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Chile Highlights for Active Individual
offered by supplier M17824 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 22
day(s)
Group Size: 1
- 2
people
Destination(s):
Chile
Specialty Categories:
Self Drive
Cultural Journey
Season: September - April
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: No
Minimum Per Person Price: 1645 US Dollar (USD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 1645 US Dollar (USD)
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Chile is the most safe country in South America, thus, perfect for individual travelers that are looking for a safe environment to travel. During this trip you will cross the empty planes of Patagonia, the most southern part of Chile.
In the Lake District a rented car is waiting for you, which will bring you during the coming week to all known and unknown spots of Lake District. Chile is the perfect place for driving your car. Ruta 5, the main highway is well developed and easy to hop on and off to go a little bit off the beaten track.
From the lakes, forests and volcanoes you will end in the desert of Atacama. Surrounded again by volcanoes, little oasis villages, where nowadays still a lot of indigenous communities can be found, geysers, salt flats and sand dunes.
Tour Itinerary:
Days 1 - 4: Santiago. Your trip will start in Santiago where you can spend some days to explore the friendly and lively capital of Chile. There are not only activities to do within the city, but just a one hour drive with public transportation will take you to the tops of the incredible Andes, or to the beautiful Cajon del Maipo which you can explore by hiking, horse riding, rafting or even climbing.
Days 5 - 9: Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine. After a few days exploring the region Metropolitana it is time for you to explore the region of Chile, region XII, Patagonia, located at the end of the world. As soon as you getting closer with the plain to Punta Arenas you can see from the window, great lonely lands covered in ice and snow. As soon as you get out the plain, you will feel that you are in a totally different world, besides you need some good thick jackets, you will feel lonely when you crossing the empty plains of Patagonia. Puerto Natales is the main gate to one of the most beautiful and impressive national parks of Chile, Torres del Paine. The place to be for people who love hiking, or just love beautiful nature and relaxing. From sun, to snow, to ice, to glaciers you can experience it all within a few days. You can walk from Refugio to Refugio, or just stay at one place and enjoy the parquet by walking and horse riding. Also you get the chance to see the impressive Grey
Glacier, a 270 km2 ice field which ends in the Grey lake. Back in Punta Arenas you will take the plane to Puerto Montt.
Days 10 – 11: Puerto Montt and Chiloe. It is time for you to explore the regions IX and X. The best way for you to explore those regions is by car, thanks to the good infrastructure. First you will head towards Chiloé, the second biggest Island of South America. You will cross the see by ferry, and during the crossing you can do some good seal and dolphin spotting, and if you have luck some penguins as well. Chiloé is a beautiful, quite Island with a typical "Chilote" architecture. Again you have the idea you are in a complete different world. Chiloé is famous for her "Pafalitos", wooden colorful houses built on steels next to the see. Besides the pafalitos Chiloé is the best place to spot some good woolen products and other handicrafts.
Days 12 – 16: Puerto Varas and Pucon. From Chiloé you will head to Puerto Varas, a small town located next to Llanquihue lake, with the big volcano Osorno in the background. In Puerto Varas still a lot of German influences can be found, especially in the architecture of the town. Puerto Varas is a perfect base to explore the national parks surrounded National Park Llanquihue and not to forget National Park Vicente Perez Rosales, with it’s emerald colored Todos Los Santos lake and the beautiful Petrohué waterfalls. With car you will drive to Pucon, also Pucon is a great base to explore the national parks and climb the Volcano Villarica. After spending 2 days in Pucon you will drop off your car at the airport in Temuco from where your flight to the far North of Chile will depart.
Days 17 – 19: San Pedro de Atacama. The last part of your trip will consist of dessert, hot springs, geysers, beach, and again volcanoes. From region IX you will take the plain to Region II, San Pedro de Atacama. From this little dessert village you can visit the Tatio Geysers. Located 4,300m above sea level, these columns of steam rise to a height of 50m and are surrounded by amazing colorful scenery. The area is home to many animal species including the Vicuña, a type of South American camelid, which is very well adapted to living in these harsh conditions. The geysers have been formed by Andes melt water filtering through the Earth’s crust to the hot core where on coming into contact with the magma, it boils and becomes steam which rises back to the surface and forms steam columns and hot springs. You can paddle in the cool stream before continuing your journey to the great Salar de Atacama where you can visit the Chaxa Lagoon, part of the Flamingo National Reserve. Geological studies have suggested that this great salar is the most important lithium reserve in the world, holding about 40% of the world’s lithium. And as the name already indicates, a lot of Flamingos can be found in this park.
Note: In San Pedro de Atacama excursions are recommended. Excursions can be arranged in advance by SWA.
Days 20 – 21: Arica. An overnight bus will take you to Arica, a city in the far far north of Chile where you can relax a few days on the beach and look back on your amazing trip in Chile.
Day 22: Santiago. Today you will take your flight back to Santiago. Of course you can extend your trip to Peru, Bolivia or Argentina, or maybe something more exotic like Isla de Pacua.
Tourism Policy:
- We believe in generating incomes for local communities by visiting locally owned restaurants and shops. We also try to use local guides where possible
- During our trips and expeditions we encourage our clients to act responsibly and respect the local community, which in turn will help them to gain a greater understanding and insight of the local customs
- We choose to use campsites owned and managed by local communities
- We work in conjunction with our partners on the ground to implement the highest standards
- We always take economic, environmental and cultural factors into account when considering new
destinations
- We aim to ensure that our type and scale of tourism is appropriate to the local conditions and operates within the limits set by the local community with regards to its infrastructure and capacity
for receiving visitors
- We aim to take responsibility for maintaining and, if possible, improving the natural environment
- We aim to minimize our impact on the atmosphere and local water systems during our expeditions
and day treks
- We always aim to take all our litter home
- We aim to give environmental and economic considerations equal weight
- We will provide our staff with regular and ongoing training about the principles and practices of
responsible tourism
- We provide our guides with instructions on how to act in the natural environment, encourage them to teach these guidelines to our clients during our tours
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Prices:
Price based on 1 persons - 2949$ per person
Price based on 2 persons - 1645$ per person
Price Includes:
- 1 airport transfer Santiago
- 4 nights 4* hotel Santiago
- 2 nights, 3* hotel Puerto Natales
- 3 nights refugio Torres del Paine
- 1 night 3* hotel Puerto Montt
- 1 night 3* hotel Castro
- 2 nights 3* hotel Puerto Varas
- 2 nights 4* hotel Pucon
- 3 nights 3* hotel San Pedro de Atacama
- 3 nights 4* hotel Arica
- All hotels include breakfast
- Car Rental 6 days
Also see tour packages in:
South America
Chile
Self Drive
Cultural Journey
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