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Chile, Patagonian Lakes and Atacama Desert

4.9Based on
10 daysDuration
Private TourPrivate experience, no group joining
15 peopleMaximum group size
2 peopleMinimum to book
1 - 79 yearsAge range for participants
English, SpanishGuide language
Moderate
Involves sustained activity requiring a reasonable level of fitness and endurance.

Highlights

Visit the breathtaking Atacama Desert

Discover the highlights of Santiago de Chile

See Osorno Volcano & the waterfalls of Petrohue

Explore the beautiful lake district of Chile

Itinerary

Chile’s extremes are yours to explore on the "Chile, Patagonian Lakes and Atacama Desert" tour—a 10-day guided journey designed for young adults ready for a moderate level of adventure. Starting in the dynamic capital of Santiago, you’ll experience the city’s fusion of colonial charm and modern vibrancy before heading north to the surreal San Pedro de Atacama. Here, vast salt flats, dramatic geysers, and otherworldly landscapes await.

The trip then transports you south to Chile’s picturesque lake district, where outdoor activities and breathtaking vistas abound. Marvel at the interplay between the Andes and the Pacific, and discover the region’s unique personality through both natural wonders and cultural highlights.

While domestic flights and national park fees are not included, everything else is arranged for you—accommodation, transport, and expert guidance—making this tour package a seamless way to uncover Chile’s stunning diversity. The USP? A curated cross-section of Chile’s most dramatic contrasts, from arid desert to lush lakes, ensuring an unforgettable adventure for those seeking the road less traveled.

day 1 - Santiago De Chile arrival & half-day city tour

Welcome to Santiago!

Home of Pisco Sour, seafood, and marvelous Cabernet Sauvignon, Santiago is considered one of the safest cities in South America. Chile's capital is the perfect base to explore the country or enjoy a few days between the mountains and the ocean.

Upon arrival, you will be driven from the airport to your hotel.

Type of service: Private

Included: Transportation mentioned above

Note: You will be met at the arrival area at gate 3. Assistance at restricted areas inside the airport is available at additional costs. Important: In order to avoid scam drivers, please go straight to the meeting point and do not accept help from any person approaching you without the sign with the local representative logo or your name on it. A scam driver could tell you that the transfer is delayed and that it is better to take the taxi offered by that person. The airport is under renovation and is provided for these unscrupulous to do their business

Included guide assistance during transfer

Half-Day City Tour

At the appropriate time, we will pick you up at the hotel to begin your tour of the city.

Your guide will lead you to experience one of the most developed cities in South America. Santiago combines the urban and the classic, in both its architecture and atmosphere. This heritage comes to life through iconic city sights such as the Moneda Presidential Palace, designed by the Italian designer, Joaquin Toesca. From 1845 to 1958 the building actually served as a presidential residence. What were once grand living quarters are now the offices of Cabinet ministers. The Plaza de Armas is the city's most famous square, surrounded by important and beautiful buildings such as the Cathedral and Central Post Office.

A few blocks away you will find the Pre-Columbian Museum with over 700 exhibits of pre-Hispanic artwork and relics from diverse cultures including the Mayans, Aztecs, and the Mapuches - from the south of Chile. The wonderful layout allows you to peruse artifacts from an era when an indigenous population ruled these lands. Whether you have a special interest in these ancient cultures or not, this museum in the heart of Santiago is a fascinating must-see for all.

One of the most important parts of the city is San Cristobal Hill. The hill is recognized as one of the largest urban parks in Santiago, topped by a stunning 72-foot-tall statue of the Virgin Mary. This tour shows you the different contrasts of the city, taking you on a trip through the Santiago of yesteryear to the modern metropolis it is today.

At the end of the tour, we will take you back to your hotel.

Type of service: Private

Duration: 4 hours

Included: Transportation mentioned above, English Speaking Guide, Cable Car (San Cristobal Hill) & Pre-Columbian art museum entrance fees

Not included: Meals, Snacks, or extra services not mentioned above

Note: This tour is not available on January 1st and May 1st. September 18th and 19th, please ask your Travel Advisor. Museums closed on Monday

Accommodation:3 Star Hotel at Loreto

day 2 - Vina del Mar & Valparaiso tour from Santiago De Chile

We will pick you up at your hotel to start a journey of 75 miles towards the Pacific Ocean to the port city of Valparaíso, recently declared by UNESCO as a Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

We will visit the main attractions of the city such as Plaza de la Victoria, Plaza Sotomayor, Monument to the Glorias Navales, and Paseo 21 de Mayo; and we will hike through the hills like the emblematic Cerro Alegre in order to enjoy the port environment

Afterward, we will visit Viña del Mar, known as The Garden City. There we will see the Flower Clock, the Casino, and Reñaca; a place to enjoy a short walk along the beach.

After, we will take you back to your hotel in Santiago

Type of service: Private

Duration: 8 / 9 Hours

Included: Transportation mentioned above, bilingual guide (English / Spanish)

Not included: Lunch, Museum Entrance Fee

Accommodation:3 Star Hotel at Loreto
Meals:Breakfast

day 3 - Santiago De Chile – Calama – San Pedro De Atacama

At the appropriate time, you will be transferred from your hotel to the international airport to take your flight. ¡Buen Viaje!

Type of service: Private

Included: Transportation mentioned above

Transfer Calama Airport / San Pedro de Atacama Hotel

Upon arrival at Calama airport, you will be transferred to San Pedro de Atacama hotel.

Welcome to San Pedro!

San Pedro de Atacama is a small town in the driest desert in the world. Little adobe houses, cozy restaurants are the base to explore one of Chile’s most spectacular sceneries.

Type of service: Shared

Duration: 1:30 hours

Included: Transportation mentioned above, spanish/english speaking driver

Not included: Guide

Accommodation:3 Star Hotel at Las Dunas
Meals:Breakfast

day 4 - Tatio Geysers, Machuca & Moon Valley half-day tour

Very early in the morning, we will pick you up at your hotel to visit one of the highest geyser fields in the world.

Located in the Andes Mountains, 61 miles from San Pedro de Atacama and 4,320 meters above sea level, El Tatio (from Kunza "tata-iu") means "The Grandfather Who Cries." It is the largest group of geysers in the southern hemisphere and the third-largest in the world, after Yellowstone (USA) and Dolina Giezerow (Russia). At dawn, with freezing temperatures, you can see a fantastic spectacle, generated by violent steam flows that rise up to 10 meters high with temperatures reaching 85°C.

On the return trip, it is possible to observe fauna such as vicuñas, llamas, rheas, vizcachas, etc. While in the Flora, the Giant Cactus, llaretas, coirón, etc., stand out.

When we arrive in San Pedro de Atacama, we will leave you downtown, from where you will go on your own to the hotel.

Type of service: Shared

Duration: 7/8 h

Included: Transportation mentioned above, bilingual driver guide (Spanish/English), breakfast

Not included: Entrance fee to Geiser del Tatio

Difficulty: Moderate to hard (due to the altitude), walking on a flat surface

Age restriction: Minimum 12 years. Pregnant women, people with hypertension, edema, or embolism only with medical authorization

Note: Altitude: 4.320.- m.s.n.m. approximately. There is no infrastructure in the place. We recommend you to take warm clothes (temperature between -5°C and -20°C), closed or trekking shoes, hat, gloves, swimming suit, towel, flip flops, sunglasses, sunblock and water

Half-Day Moon Valley Tour

In the afternoon, you will go on your own to the meeting point to start the visit to the Valley of the Moon.

The excursion begins by visiting the fantastic geological shapes located in one of the world's driest and most hostile zones of the world: the Atacama Desert. It is an area of outstanding beauty that resembles the lunar landscape because of the formations of stone, petrified salt and sand, which for millennia floods and winds have shaped in their own way.

You will be surprised by the enormous salt and clay figures built over the years and by the wind and you will know "The three Marys", famous figures of incomparable beauty that can be photographed and contemplated for a long time.

Finally, we will visit the salt caves accompanied by the imposing Licancabur volcano, to be surprised once again by the great magic of the desert, having the opportunity to enjoy the most beautiful sunset that you will not forget.

After the excursion, we will take you to downtown Atacama, and you will have to return to the hotel on your own.

Type of service: Shared

Duration: 3/4 hours

Included: Bilingual driver-guide (English/Spanish)

Not included: National Park entrance fee, transportation from and back to your hotel

Age restriction: Minimum 7 years old

Note: Altitude: 2.400.- m.a.s.l. This excursion does not visit Marte Valley

Accommodation:3 Star Hotel at Las Dunas
Meals:Breakfast

day 5 - Half-day tour of Cejar Lagoon from San Pedro De Atacama

In the afternoon, you will go on your own to the meeting point to start the visit to Laguna Cejar, located 18 miles away from San Pedro de Atacama.

The Salar de Atacama is the largest salt deposit in Chile and it is formed by a depression with no exit of water that receives from the San Pedro river and multiple streams through which the water filters from the mountain range. Inside this, you can find the Cejar Lagoon, beautiful and mystical with a turquoise color. Its high salt content generates the effect of floating, which makes a relaxing bath and a fun experience.

Next, we will visit Ojos de Salar, formed by two water pools coming from subway layers where small reeds and algae grow on its banks. Finally, in Tebenquiche Lagoon, we will enjoy the incredible whiteness of salt, together with an appetizer and contemplating in its water, the reflection of the mountain range. An unforgettable spectacle.

After the excursion, we will take you back to the meeting point, from where you will go to the hotel on your own.

Type of service: Shared

Duration: 5 hours

Included: Transportation mentioned above, bilingual driver-guide (Spanish/English), snack

Not included: Entrance fees to Laguna Cejar and Laguna Tebenquiche, lunch, drinks

Age restriction: Minimum required 7 years. Pregnant women, people with hypertension, edema or embolism only with medical authorization

Note: Altitude: 2.300.- m.a.s.l. approximately. Waters with high salt concentration, high solar radiation, no shade. We recommend taking closed or trekking shoes, coat, hat, swimsuit, towel, flip flops, sunglasses, sun block and water.

Accommodation:3 Star Hotel at Las Dunas
Meals:Breakfast

day 6 - San Pedro De Atacama – Puerto Montt – Puerto Varas

At the appropriate time, you will be driven to Calama Airport to take your flight

Type of service: Shared

Duration: 2 hours

Included: Transportation mentioned above, spanish/english speaking driver

Not included: Guide

Transfer Puerto Montt Airport / Puerto Varas Hotel

Upon arrival at Puerto Montt Airport, you will be taken to your hotel in Puerto Varas.

Type of service: Private

Include: Transportation mentioned above

Accommodation:3 Star Hotel at Mero Gaucho
Meals:Breakfast

day 7 - Puerto Varas half-day tour: Osorno Volcano & Petrohue

At the appropriate time, we will pick you up at your hotel and go to Osorno Volcano, by the shore of Llanquihue lake.

We will enjoy the amazing landscape with the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes until we get to Ensenada. We will start to ascend to the Osorno Ski & Mountain center, located at 1.240 meters of altitude. We will stay there about an hour, enough time for sightseeing, take pictures, and appreciate a unique view of the volcano's summit with glaciers of eternal snow, the Calbuco volcano Llanquihue Lake and the Pacific Ocean. As an option, you can take a cup of coffee or sandwich at the coffee shop or take the lift to ascend to 1450 meters altitude in the Primavera Station (Spring) or 1750 meters at Glaciar Station (Glacier), where there is a beautiful and breathtaking view of Llanquihue Lake.

Later we will go to Petrohue at Vicente Perez Rosales National Park, on the road by the Llanquihue lakeshore, enjoying the landscape and magnificent view of the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes until we get to Petrohue located nearby Todos Los Santos Lake.

There we can take a gentle walk surrounded by an evergreen forest, the Osorno volcano, and the beautiful Turquoise color of Petrohué River. By paying an entrance fee to the National Park, we get to see one of the most beautiful places of the country, "Petrohué River Falls," a place where the river jumps great masses of lava crystallized immune to erosion for centuries and formed by smaller stones together by a glassy material that highlights the light. You cannot miss it!

From there we continue a distance of about 3 miles, from the slopes of Osorno Volcano and Petrohue bordering the river to the Todos Los Santos lake, where you can board a vessel that allows you, in a time of 40 minutes or so, navigate through Todos Los Santos lake or Esmeralda, surrounded by evergreen forests, mountains and the grandeur of the volcanoes, which form a simply spectacular natural setting.

At the end of the tour, we will take you back to your hotel.

Type of service: Private

Duration: 6 hours

Included: Transportation mentioned above, bilingual guide (English/Spanish), Petrohue river falls entrance ticket

Not included: Lunch, ski lift, Todos Los Santos lake sailing

Note: We recommend you to take comfortable clothes and shoes, hat, sunblock, sunglasses and if it rains a water-resistant jacket

Accommodation:3 Star Hotel at Mero Gaucho
Meals:Breakfast

day 8 - Free day in Puerto Varas

Day at leisure to enjoy one of the many activities that Puerto Varas has to offer, like kayaking at the National Park, horseback riding through Lake Llanquihue or a Farm day tour at one of the beautiful local Estancias.

Accommodation:3 Star Hotel at Mero Gaucho
Meals:Breakfast

day 9 - Puerto Varas – Santiago De Chile

At the appropriate time, you will be picked up from your hotel and will be driven to Puerto Montt Airport.

Type of service: Private

Included: Transportation mentioned above

Transfer Santiago de Chile Airport / Santiago de Chile Hotel

Welcome to Santiago!

Home of Pisco Sour, seafood, and marvelous Cabernet Sauvignon, Santiago is considered one of the safest cities in South America. Chile's capital is the perfect base to explore the country or enjoy a few days between the mountains and the ocean.

Upon arrival, you will be driven from the airport to your hotel.

Type of service: Private

Included: Transportation mentioned above

Note: You will be met at the arrival area at gate 3. Assistance at restricted areas inside the airport is available at additional costs. Important: In order to avoid scam drivers, please go straight to the meeting point and do not accept help from any person approaching you without the sign with the local representative logo or your name on it. A scam driver could tell you that the transfer is delayed and that it is better to take the taxi offered by that person. The airport is under renovation and is provided for these unscrupulous to do their business

Included guide assistance during transfer

Accommodation:3 Star Hotel at Loreto
Meals:Breakfast

day 10 - Santiago De Chile departure

At the appropriate time, you will be transferred from your hotel to the international airport to take your flight. ¡Buen Viaje!

Type of service: Private

Included: Transportation mentioned above

Included guide assistance during transfer

Meals:Breakfast
Chile, Patagonian Lakes and Atacama Desert

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What's Included

Meals: 9 breakfast totalAccommodation: 3 nights in Santiago de Chile, 3 nights in Puerto Varas & 3 nights in Pedro de AtacamaPickup and drop-off transfers. All other land transfers as per the itineraryTours as per the itineraryAn experienced, bilingual tour guide (English/Spanish)

What's Excluded

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Good to Know

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