Chile Completo

Day 1 SANTIAGO

Arrival at the airport of Santiago de Chile and transfer to your hotel.

In the afternoon you will depart for a city tour of Santiago. The city tour begins with the visit of the San Francisco church, which was built between 1572 and 1618. You will pass through the Barrio Paris & London which is characterized by its European architectural style and its’ narrow cobbled street.

Then you will pass by the sector of Club Hípico, one of the most beautiful horseracing tracks in South America,privileged by its architecture of the early 19th century.

Continuing your tour to the Barrio Concha y Toro where you will immediately notice that the constructions of the buildings are very similar to those in the Barrio Paris y London. While walking through the main street you will recover vestiges of the aristocratic past of the capital. 1989 this district was declared as “Zona Tipica”. You will be impressed by the gothic, neo-colonial and Bauhaus constructions.

After that you will visit the Plaza de Armas and the cathedral. Just around the corner, you will find the main post office, the National History museum, the Metropolitana and the town hall of Santiago. From here you head along the famous Alameda, Santiago’s colourful main avenue, to the heart of the city, seeing the “Palacio de la Moneda” (seat of the government), various monuments and public buildings.

Afterwards, you continue the tour by driving up to San Cristóbal Hill. From one of the hill’s view points, you will have the finest views of Santiago and the Andes Mountains. To round off the tour, you will pass through the modern residential areas of the city with their daring architecture and, finally, the bustling Providencia shopping zone.

Day 2 SANTIAGO (B)

Day at leisure – the following optional tour can be booked through our office:

Optional:

Full day excursion to Valparaiso and Viña del Mar. The tour leaves Santiago in a western direction. Arriving in Valparaiso, you pass by the main square where you can view the monument honouring the Naval Battle fought in 1879. Driving towards the southern side of the city and seeing the old funiculars you will drive up a hillside for a most spectacular view of the bay seeing Valparaiso’s downtown district and its adjoining hills. Then proceed to the lower level of the city through the commercial heart of the port, where you’ll take the coastal highway that links Valparaiso with the resort city of Viña del Mar. Reaching Concón beach, you can admire various fish stands displaying a great variety of seafood. Summer homes and restaurants are spread out along the coast. Afterwards, visit the main square Plaza Vergara and the shopping avenue before returning to Santiago.

Day 3 SANTIAGO – SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA (B)

Transfer to the airport for the flight to Calama. Arrival and reception by our local tour guide, transfer of approx. 1 ½ hours to San Pedro de Atacama.

Upon arrival half day city walk of San Pedro de Atacama. The city is the most important archaeological centre in Chile situated 2,438 metres above sea level and surrounded by a green fertile picturesque oasis. San Pedro was the centre of a Paleolithic civilization and nowadays its colonial past can be viewed with its narrow streets that have been preserved of its old style dating back to the Spanish Conquerors and its beautiful colonial church that was built in 1577. The village is the centre for native Indian culture in the Atacama Desert. Artifacts have been recovered and are now displayed in the Father Le Paige Museum, which you will visit during the walking tour. There are over 4,000 skulls; weapons and stone sand potteries that are found on display. Afterwards, you will visit the beautiful white church of the town, with an inside construction of cactus. Half day excursion to the Moon Valley right in time for the beautiful sunset, you will drive to the Moon Valley in the late afternoon. It fascinates with silence, moonscape and the snow-capped volcanoes in the background. The last sun rays reaching the ground colour the valley in shining orange, red and purple hues. Don’t miss this unique experience!

Day 4 SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA (B – L)

Today you will start your tour visiting the huge Atacama Salt Lake, an inland sea dating back millions of years. Enjoy a unique experience viewing this doubtlessly driest desert in the world. The flatness, clearness and emptiness here are overwhelming. Following the road in the direction of Argentina, you will get to know the Lagunas Miscanti & Meñiques, set at the base of two immense volcanoes. These alti-plane lakes are fringed with salt deposits and surrounded by brilliantly coloured clumps of “paja brava”, creating a singular visual experience. Afterwards you continue to the small Indian village of Toconao. The inhabitants of Toconao are producing beautiful small sculptures out of a white volcanic stone that can be found in a quarry near the village. Lunch is included. Return to the hotel.

Day 5 SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA (B)

Full day at leisure. Optional tours can be booked at our office.

Optional:

Half day excursion to the El Tatio Geysers. Early in the morning (04:00 AM) you will depart for a drive of 125 kilometres northeast to visit the impressive Tatio Geysers at an altitude of 4,321 metres high! The steaming geysers are at their best between 06:30 and 08:30 hrs. A breakfast box will be served at the geysers.

Day 6 SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA – SANTIAGO (B)

Transfer from the hotel in San Pedro to the Calama Airport (without local guide). Flight to Santiago de Chile. Arrival at the airport of Santiago de Chile and transfer to your hotel.

Half day wine tour Cavas de Maipo: In 1950, the Romagosa Machon family arrived in Chile leaving behind ancestral bonds with grape growing in Cataluña, north of Spain, a family tradition since 1714. They started to plant vineyards at the foothills of the Andes Mountains. Today, three generations operate the vineyards. “Don Jose”, the grandfather, is in charge of the vineyards. His wife “Dona Anita” tends to the wine shop by the entrance of the estate. The rest of the family is busy with the wine making and final distribution to the customers, which most are direct home deliveries. It’s a little charming winery where everything is still handmade. This is a family business where you can discover how wines are traditionally produced.

Day 7 SANTIAGO – PUNTA ARENAS – PUERTO NATALES (B)

Transfer to Santiago airport for your flight to Punta Arenas. Upon arrival half day city tour of Punta Arenas.

Punta Arenas, which is the southern most continental town of South America, founded in 1848 at the shores of the Magellan Strait. You’ll see the Independence Avenue with many monuments placed here and the Cerro La Cruz vantage point offering a sweeping view of Punta Arenas’ colourful roofs, the Magellan Strait and Tierra del Fuego Island in the background.

Then transfer to the local bus terminal where you will board the public bus to Puerto Natales, the starting point for tours to the spectacular Torres del Paine National Park, passing through the wideness of the Patagonian steppe with its huge sheep farms and beech woods contrasting with the mostly unadorned landscape. Upon arrival in Puerto Natales you will be transferred from the bus station to your hotel.

Day 8 PUERTO NATALES – TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK (B)

Full day excursion Torres del Paine National park

Today you are going to see one of the most spectacular scenic regions, nowhere else found in the world, the Torres del Paine National Park! It covers an area of 113,000 hectares and was named in 1978 a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. Cascading waterfalls, roaring creeks, shimmering lakes and jagged spires of mountains are just a part of what Paine offers you. On route you will visit the legendary Milodon Cave. In this impressive natural cave a gigantic prehistoric fossil has been discovered. A replica is on view inside of it. The road you take borders majestic lakes. Have a glimpse at herds of guanacos, foxes, swans, and several small sized birds. Enjoy a hike along the Grey Lake with spectacular views of the Grey Glacier.

Day 9 PUERTO NATALES – PUNTA ARENAS (B)

Transfer from the hotel to the local bus terminal where you will board the public bus to Punta Arenas. Upon arrival you will be transferred from the bus station to your hotel.

Afternoon at leisure. Optional tours can be booked.

Optional Tour: Visit of the Penguin Colony Otway Bay – the habitat of the Magellan Penguins respectively Sphenicus Magallanicus, OR visit to Nandu Park, where the South American flightless birds, which look similar to the African ostrich, can be observed at close range.

Day 10 PUNTA ARENAS – SANTIAGO (B)

Transfer to Punta Arenas airport. Return flight to Santiago, arrival in Santiago and transfer to your hotel.

Day 11 SANTIAGO (B)

Transfer to the airport to take your international flight back home. In case you decide to continue your journey to a different destination, our office can offer you extensions.

End of Services

Food Code = (B) – Breakfast, (L) – Lunch, (D) – Dinner.

LHSTSCL001 *Please note, prices based on twin share, per person, low season, 3 star rates. Optional tours not included and are at extra cost. The itinerary & pricing can change at any time due to availability & of activities. Please check our website for full terms and conditions*

More information about Chile: 

Chile squeezed between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean with a maximum width of 44 kilometres and is a unique thin 4,300 kilometre long coastal stripe. For many people, Chile is still a white spot on the map. It lies on an extremely rich and original natural beauty that makes this country a very attractive destination along with its friendly population. It unites the driest desert of the world, abundant forests as well as fantastic glaciers and fjords. The European influence can be noticed in the towns by the people with their culture and their ancestor’s history. That is why Chile nowadays is one of the highest developed countries in South America.

More information about your tour destinations: 

Santiago de Chile is a city of contrasts with its remains of its colonial past to the ultramodern, high-rise buildings of the financial centre; Chile’s capital city will surprise you.

San Pedro de Atacama is the most important archaeological centre in Chile situated 2,438 metres above sea level and surrounded by a green fertile oasis.

Punta Arenas which is the southernmost continental town of South America, founded in 1848 at the shores of the Magellan Strait. You’ll see the Independence Avenue with many monuments placed here and the Cerro La Cruz vantage point offering a sweeping view of Punta Arenas’ colourful roofs, the Magellan Strait and Tierra del Fuego Island in the background.

Visa Requirements for Chile:

Australian citizens travelling to Chile must pay a reciprocity fee on arrival. The permit granted through the reciprocity fee is a multiple entry permit with a maximum validity of 90 days. Reciprocity fee is approximately US$ 117.00*. For more information, consult your nearest Chilean Embassy / Consulate.