From Atacama to Patagonia, 18 days in Chile.

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Santiago de Chile

  

  Arrival of your international flight in the morning. (Note: NIGHT flight, DEPARTURE THE DAY BEFORE from France) Time difference of 4 hours less in Chile during the austral summer. Private transfer to the hotel in the historic center, a stone's throw from Cerro Santa Lucia and a 15-minute walk from the La Moneda palace and San Francisco. In the afternoon, French-speaking guided walking tour of the capital (half-day, exteriors of the historic center). Two meals at your leisure.

• day 2

  SANTIAGO/CALAMA – SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA

  

  Transfer to the airport. Domestic flight (duration 2h) to the copper capital, located in the middle of the desert at 2200 m, at the foot of the gigantic open-pit mine of Chuquicamata. Private transfer of 1h45 to the village of San Pedro de Atacama, an oasis at 2350 m altitude, at the foot of the beautiful cone of the Licancabur volcano (5920 m). Hotel in the center of the village. In the afternoon, private excursion with a French-speaking guide to the VALLEY OF THE MOON (2600 m altitude), Valley of Death, Salt Mountain Range: dunes and immense desert landscapes with strange rock formations sculpted by the wind. You can appreciate the extraordinary geology of the region; panoramic views, walk or hike according to your preferences. Return to the village of San Pedro (16 km away) after sunset, allowing you to admire the warm ochre colors of the valley. Overnight at the hotel. Meals at your leisure in San Pedro. Entrance fees included. One of the evenings, near San Pedro, you will be able to observe the extraordinary starry night of the Atacama in the company of a French astronomer. The observation lasts a total of 2h30: one part outdoors, observation with different telescopes, and one part indoors. This observation depends on the weather: it may therefore be postponed or canceled if the sky is cloudy or if it is a full moon!

• day 3

  SALAR DE ATACAMA, HIGH-ALTITUDE LAKES MISCANTI AND MEÑIQUES

  

  Full-day private excursion with French-speaking guide (135 km one way). The salar is an astonishing, pristine desert, rich in borax, lithium, and various salts, which attracts a large number of flamingos of three species, avocets, and other Baird's sandpipers. Visit the Atacameño village of Toconao, the liparite quarries, and its fertile valley, the Quebrada de Jerez. Walk near the highland lakes Miñiques and Miscanti, nestled at the foot of their respective volcanoes, at an altitude of 4,120 m. Observe the many birds present, notably the horned coot (Fulica cornuta) which comes to nest here, the only place of its presence in all of Chile. Walks or hikes according to your wishes: to be determined on site with your guide. Lunch included in the village of Socaire. Overnight at the hotel in San Pedro. Entrance fees included. Dinner at your leisure.

• day 4

  RAINBOW VALLEY - GEGLYPHS - RÍO GRANDE

  

  Morning excursion in private service, FR guide. Discovery of the Yerbas Buenas valley, a junction point between the Domeyko mountain range, the Salt mountain range, and the Andes. Observation of petroglyphs along this ancient communication route to the San Pedro oasis. The colorful Arco Iris valley combines a palette of colors on its eroded clay layers; breakfast on site… The visit ends with the village of Rio Grande where the Atacameños, in addition to agriculture, work with pottery. The village was a stopover on the old caravan routes. Return in the early afternoon; entrance fees included. Two meals on your own. Free time to visit the village.

• day 5

  TATIO GEYSERS - PURITAMA - FLIGHT CALAMA/SANTIAGO

  

  El Tatio is located at an altitude of 4320 m: very early departure, 3 hours of travel (private, FR guide). You arrive in the early morning, the sun illuminating a field of geysers and bubbling mud in the heart of an ancient crater. Breakfast on site; possibility to bathe in the thermal waters... Throughout the journey, superb views of the cordillera and its colorful volcanoes; observation of local wildlife: vicuñas, viscachas, Andean geese, ibises, coots... Stop at the village of Machuca. The landscape changes completely as you descend. Hiking possible en route. Swimming and walk at the PURITAMA hot springs in a magnificent setting of natural pools of hot water surrounded by vegetation, yet in the heart of the desert. A magical moment! Picnic on site. Entrance fees included. Private transfer to Calama airport, 1h45 of travel; domestic flight to Santiago (duration 2 h). Private transfer to the same hotel in the historic center, in the Plaza Italia district. Dinner at leisure.

• day 6

  SANTIAGO / PUERTO MONTT - PUERTO VARAS

  

  In the morning, private transfer to Santiago airport for your domestic flight (duration 1h45) to Puerto Montt, capital of the 10th Lake District. Transfer to Puerto Varas, 20 km away, a small picturesque town founded by German settlers in the mid-19th century, a pleasant resort on the shores of Lake Llanquihue: a glacial lake and the 4th largest lake in South America by surface area. In the background, the active volcano with its perfect snow-capped cone, Osorno, rising to 2,670 m. And not far away, Calbuco, which makes the news from time to time. Free time. Meals not included. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 7

  PUERTO VARAS - CHILOÉ ISLAND – CASTRO

  

  Early departure from Puerto Varas - private, French-speaking guide - towards the ferry for the island of Chiloé, 35-minute crossing of the Chacao channel. Stop at Caulín Bay, declared a nature sanctuary, which is home to more than 60 species of birds, many of them migratory; continuation to Ancud, visit of the town, the market, and the regional museum. Continue to Puñihuil Bay where we board a boat for a trip to the Puñihuil islets, home to a variety of wildlife, especially sea lions, Humboldt penguins, and Magellanic penguins. Drive to the island's capital, Castro. Overnight at the hotel, a typical traditional stilt construction, located in the historic palafitte district. Lunch included, dinner on your own. Entrance fees included.

• day 8

  CASTRO – CHILOÉ NATIONAL PARK

  

  Departure from Castro - private, French-speaking guide - towards the "Bridge of Souls," a work by the Chilote sculptor Chumono in homage to the island's oral tradition, and particularly to a legend that will be told to you... This bridge is located in the heart of nature, on the cliffs of Punta Pirulil, which you will reach by first following the Hullinco and Cucao lakes along the Darwin road, who marveled at these lush landscapes of the Pacific coast. Approximately 1h30 hike between the Rahue area and the cliffs. Magnificent viewpoints. Observation of local flora and fauna, and meeting with inhabitants who will tell you about the time of the gold prospectors or the terrible earthquake of 1960, and will show you the many fossils they have collected. Then head to the Chiloé National Park, and walk along the Tepual trail, allowing you to discover the temperate rainforest, a magnificent dense forest with many endemic species, present in few places in the world. About 1 hour of botanical walk. On the way back, visit Chonchi, a village built on three levels, with a church classified as a World Heritage site. Night at the same hotel in Castro. Lunch included. Dinner on your own. Entrance fees included.

• day 9

  CASTRO – CHILOTE VILLAGES – CASTRO

  

  We will go from village to village along the northeast coast, which will allow us to discover the cultural, agricultural, and religious heritage of Chiloé through visits to Dalcahue, Curaco de Vélez, and Achao: churches listed as World Heritage sites, small but interesting museums, and gastronomy are all on the agenda. Ferry crossing to the island of Quinchao. We will continue our excursion with a few stops to enjoy viewpoints and observe certain birds, endemic or migratory depending on the season, notably the Chilean flamingo and the Hudsonian godwit (Limosa haemastica), present only in Chiloé and Tierra del Fuego during the austral summer. Overnight in a palafitte hotel in Castro. Lunch included, dinner on your own. Entrance fees included. French-speaking guide.

• day 10

  CASTRO - PUERTO MONTT / PUNTA ARENAS

  

  Transfer to the Castro bus station, public bus from Castro to Puerto Montt/bus station; meeting with the driver who will take you to El Tepual airport. Domestic flight to Punta Arenas (duration 2h10), capital of the 12th region of Magellan, industrial and commercial hub, free port, located on the edge of the Strait of Magellan, facing the large island of Tierra del Fuego. Transfer in the city to your hotel. Free visit of this city of 150,000 inhabitants, founded in 1848, a port with a rich historical past where settlers from all over the world came to settle, some of whom made their fortune thanks to sheep farming; a dynamic city and regional capital with a strong identity. Interesting museums, historic cemetery, walk and viewpoint over the strait… Two free meals.

• day 11

  TIERRA DEL FUEGO - PUNTA ARENAS

  

  Full day excursion to Tierra del Fuego, Porvenir, and a colony of king penguins, a species that has recently settled in the region to the surprise of the locals. Departure at 7:30 am, 2 hours by ferry to the main island of Tierra del Fuego and Porvenir, visit of the small town and the museum. Then, drive (120 km) to Inutil Bay (Bahia Inutil) to observe the penguins that have established their colony at the mouth of the Marazzi river. Continuation of the excursion, visit of the village of Cerro Sombrero before crossing the Strait of Magellan again by ferry at Bahia Azul, 30 min. During the crossings, possibility to observe Commerson's dolphins, small black and white cetaceans of the southern seas. Return by 2-hour drive to Punta Arenas, arrival around 9 pm. Same hotel. Private service excursion, with guide. Meals at your own expense (lunch planned, not included, en route).

• day 12

  PUNTA ARENAS – PUERTO NATALES

  

  In the morning, transfer to the bus station to take the public bus; 3 hours of good road through the windy pampa. You discover the vastness of the Patagonian landscapes, the large sheep farms (estancias) typical of this 900,000 km² region straddling Chile and Argentina… Puerto Natales is a town of 20,000 inhabitants, founded in 1911 thanks to… sheep (!) and European settlers who came to settle there. Today, it is a small port on the edge of the Last Hope fjord* and the starting point for Torres del Paine National Park. Private transfer. Night in a family hostel. Free walk along the Señoret* canal and in town. Two free meals. It is recommended to buy a picnic in P. Natales for the following day in the park.

• day 13

  Torres del Paine National Park

  

  Day in private service, with a French-speaking guide; vehicle at your disposal for a comprehensive discovery of the national park, a world biosphere reserve. Observation of rheas, guanacos, birds of prey along the way (and maybe even the condor!); stops at various viewpoints of Laguna Amarga, Lake Sarmiento, Lake Nordenskjöld, then Lake Pehoe; walk to the great "Salto Grande" waterfall and the viewpoint over the Paine Horns (2 hours round-trip hike, easy trail, no elevation gain); picnic along the way (with a view!!), then walk along the shore of Lake Grey and its icebergs, up to the viewpoint (2 hours round-trip, easy, no elevation gain). Panorama of the Paine massif all day long (weather permitting!!). Park entrance included. In the evening, your driver and guide will drop you off at the Las Torres site, at the foot of the Paine Towers, on the east side of the park. Night at the Las Torres refuge; dinner included at the Torre Central refuge.

• day 14

  Hiking at the base of the PAINE TOWERS - PUERTO NATALES

  

  Breakfast at the Torre Central refuge where you pick up your picnic for the day. From the refuge, hike freely towards the base of the Paine towers, crossing the valley where the hostería (hotel and estancia, farm) is located. Continuing beyond, the trail begins to climb. There is a total of 940 m of cumulative elevation gain and about 7h30 of walking round trip; 21 km round trip from the refuge. Hike with a steep final ascent on a trail parallel to the moraine; marked trail, out and back, like all the trails in the park. Beautiful panoramic views and a breathtaking finale. In the evening, your driver will pick you up near the Torre Central refuge and take you to Puerto Natales. 2h15 drive. Night at the same hotel. Dinner on your own.

• day 15

  NAVIGATION DAY in the Ultima Esperanza fjord

  

  Transfer (for your account, 10 min walk!) to be at 6:45 am at the company office in downtown Puerto Natales, in order to leave for the boarding port on the Agunsa catamaran. Boat departure at 7 am for a full day of navigation in the fjord: beautiful views of the surrounding mountains, cormorants, condors, sea lions, Balmaceda and Serrano glaciers, walks... Return around 5 pm to the port of P. Natales. Lunch included (traditional grilled lamb meal) en route. Bilingual English-Spanish guide on the boat. Dinner on your own. Entrance fees included.

• day 16

  PUERTO NATALES - PUNTA ARENAS / SANTIAGO - VALPARAÍSO

  

  Transfer from the hotel to the bus station. Public bus (3h) directly to Punta Arenas airport; 3h20 domestic flight to Santiago. Travel by private vehicle from the airport directly to Valparaíso; 1h45 journey allowing you to reach the picturesque and incomparable port of Valparaíso the same day. Accommodation in a B&B on one of the countless colorful hills overlooking the bay. Meals not included.

• day 17

  VALPARAÍSO

  

  Half-day French-speaking guided tour of this atypical city, listed as a World Heritage site. Walking tour in the heart of the colorful hills, through narrow streets and stairs climbing up the cerros; funiculars and elevators, old neighborhoods with tin houses, painted frescoes of the open-air museum and street art, numerous viewpoints overlooking the bay... Meals at your leisure. Free afternoon*. Overnight at the same B&B. *Suggestions for your free time: boat ride from the port, muelle Prat, for another panoramic view of the city and its approximately 45 hills; Pablo Neruda's house, La Sebastiana (self-guided FR visit, open from 10am to 5:30pm except Monday), walk from the Barón dock (muelle) to Portales (30 min one way), along a promenade overlooking the Pacific, to the fish market and small seafood restaurants.

• day 18

  VALPARAISO – SANTIAGO: international flight.

  

  Private transfer from your hostel in Valparaíso to the airport for your international flight. Arrival the next day in France.