Magic of Chile

Day 1: Santiago

Arrival at Santiago Airport and transfer to hotel. In the afternoon we will enjoy a city tour to see the most interesting attractions of the Chilean capital. Overnight in Santiago.

Day 2: Santiago – San Pedro -Valle de la Luna

After breakfast a transfer will take us to the airport to board our connecting flight. Upon arrival at the airport of Calama, we will be provided assistance and a transfer to San Pedro de Atacama. San Pedro is an unusually colorful village at 2,000 m / 6,560 ft above sea level, in the middle of a green oasis. In the afternoon we will enjoy the eerily silent moonscape of Valle de la Luna with its backdrop of snow-capped volcanoes; here we will observe beauty of the scenery intensify during sunset. We will return to the hotel afterwards and stay overnight in San Pedro de Atacama. (B)

Day 3: San Pedro, historical sites & the Atacama Salt Lake

After breakfast you will visit San Pedro de Atacama - the centre of a Paleolithic civilization that built impressive rock fortresses on the mountains encircling the green valley.  The extraordinary archaeological museum (closed on Mondays) of Padre Gustavo Le Paige shows, among its many archaeological pre-Hispanic artifacts, several amazingly well preserved mummies, including one known as "Miss Chile."   The archaeological Arrival in Puerto Montt Airport, directly followed by a short city tour of Puerto Montt; a transfer will then take us to Puerto Varas, also known as the "City of Roses"; located on the shores of  Lake Llanquihue, Chile's second largest lake, with the volcanoes Osorno and Calbuco reflected in the crystal clear water. Overnight in Puerto Varas. (B)

Day 4: El Tatio and Machuca

 In the morning you will depart early at 4:00 am to reach the El Tatio Geysers at an altitude of 4.300 m / 14.108 ft before sunrise. It is the highest geothermal field in the world in a remote setting and has spectacular scenery.  At dawn, powerful spurts of steam shoot out from various blowholes. You will have enough time to enjoy this beautiful natural wonder before we return and drive to the village Machuca where the ancient llama caravans used to rest from their travels on the "Inca Highway".  Afterwards, we will return to San Pedro de Atacama. Leisure time in the afternoon.  Overnight in San Pedro. (B)

Day 5: Calama – Puerto Montt - Puerto Varas

After breakfast a transfer will take us to the airport of Calama to board our connecting flight. Arrival in Puerto Montt Airport, directly followed by a short city tour of Puerto Montt; a transfer will then take us to Puerto Varas, also known as the "City of Roses"; located on the shores of Lake Llanquihue, Chile's second largest lake, with the volcanoes Osorno and Calbuco reflected in the crystal clear water. Overnight in Puerto Varas. (B)

Day 6: Peulla

In the morning we will depart from the hotel and drive along the shoreline of Lake Llanquihue to Petrohué in the Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park. We can make an optional short stop to look at the famous Petrohué Falls. We proceed to Petrohué to board the catamaran to sail across Lake Todos los Santos to Peulla enjoying beautiful views of the surrounding mountains on the way. We will have time for lunch at the Hotel Peulla and/or a walk to the nearby waterfalls. Return to Puerto Varas and hotel. Overnight in Puerto Varas. (B)

Day 7: Chiloé Island

Departure to Pargua and crossing of Chacao Channel by ferry to Chiloé Island. We will either visit Ancud, famous for its traditional market featuring a wide range of seafood and crafts, or the well known houses built on stilts in Castro and other sights of interest in this town. PRIVATE/GROUP: If weather conditions allow, we will be able to visit the penguin islands "Islotes Puñihul", situated on the northwestern coast, about 30 minutes from Ancud. During the 30- minute ride in our zodiac to the islands we will be able to see Humboldt and Magellan penguins. In the late afternoon we return to Puerto Varas. Overnight at hotel in Puerto Varas. (B)

Day 8: Puerto Varas

PRIVATE: After breakfast you will visit Frutillar, situated on the shoreline of Lake Llanquihue and founded by German settlers around 1850. Here you will visit the outdoor museum dedicated to these pioneers. Afterwards you will be driven back to Puerto Varas and have the afternoon at leisure to discover other nearby sights or to relax. Overnight in Puerto Varas. (B) SEAT-IN-BUS (SIB)/GROUP: Day at leisure in Puerto Varas. Optional excursions can be easily arranged. Overnight in Puerto Varas. (B)

Day 09: Puerto Montt - Punta Arenas or Puerto Natales

In the morning, transfer to the airport in Puerto Montt for your flight to Punta Arenas.

PRIVATE/GROUP: Arrival at Punta Arenas and transfer to Puerto Natales. Overnight. (B) SEAT-IN-BUS (S.I.B.): Afternoon arrival at Punta Arenas Airport and departure to Puerto Natales; on the way visit to the penguin colony (high season only!) at Seno Otway. Overnight in Puerto Natales. (B)

Day 10: Puerto Natales - Torres del Paine Nacional Park

Early departure to Torres del Paine National Park In the Torres del Paine we will pass Laguna Amarga and Lake Pehoé and enjoy the beautiful views of the Paine Massif, Almirante Nieto, and the famous Torres (towers) del Paine. We will be able to observe local wildlife such as guanacos, ñandús, foxes, skunks, black-necked swans, flamingos, condors, and eagles. Overnight in the park. (B)

Day 11: Torres del Paine - Puerto Natales

The morning will be at leisure, we have time for a stroll in the surroundings of our hotel. In the afternoon we leave the park and drive to Puerto Natales on the way we visit the Milodón Cave where archeologists have found the 12,000 year old remnants of a giant sloth. Overnight in an authentic Patagonia sheep farm halfway Puerto Natales and Punta Arenas. (B, D)

Day 12: Puerto Natales - Santiago

Transfer to the airport of Punta Arenas and flight to Santiago. Overnight in Santiago de Chile. (B)

Day 13: Santiago

Transfer to the airport of Santiago and international flight. (B)