Overview of Chilean Magical Tour
This tour shows you the highlights of Chile and gives you a chance to
experience the diversity and magical
contrasts of nature, climate and culture that Chile has to offer. The
tour starts in Santiago de Chile, before flying north to the Atacama
Desert, the Lake District, and finally ending off in the far South of
Patagonia.
This tour is run on either a private of seat in bus (SIB) basis.
Itinerary
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
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 colorful 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 snow-capped
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. (B)
Day 3: San Pedro, historical sites & the
Atacama Salt Lake
After breakfast we will visit San Pedro de Atacama – the centre of a
Palaeolithic civilization that 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 in the
region. The extraordinary archaeological museum (closed on Mondays) of
Padre Gustavo Le Paige shows, among its many archaeological pre-Hispanic
artefacts, several amazingly well preserved mummies, including one known
as “Miss Chile”. After this visit you 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 manufacture of white volcanic stone sculptures. You
continue to the huge Atacama Salt Lake, an inland sea formed millions of
years ago. You will be overwhelmed by the vast emptiness with the white
salt crusts stretched out in front of you as far as your eyes can see.
It simply is one of the most spectacular and dramatic landscapes in
Chile. Return to the hotel. Overnight in San Pedro. (B,BL)
Day 4: El Tatio - Machuca
Today we will depart at 4:00 a.m. in order to see the El Tatio Geysers,
a geothermal field flanked by soaring peaks. Powerful spurts of steam
shoot out at dawn from various blowholes and condensate in the cold air.
The steaming ponds are encrusted with brilliant salt crystals that
reflect the metalblue sky at dawn; 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 in
this former rest place for the ancient llama caravans that travelled the
Inca Trail. It is an amazing place in the middle of the highland 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. (B
Day 5: Calama – Puerto Montt – Puerto Varas
After breakfast a transfer will take us to the airport of Calama to
board our connecting flight. Arrival in 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. (B)
Day 6: Peulla
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. We can make an optional short stop to look at the famous
Petrohué Falls. We proceed to Petrohué to board the catamaran to sail
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. (B)
Day 7: Chiloé Island
Departure to Pargua and crossing of Chacao Channel by ferry to Chiloé
Island. We will either visit Ancud, famous for its traditional market
featuring a wide range of seafood and crafts, or the well known houses
built on stilts in Castro and other sights of interest in this town.
PRIVATE/GROUP: If weather conditions allow,
we will be able to visit the penguin islands "Islotes Puñihul", situated
on the north-western 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 return to
Puerto Varas. Overnight at hotel in Puerto Varas. (B)
Day 8: Puerto Varas
PRIVATE: After breakfast you will drive to
the historic train station of Puerto Varas and board the train to
Frutillar Alto, enjoying a scenic ride of about 45 minutes during which
you will have great views of the Lake Llanquihue and the volcanoes.
After your arrival in Frutillar Alto you will be driven to the lower
part of the town - Frutillar Bajo, situated on the shoreline of Lake
Llanquihue and founded by German settlers around 1850. Here you will
visit the outdoor museum dedicated to these pioneers. Afterwards you
will be driven back to Puerto Varas and have the afternoon at leisure to
discover other nearby sights or to relax. Overnight in Puerto Varas. (B)
(SIB)/GROUP: Day at leisure in Puerto Varas.
Optional excursions can be easily arranged. Overnight in Puerto Varas.
(B)
Day 9: Puerto Montt – Punta Arenas or Puerto
Natales
In the morning, transfer to the airport in Puerto Montt to catch your
flight to Punta Arenas.
PRIVATE/GROUP: Arrival at Punta Arenas
Airport and transfer to Puerto Natales. Overnight. (B)
(S.I.B.): Afternoon arrival at Punta Arenas
Airport and departure to Puerto Natales; on the way visit to the penguin
colony (high season only!) at Seno Otway. Overnight in Puerto Natales.
(B)
Day 10: Punta Arenas - Torres del Paine
National Park
Early departure to Torres del Paine National Park. On the way we visit
the Milodón Cave where archaeologists have found the 12,000 year old
remnants of a giant sloth. In the Torres del Paine 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. (B)
Day 11: Torres del Paine - Puerto Natales
The morning will be at leisure, we have time for a stroll in the
surroundings of our hotel. In the afternoon we leave the park and drive
to Puerto Natales. Overnight in Puerto Natales. (B,D)
Day 12: Puerto Natales - Santiago
Transfer to the airport of Punta Arenas and flight to Santiago.
Overnight in Santiago de Chile. (B)
Day 13: Santiago
Transfer to the airport of Santiago and international flight. (B)
End of
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