In a 10-day circuit starting in Santiago, the main gate of Chile, then visit Viña del Mar, the garden city, and Valparaiso, the jewel of the Pacific, then to head to Arica, the city of eternal spring, to visit Putre and the Lauca National Park, to continue until Iquique, to know its historical center and the saltpeter offices of Santa Laura and Humberstone, World Heritage, and the Pampa del Tamarugal, to end with one of the jewels of our north and the most arid desert of the world, San Pedro de Atacama and its countless attractions, where the lagoons of Miscanti and Miñiques will amaze you, and of course the visit to a must-see postcard like the Geysers del Tatio.
Day 1 Santiago ( -- )
Meet & Great in Santiago Airport
Upon arrival, meet and greet and transfer to your hotel. Afternoon tour around Santiago, visiting the most important attractions of the city, including a walking tour downtown visiting the “Plaza de Armas” (main square), the Cathedral, Ahumada Boulevard and “La Moneda” (Government Palace) from outside. Then, by vehicle, visit the main avenues of old Santiago, crossing the bohemian Bellavista neighborhood and drive up San Cristobal hill for a magnificent panoramic view of the city and the Andes. After this, continue to the modern part of Santiago, including its chic neighborhoods, shopping and financial centers. Return to your hotel.
Overnight in selected hotel.
Day 2 Santiago – Viña del Mar & Valparaíso – Santiago ( B )
Breakfast in the Hotel .
Morning departure to enjoy a delightful visit to two cities located on the Pacific coast that is just one hour and half by car from Santiago. Our drive will take you through Casablanca; known for its fine vineyards where we can take a break for a wine-tasting experience (the latter is only available for private tours). Once we arrive to the coast, we’ll first visit Viña del Mar, also known as the “Garden City” because of its beautiful beaches, lovely parks and flower garden landscapes (such as the famous flower clock). It has become one of the central region’s most important tourism attractions. The peaceful seascape is an attractive complement for the city’s modern streets and infrastructure, turning it into an entertaining hub in constant movement. Our second destination is the picturesque city-port of Valparaiso, founded in the 16th century. You’ll marvel at the contrast between both cities, as the stylishness and beach culture of Viña is replaced here by a much more popular and artistic style. The port was declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site in 2003 and offers a unique and fascinating architectural adventure. Built on several steep hills above the port, the homes and buildings on the hillsides can be reached by walking along its streets, climbing the long stairs or take the cable cars built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Colorful homes dot the hills forming an irresistible landscape for photo enthusiasts and lovers of traditional sites. Return to your hotel.
Overnight in selected hotel.
Day 3 Santiago – Arica – Putre ( B / BL / D)
Breakfast at the hotel.
At agreed time transfer to Santiago Airport to board flight to Arica .
Reception in Arica airport we will start out on our half-day excursion to visit the heritage and archaeological sites of the so-called “City of Eternal Spring”. The tour begins with a visit to Plaza Colon and two constructions that form part of Gustave Eiffel’s portfolio (the celebrated Parisian engineer who designed the Eiffel Tower); the Cathedrals de San Marcos and the Casa de la Cultura (former customs building). During this leg of our tour we will also visit the “Morro de Arica”, a steep 130 m (426 ft) hill located near the sea front that offers panoramic views of the city and is also a reminder of the peace reached between Chile and Peru. Our journey takes us to the Valley of Azapa, where an appealing variety of Azapa olive is grown. This is also the site of universally valuable archaeological remains. Here we will pass by the surprising geoglyphs, giant depictions of figures scratched or embedded into the mountain slopes – and visit the Museo Arqueologico San Miguel de Azapa. In this museum the Chinchorro mummies are exhibited, which are valuable archaeological vestiges of the oldest examples of artificially mummified human remains (2,000 years before the Egyptians’ own mummies) used in sacred rituals by the Chinchorro people. They were fishermen who lived in Arica from 7,020 to 1,500 BC. After visiting the Museum we will continue the trip to Putre.
Dinner in the local restaurant.
Overnight in Hotel Qantati
Day 4 Putre – Lauca National Park – Arica ( BL )
Breakfast at the hotel.
At the pre-arranged time, we will start out on our excursion with a first stop in the Valley of Lluta, the home of several archaeological ruins, such as the Pukara de Copaquilla, a 12th century fortress that has been declared a National Monument and the Inca Tambo of Zapahuira, an Inca refuge or dwelling, showing that their culture was present in Chile. After strolling through the towns of Putre and Parinacota, our expedition ends at the Parque Nacional Lauca, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. With a surface area of over 130,000 ha, this Reserve hosts a rich variety of the Altiplano’s (high plateau) flora and fauna, the beautiful wetlands or marshlands; imposing volcanoes such as the “Payachatas” (twin volcanoes in the native Pucara language, that include the Parinacota, 6,330 m (20,889 ft.) and Pomerape, 6,240 m (20,952 ft.), two of the 35 highest volcanoes in the Andes Mountain Range) and offers breath-taking views of the Cotacotani Lagoons and the Chungara Lake located at an altitude of 4,570 m (15,081 ft.) above sea level. It’s an ideal setting for outdoor activities while you enjoy the beautiful contrasts of the landscape and its unique geography. After return to Arica
Overnight in selected Hotel .
Day 5 Arica – Iquique
Breakfast in the hotel
At agreed time full day transfer & excursion to Iquique , visiting extraordinary geoglyphs (works of art that were made by moving or arranging stones or earth or other objects within a landscape) on hill slopes, unexpected forests in the desert and the history of an abandoned town are part of this expedition that starts out early at the hotel and heads out to Iquique. In the heart of the Atacama Desert where we’ll admire the anthropomorphic and zoomorphic figures of the Chiza geoglyphs and groups of camelloids represented in the Tilviche geoglyphs. The figure of the Giant of Atacama, symbolizing a Tiwanaku chief, can be admire on the Unita hillside.The last leg of our excursion includes a visit to Humberstone, a deserted ghost town that is a witness of the rush to produce sodium nitrate in the northern desert cities near the coast in the early 20th century. Our tour ends after walking through the streets and visiting the theatre, market and church of this former saltpeter refinery town.
Overnight in selected hotel
Day 6 Iquique – Tocopilla – Calama – San Pedro de Atacama ( B/L )
Breakfast at the hotel.
At agreed time departure to San Pedro de Atacama . Across the coast and visiting some fishing villages. Lunch at Tocopilla , In the afternoon you can admire the Atacama desert. Arrival at the Hotel.
Overnight in selected hotel
Day 7 San Pedro de Atacama ( B/L )
Breakfast at the hotel.
Today, make a 350 kilometers trip, visiting the town of Toconao and Socaire, and the Chaxa lagoon in the Atacama Salt Flat, habitat for pink flamingos. Continue towards the Altiplanic lagoons Meñiques and Miscanti, located at 4.500 meters above sea level (14.850 feet above sea level). This area is a part of the Flamingos National Reserve. These lagoons are surrounded by impressive volcanoes that were formed when the Andes Mountain Range rose from the sea through millions of years of evolution. Lunch included in a local restaurant
Overnight in selected hotel
Day 8 San Pedro de Atacama (B)
Early departure from your hotel (approx. 04:00 AM) to the Tatio geysers. Breakfast box at the geysers before a gentle guided walk around the geothermal field with observation of the natural phenomenon of the steam columns which are viewed at their best as the sun rises over the Andes. Return to San Pedro de Atacama with spectacular views of the Torcopuri y Sairecabur volcanoes. In the afternoon visit the moon Valley (also called death valley) to enjoy the wonderful sunset in ten Atacama desert . Back to the hotel
Overnight in selected hotel
Day 9 San Pedro de Atacama–Calama–Santiago ( B )
Breakfast at the hotel.
At agreed time transfer to Calama airport to board your flight back to Santiago
Meet and greet in Santiago Airport and transfer to your hotel
Overnight in selected hotel
Day 10 Santiago ( B )
Breakfast at the hotel. At the appropriate time, transfer to the airport to board your flight to your next destination.
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