Chile: Classic Tour
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Easter Island ©Stephanie Wunsch
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Santiago City Tour ©Stephanie Wunch
Chile stretches over 4000km – over half the continent – from the driest desert in the world, to amazing glacial fields. The country is full of natural wonders such as volcanoes, geysers, beaches, lakes, rivers and countless islands.
The tour starts in Chile’s capital Santiago and continues towards the Pacific Ocean, thereby passing through the agricultural valleys of Curacavi and Casablanca. There you will be able to taste the best available white wines of the area. During the course of the journey you will visit San Pedro de Atacama. It is a colourful village located in the middle of a stunning green oasis. The tour also includes a visit of the mystifying Valle de la Luna, the famous Moon Valley.
The tour continues to Pukara de Quitor, a fortress which was conquered in 1540 by the Spanish defeating the Incan troops. Another highlight of the tour is a stop at the renown Atacama Salt Lake. This natural phenomenon is part of the dramatic Chilean landscapes. The tour heads north to the famous El Tatio Geysers, a geothermal field flanked by soaring peaks. You will also visit Machuca, the town where the ancient llama caravans rested during their travels to the Inca Highway. After a domestic flight to Puenta Arena, the tour continues to Torres del Paine National Park. Here you can admire the stunning views and appreciate the wildlife which inhabits this area.
Dates
Dates on request
Suggested Itinerary by Air
Day 1
Fly to Santiago
Fly indirectly from your chosen UK airport to Santiago de Chile where you will be met and transferred to your hotel accommodation.
Day 2
Santiago
Enjoy a city tour through Santiago’s most interesting sites, such as the Presidential Palace where it is possible to appreciate the emotive aspects of its history, the bustling streets and plazas of the downtown area of the city.
Day 3
Vina del Mar and Valparaiso
Travel towards the Pacific Ocean, passing the agricultural valleys of Curacavi and Casablanca finally reaching Valparaiso. Visit the downtown area with its new government house, the Plaza Sotomayor, the Plaza Victoria, the cathedral and the harbour area. Afterwards, discover the colourful hill neighbourhoods. Here, high about the city, there is a fantastic view over the city. 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. Travelling north along the coastline of the bay, we will reach the city of Vina del Mar, the most famous and visited seaside city of the area, with its many parks of huge palm trees. Visit the beautiful park Quinta Vergara with its amphitheatre, the beaches and the Casino, which was built in 1932.
Day 4
Casablanca Valley Wine Tour
It wasn’t until the mid 1980s that the potential of this wine producing area was discovered. Its location, near the coast, allows the grapes to ripen slowly giving the wine a unique taste. There will be opportunities to taste the best available white wines in the area such as Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.
Day 5
Flight from Santiago to Calama – San Pedro de Atacama
Transfer from hotel and transfer to the airport to board an internal flight from Santiago to Calama. Arrival at Calama and transfer to San Pedro de Atacama. San Pedro is a colourful village located in the middle of a stunning green oasis. In the afternoon, you will be taken into the mystifying Valle de la Luna, the famous Moon Valley.
Day 6
San Pedro, Toconao and the Atacama Salt Lake
After breakfast, travel to the San Pedro de Atacama – the centre of a Palaeolithic civilisation that built impressive rock fortresses on the mountain side encircling the green valley. The colonial church was constructed in 1577 and is the largest and most beautiful church in the region. The extraordinary archaeological museum of Padre Gustavo Le Paige exhibits many pre-Hispanic artefacts. Afterwards, continue to the pre-Columbian village of Tulor which has a rich history dating back over 3000 years. The archaeological remains are the oldest evidence of human settlement in the valley. Continue to Pukara de Quitor, a fortress which was conquered in 1540 by the Spanish defeating the Incan troops. Later, we’ll visit Toconao, a village where locals dedicate themselves to the manufacture of white volcanic stone sculptures. Visit the huge Atacama Salt Lake, an inland lake formed millions of years ago. You’ll be overwhelmed by this vast natural wonder and it’s renowned as being one of the most spectacular and dramatic landscapes in Chile.
Day 7
Tatio Geysers & Machuca
Departing early from San Pedro, you’ll head north to the famous El Tatio Geysers, a geothermal field flanked by soaring peaks. Arrive at El Tatio which is the highest geothermal field in the world in a remote setting and has spectacular scenery with steaming pools encrusted with salt crystals. Enjoy a mid morning brunch amongst the geysers before continuing your tour of the geothermal field. Visit Machuca town where the ancient llama caravans rested during their travels to the Inca Highway. Return San Petro de Atacama arriving around mid afternoon.
Day 8
Santiago – Punta Arenas – Puerto Natales
In the morning, transfer to the airport in Santiago to fly to Punta Arenas. On arrival, you will be transferred to your accommodation via the Penguin Colony of Seno Otway.
Day 9
Torres del Paine
Early departure to Torres del Paine National Park where you can admire the stunning views and appreciate the wildlife which inhabits this area. Local wildlife includes black-necked swans, flamingos, condors and eagles.
Days 10-11
Return Flights via Santiago to the United Kingdom
Morning transfer to to Punta Arenas airport to begin your flights back to the UK.
Easter Island Extension
You can easily add an extension to your packaged holiday and discover the iconic Easter Island.
For more information: click here
October to March are the warmest and most accessible months to visit Chile. Santiago, the Central Valleys and the Atacama Desert are truly year-round destinations. January and February are busy times to visit Chile, it being the peak of the country’s summer.
Picture: Puerto Varas
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The tour will run with a minimum of 10 passengers. A group is 10 persons or more. Smaller groups can be accommodated. Picture is for illustrative purposes only. Greatdays Holidays Limited has an ATOL licence (4279) and all of our air package tours are protected under this licence. In the unlikely event of our insolvency, the Civil Aviation Authority will ensure that you are not stranded abroad and will arrange to refund any monies you have paid to us for an advance booking. All the flights and flight-inclusive holidays on this email are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services).
