EXPERIENCE CHILE - OUR BEST TRIPS CHILE ROUND TRIP - FROM THE NORTH TO PATAGONIA (13 Days)

Chile is a long country, long and narrow, famous for its tremendous range of different geography. Our 13 DAYS EXPERIENCE CHILE: CHILE ROUND TRIP sets out to discover just that.
Years ago, a renowned travel guide referred to Chile as a "long narrow string bean of a country". At almost 4000 kilometers long and not 190 kilometers wide, indeed it is. Imagine taking 13 days to experience the diversity of such a country that is longer than the US (or all of Western Europe) is wide! -- a country full of friendly souls on a seldom visited exotic continent filled with its own flora and fauna, unique history and booming modern day success. Add: snowcapped volcanoes, endless salt flats, emerald blue lakes, glacial fiords, dense rain forests, the Atacama Desert, Patagonia, the Andes, unique native foods from both land and sea, terrific new world wines, and a conducive setting for pretty much every sport known to man and you have the country of Chile. Perhaps the most difficult part is to trim it down to 13 days for our: "Chile Round Trip".

* See the Highlights of Chile in 13 days
* Stay in comfortable and unique hotels
* Get to know Patagonia, the Lake District and the Atacama Desert.
* Enjoy Chilean cuisine and wines
* Travel with a great guide, that brings you close to the nature, culture and people of Chile

Detailed itinerary

Day 1 | Santiago

• Meet your (English speaking) guide at the airport in Santiago.
• Transfer downtown to the Hotel Providencia (or similar)
• Take a historic tour of Santiago including: the Presidential Palace once the Nacional Mint and thus called "La Moneda", the historic main square or "Plaza de Armas", the Cathedral, the "Palacio de la Real Audiencia", today housing the National History Museum and "Casa Colorada" (Red House), the historic residence of the first Chilean president.
• Perhaps the best view of Santiago is from the summit of the Cerro San Cristobal, where the statue of the Virgin stands looking out over the city. San Cristobal is just a small part of our walk through a large city park called "Parque Metropolitano".
• Continue uptown to see some of "Providencia" - one of the noble parts of Santiago with elegant shops, first class restaurants and some futuristic high-rise buildings.
• Overnight with breakfast at hotel Providencia

Day 2 | Santiago – Calama – San Pedro de Atacama & Moon Valley ........ B

• Transfer to Santiago Airport and early flight north to Calama in the Atacama Desert.
• Reception: airport in Calama.
• Transfer to your hotel in the town of San Pedro de Atacama. On route you will see spectacular views of the Cordillera de la Sal.
• At dusk you shall set out to the Valley of the Moon to see the sunset in this bizarre, almost lunar landscape formed by the erosion of salt mountains. Strange sculpted rock formations in the middle of the desert, with the Licancabur Volcano in the background, make a particularly rare experience.
• Return to San Pedro after sunset.
• Overnight with breakfast at Hotel La Casa de Don Tomas

Day 3 | San Pedro & Salar de Atacama .... B

• In the morning you shall visit the archaeological museum of Padre Le Paige with its famous collection of artifacts which show the development of the Atacameño society.
• Visit to historic church of San Pedro dating from the 17th century -- with a roof made of cactus.
• Afternoon visit to the Salar de Atacama with visit on route to the town of Toconao – a picturesque village built of bricks of white volcanic stone, which lends the town a classic yet unique Altiplano appearance. Famous church and bell tower built of this bleached white volcanic stone.
• After Toconao you shall continue on to visit the world’s largest salt lake: the Salar de Atacama. Rich in minerals, including borax and lithium, it is home to various species of flamingoes as well as many other birds.
• Laguna Chaxa, Reserva Nacional de los Flamingos: Terrific opportunity to get closer to these birds in their natural habitat.
• In the evening you return to the hotel in San Pedro.
• Overnight with breakfast at Hotel La Casa de Don Tomas

Day 4 | Geysers El Tatio ................................ B

• Early departure for the Geysers of El Tatio, situated 4500m above sea level on the Altiplano.
• About 40 geysers, thermal wells, and "fumaroles" in the early morning light make for a striking and unforgettable experience.
• The rest of the day is yours to walk and discover the charming town of San Pedro with its adobe architecture and sandy streets. A local craft market and relaxing shady restaurants make for a pleasant afternoon.
• Overnight with breakfast at Hotel La Casa de Don Tomas

Day 5 | San Pedro – Puerto Montt – Puerto Varas ...... B

• Transfer to Calama airport after breakfast and flight to Puerto Montt (via Santiago).
• After reception at the airport in Puerto Montt you begin with a city tour of Puerto Montt itself, the capital of the Lake District.
• Puerto Montt was founded in 1853 by German colonists on the site of an indigenous Mapuche community. Downtown you shall take time to walk about the main squares and historical monuments. Afterwards you shall visit the port itself including the fish market of Angelmó where there is a large handicraft market full of artisans and lots of fresh shellfish.
• From Angelmó you continue on to Puerto Varas where you shall be staying (half an hour north on the shores of Lago Llanquihue).
• Once here enjoy a brief tour of the City of the Roses as it has come to be called because of the tremendous variety of roses all over town.
• Afterwards you will have the rest of the day to spend at your leisure.
• Overnight with breakfast at Hotel Bellavista

Day 6 | Puerto Varas – Peulla (Cruise on the All Saints Lake) ..... B

•  Beautiful drive along the southern shore of the Lago Llanquihue enjoying breathtaking views of the volcanoes Osorno and Calbuco.
•  First stop Saltos de Petrohue. Rapids and waterfalls were formed by cooling lava from Osorno Volcano. Impressive sculpting of extruded volcanic rock over thousands of years of river flow.
•  Board catamaran in Petrohue for crossing of Lago Todos Los Santos (All Saints Lake) which is surrounded by high mountains whose lower slopes are thickly forested. As we pull away from the landing and the source of the river Petrohue the view is quickly stolen by the tremendous size and proximity of snow-capped Volcán Osorno right behind you. 
•  Morning spent cruising on the lake. To the south high above the forested shore you will see the peculiar shape of Volcán Puntiagudo and a series of waterfalls high in the southern Andes.
• Arrive in Peulla (pronounced pe-ooh-ya), at the eastern end of the lake for lunch (optional).
• This is the heart of National Park Vicente Perez Rosales.
• Short hike to the Cascada de la Novia or the Bride’s Waterfall amidst rare native growth "Valdivian Rainforest".
• In the late afternoon return by catamaran to Petrohue and from there by motor coach to Puerto Varas.
• Overnight with breakfast at Hotel Bellavista

Day 7 | Puerto Varas – Ancud – Penguin Colony Puñihuil (visit depends on weather
             conditions) ..................... B

• Early departure to drive south and out toward the Pacific, then crossing the straights of Pargua by ferry to the Island of Chiloé.
• Drive to the Bay of Caulin experiencing the fascination of unspoiled nature and silence. Swans and other birds can easily be watched.
• Afterwards you continue to Ancud, time to walk and explore. Rustic homes and traditional, colorful fishing boats offer ample photo opportunities in Ancud.
• Visit of the historic Spanish forts, and a wonderful market filled with local traders and artisans selling souvenirs.
• Chiloé is an island full of legends and superstition, and the locals whisper that century-old monsters roam the night and sail upon elaborately painted ghost ships, frightening even the bravest of fishermen.
• From Ancud you continue on to the northern coast of the island, where you visit the penguin colony, one of the few places where Magellan and Humboldt penguins live and breed together. A trip in a zodiac brings you amongst the small islands of the penguin rookeries. Depending on weather conditions, we might observe a sea lion colony as well.
• A picnic on the beach will be the highlight of this day.
• Arrival back in Puerto Varas late evening. Overnight with breakfast at Hotel Bellavista.

Day 8 | Puerto Varas –Puerto Natales ..... B

• After breakfast transfer to the airport in Puerto Montt and flight to Punta Arenas.
• From Punta Arenas you head north through the vast patagonian "Pampa" to Puerto Natales.
• Terrific views on route of the Straits of Magellan and across the chilly antarctic waters to Tierra del Fuego.
• On route visit of the Penguin Colony on Otway Sound:  Penguins can be seen from October through March (this is the season when they come to lay eggs and raise their young ones.  The landscape is a southern barren next to the sea, which is very popular with the Penguins. There are well-marked trails and blinds for humans to gain a tremendous glimpse of these quirky creatures in their natural habitat.
• Arrival in Puerto Natales in the early evening. Overnight with breakfast at Hotel Weskar Lodge.

Day 9 | Torres del Paine National Park .......... B

• Early start for full day tour inside Torres del Paine National Park.
• Busy day traveling and walking including unforgettable views of the Towers and the Torres Massif. Unique flora and fauna to see.
• Lago Grey with the tremendous blue ice of the Grey Glacier. 
•  Short hikes to reach the most beautiful points of view of this National Park and also to get to know the diverse wildlife.
• Overnight with breakfast at Hosteria Cabañas del Paine

Day 10 | Torres del Paine –Puerto Natales ..... B

• A day in this tremendous park at the end of the world to walk, hike and/or ride anyone of the many optional excursions beginning directly at your hotel.

• There are options for all, from light walks to guru hikes.

• Transf

  er to Puerto Natales in the late afternoon.

• Overnight with breakfast at Hotel Weskar Lodge

Day 11 | Santiago ........................................ B

• Transfer to connecting flight in Punta Arenas.
• Reception at Santiago Airport.
• Transfer to the hotel.
•  Overnight with breakfast at Hotel Providencia.

Day 12 | optional excursion: Full day Valparaíso & Viña del Mar ......... B

• Full day excursion to Valparaíso, the oldest port in Chile. Truly a picturesque city in every respect of the word.
•  It retains tremendous historical significance as well as being home to the Chilean House of Assembly. During your city tour you shall visit the new government houses, the Plaza Sotomayor, the Plaza Victoria, the cathedral, the harbor area and “La Sebastiana”, the former house of the Chilean writer and Nobel Prize Winner Pablo Neruda.
• High above the city there is a fantastic agglomeration of brightly painted homes. The upper and lower parts of the city are connected with 16 funicular railways constructed around the turn of the century (1900) when the city experienced tremendous growth. 
• From Valparaíso you shall continue along the coast to the beautiful beaches of Viña del Mar, the Garden city, named for its many parks and green spaces.
• Viña del Mar is a lively city with attractive beaches, modern hotels, high-end restaurants and fashionable bars. The casino, built in 1932 and set amidst beautiful gardens, is a well kept Chilean tradition of elegance.
• Return to Santiago.
• Overnight with breakfast at Hotel Providencia

Day 13 | Santiago ........................................ B

• Transfer to the airport of Santiago

(Note: B = Breakfast; BL = Box-Lunch or Picnic; L = Lunch; D = Dinner)

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