Chile North to South

• ARRIVE SANTIAGO

  Arrive into Santiago today.

  Upon arrival to Santiago, you will be welcomed outside of Customs by an English-speaking assistant holding a sign with your name on it. This representative will direct you to your awaiting vehicle and driver, and accompany you to your hotel to assist with check-in. (Private Transfer)

• Santiago

  Santiago de Chile was founded in 1541 by the Spanish Conquistador Pedro de Valdivia who was sent by the conqueror of the Incas, Pizzaro, to establish a new capital in the fast growing Spanish Empire in the New World. Much of the core layout as designed by the master builder Pedro de Gamboa remains to this day.

  During the Half day city tour you will visit key locations where the rich history of the city played out.

  The tour starts with a visit to "Forestal Park", which runs along Mapocho River - water that penetrates the land. The river itself flows from the Andes and cuts the city of Santiago in two.

  It is then onto Santa Lucia Hill, the actual spot on where the city was founded. A geographical high point of the area the hill is now adorned with wonderful facades, fountains and stairways, including "Neptuno Terrace" at the summit. Neptuno Terrace is reminiscent of the Trevi fountain and its surrounds are now a public park located alongside the National Library.

  You then travel to the heart of the city and Plaza de Armas the spot from where the city has grown throughout the centuries. Each Latin city has a plaza de Armas as when cities were founded the center was also were the armory and military base was established - hence the name Plaza de Armas (Plaza of Arms). Visit some of the more important buildings such as the Cathedral, the City Council, the Central Post Office and the National Historical Museum. Continue to the Presidential Palace "La Moneda"; the current seat of the government. You will wander the streets that were once elegant at the beginning of the 19th century and now are a commercial center. Pass by Dieciocho Street that has been deemed as "typical" example of architecture from the period as well as the Cousino Palace built around 1870 and the Basilica de los Sacramentinos, a blatant imitation of the Sacred Heart Church of Montmartre in Paris.

  Finally reach Bernardo O'Higgins Avenue better known as "Alameda", which is the main street of the city where the tour concludes with a visit only to the San Francisco Church, located in the heart of Santiago, built between 1586 and 1628 by the Franciscan order and is the oldest colonial era building in the country.

  End of the tour and transfer to the hotel. (B.) (Private Tour)

• Valparaiso

  This morning your tour will depart from Santiago to the coastline located 120 kilometers of Santiago, passing through the fertile “Curacaví and Casablanca Valleys”, its vineyards, fruit plantations and forest reserves. During the route, you will visit two important cities, “Viña del Mar”, the main resort of Chile and “Valparaíso”, a port city founded in the XVI century and declared “World heritage by UNESCO”. The promenade includes a panoramic tour by the emblematic places of Valparaíso, such as “National Congress”, “O’Higgins Park”, “Italia Park”, “Victoria Square”, “Sotomayor Square” and “Prat” dock located in the same port.

  You will then visit the Museum of the famous Chilean poet and writer and Nobel prize-winning in Literature (1971), Pablo Neruda named “Casa Museo La Sebastiana”. In the house, collections of old and navy maps and other paintings are kept. There are many other relics of the port and strange objects, such as music boxes and an antique carved wooden carousel horse. You will then walk through the wonderful viewpoints “Atkinson” and “Gervasoni” located in the most important hills of Valparaíso, “Cerro Alegre” and “Cerro Concepción”. You will also use its old and picturesque cable cars, the trolleybuses, which are still connecting this city.

  You will continue this beautiful route in front of the sea to arrive at the city of Viña del Mar, which is very well-known as the “Garden City”, fine. You will then walk past the picturesque “Flower Clock” and go through the “Peru Avenue” with its traditional “Casino” and fine “Hotel Del Mar”, which is the first of Chile, founded in 1930. Finally, you will be able to see and take a picture of an authentic Moai from the Easter Island, located on the outside of the important “Museum of Paleontology and Anthropology Fonck”.

  Return to the Hotel. (B.) (Private Tour)

• SANTIAGO – ATACAMA DESERT

  Today at schedule time we will transfer you to the airport for your direct flight to Calama.

  Upon arrival you be transfer to your Hotel in San Pedro de Atacama. (B.) (Private Transfer) (Semi-Private Transfer)

• ATACAMA DESERT

  The day begins by heading south from San Pedro de Atacama to Cejar Lagoon (the floating lagoon). This small lagoon has impressive white edges of crystallized salt and is intensely turquoise in color, providing a home for flamingos and tagua birds. It's also a nice place for a swim as the salt allows the body to float.

  Use this afternoon to get under the skin of thisburgeoning tourist destination. San Pedro’ restaurant scene has grown considerablyover the last couple of year. With a mix of Chilean, French and Italian influence, you’ll be sure to find a great spot for dinner. Perhaps join an astronomical tour once the starcome out. (B.) (Shared Guide)

• ATACAMA DESERT

  Morning at leisure.

  This afternoon you will take a tour through the amazing Moon Valley one of the most spectacular phenomena in the Atacama Desert. Here you explore the silent moonscape and strange figures that nature has formed.

  Then we continue to the Sunset spot, located in front of the amphitheater. (B.) (Shared Guide)

• SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA – PUNTA ARENAS

  At schedule time we will transfer you to Calama airport for your flight to Punta Arenas.

  Upon arrival we will transfer you to your hotel. (B.) (Private Transfer) (Semi-Private Transfer)

• PUNTA ARENAS – PAINE NATIONAL PARK

  This morning we will transfer you to Torres del Paine National Park.

  On the way you will stop at The Ranch Cerro Negro, located 187 km from Punta Arenas, 60 km from Puerto Natales. It is the place where visitors will have lunch and be welcomed by a very special family who has worked at the ranch for several years. They will make you feel like at home. Arrive Laguna Amarga, entry Gate to Paine National Park.

  Then continue the minibus drive to Hotel Las Torres. (B. L. D.) (Semi-Private Transfer)

• PAINE NATIONAL PARK

  Your stay at Las Torres included all activities. Make a choice based on your fitness level, interest, timing or mood and explore. Or, you can sit in the lounge and read with a Patagonia vista as your back drop.

  Hotel Las Torres offers a full or half-day excursion to satisfy your quest for adventure inside Torres del Paine National Park.

  The hotel's strategic location on the foot of the majestic "Torres del Paine" mountain range and astride the park's legendary hiking trails makes it a perfect "base camp" for exploring the area's many natural wonders.

  Excursions are designed to enjoy the national park around a range of topics, from the park's flora, fauna and geology, to the heritage and culture of the region's gauchos and indigenous people. They also include various transportation modes -- hiking, horseback riding, vehicle safaris and boat excursions. Last but not least, they vary from easy to difficult depending on your fitness and expertise.

  Half Day Excursions:

  You might be surprised at how much you can see of Torres del Paine National Park in just three or four hours. Whether by foot, horse or vehicle, our half-day excursions are packed with adventure and interesting information about the park's flora, fauna, geology and human history. Let the experienced and knowledgeable guides take you to places like Salto Grande waterfall, gorgeous Laguna Azul, the wildlife-rich Lenga Forest or bizarre Lake Sarmiento. Lunch is served at Hotel Las Torres either before your afternoon excursion or after your morning tour.

  Salto Grande
  Laguna Azul
  Patagon
  Lago Nordenskjold
  Bosque de Lenga
  Laguna Inges
  Cerro Paine
  Baqueano de la Patagonia
  Horseback Riding

  Full Day Excursions:

  Lasting between seven and ten hours, the full-day excursions give guests an opportunity to explore the hiking paths, equestrian routes, scenic roads and lakes of Las Torres del Paine National Park in even more depth.

  Some activities feature a refreshing box lunch where you will be served Chilean specialties created by the Hotel Las Torres chefs. For all excursions a box lunch with a sandwich, water and snacks is provided, for your all-day adventure in the park.

  Full Paine
  Base Las Torres
  Valle del Frances
  Valle Encantado
  Los Cuernos
  Sendero de los Lagos
  Mirador Grey
  Huella del Puma

  Please enquire for details on each activity. (B. L. D.)

• PAINE NATIONAL PARK

  As a guest at Las Torres Patagonia, you will enjoy an all-inclusive Patagonian experience with excellent guided excursions, delicious and healthy local cuisine. (B. L. D.)

• DEPART TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK

  After breakfast you can choose to be transfer to:

  Punta Arenas airport for your journey back to Santiago and home,
  Punta Arenas cruise terminal for your Tierra del Fuego or Antarctica voyage,
  The town of El Calafate (Argentina) for your onward Patagonia trip.

  End of the tour. (B.) (Semi-Private Transfer)

The below hand-picked properties feature good location, superior service, and all facilities necessary for a comfortable stay.

CHILE

• Santiago: Matildes Boutique Hotel
• Punta Arenas: Diego de Almagro
• San Pedro de Atacama: Altiplanico
• Torres del Paine: Lodge Las Torres 

NOTES:

• Hotel accommodation quoted in lead-in hotel guest rooms unless specified otherwise
• Hotels can easily be changed at the customer request. We have a wide selection so you can be assured of a great place to stay
• Occasionally due to circumstances out of our control, hotels quoted may not be available at the time of booking. In these circumstances when hotels are unavailable, South America Tours Pty Ltd will provide the best possible alternative.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

• Accommodation with private facilities as mentioned in the itinerary
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary:

(B.) = Breakfast

(L.) = Lunch

(D.) = Dinner

• All transport, sightseeing and excursions as per the itinerary unless specified otherwise:

(Private Transfer) = Your own exclusive driver. No queuing for taxis, no stopping en route at tour booking agencies. All private transfers / transport is operated on a private basis – i.e., you won’t be sharing with others

(Semi-Private Transfer) = transport provided by the hotel or lodge to their guest only

(Private Tour) = Your own, personal tour guide and an exclusive vehicle

(Shared Guide) = Meet other like-minded travelers and share the services of a guide / vehicle during the plan sightseeing activity. Typical group size is around 10 travelers.

• Parks and monuments entrance fees
• Professional English speaking local guides throughout
• Service charges and taxes.

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED

• International & Internal flights.
• Internal flights needed: Santiago – Calama / Calama – Punta Arenas (connecting Santiago)
• We can purchase these flights on your behalf.
• Tourist Visas are not included
• Travel insurance
• Any items not specifically mentioned as included, phone calls, laundry, tips, alcohol, etc.