Magic of Chile 13 Days (Chile) - 13 Days / 12 Nights

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 (B)

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 colourful 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 snowcapped volcanoes; here we will observe the beauty of the scenery intensify during sunset. We will return to the hotel afterwards and stay overnight in San Pedro de Atacama.

Day 3: San Pedro, historical sites & the Atacama
Salt Lake (B, L)

After breakfast we will visit San Pedro de Atacama – the centre of a Palaeolithic civilization which built impressive rock fortresses on the mountains encircling the green valley. The colonial church was constructed in 1577 and is the largest and most beautiful church of the region. The extraordinary archaeological museum (closed on Mondays) of Padre Gustavo Le Paige shows many archaeological pre-Hispanic artefacts.

After this visit we will drive 4 km / 2,5 mi to reach the pre-Columbian village Tulor with an approx. age of 3,000 years. The archaeological remains are the oldest evidence of human settlement in the valley. We will then continue our morning tour to Pukara de Quitor, a fortress which was conquered in 1540 by the Spanish conquistadores defeating the Incan troops who, in turn, had captured it from the pre-Incan cultures and extended the fortification. In the afternoon you will start your tour to Toconao, a village where the locals dedicate themselves to the manufacturing of white volcanic stone sculptures.
Continuing to the huge Atacama Salt Lake, an inland sea formed millions of years ago, whose vast emptiness and white salt crusts reach out as far as the eye can see, will take you to one of the most spectacular and dramatic landscapes in Chile. Return to the hotel. Overnight in San Pedro.

Day 4: El Tatio - Machuca (B)

Today we will depart at 4:00 a.m. in order to see the El Tatio Geysers, a geothermal field flanked by soaring peaks. At dawn powerful spurts of steam shoot up from various blowholes and condensate in the cold air. The steaming ponds are encrusted with brilliant salt crystals that reflect the metal blue sky; along with the rising columns of steam they make for a breathtaking sight. On the way back from the geysers to San Pedro, we will visit the settlement Machuca, located at 3,400 m / 11,150 ft above sea level. Only a few shepherds still live here, at the former resting place for llama caravans travelling the Inca Trail. It is an amazing place in the middle of the highlands with a spectacular view of the Andes and the Atacama Salt Lake. In the afternoon we will return to San Pedro. Overnight in San Pedro de Atacama.

Day 5: Calama – Puerto Montt – Puerto Varas (B)

After breakfast a transfer will take us to the airport of Calama to board our connecting flight. Arrival at 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.

Day 6: Peulla (B)

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. A short stop to have an amazing look at the famous Petrohué Falls is optional. Once in Petrohué, we will board the catamaran to navigate 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.

Day 7: Chiloé Island (B)

Departure to Pargua and crossing of Chacao Channel by ferry to Chiloé Island. If weather conditions allow, we will visit the penguin islands "Islotes Puñihul", situated on the north-west 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 will return to Puerto Varas. Overnight at hotel in Puerto Varas.

Day 8: Puerto Varas (B)

Day at leisure in Puerto Varas. Optional excursions can be easily arranged. Overnight in Puerto Varas.

Day 9: Puerto Montt – Punta Arenas – Puerto Natales (B)

In the morning, transfer to the airport in Puerto Montt to catch your flight to Punta Arenas. Arrival at Punta Arenas Airport and departure to Puerto Natales. Overnight in Puerto Natales.

Day 10: Puerto Natales – NP Torres del Paine (B)

Early departure to Torres del Paine National Park. Once in the park, 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, ñandus, foxes, skunks, black-necked swans, flamingos, condors, and eagles. Overnight in the park.

Day 11: Torres del Paine - Punta Arenas (B)

The morning will be at leisure. There will be time for a stroll in the surroundings of the hotel. In the afternoon we will leave the park and drive to Punta Arenas. On the way we will visit the Milodón Cave where archaeologists found the 12,000 year old remnants of a giant sloth. Overnight in Punta Arenas.

Day 12: Punta Arenas - Santiago (B)

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

Day 13: Santiago (B)

Transfer to the airport of Santiago and international flight.

Included:
- 12 overnights with breakfast and 1 picnic
- Hotels we use in this tour (depending on availability): Hotel Galerías (Santiago), Hotel Casa de Don Tomás (San Pedro de Atacama), Hotel Solace (Puerto Varas), Hotel Costaustralis ((city view) Puerto Natales), Hosteria Lago Grey ((standard) Torres del Paine), Hotel Finis Terrae ((superior) Punta Arenas) or similar.
- transfers and excursions with local guide
- entrance fees for: Padre Le Paige, Puritama, Tulor, Quitor, El Tatio, Valle de la Luna, Salar, Pinguins Chiloe, Petrohue Waterfalls, Milodon Cave, NP Torres del Paine

NOT included:
- flights
- beverages
- porter and any other personal expenses

National flights: Client must book the following flights: Santiago - Calama on Day 2, Calama Puerto Montt on day 5, Puerto Montt - Punta Arenas on day 9 and Punta Arenas - Santiago on day 12.

Please note: Booked hotels may vary in each tour depending on availability or size of group. The hotel may be changed in case group is too big and more rooms are needed.