Chile: Santiago - Viña del mar - Valparaíso- San Pedro de Atacama - Arica

This route runs from Santiago north along the coast and up into Chile's far north, taking in colonial port towns, wine country, and one of the most extreme landscapes on the continent. Along the way you'll spend time in Viña del Mar and Valparaíso before heading inland to the Atacama Desert and up to Arica.

It's a shared group journey for independent travellers, and the make-up of your group can change as you go — people join or move on at different points along the route, so the size of your group shifts from place to place.

The far north is the real draw here: the Atacama, the driest desert in the world, gives way to high-altitude lakes and archaeological sites that go back thousands of years.

What you'll do

• Wander the hillside streets of Valparaíso and the coast at Viña del Mar
• Taste wine in central Chile
• Cross the Atacama Desert, the driest in the world
• See the Chinchorro mummies in Arica, the oldest mummies known anywhere
• Visit Lago Chungara, sitting at 5,000 metres above sea level

Day by day

• Activities: Other activities and services are not included. Lunches and dinners Personal expenses Tips ­
• Flights: Domestic and internacional flights Not Included We highly suggest connect destinations by air and not by bus because of the long distance. We can quote it for you and add it to your booking. ­
• Optional: CONCHA Y TORO VINEYARD Departure from the hotel heading towards the south of the city to approach a mountain area. The trip continues towards the valley known as the Cajón del Maipo, a rural area in which the landscape, the mountains and the small crops of vines and fruits come together. There we arrived at the renowned Viña Concha y Toro. We visit the park of ancient trees, its vineyards and the traditional wineries of this historic place, while we learn the process and preparation of the main product. Chilean exporter. Here we will immerse ourselves in the corner that keeps one of the best kept secrets of the vineyard: “El Casillero del Diablo”. The tour ends with a tasting and the glass we used will remain with us as a souvenir of this experience. We will have time to buy wines in the store and then return to the hotel. FARELLONES AND SKI CENTERS The excursion begins by leaving the hotel to head towards the eastern sector of Santiago. We will pass through the residential neighborhoods of Las Condes and El Arrayán until we reach a winding road that will take us into the heart of the Andes Mountains. We will appreciate all its magnitude and its curious flora composed of varieties of cacti and native shrubs. As we surpass 2,000 meters of altitude, the mountain range shows an immense range of colors given by the minerals that compose it. We will arrive at Farellones to appreciate all the magic of the landscape, especially in the winter months where the environment is covered in snow. We will enjoy a beautiful panoramic tour of the place and if the weather permits we will continue the ascent until we reach Valle Nevado to see its modern hotel facilities, which allow us to fully enjoy this gigantic refuge in the middle of the imposing Andes Mountains. Before going down we will have free time to take photographs, have lunch at each person's expense, and for those who wish, in the winter season, to venture into some snow activity (services that are not included). At the agreed time we will begin the descent to return to the hotels. BLACK ISLAND AND POMAIRE We headed towards the seaside resort of Isla Negra on the Pacific coast, refuge of the Chilean poet and Nobel Prize winner in Literature, Pablo Neruda. We visited his beautiful house museum, which houses his favorite collections, such as figureheads, bottles, navigation instruments, conch shells and many pieces of furniture he owned, which show that Neruda not only wrote poetry, but also lived poetically. Within the gardens that overlook the immensity of the Pacific Ocean is the poet's tomb next to that of Matilde Urrutia, where an intense and peaceful love story rests. The museum is a magical place and covers the history of Neruda in its entirety. In addition to Isla Negra, we will visit the typical town of Pomaire, a small town of clay artisans, where it is possible to have lunch with different dishes of typical Chilean food. Lunch not included. After this visit we return to Santiago to finish at the hotels. BAHAI TEMPLE We begin our journey towards the foothills to visit this jewel of architecture, the Bahá'í House of Worship, a unique temple in South America. A place of meeting and prayer, where you visit the wonderful temple and its gardens. This House of Worship, added to those on other continents, is a meeting point that promotes unity through free participation in acts of prayer and services in a serene environment devoid of rituals or ceremonies. At the agreed time we will begin the return to the hotels. VIÑA SANTA RITA Departure to Viña Santa Rita, located in the town of Alto Jahuel, belonging to the wonderful Maipo Valley. This vineyard, founded in 1880 by Domingo Fernández Concha, has become a premium destination, due to its historical interest, and the quality of the wines they produce, since the tour contemplates the history of Chile and its viticulture. The tour will begin at the Casa del Turismo, from where you will enjoy the variety garden, to appreciate the different strains and their characteristics. You will learn about the complete winemaking process, going through the winemaking cellars, storage and bottling plant. You will visit the historic Bodega 1 made of lime and stone, in addition to the famous Bodega de los 120 Patriotas, which today is a National Monument. The tour will end with a tasting of 2 Reserva wines plus 1 Gran Reserva along with a glass as a gift. The wine store has attractive souvenirs and gourmet exclusives. We will have time to buy wines in the store and then return to the hotel. VIÑA UNDURRAGA Departure to the Santa Ana Farm, where Viña Undurraga was established since its origins 135 years ago. The tour begins in the Viña Park, created by the French landscape designer George Henry Dubois, who also designed the Santiago Forest Park. Then, the visit continues to the Aliwen corner, a place where part of the vegetation typical of southern Chile is recreated and where our main indigenous people “Mapuche” are honored by exhibiting figures of their culture and making their worldview known. Following this stop, you will tour the vineyard, get to know the soils through a test pit, identify the different strains that Undurraga grows through a variety garden, and show the vinification process of the different wines. Then you will access the centuries-old underground cellars of Viña Undurraga, to finish by visiting the “People of the Earth” collection, a sample of Mapuche and pre-Columbian life and art in honor of our native peoples. The tour concludes with a tasting of 3 reserve wines. At the end, each visitor will receive a glass as a gift. Additionally, in the store you can purchase wines and sparkling wines from Undurraga brands, along with a series of entertaining souvenirs. We will have time to buy wines in the store and then return to the hotel. Cejar Lagoon Located within the Atacama Salt Flat, Cejar Lagoon offers a fun and relaxing floating experience due to its high salt content. The tour continues to the Ojos del Salar (two freshwater sinkholes in the desert) and ends at Tebinquinche Lagoon with a cocktail while enjoying the reflection of the Andes in its waters during sunset. Salt Flats Route – Monjes de la Pacana A journey to the Tara Salt Flat to visit the Monjes de la Pacana, giant stone pillars standing in the middle of the desert. Explore high plateau landscapes and salt flats, a tour that highlights the immensity and beauty of the Andean altiplano. Puritama Hot Springs Located 30 km northeast of San Pedro de Atacama, the Puritama River emerges naturally at approximately 33°C due to underground volcanic activity. The site includes basic facilities and wooden terraces around the pools. Rich in minerals, the waters are said to have healing properties. Rainbow Valley Travel west to the Domeyko mountain range, starting at Yerbas Buenas with its ancient petroglyphs. Continue to the Rainbow Valley, named after the colorful mountains caused by various mineral compositions. The tour ends in Río Grande, a colonial village frozen in time.
• Insurance: No insurance is includes but we can quote it and add it to your tour.