Best of Chile: Santiago & Atacama Desert

Arrival 

Welcome to Santiago, the vibrant capital city of Chile!
After your flight, you will be transferred to your hotel where you can unwind for the remainder of the day. 

Highlights Of Santiago

Explore Santiago with a private guide, starting at San Cristobal Hill for stunning views. Drive through Bellavista and the historic city center, visiting landmarks like Florestal Park, the Museum of Fine Arts, Plaza de Armas, and Santa Lucía Hill. Continue to the financial district, known as "Sanhattan," and then explore the upscale Las Condes neighborhood and El Pueblito de Los Dominicos, a charming handicraft market.

For a delightful evening, consider dinner reservations at Boragó, Karai by Mitsuharu, or De Patio, and we can assist with reservations.

Exlporing Artistic Valparaiso & Wine Tasting In Casablanca Valley

In the morning, your guide and driver will pick you up for a trip to Valparaíso via Route 68. En route through the scenic Casablanca Valley, visit Matetic Vineyards for a 2.5-hour wine tasting. Learn about Casablanca Valley's cool-climate wines crafted using organic and biodynamic methods.

Upon arriving in Valparaíso, explore the iconic graffiti in the hills of Cerro Alegre, discover landmarks like the piano staircase, Protestant and Anglican churches, and delve into the city's history. Continue through Yugoslav Passage to Baburizza Palace, then descend to Sotomayor Square for insights into the Pacific War. Explore the port area, visit the viewpoint at Paseo 21 de Mayo, and ride the century-old funicular.

Enjoy a lunch break at a local restaurant (paid on the spot). The tour concludes with a return to Santiago, allowing you to relax at your hotel.

Optionally, you can choose without stop at a boutique winery for wine tasting.

Departure

Following breakfast, complete your check-out from the hotel and proceed with your transfer to the airport. 

Arrival & Desert Harmony: Explore Mountains, Music, and Mars in Vallecito  

Welcome to the Atacama Desert! After landing at Calama Airport, our private transfer will swiftly take you to your San Pedro de Atacama hotel.

Enjoy free time until 3:00 PM, then embark on an otherworldly Valle de la Luna tour in Chile's Atacama Desert. Witness the moon-like landscape with salt and clay formations, sculpted sand dunes, and a mesmerizing interplay of light and shadow.

As the sun sets, Valle de la Luna transforms into a captivating panorama of hues. Our expert guide shares insights into the desert's unique flora and fauna. Stand atop the Great Dune, absorb the silence, and witness a breathtaking sunset casting warm, golden light over Valle de la Luna.

After the tour, return to the hotel.

Colors of Atacama: Piedras Rojas and Beyond

Early in the morning, your driver and guide will pick you up. Your first stop will be 38 km to the south, where you'll encounter the town of Toconao, famous for its constructions in liparite stone. After this, you continue towards Laguna Chaxa, a National Reserve located in the Salar de Atacama. This lagoon is surrounded by salt and gypsum crusts produced by the evaporation of underground saline waters. In this environment, you can observe the flamingos that inhabit the salt flat, along with other bird species.

You proceed along the route that leads to Argentina (Paso Sico) until the detour to Lagunas Miscanti and Miñiques, part of the Los Flamencos National Reserve (4,300 meters above sea level). Then, you head towards Piedras Rojas, a landscape filled with reddish stones that owe their hue to iron oxidation. In this area, you will also find the Salar de Aguas Calientes, a lagoon with an intense green color, one of the most beautiful places in San Pedro de Atacama.

*Breakfast and lunch stops are included in the day and to be paid on spot. 

Stargazing Marvels in the Atacama Night Sky

Today, you have the option to explore the wonders of El Tatio Geysers, commencing at 4 AM. Alternatively, you can choose a day at leisure to immerse yourself in various activities.

As the day concludes, your evening will be dedicated to stargazing, an unmissable experience in San Pedro de Atacama, renowned for its exceptional celestial views. 

You will be picked up from your hotel by a guide who is truly passionate about the stars. You will then be driven to a designated stargazing area where comfortable seats and blankets await for the first part of the tour—a beginner's astronomy class. Rest assured, you won't be bored. The guide's genuine enthusiasm for the subject will keep you engaged and interested.

After covering the basics and taking a quick snack break, the guide will lead you to each telescope for a closer view of the stars you've just studied. It's a fascinating experience to observe slight color differences and tiny clusters normally invisible to the human eye.

As the night progresses, the guide will provide instructions on photographing the night sky. If you forget your tripod, there's no need to worry; the guide has a few set up. And if you lack a proper camera, the guide has plenty of his own for you to enjoy.

Once the tour concludes, you'll be taken back to the hotel. 

* The best time for stargazing in the Atacama Desert is during the dry season (March to October), when clear skies and low humidity provide ideal conditions. For the clearest views, aim to visit:

**To maximize the experience, plan your visit around the new moon, when the sky is darkest, allowing stars and celestial objects to shine most brightly. Check a lunar calendar for exact dates

Departure

After checking out from your hotel, you will be transferred to the airport in Calama.

Arrival 
Welcome back to Santiago.

Spend your last day in Chile enjoying tranquility, shopping, and culinary explorations.

Departure

Following breakfast, complete your check-out from the hotel and proceed with your transfer to the airport.