Luxury Adventure Travel Chile Tour

Chile has everything to offer the adventure traveler. This narrow country runs along the Pacific Ocean in South America and borders Argentina on the east, Peru on the north and Bolivia on the northeast. This beautiful country has such diverse landscapes. In the north there is vast desert which are the driest lands on earth. The glorious Andean mountain range, forests, volcanoes, fertile valleys to incredible wine regions, stunning lakes, fjords, and massive glaciers. With Spain conquering Chile in the 16th century and replacing the Inca rule spanish is the official language. It is also one of South America’s most stable and prosperous nations.

Chile really does have it all and traveling is relatively easy. Hike some of the greatest trails in the world in Patagonia’s Torres del Paine National Park. Bike in the lake district or wine valleys. Paddle or surf your up and down the coast. Drink and indulge in cosmopolitan Santiago with gastronomic cuisine and local wines at your doorstep. Soak in hot springs, go dune bugging, and stargaze in the Atacama desert for otherworldly experiences.

Your accommodation in the world famous Torres del Paine are the domes at EcoCamp Patagonia. This camp provides the areas first fully sustainable accommodation, with green technology. By day you’ll have a choice for your Wildlife Safari between nature walks, treks and bike excursions – depending on your mood, weather conditions and your new friends from your own city. By night share evening meals and star gaze all night long to a sky filled with bright and brilliant stars. All seen through your dome ceiling. Every morning wake up in the middle of the Patagonian wilderness with panoramic views of Torres del Paine in your comfy geodesic dome.

Itinerary

Day 1- Arrival and Santiago City Walking Tour We start at Chile’s famous presidential palace La Moneda, a symbol of Chile’s political past and its famously turbulent history. From here we head along Paseo Ahumada, a city center walkway famous for its crowds, shops, and diversity of people. At the end of the Paseo we reach Plaza de Armas which is Santiago’s main square and Chile’s kilometer zero (the point from which all distances in the country are measured). From here we head to Santa Lucia hill where Santiago was founded in 1541 by Pedro Valdivia and as we climb up we get great panoramic views of the city and the Andes Mountain backdrop.

Day 2- Bike & Wine excursion in Maipo Valley In the morning we’re picked up from our hotel and driven south to wine country. Once we arrive in the village of Alto Jahuel in the famous Maipo valley we offload the bikes and start riding. As we ride we have the opportunity to observe local people living and working in agricultural Chile before we head into the vineyards. We stop to visit three wineries on the day.

Day 3- Fly north to Atacama Desert Upon arrival at Calama Airport we are driven straight to San Pedro de Atacama, past the impressive rock formations of the Cordillera de la Sal (Salt Mountains). Once in San Pedro we check in to our hotel, have lunch on our own and then it’s time for the first excursion, in the vast desert ripples of Moon valley. Afternoon bike tour to Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley), located 13km/8 miles west of San Pedro in the Salt Mountain Range. The valley has beautifully strange lunar landscapes and is considered one of the driest places on the planet. Cycling towards Valle de la Luna in time to witness a spectacular sunset, you’ll feel the immensity of the desert stretching out all around you.

Day 4- Laguna Chaxa, a lagoon in the middle of the Atacama Salt Flat, home to beautiful Chilean and Andean flamingoes After breakfast we start our adventure by driving to Toconao, a beautiful Andean village. Toconao’s lands are an oasis in the desert and are apt for growing fruits and vegetables nourished by water coming in through small channels. The next stop will be Laguna Chaxa, Miscanti and Miñiques Lagoons – undisputed highlights of the region – full of turquoise water that contrasts with the autumnal colours of the Altiplanic lands. A truly incredible landscape, creating an unforgettable memory of the region.

Day 5- Amazing Geysers of Tatio and a free afternoon From almost 900 meters below the earth, boiling steam bursts up to 40 meters over the surface of the earth. A scrumptious breakfast will be served upon arrival before we walk through the geothermal fields with the geysers erupting nearby. As we drive back, there is a magnificent view of the Tocopurri and Sairecabur volcanoes. Afternoon is free at your leisure.

Day 6- Fly to Chile’s luscious Lake District, lined with vast lakes and active volcanoes Upon arrival in Puerto Montt you’ll be driven to nearby Puerto Varas, a beautiful town with a marked German architectural style located on the shore of Lake Llanquihue, where you’ll check into your welcoming hotel.

Day 7- Hiking in around the Lake District Today we visit a National Park named after the millennial Larch tree (Alerce tree in Spanish), native to the region and undoubtedly one of the most interesting species of tree in Chile. We arrive at the 39,255 hectare park and start a beautiful hike on the different trails going through the Park. If we are lucky we see some of the interesting fauna that lives in the park including the Chilean deer (huemul), puma, pudú (the smallest deer in the world), condor, black carpenter bird and many other birds.

Day 8- Whitewater rafting the turquoise waters of the Petrohue river Upon arrive we meet our skilled guides who will equip us will all the rafting gear needed (wet-suit, helmet, paddle jacket and life jacket) and then talk us through safety instructions. We mount the rafts and start paddling down this beautiful class III river, enjoying the rapids and the scenic views. After our adventure we have a snack on the river banks and then return to Puerto Varas. The afternoon is at your leisure.

Day 9- Fly to Torres del Paine N.P. and driven to EcoCamp Patagonia The whole journey is very scenic, with plenty of wild birds and wonderful landscapes to be seen. The day ends with our arrival and overnight stay at EcoCamp Patagonia, nestled in the heart of the park with a view of the Torres. During summer the sun sets around 11pm, so upon arrival there’s plenty of light to admire the Patagonian steppe with its guanacos and snow-peaked mountain horizon.

Day 10- Wildlife Safari Choose between nature walks, treks and bike excursions – depending on your mood, weather conditions and travel companions preferences.

Day 11- Volunteering with NGO “AMA Torres del Paine” Today we will be doing a voluntary restoration. The AMA plan of restoration of forests considers successive stages of evaluation for damage caused by forest fires, detection and characterization of ecosystems for reference, exclusion of herbivores from sown areas, sowing plant-life, evaluation of the plantation and proposal of monitoring ecological variables for effect of the success of the restoration.

Day 12- Fly back to Santiago

Day 13- Morning at leisure. Flight back home At an agreed time we will be driven to the airport by private transfer with our guide, where we board our flight home…Hasta la proxima Chile! END OF TOUR