The Spine of Chile

On arrival in Santiago, you will be met at the airport and driven to your hotel.

Optional afternoon guided city tour: walk to La Moneda and through the main square, visit the Bellas Artes Museum and colourful neighbourhood of Lastarria, then climb the steps to Santa Lucía hill for a panoramic view of the Chilean capital with its Andean backdrop. The 16th-century San Franciso Church will also be included.

One night in Santiago.

An optional additional night in Santiago (at the beginning or during your trip) can include a day trip to the wine region or the arty port of Valparaiso, home to the poet Pablo Neruda.

This morning you will be driven back to Santiago airport for your flight north to Calama. From here you will be transferred an hour to San Pedro de Atacama, situated in the desert at 2,400 metres above sea level. The highest and driest desert on earth, the surreally beautiful Atacama Desert is a striking combination of glistening salt basins, unique rock formations, fiery red canyons, turquoise thermal lakes, rising geysers and golden red sunsets. In the afternoon set out for your first desert excursion, a visit to the Valley of the Moon, a dramatic lunar landscape of barren hills and plains. Climb a sand dune to watch the colours of the surrounding mountains change from gold to red as the sun sets.

Over the following two days there will be a programme of excursions for you to choose from. Examples include the Atacama Salt Lake, where the salt crystals stretch out for miles and flamingos gather to nest or the impressive belching El Tatio geysers which, at 4,300 meters, are some of the highest geysers in the world.

This morning you will be driven back to Calama for your flight to Santiago. Connect with an onward two-hour flight to Puerto Montt and then transfer 30 minutes to Puerto Varas in the heart of the Chilean Lake District. Puerto Varas is a charming, small town set in a stunning location on the shores of Lake Llanquihue, with lovely views across the bay to the volcanoes of Osorno and Calbuco.

During your stay you can explore the surrounding area by yourself or we can arrange a guided excursion to the snow-capped Osorno Volcano to include a two-hour hike through a forest to the Petrohue Cascades.

Transfer back to Puerto Montt and fly further south to Puerto Natales, a small town wonderfully set on the shores of Last Hope Sound. The flight takes you over the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, and it is possible to see the glaciers snaking their way into the sea.

From Puerto Natales it is a two hour drive to Torres del Paine National Park, a wilderness of soaring peaks, glacial valleys, glistening lakes and open grasslands.

The huge granite peaks of the Paine Massif, also known as the ‘Towers of Paine’, rise up dramatically from the windswept terrain, creating one of the most striking natural landscapes on earth. The national park is also home to an abundance of wildlife, including guanacos, foxes, condors, rheas and, although an elusive animal, puma sightings are not uncommon.

During your stay there will be a selection of tours available including full and half day hikes, mountain biking, horseback riding, kayaking and, more sedentary scenic tours by 4×4 or a boat on Lago Grey to see the Grey Glacier. On any tour you take, you will be mesmerized by the wonderful views, spectacular scenery and, with a bit of luck, some great wildlife sightings.

Today you will be transferred back to Puerto Natales airport for your flight to Santiago.

On arrival walk to the Santiago Airport Hotel, just across the road from arrivals.

Take a five-hour flight from Santiago to Easter Island. The most isolated inhabited island on earth, Easter Island is home to the enigmatic Moai, the monolithic stone head statues mysteriously created by an ancient civilization. On arrival, you are greeted by a traditional reception with flower necklaces before transferring to your hotel. You have the rest of the day free to explore the town of Hanga Roa.

Over the following two days there will be plenty to explore. Examples include Ranu Raraku volcanic crater which served as a quarry for around 95% of the island’s Moai; Ahu Tongariki where you will see 15 Moai, including the island’s largest; Anakena, a beautiful white coral sandy beach overlooked by Moai; Orongo, the ceremonial centre of the island, and the unusual site of Ahu Akivi.

Take the flight back to Santiago for a final night before your return home. If time allows, 2-3 nights at a winery near to Santiago, or else at the coast, can make for a very pleasant end to a holiday in Chile.

Please note that this is only an example of an itinerary that you can do in Chile – our itineraries are fully bespoke to suit requirements. Prices will vary according to the hotel and lodges used in each destination, please refer to our ‘lodges’ section for our hotel recommendations.

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