama - Santiago. Leave the wonders of the desert behind you and return to Calama, for your flight to Santiago. (B)
DAY 14 (Sun): Santiago - UK. Transfer to Santiago airport for your overnight flight to the UK. (B)
DAY 15 (Mon): Home landing in the UK.
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Your itinerary
Day 1: UK - Santiago de Chile.
Overnight flight to Santiago de Chile.
Day 2: Santiago de Chile. Included sightseeing.
On arrival in Santiago you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel for a two-night stay. In the afternoon, enjoy an included tour of the key sights of Chile's impressive capital city. Begin by passing through the older suburbs, featuring the Club Hipico horseracing track, Parque O'Higgins, and the Cousino Palace, a historic house built by the Cousinos, a wealthy Chilean silver mining family. Afterwards travel into the city centre along the Alameda, the eclectic main avenue of the city, to see the impressive San Francisco Church and Santa Lucia Hill, where the city was founded in 1541. Later visit the bustling Plaza de Armas with its impressive colonial architecture. We then cross the Mapocho River and pass through the suburb of Bellavista and up San Cristobal Hill, offering incredible views over the city and the neighbouring Andes.
Day 3: Santiago de Chile.
Today is free to further explore the capital at your leisure, or perhaps join our optional day excursion to the seaside cities of Valparaiso and Viña del Mar. Valparaiso, a UNESCO world heritage site, was an important site for world shipping until the opening of the Panama Canal. Naval history is strongly evident as you pass by the main square, featuring the monument to the historic Battle of Iquique of 1879. Head along the coast, passing wonderful beaches and dramatic rocky outcrops before arriving in the popular beach resort of Concon - well known for its colourful array of fresh seafood sold in stalls by local merchants. After visiting Plaza Vergara - the main square - and surrounding shops, return to Santiago.
(B)
Day 4: Santiago - Puerto Montt - Puerto Varas.
Transfer to the airport for your flight south to Puerto Montt, gateway to the lake region. Enjoy the German colonial heritage of the town, evident in the architecture, during a sightseeing tour, which also includes a marvellous vista over the city, Reloncavi Bay and Tengo Island. Finish the tour with a visit to the main square and elegant cathedral. Afterwards we travel to Puerto Varas. The town - known as 'the city of roses' sits on the shores of Lake Llanguihue, one of the largest natural lakes on the continent - whose mirrored waters reflect glorious views of the snow-capped Osorno Volcano. We visit Puerto Varas' main square with its charming gardens and the statue of Vicente Perez Rosales - the founder of the region before arriving at your overnight hotel.
(B)
Day 5: Puerto Varas. Included sightseeing.
Today start with a scenic journey through stunning green countryside - offset by wonderful local architecture - around the Lake Llanguihue and towards the Ensanada village and Petrohue Rapids. This series of rapids and waterfalls form an impressive sculpture of extruded volcanic rock shaped by thousands of years of thundering water flow. From here you enter the Vicente Perez Rosales National Park. Chile's oldest national park is famous for its spectacular landscape and wealth of native birds. A highlight of today is a catamaran boat journey on the emerald Lake Todos Los Santos. Make sure you have your camera ready to capture the images of the lake and the encircling snow-capped volcanoes. After reaching the charming village of Peulla, enjoy some time at leisure. We return across the lake and travel back to the Port of Petrohue before returning to Puerto Varas in the afternoon. (B)
Note: This excursion is subject to favourable weather conditions.
Day 6: Puerto Varas - Punta Arenas - Puerto Natales.
This morning fly to Punta Arenas, founded in 1848 on the shores of Magellan Strait. Upon arrival, enjoy a short tour, the highlight of which is an awe-inspiring view of the city, the Magellan Strait and Tierra del Fuego - from the vantage point of Cerro La Cruz. Later head to Puerto Natales (without the guide, by the public bus) passing the massive sheep farms, pretty beech woods and large areas of untamed landscape of Patagonia.
(B)
Day 7: Puerto Natales - Torres del Paine. Full day excursion.
Spend today in the breathtaking Torres del Paine National Park. This Unesco biosphere reserve is set amidst dramatic mountains, and is famous for its awe-inspiring views of the lakes and glaciers within the park. Enjoy a visit to the Milodon Cave, famous for its pre-historic fossil discovery. Throughout the park you can spot herds of guanacos - a type of llama native to the area. Before dusk enjoy the hike around the Grey Lake, with stunning views of the Grey Glacier.
(B)
Day 8: Torres del Paine - Puerto Natales.
Spend the morning at leisure, enjoying more of the tranquillity and breathtaking scenery of this amazing National Park. In the afternoon return to Puerto Natales.
(B)
Day 9: Puerto Natales - Punta Arenas - Santiago.
Today travel by a local bus (without a guide) to Punta Arenas for your flight to Santiago.
(B)
Day 10: Santiago de Chile - UK.
Transfer to Santiago de Chile airport for your overnight flight to the UK.
(B)
Day 11: Home landing in the UK.
Maximum elevation on this tour is 3,000 ft.
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