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Photo courtesy of Phil Whitehouse -
Photo courtesy of Phil Whitehouse -
Photo courtesy of Phil Whitehouse -
Photo courtesy of Patrick Coe -
Photo courtesy of Ben Tubby -
Photo courtesy of Ben Tubby -
Photo courtesy of Iain and Sarah -
Photo courtesy of P R -
Photo courtesy of Esteban Leon - Difficulty Rating:
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Tour Description
Santiago will be the starting point of a fascinating 11-day journey in one of the world's most unique countries. Chile is a land of contrasts and striking beauty that offers an enviable combination of natural wonders, excellent services, and security, making for a splendid travel experience. A land of extremes, in terms of both its geography and its climate, with the heat of the deserts in the north and the cold of the glaciers in the south, earning Chile the reputation as a Land of Fire and Ice.
Itinerary
CHILE EXPERIENCE 2012
Day 01 Arrival Santiago
Upon arrival in Chile’s capital city, you are met by your local representative for transfer to your hotel.
Those adventurers seeking to discover Santiago's urban environment from a different perspective will love this experience. Cycling over old streets lined with stately palm trees and admiring the impressive architecture of places such as the Central Market and Estación Mapocho- both interesting exponents of the iron architecture of 19th and early 20th century -will be a funny and healthy cultural experience. Feel the pulse of the city seeing the simple life of a normal Santiaguino in some of the most interesting and non-turistical barrios of Santiago like Cumming, Brasil, Barrio Yungay and Concha y Toro neighbourhoods and enjoy light refreshments and a snack before paddling to La Moneda presidential headquarters, seat of the Chilean government and one of the most interesting buildings of our colonial heritage. Return to your hotel
Welcome dinner at the superb restaurant Arkarana this evening.
***Early check in not included***
Lastarria Boutique hotel Santiago
Style, design and warmth in every room. Lastaria Boutique Hotel has 14 bedrooms and additional private areas designed for all tastes.
Comfortable beds, art equipment, décor, desk, bar staff, wi-fi, digital safe and created comfort for each guest as. We also offer 2 daily housekeeping services, more than 1 staff room and beyond being a house of 1927 provide a lift to all rooms.
Overnight at Lastarria hotel (Junior suite room)
Dinner
Day 02 Santiago
You are collected from your hotel this morning for a full day tour of the winelands.
To the south of Santiago there are important vineyards whose soil and climate produce wine of the highest quality, the best known of which is Concha y Toro. Vast fields of grapevines of the purest French ancestry exist, because Chile was one of the very few countries not affected by the worldwide plague of philoxera in 1863. This along with an ideal climate and significant investment over the last two decades has made Chilean wine some of the best wines in the world today.
Viña Concha y Toro was founded in 1883 at Pirque, in the Maipo Valley, by the Spanish nobleman Don Melchor de Concha y Toro. Your visit begins in the Plaza Don Melchor square where you will be welcomed by your expert guide who will lead you to a balcony for a spectacular panoramic view of the Pirque vineyard. Glass of Casillero del Diablo white wine in hand, you can immerse yourself in the aromas and flavours of this centennial setting. You can stroll through the dense parkland and gardens that have been maintained as they were in the days of Don Melchor. The old casona will also be visited, the former residence of the Concha y Toro family. It was here that, over a hundred years ago, the biggest wine making company in Chile was born.
Continue to Viña Santa Rita to enjoy a traditional lunch at restaurant Doña Paula. After lunch, tour around the vineyard. Santa Rita is one of the main wineries in the Maipo Valley, located in the town of Alto Jahuel, at the Andes foothills. The Mediterranean climate, with warm, dry summers and an average rainfall of 330 mm per year, has given this area recognition as being one of the best grape growing areas in the world, especially for Cabernet Sauvignon.
Return to Santiago and your hotel. Evening at leisure.
Overnight at Lastarria hotel (Junior suite room)
Breakfast & Lunch
Day 03 Santiago – Temuco - Villarrica
Morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Temuco. Upon arrival in Temuco, you are met and transferred to your hotel, the excellent Villarrica Park Lake.
Included in the transfer to Villarrica will be a visit to the Hueche Ruka community, giving you a fascinating insight into the traditions of the Mapuche peoples of Chile’s south. These native people were here in the south of Chile long before the conquistador Pedro de Valdivia discovered the region in the mid 1500s. There will be a demonstration of the community’s principal artistic and creative activities, its gastronomyeas and handicrafts. Continue to Villarrica, which lies in the shadow of the beautiful Villarrica Volcano on the eastern side of Lake Villarrica
Villarrica Park Lake
Set on the shore of the Villarrica Lake, the hotel offers a combination of local charm with European flair and unassuming luxury. The hotel is surrounded by beautiful gardens and boasts spectacular panoramic views from each one of its facilities. The spacious public areas emphasize elegance and quality and assure a quiet and relaxed atmosphere throughout the year. The Villarrica area is world famous for its truly unique natural environment, characterized by snow-capped volcanoes, crystal clear lakes and rivers, thermal baths and national parks. This hotel provides the perfect base for exploring the area, thanks to its superb location close to the town, and all local attractions, and also because of the comforts available inside the property.
The "Aquarius" spa is not to be missed, with its tepidarium Sauna, Finnish sauna, steam bath, gym, heated in-door swimming pool, open-air swimming pool, and beauty center with solarium, and numerous wellness treatments.
Overnight at Villarrica Park Lake hotel (Superior room)
Breakfast
Day 04 Pucón
Your first full day in Chile’s Lake District. 700 miles south of Santiago the crystal waters, lush green forests, rapids and waterfalls, snow-capped volcanoes and azure blue skies of the Chilean Lake District make this one of the world’s scenic jewels.
The city of Villarrica was founded by Geronimo de Alderete in 1552. Located at the edge of the lake Villarrica, it is surrounded by the snow-capped cone of the active Villarrica Volcano (2,700 metres above the lake). Pucón is Villarrica’s more modern neighbour. A lively town with many options for the visitor, it is now regarded as Chile’s active adventure capital.
Morning visit to Pucón and surroundings, including the volcanic caves of the Villarrica Volcano. Discover the exciting sensation of entering one of only two volcanic caves open to visitors in the world. There will be a descent of 300 metres in order to observe their geological constitution.
Set upon the volcano’s hillsides, at 2,847 metres above sea level (8,540 feet), is the most important ski centre in the region, offering a wonderful view of the valley and lakes during the sunny days
Remainder of the day s at leisure to relax and enjoy the numerous facilities inside the hotel.
Overnight at Villarrica Park Lake hotel (Superior room)
Breakfast
Day 05 Pucón
An early start this morning to visit the Huerquehue National Park, a mountainous 12,500 hectare (30,900 acre) natural reserve, located a short drive from Villarrica.
The park offers a wide variety of hikes that traverse dense beech forests containing native vegetation such as coigües, lingues, and araucarias. Araucarias are unique old-growth trees that live for more than a thousand years. The araucaria is known as the Tree of the Mapuches because its Pehuén seed has sustained the Mapuche people for generations.
The hiking paths in Huerquehue National Park lead to pleasant waterfalls and gurgling brooks, or to splendid vistas of the Andes and Volcano Villarrica. Enjoy the evening at leisure to relax and enjoy the numerous facilities inside the hotel.
Overnight at Villarrica Park Lake hotel (Superior room)
Breakfast & Box Lunch
Day 06 Villarrica- Temuco- Santiago- Calama - Atacama
After breakfast, transfer to the airport in Temuco to board your return flight to Santiago. Upon arrival you will be met by your local representative, who will assist you with your connecting flight to Calama.
At an altitude of 7,900 feet in the very heart of the Atacama, Calama is your gateway to the geological and archaeological wonders of the central desert. Upon arrival in this oasis town, you will be transferred overland to the desert in Atacama. This is the world's driest landscape, cut off from storm systems by high-pressure air currents and by Chile's twin mountain ranges. No precipitation has been recorded here since the days of Spanish colonisation, four hundred years ago.
Upon arrival at the airport in Calama, you will be transferred to San Pedro de Atacama (1½ hour, shared with other hotel guests)
Dinner at the hotel. During this evening, the guides will assist and suggest the options of activities available to do the following day.
Alto Atacama Lodge
Alto Atacama is a village Hotel near the ancient ruins of Pukara de Quitor, distance three kilometres from the famous oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama.The village enjoys a unique location at the base of the breathtaking Salt mountains in the beatifull and fertile katarpe valley.Combining raw nature with confort and convenience, Alto Atacama offers guests the perfect refuge in wich to rejuvenate body and soul.
Overnight at Alto Atacama lodge hotel (Catarpe Double room)
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 07 , 08 & 09 San Pedro de Atacama
Three complete days to enjoy the hotel activities’ menu and its facilities. Alto Atacama has created a programme of activities so that you can enjoy as much of the local area as you want, in the way that you want. There is something for everyone, from visiting the local museum to climbing a volcano.
The excursions are designed for people who love nature and extraordinary landscapes, but the vast majority do not require any special physical training or technical abilities.
All activities are classified by type (by vehicle, on foot or bicycle), length (half or full day) and difficulty. The level of difficulty is rated as follows:
Easy:Excursions on flat or gently undulating ground, much of which is covered by van. These excursions require no acclimatization to the altitude of the Atacama Desert.
Medium:Some rocky or sandy terrain, short climbs of moderate steepness and/or long treks. Some excursions require a few days of acclimatization to the altitude of the Atacama Desert.
Difficult:Tough terrain, long and/or steep climbs up to 4000 metres above sea level. These excursions are physically demanding and require acclimatization time.
Each night, guests meet with the guides in the bar to discuss options for the following day. There are eight options per day, taken from their programme of 23 excursions (listed at the end of this document).
Overnight at Alto Atacama Lodge ( double Catarpe room)
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 10 San Pedro de Atacama- Calama – Santiago
Breakfast.
Transfer to Calama Airport for your flight to Santiago. Upon arrival at Santiago Airport, transfer from the airport to the hotel
Overnight at Lastarria hotel (Junior suite room)
Breakfast & Lunch
Day 11 Santiago- Departure
Breakfast
In due time transfer from the hotel to the airport and board flight back home.
***Late check out not included***
End of Services
Bon Voyage!
*** THIS IS A PROPOSAL ONLY AND IS SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY AT THE TIME OF CONFIRMATION.
WE ARE NOT HOLDING ANY SPACES FOR THIS ITINERARY AT THIS TIME. ***
Departures
Depart any day! Contact an iExplore Adventure Consultant for details.
Pricing Information
CHILE EXPERIENCE 2012
USD prices per person
LOW SEASON : Valid from 01st May 2012 – 01st October 2012
|
Based 2 passengers |
6499 |
|
Single supplement |
2130 |
|
These Domestic flights approx. cost - taxes included - must be added on to the tour cost – they are in economy class. The local operator will book these for you. SCL-ZCO-SCL-CJC-SCL |
1040.00 |
Inclusions:
- Transportation by private vehicle with local English-speaking guide
- Hotel accommodation in rooms with private bath
- Excursions and transfers at Alto Atacama are shared with other hotel guests
- Meals as per itinerary described above, B= breakfast, L=lunch, D= dinner
- Excursions and services as listed above
- Entrance fees for scheduled sightseeing
- Baggage handling: 02 pieces of baggage per person – Maximum weight allowed in domestic flights: 20 kg.
Exclusions:
- Air transportation and/or airport taxes, unless specified above
- Tips for guides, drivers and hotel staff
- Extras at hotels (laundry, telephone calls, tips etc)
- Any other items not mentioned above
- All services as listed above
- Visas
All prices are in US dollars and do not include international airfare, unless otherwise noted.
Prices displayed are based on the lowest season base price and assume double occupancy. Prices are shown in U.S. dollars and may or may not include administrative fees, taxes, meals, airfare (where applicable) and Single Supplements. Cancellation penalties, blackout dates and other restrictions may apply.
