Chile Pathways Tours - Itineraries

Day 1: London/Santiago

Depart Heathrow for Santiago by LAN.

Day 2: Santiago

Arrive in the morning, transfer to 4* Foundador Hotel. An afternoon city tour of Santiago including La Moneda (the presidential palace) and the main square. Continue through the newer residential areas of the city including a visit to the top of Santa Lucia Hill for a breathtaking view of Santiago.

Day 3: Santiago

A full day tour to Valparaíso & Viña del Mar. Journey through the valleys of Curacaví and Casablanca, their vineyards and fruit plantations en route to the coast. Valparaíso is a port and World Heritage city, whose origins date back to 1536. Valparaíso has the picturesque magic with its funiculars, beaches and colourful neighbourhoods on its 45 hills, and beaches, unfolding unique and unforgettable landscapes. Today’s tour visits La Sebastiana, House museum of the poet and literature Nobel prize, Pablo Neruda. Then, it continues to Viña del Mar standing out the architecture of its palaces and streets. (B)

Day 4: Santiago/Atacama

Fly to Calama, transfer to Hotel Terrantai.In the afternoon, visit the Archaeological Museum, which boasts an extensive anthropological collection of the Atacama culture. We will continue this visit towards the Market with samples of local and international crafts, the municipal large house, Church and House of Pedro de Valdivia. (B)

Day 5: Atacama

Morning departure to the town of Toconao. Visit to la Quebrada de Jerez and then excursion to the Chaxa Lake from where you are able to see the pink flamingos of Atacama. Afternoon we visit the Moon Valley. Located in the salt mountain range and consisting of 90% salt and 10%of other minerals, this unusual landscape is made up of attractive and impressive geological formations of diverse shapes and colours. The giant sand dunes and beautiful salt crystals on the crunchy ground make you feel that you are on another planet or the moon itself! This scene turns even more attractive during sunset.(B, L, D)

Day 6: Atacama

Early morning departure for the Tatio Geysers. A short hike around the geothermal field with boiling mud and steam columns that make a geological stage of enormous beauty and suddenly appear as daylight breaks. In the afternoon, visit to the Ayllus (Atacama little villages), the archaeological village of Tulor and the indigenous Pukara de Quitor.(B, L, D)

Day 7: Atacama/Puerto Montt/Puerto Varas

Fly to Puerto Montt, overlooking the snow-capped slopes of the Osorno Volcano, Transfer to Hotel Bellavista.(B)

Day 8: Puerto Varas

Full Day excursion to Chiloe Island, Caulin & Ancud. The excursion starts from Puerto Montt or Puerto Varas to Pargua, from where the ferry sets sail to Chiloe Island. During the crossing, a wide range of sea birds may be observed together with the playful tunnies, small and friendly dolphins that escort the ship during the navigation. After arriving on the island, the tour continues to Caulín bay, where a great diversity of migratory birds includes black-necked swans, flamingoes, dabbling ducks and other coastal birds. After a seafood lunch, the excursion proceeds to the city of Ancud, strolling along the streets of the center visiting the traditional Municipal Market, where a wide range of seafood and typical handicrafts are on sale. (B)

Day 9: Puerto Varas

Day 10: Puerto Varas/Santiago

Fly to Santiago and transfer to Foundador Hotel. (B)

Day 11: Santiago/London

Transfer to airport for flight back to the UK by Lan of British Airways.(B)

Day 12: London

Arrive in Heathrow

Patagonia Extension (October to April only)

Day 1

Fly to Punta Arenas (air far not included), reception and transfer to Torres del Paine. Overnight at Hotel Altiplanico.

Day 2

Full day excursion of sailing through the Last Hope Sound to the Serrano and Balmaceda glaciers (B,L))

Day 3

Full day excursion of the Torres del Paine National Park, World Biosphere Reserve. Visit Lake Grey, the Salto Grande, Lake Nordenskjöld and Lake Pehoé. The impressive granite massif of the Paine complement the landscape. Return to Puerto Natales. (B,L)

Day 4

Transfer to Punta Arenas airport to take flight (B)

Easter Island Extension

Day 1

Fly to Easter Island (air fare not included). Reception and transfer to Hotel Otai.

Day 2

Morning visit the Ahu Tahai, Sebastian Englert’s Museum, Ahu Akivi and Puna Pau Hill. In the afternoon, drive up the extinct volcano Rano Kau, appreciate on the way a view over the whole island and see its distinct geological features, proceed to an outlook at the crater lake. Afterwards drive to the ceremonial village of Orongo, where the birdman competition took place and you can see the spectacular petroglyphs related to this culture. Drive down again to Ahu Vinapu (not yet restored). (B)

Day 3

Drive to the southcoast and visit representative examples of not restored platforms, Ahus Vaihu and Akahanga. Proceed to Rano Raraku, quarry of almost 900 stone statues, 397 of them still lying or standing at the slopes of the extinct volcano with crater lake. Then visit Ahu Tongariki (restored with 15 Moais). Drive to the eastcoast and visit Ahu Te Pito Kura and the “Navel of the World”. Last but not least visit the beach of Anakena with its restored Ahus Nau Nau and Ature Huke. There you will have the opportunity to enjoy the warm Pacific Ocean. (B,L)

Day 4

Transfer to airport to take flight out. (B)

Important note: From November to February each year, there is an extra flight frequency to the Island that allows a 4 days/3 nights package

Key:

B = Breakfast included
L = Lunch included
D = Dinner included