Best of Chile from Atacama to Patagonia (Classic)

Highlights

• Valparaiso: Join a Local Expert on a guided tour of the coastal city of Valparaiso and explore this colorful UNESCO protected site.
• San Pedro de Atacama: Head to the Moon Valley for a guided visit. A nod to its name, this moon-like area is made up of dunes, caves and caverns.You'll learn more about its history and the land formations from a Local Expert.
• Santiago: On arrival, take a tour of the city with a Local Expert. Discover its Neoclassical landmarks including the 18th century Metropolitan Cathedral, vibrant Central Market, and San Cristobal Hill.
• Puerto Natales: Explore Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers aboard a sea vessel.
• Torres del Paine National Park: Take a scenic drive to Torres del Paine National Park, with plenty of scenic photo stops along the way. The park is situated in Chile’s Patagonia region and is famous for its glaciers, grasslands, imposing mountains and the three granite towers it is named after. The park is also part of UNESCO’s Biosphere Reserve System, known for its rare wildlife.
• San Pedro de Atacama: Our journey to the Altiplano starts in the early hours, just in time to watch the sun rise in one of the most important geothermic fields in the world: the El Tatio Geysers. There are over 70 geysers with pools of boiling water spurting vapor and it is best to see them first thing in the morning, so you can truly appreciate the beautiful contrast of colors between the intensely blue sky and the pristine vapor from the geysers. You will then enjoy a well-deserved breakfast in this amazing setting, in the shadows of the Andes. Take a moment to warm up as the temperatures in the zone can range from -2°C to 24.5°C (28°F to 76° F). On you way back to San Pedro de Atacama, you will travel through beautiful landscapes, seeing the valleys, flora and fauna, and maybe even spotting some of the local vicunas and vizcachas - a real highlight.
• San Pedro de Atacama: Explore the Atacama Salt Flats, the largest in Chile. One of the driest parts of the world, the area stretches for over 40,000 square miles (103,600 square kilometers). View the nearby volcanoes, and keep your eyes open for species of wild birds including the Andean and James flamingos on the shores of the Chaxa, Miscanti and Minque Lagoons.
• Torres del Paine National Park: Join your local expert on an excursion of the Torres Del Paine National Park. This area is known for its rivers, lakes, mountains, and glaciers that are worth exploring. Stops along the way include Puente Negro, Nordenskjold lookout, Sarmiento Lookout, Pehoe Lake and Salto Grande waterfall.
• Torres del Paine National Park: Enjoy the exquisite local flavors of Torres Del Paine National Park as you dine at Hotel Las Torres. Every meal features fresh, in-season ingredients grown onsite at the regions oldest gardens that utilizes bio-intensive sustainable techniques.
• Santiago: In the evening meet your Travel Director and fellow guests at the hotel, where you'll enjoy a delicious Welcome Dinner while getting to know some of your new travel companions.
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What's this trip about?

Journey across Chile on an immersive 11-Day adventure, from Santiago set against the snow-capped Andes to the UNESCO protected sites of Valparaíso and the llama farms of Torres del Paine. Wine connoisseurs will be in their element at the Kingston Family Vineyard where a private Casablanca Valley Wine Tasting uncorks the finest local tipples—including regional Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. In Torres del Paine, join the Patagonia Ranch cultural experience and see the world through the eyes of your local baqueano guides—the cowboy descendants of horsemen who came to work the ranches over a century ago. In Atacama, journey 14,000 feet up into the Andes for a dip in the Puritama Hot Springs before an evening of stargazing under the crystal-clear skies of the Chilean desert.

Accommodation