DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrive in Santiago

You will be met at Santiago Airport and transferred into the capital of Santiago de Chile.

Check in to your hotel in this sophisticated and cosmopolitan city, situated in a valley surrounded by the snow-capped Andes Mountains and the beautiful Chilean Coastal Range.

Day 2: City Tour

Today your group tour starts with a half day tour of Santiago. We begin in the downtown area of this relatively compact city, where modern buildings have transformed the landscape, and visit Santa Lucia Hill where the city of Santiago was founded in 1541.

We continue to the Plaza de Armas in the heart of the old colonial city and bustling Ahumada Boulevard with its many shops, street performers and vendors. Here you will be able to see some beautiful neo-classical buildings – including the 18th century Cathedral of Santiago and the early 19th century Royal Court Palace, which now houses the National History Museum. Also enjoy outside views of the Municipal Offices, the Post Office and the current Presidential Palace, La Moneda.

The afternoon is free to explore more of Santiago independently. Alternatively there is the option of a visit to the famous Concha y Toro Winery in the Pirque Valley.

Note: On escorted group tours please note that for operational reasons it is sometimes necessary to substitute one hotel with another of a similar quality. Most museums are closed on Mondays.

Day 3: Fly to Patagonia & Coach to Puerto Natales

Transfer to Santiago Airport for your flight to Punta Arenas. Here you will be met and walked to the bus station for your 3 hour coach ride to Puerto Natales - the gateway to Torres del Paine National Park.

You will be met at the bus station and transferred to your hotel in this former fishing town situated on the Ultima Esperanza (Last Hope) Sound.

Day 4: Balmaceda & Serrano Glaciers

This morning you will be transferred from your hotel to nearby Puerto Bories for a full day excursion by boat to the spectacular Serrano Glacier.

We navigate through the beautiful Ultima Esperanza Fjord, passing remote cattle and sheep estancias (ranches) until we enter Bernardo O´Higgins National Park. At certain times of the year you may see sea lions taking refuge in the cliffs and Andean condors (the largest vulture) soaring high above the cliffs. You will also see cormorants and other sea birds.

The first glacier we see is the icy blue Balmaceda Glacier that is over 1,000 years old, but is now receding due to global warming. At the end of the fjord we disembark at Puerto Toro and walk 30 minutes each way through a tranquil indigenous forest to the foot of the astonishing Serrano Glacier, a fantastic natural wonder that is part of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. If you are fortunate you may see a large chunk of ice detaching and crashing into the waters below, a process known as "calving". If you have mobility issues and do not wish to walk to the glacier, there is a lookout point close to the jetty.

Afterwards we return to the boat, stopping on the way back at a traditional estancia to enjoy an included 'asado al palo' (typical Magallanic barbeque). We continue sailing back to Puerto Bories, arriving in the late afternoon.

Note: Wear good walking shoes and dress warmly for this excursion with a fleece, waterproof jacket, gloves, beanie and scarf as Patagonia often has four seasons in one day.  From May to September this excursion is only available on a Sunday.

Day 5: Torres del Paine National Park

Today enjoy a full day shared excursion, driving 2 hours across the dry scrubland of the Magellanic Steppe to Torres del Paine National Park - a 242,000 hectare UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its soaring mountains, electric blue lakes and many glaciers.

We drive past Figueroa Lake and several large cattle estancias, which are home to the Chilean 'baqueanos' (also called 'huasos' or cowboys), who drink a distinctive caffeine-rich herbal tea known as 'mate', served in a round cup, and love to compete in local rodeos. Along the way we stop at the village of Cerro Castillo where you can see the Monument of the Horse sculpture, enjoy a coffee and buy typical handcrafts from the region. A variety of rare wildlife can be seen in these pampas (lowlands) including the elegant guanaco, a type of humpless camel related to the llama, and the lesser rhea which is related to the ostrich and emu. You may see giant condors soaring in the thermals, as well as eagles. Grey and red fox also live here, but are rarely seen.

After seeing our first postcard views of the Paine Massif across the waters of Lake Sarmiento, we enter Torres del Paine National Park. Here the landscape changes dramatically to spectacular glacier lakes frequented by marine birds, lofty waterfalls and magnificent granite mountain peaks covered by ice. The enormous Campo de Hielo Sur icecap gives the park four main glaciers - Grey, Dickson, Zapata and Tyndall. Two other glaciers descend from the west side of the central massif.

Weather permitting, from the viewpoint at Lake Amarga ('Bitter Lake') you will have one of the best views of the three granite Torres del Paine ('Towers of Blue') from which the park takes its name. Guanaco are plentiful on the open plains of the eastern sector of the park, as are their main predator - the puma (also called mountain lion, or cougar), but as they are nocturnal and have excellent camouflage they are rarely seen. Our next stop is at the Lake Nordenskjold lookout, with its view over the different peaks of the Paine Massif, including the famous 'horns' (Cuernos del Paine) and Paine Grande, the highest mountain in the park at over 10,000 ft (3,050 m). We then take a 15 minute walk to the powder blue Salto Grande Waterfall that flows into Lake Pehoé, after which we stop for an included lunch.

In the afternoon we continue driving along this beautiful chain of glacial lakes to Grey Lake, where you can walk across a hanging bridge over the Pingo River to the shores of the lake. From here walk 30 minutes each way to get up close to spectacular blue icebergs that have fallen from the Grey Glacier, which can be seen in the distance.

We then leave Torres del Paine, stopping on our return journey at the Milodón Cave on Benitez Hill. The remains of several extinct animals have been found here - including the sabre-toothed tiger, the American horse and a gigantic herbivorous mammal known as the Milodón. The main cave is 200m deep, 80m wide and 30m high and has a life-size replica of the Milodón. We return to Puerto Natales in the late afternoon.

Day 6: Fly to Santiago

Transfer to Puerto Natales Bus Station for the 3 hour coach to Punta Arenas Airport, for your flight to Santiago.

Here you will be met and transferred to your hotel in the shadow of the Andes.

Day 7: Fly to Atacama

Transfer to Santiago Airport for your flight to Calama. Here you will ne met and transferred 1.5 hours across the copper-rich plains of the desert and through the Salt Mountains to the small town of San Pedro de Atacama.

Extending for over 600 miles (1,000 km), this enormous plateau of salt lakes, sand, lava and stony terrain is situated between two high mountain ranges - the Andes to the east and the Chilean Coastal Range to the west. As a result, the Atacama receives virtually no rain whatsoever - making it the driest and oldest desert in the world, with landscapes that will take your breath away.

After checking in to your hotel, in the afternoon head out on a shared excursion and drive 20 minutes back to the Salt Mountains (Cordillera de la Sal) situated in the National Flamingo Reserve. Here we walk for 20 minutes each way (the last section is quite steep) to view the dramatic lunar landscapes of Moon Valley, with many natural mineral sculptures formed by wind erosion. We also walk 10 minutes each way to see some unusual sculptured salt formations and a small cave.

At the end of the day enjoy a magical sunset at Kari Viewpoint, one of the highest points in the Salt Mountains that overlooks the dunes of Death Valley favoured by sand boarders. Seeing the colours of the hills changing as the sun sets, will be a memory that will last a lifetime.

Note: Your driver from Calama will only speak Spanish.

Day 8: Atacama Salt Flats & Altiplanic Lagoons

Today enjoy a full day shared tour to the crystalline Atacama Salt Flats (Salar de Atacama), the largest in Chile and the third largest in the world.

We drive 1 hour to these astonishing salt flats, surrounded by the Andes to the east and the Cordillera de Domeyko to the west. Small lagoons have formed where water has broken through the crusted salt, with no drainage outlets and one of the largest lithium reserves in the world. We visit Chaxa Lagoon in the National Flamingo Reserve, where you can photograph this magnificent scenery and hope to see three different species of flamingo - Chilean, Andean & James’s - as well as other waterbirds that nest and feed on these mineral-rich waters, such as the puna plover and red-gartered coot. Most activity occurs at sunrise, when you may see a pinkish hue rising over the horizon. As the air warms up, this dissipates as the birds take flight over the lake.

We then venture 2 hours higher into the Andes, to view the amazing landscapes and dramatic blue waters of Meñique and Miscanti - two Altiplanic lagoons located at over 14,000 ft (4,300 m) at the foot of impressive volcanoes that were formed when these mountains rose from the sea. Take in the varying landscapes as we drive to these lagoons, travelling through stunning and ever-changing scenery. You may see wild vicuña and rhea along the way, as well as some birds on the lakes. On arrival enjoy a 20 minute walk down to one of the lakes, where you can observe the birds and any wildlife.

On the return journey we stop at the small village of Socaire, where you can observe local life and visit their small traditional church. We can also stop in the picturesque local village of Toconao, with its main square and classic Atacamenian bell tower built in 1750 from cactus wood, mud and straw. Here we visit the small church of San Lucas, before returning to San Pedro. Lunch is included today.

Note: Some luxury hotels run all-inclusive plans that include a variety of half day and full day excursions, which are discussed and agreed with you on arrival. Their programme will then supersede the Atacama activities shown in this itinerary.

Please be aware the Altiplanic Lagoons are at high altitude, so this excursion should not be undertaken by anyone with a heart condition. Dress warmly with thermal clothing, warm jacket, fleece, beanie, scarf and gloves - as the outdoor temperature at the lagoons will be very cold.

Day 9: El Tatio Geysers

Depart before dawn today on a 6.5 hour shared excursion to the El Tatio Geysers, the largest geyser field in the southern hemisphere and the third largest in the world.

We drive 2.5 hours to this astonishing geothermal field situated at over 14,000 ft (4,300 m) above sea level, with geysers that have steam fumaroles that can easily reach over 33 ft (10 m). We arrive at sunrise when these columns of steam condense in the cold air, set against a backdrop of the imposing Andes with its multiple colours. Walk around the geyser field before these steam plumes disappear as the air warms up, followed by a picnic breakfast. If you are brave, take your swimming costume for a quick dip in the hot geyser pool - but be warned, the surrounding temperature will be below freezing when you emerge!

On the way back to San Pedro, enjoy spectacular views of the Torcopuri y Sairecabur Volcanoes and the Putana Wetlands, where we make a short stop. Here you can see several species of birds that live in these high-altitude wetlands that freeze overnight - including the giant coot, Andean flamingo, Chilean flamingo, Andean goose and a variety of coots, teals, gulls and ducks. You may also see vicuña (an elegant wild camelid) or rhea (a small ostrich), both of which have adapted to live in these harsh conditions, or even a viscacha (a rodent that looks like a long-tailed rabbit). Our final stop is at the small village of Machuca, where you can see how the local people live and view the Altiplanic architecture of their small St. James Church.

Note: Please be aware the El Tatio Geysers are at high altitude, so this excursion should not be undertaken by anyone with a heart condition. Dress warmly with thermal clothing, warm jacket, fleece, beanie, scarf and gloves - as the temperature at the geysers will be below freezing at dawn.

Day 10: Fly to Santiago

Transfer 1.5 hours to Calama Airport for your flight to Santiago. On arrival make your own way by free shuttle or on foot (depending on location) to your hotel situated in the airport complex.

Note: Your drivers will only speak Spanish.

Day 11: Fly Home

Make your own way by hotel shuttle or on foot to Santiago Airport for your flight home.

PRICING

Price is based on two adults sharing en-suite accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis. All transfers and specified sightseeing with English-speaking guides are included. International and domestic flights are not included and will be quoted separately.

We offer a choice of hotels at different prices, so please discuss your requirements with us. All hotels are subject to availability.

It is essential that you have personal holiday insurance. The FCO should also be consulted.