Legacy of the Incas
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
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Machu Picchu - Lake Titicaca
(11 days/10 nights)
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Peru:
Machu Picchu - Lake Titicaca
(12 days/11 nights)
Empire of the Sun
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Peru:
Machu Picchu - Lake Titicaca
(14 days/13 nights)
Ancient Civilizations of Peru
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Peru:
Colca Canyon - Machu Picchu
Lake Titicaca
(16 days/15 nights)
Archaeological & Ecological
Treasures
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
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Galapagos - Machu Picchu
Lake Titicaca (or Amazon)
(18 days/17 nights)
Grand Tour of the Inca Empire
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
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Colca Canyon - Amazon
Machu Picchu- Lake Titicaca
(22 days/21 nights)
Ancient & Colonial Capitals
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Machu Picchu
(10 days/9 nights)
Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
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Machu Picchu
(13 days/12 nights)
Machu Picchu & Galapagos
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Peru & Ecuador:
Machu Picchu - Galapagos
(15 days/14 nights)
Galapagos & Machu Picchus
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Galapagos - Machu Picchu
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Enchanted Isles of the Galapagos
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Galapagos
(11 days/10 nights)
Galapagos & the Kingdom of Quito
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Ecuador:
Galapagos - Andes
(16 days/15 nights)
Galapagos & the Amazon
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Ecuador:
Galapagos - Amazon
(16 days/15 nights)
Historic Haciendas of the Andes
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Ecuador:
Cotopaxi - Antisana - Otavalo
(7 days/6 nights)
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Santiago, Atacama Desert, Lake District, Torres del Paine, Easter Island & Valparaiso
Luxury Chile Tours & Travel
Cuernos Mountains and
Lake Pehoe, Torres del Paine, Patagonia.
Photo: Radek Tezaur. Luxury Chile Tours & Travel.
Revel in the pleasures of this exquisite journey of discovery...
-- Kimberly Fay, LuxuryLink.com
When it comes to exclusive, privately escorted expeditions, Inka's Empire Tours has always offered its guests the very best in guided luxury travel. The superlatives don't end with the attractions themselves, which include such marvels as the earth's driest desert and the world's most remote island. These and other amazing destinations are included in the wide ranging Grandeur of Chile exploration. Arriving in and departing from Santiago, your encounter with the beauty of nature in extreme environments begins amid the moonlike landscapes of the Atacama Desert and finishes among the stone idols of legendary Easter Island.
In Atacama, experience such natural wonders as the eerily silent Valley of the Moon, four-million-year-old Atacama Salt Lake and breathtaking El Tatio Geysers. Cruise in the scenic Lake District, where the Osorno, Puntiagudo and Tronador volcanoes crown Lake Todos los Santos. A visit to the penguin colony at Otway Sound precedes a ramble through Torres del Paine National Park. After four days of exploring the enigmatic archaeological sites of Easter Island, return to the mainland for an exclusive stay in Valparaíso's Zerohotel.
Explore the grand natural beauty of Chile on this 18-night ecological excursion.
Land Price (19 days/18 nights)
De Luxe US$ 11,995 per person
The land price includes escorted transfers, private excursions with professional guides and chauffeurs, entrance fees, selected category of accommodations (De Luxe is shown first; if Imperial is different, it appears afterward in parenthesis), gourmet cuisine (see details), all land and water transportation, and travel insurance for guests through the age of 59 years (over that age, there is a supplementary fee). All prices are per person based on two people sharing a guest room. For a detailed description of our services, see Opulent Itineraries. Season: September through March.
Intra-Tour Flights & Fares
Air fares are in addition to the land price:
Santiago - Calama - Santiago, Santiago - Puerto Montt - Punta Arenas - Puerto Montt - Santiago & Santiago - Easter Island - Santiago
Valley of the Moon,
Atacama Desert, Chile
Photo: Servicio Nacional de Turismo, Chile. Luxury Chile Tours & Travel.
This study of natural beauty in extreme environments begins in the Atacama Desert, the driest on earth, but where one confronts the paradox of its unusual manifestations of water. First is the oasis of San Pedro de Atacama, the center of a Paleolithic civilization that built impressive rock fortresses on the steep mountains encircling the green valley. Nearby is the eerily silent landscape of the Valley of the Moon, with its small but exquisite salt ponds and backdrop of snow-capped volcanoes. At the huge Atacama Salt Lake, an inland sea formed millions of years ago, it's a unique experience to view the vast plain of salt crusts formed of octagonally-shaped crystals, with lagoons reflecting the volcanoes. Finally, there are El Tatio Geysers, a geothermal field of fumaroles, small geysers and multicolored craters. So many forms of water in the world's driest desert!
Descending further in elevation and latitude to the Lake District, we arrive at Lake Llanquihue, Chile's largest, with the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes reflected in its clear waters, reminding us of scenes in the Atacama Desert. Volcanoes and lakes, we realize, are emblematic of this country. Along Llanquihue's shores, we come to the magnificent Petrohue Falls and the millennial forest of the Vicente Perez Rosales National Park. Tomorrow, we will sail across Lake Todos los Santos on a catamaran, under the magnificent presence of the Osorno, Puntiagudo and Tronador volcanoes.
The grand finale of our tour is at hand as we head ever further south, until we're not far from the end of the world. Driving through the pampas steppes of Patagonia's Magellan Province, we begin to encounter distinctive fauna -- ostriches, foxes, skunks, ducks, black-necked swans, flocks of flamingos, condors, eagles and herds of guanacos. Going back quite a few millennia at the Milodon Cave, we see the remains of a giant sloth that lived there around 12,000 years ago. The Paine massif, Almirante Nieto and the Torres del Paine come into view as we pass by the Amarga Lagoon and Lake Pehoe. Soon, we will be hiking in the Torres del Paine National Park; bewitched by its lakes, waterfalls and spires. After navigating Lago Grey past icebergs to massive glaciers, we return to Santiago.
Our exploration of the ecological grandeur of Chile reaches its denouement during five days on rarely-visited Easter Island, one of the world's most enigmatic archaeological sites, where you can ponder ancient idols and a lost civilization.
Returning to mainland Chile, proceed to Valparaiso, on the Pacific Ocean, stay in the charming old house converted into the boutique Zerohotel. In the morning, tour the town and pass through nearby Viña del Mar before continuing to the Matetic Vineyards for wine tasting. Arrive at the Santiago airport in time for your international departure..
Our chosen hotels embody luxury and history. You will stay in the finest establishment at each destination, enjoying a deluxe room in our De Luxe category or a suite in our Imperial category (there may be exceptions -- see the itinerary for the exact accommodations). In Santiago, our hotel is the 5-star The Aubrey; in the Vicente Perez Rosales National Park, the 4-star Petrohue Lodge; in Puerto Varas, the 5-star Cumbres Patagónicas; and in Valparaiso, the 4-star Zerohotel. In addition to luxury and history, we have chosen other establishments that provide a unique experience of traditional culture or ecology: in the oasis of San Pedro de Atacama, the rustic yet sophisticated 4-star Awasi; on a traditional sheep ranch on the border of the Torres del Paine National Park, the 3-star Estancia Cerro Guido; in Puerto Natales, the 4-star Hotel Altiplanico Puerto Natales; and on Easter Island, the 3-star Cabañas Mahia.
We are proud of these charming boutique hotels -- The Aubrey has only 15 rooms, the Awasi 8 rooms, Petrohue Lodge 20 rooms, Estancia Cerro Guido 15 rooms, Hotel Altiplanico Puerto Natales 22 rooms, Cabañas Mahia 3 rooms and the Zerohotel has only 9 rooms. Because our chosen hotels are so small, we recommend booking a tour as far in advance as possible.
Thin moai at Rano Raraku
in sunset light, Easter Island.
Photo: Cliff Wassmann. Luxury Chile Tours & Travel.
Highlights
Santiago
Day 1: Flight to Santiago de Chile. International arrival in the afternoon or evening, reception and transfer to your hotel. Welcome dinner at El Mesón Nerudiano. Overnight in the 5-star The Aubrey -- Parque Metropolitano Terraza or Venetian Terraza.
Atacama Desert
Intra-tour flight Santiago to Calama, Morning
Day 2: Santiago - San Pedro de Atacama - Valley of the Moon. Departure to the airport. Flight to Calama. Reception and transfer to San Pedro de Atacama and the Hotel Awasi, where guests will develop private outings in consultation with their guide. A possible excursion today: Walking tour of San Pedro, the center of a Palaeolithic civilization. Visit the Father Le Paige Museum; Tulor, a 3,000-year-old village; and the Pukara de Quitor, a 12th century Inca fortress. Lunch. In the afternoon, enter the eerily silent landscape of the Valley of the Moon for sunset. Dinner and overnight in the 4-star Awasi -- Superior Round Suite.
Day 3: Toconao - Altiplano Lagoons - Atacama Salt Lake. A possible excursion today: Start with the white volcanic stone sculptures in Toconao, then continue to the Miscanti and Meñiques lagoons, in the highlands. Lunch. On the way back, proceed to the huge Atacama Salt Lake, an inland sea formed millions of years ago. At Laguna Chaxa, we may be able to observe flamingos. Dinner and overnight in the 4-star Awasi -- Superior Round Suite.
Day 4: Full-Day Hike from Machuca to Rio Grande. A possible excursion today: Drive to the village of Machuca, a former rest place for the ancient llama caravans that traveled the "Inca Highway". We start our trek here, following the Peñaliri River to reach our final destination of Rio Grande, a small village. Along the way, you will be fascinated by the changing landscape and panoramic views. Box lunch. Dinner and overnight in the 4-star Awasi -- Superior Round Suite.
Santiago
Intra-tour flight Calama to Santiago, Late afternoon
Day 5: El Tatio Geysers - Pukara de Lasana - Santiago. A possible excursion today: Early departure for El Tatio Geysers, a geothermal field of fumaroles, small geysers and multicolored craters. On our way back to the Calama airport, we visit the typical villages of Caspana and Chiu Chiu, the Indian Cemetery and the Pukara de Lasana, a 12th century fortress. Lunch. Transfer to the Calama airport. Flight to Santiago. Reception and transfer to your hotel. Dine at El Caramaño. Overnight in the 5-star The Aubrey -- Parque Metropolitano Terraza or Venetian Terraza.
Day 6: Santiago (Colonial Architecture & Museums). City tour, admiring the colonial monuments of Santa Lucía Hill, La Iglesia de San Francisco and El Palacio de la Moneda; the Plaza de Armas and the Catedral Metropolitana. Lunch at Akarana. Afternoon visits to the Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino, the 19th century Palacio Cousiño and Bellavista, the Bohemian quarter, to see La Chascona, once the home of Nobel Prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda. Dine at Astrid y Gastón. Return to your hotel. Overnight in the 5-star The Aubrey -- Parque Metropolitano Terraza or Venetian Terraza.
Lake District
Intra-tour flight Santiago to Puerto Montt, Morning
Day 7: Santiago - Puerto Varas - Vicente Perez Rosales National Park. Transfer to the airport. Flight to Puerto Montt. Reception and transfer to Petrohue, in the Vicente Perez Rosales National Park. Box brunch. Morning excursion in the park, with a visit to the famous Petrohue Falls. Continue to the Hotel Petrohue, on the shores of Lake Todos los Santos, for lunch and a private ecoadventure. Horseback riding is available if requested in advance. Dinner and overnight in the 4-star Petrohue Lodge -- Superior Lake View Room.
Day 8: Petrohue - Peulla - Puerto Varas. At Petrohue Pier, the catamaran awaits to sail across Lake Todos los Santos to Peulla (September through March, Monday through Saturday only). During the navigation, enjoy the magnificent presence of the Osorno, Puntiagudo and Tronador volcanoes. Upon arrival, time for lunch at Hotel Natura and to explore the beautiful surroundings. Return to Petrohue for an early evening drive to Puerto Varas. Dinner at Mediterráneo. Overnight in the 5-star Cumbres Patagónicas -- Luxury Room.
Torres del Paine
Intra-tour flight Puerto Montt to Punta Arenas, Morning
Day 9: Puerto Varas - Punta Arenas - Puerto Natales - Torres del Paine. Transfer to the airport. Flight to Punta Arenas. The city was once the boomtown of southern Chile because of the trade passing through the Strait of Magellan. Arrival, reception, city tour and private excursion to the Torres del Paine National Park. Driving through the typical pampas steppes of Patagonia's Magellan Province, we begin to encounter distinctive fauna. After lunch at Restaurante Las Llanuras, we reach Puerto Natales. Continue to the Milodon Cave to see the remains of a giant sloth that lived 12,000 years ago. At Lake Sarmiento, we catch our first glimpse of the Paine massif. Finally, we arrive at the Cerro Guido Lodge. Dinner and overnight in the 3-star Estancia Cerro Guido -- Superior Room in The Owner's House).
Day 10: Navigation to Grey Glacier & Torres del Paine Explorations. Depart across the lake on our vessel, the Grey II, for Grey Glacier, a natural marvel of impressive dimensions and millennial age. After sailing among icebergs, each with its unique shape and color, we'll approach the glacier's front wall, which is divided in two by a central island, where we land. Lunch. In the afternoon, a private exploration of Torres del Paine, according to your preferences and the weather. Dinner and overnight in the 3-star Estancia Cerro Guido -- Superior Room in The Owner's House).
Day 11: Torres del Paine Explorations - Puerto Natales. A full-day of private explorations in the national park, visiting Lakes Pehoe, Nordenskjold and Sarmiento, glaciers and the great waterfall of Salto Grande. Box lunch. Continue to Puerto Natales. Dinner at Cormorán de Las Rocas. Overnight in the 4-star Hotel Altiplanico Puerto Natales -- Standard Room.
Santiago
Intra-tour flight Punta Arenas to Santiago, Early afternoon
Day 12: Puerto Natales - Punta Arenas - Santiago. Private excursion toward Punta Arenas, admiring the magnificent scenery and the penguin colony at Otway Sound (October to March only). Box lunch. Arrival at the airport. Flight to Santiago. Reception and transfer to your hotel. Dinner at Como Aqua para Chocolate. Overnight in the 5-star The Aubrey -- Parque Metropolitano Terraza or Venetian Terraza.
Easter Island
Intra-tour flight Santiago to Easter Island, Morning
Day 13: Santiago - Easter Island. Transfer to the airport for the flight to Easter Island. Brunch on board. Upon arrival, reception by your hosts, the Tuki Family, and transfer to the oceanfront Cabañas Mahia. Afternoon visit to the Padre Sebastian Englert Anthropological Museum to see the only intact moai eye ever found. Return to the hotel. Tonight and any night, star gazing on Easter Island is an unforgettable experience. Dinner and overnight in the 3-star Cabañas Mahia -- Oceanfront Cabaña.
Day 14: Easter Island (Ahu Akahanga - Ahu Tongariki & Rapa Nui Curanto). In the morning, view the most important of the famous Moai statues. First, we visit Ahu Akahanga, a holy place for the Rapa Nui people. According to their beliefs, the first king of this Polynesian island, Hotu a Matu'a, is buried here. Afterward, we continue to the Rano Raraku volcano, where the majority of the Moai were created, and along the north coast to Ahu Tongariki, the most important ceremonial site of Easter Island, with 15 figures. Our excursion ends at the periphery of Hanga Roa, where we prepare a traditional Rapa Nui curanto together with the Tuki Family. After having prepared this labor-intensive but wonderful dish, we enjoy it for an early dinner. Overnight in the 3-star Cabañas Mahia -- Oceanfront Cabaña.
Day 15: Easter Island (Ahu Akivi, Anakena Beach & Polynesian Customs). Today’s excursion leads us to Puna Pau, a crater of red lava rock. This rock is the material used to fabricate the "pukao", the headdresses of the Moai. From Puna Pau, we continue to Ahu Akivi – the only Moai that face the sea. Afterward, we visit Anakena Beach. In the area of Poike, near Rano Raraku, we find the caves of Hanga Tu Hata. On the coast, we collect mussels and catch fish. We prepare our catch in the traditional Polynesian way and enjoy it for lunch. Return to the hotel to relax. Dinner on your own. Overnight in the 3-star Cabañas Mahia -- Oceanfront Cabaña.
Day 16: Easter Island (Vinapu - Orongo - Ma-unga Terevaka & Traditional Dances). In the morning, an exploration of the archeological sites of Vinapu, Ana Kai Tangata and Orongo. At Vinapu, built with a technique similar to the Inca constructions in Peru, the ancestors of the island families were honoroed. Our tour continues to the Ana Kai Tangata Caves and the holy village of Orongo, where your guide will tell you the legend of the Birdman and its culture. Lunch at the hotel. This afternoon, we go to the Ma-unga Terevaka volcano on horseback for a 360° view of the biggest ocean on the planet. On the horizon, we can clearly see the curvature of the Earth. To end a day full of new experiences, your hosts will prepare a farewell dinner served in the traditional manner with rhythmic Rapa Nui dances and music. Overnight in the 3-star Cabañas Mahia -- Oceanfront Cabaña.
Intra-tour flight Easter Island to Santiago, Afternoon
Valparaiso
Day 17: Easter Island - Santiago. Breakfast. Lunch at the hotel. Transfer to the airport. As the last goodbye, a traditional necklace of small mussel shells will be placed over your head by a member of the Tuki Family. Flight to Santiago. Lunch on board. Reception and an opportunity to purchase a take-out dinner at the airport. Drive to Valparaiso, recently declared a World Heritage Site. This port town's colorful streets and picturesque houses by the sea are sure to capture the imagination of any traveller. Stay in one of the old homes on a hill overlooking the port and the ocean. Overnight in Zerohotel -- Bay View Room.
Santiago
Day 18: Valparaíso - Viña del Mar - Santiago. The picturesque layout of Valparaíso reminds us that this was once the most important maritime destination on the Pacific Coast until the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914. Visitors can admire the unusual geography from another home of Pablo Neruda, La Sebastiana. Lunch at Café Turri. To the north is Viña del Mar, Chile's most luxurious beach resort, with mansions from the early 1900s and parks of huge trees. After a drive through Viña, we wend our way to the Matetic Vineyards for wine tasting. Dinner at Aqua de Piedra before arrival at the airport for your Overnight Flight Home.
Home
Day 19: Santiago - Home. Flight and arrival home.
Details
New and old on the Plaza
de Armas, Santiago, Central Valley.
Photo: Radek Tezaur. Luxury Chile Tours & Travel.
Day 1: Flight to Santiago de Chile
International arrival this afternoon or evening in Santiago, the capital of Chile. Reception and escorted transfer to your hotel. Welcome dinner of Mediterranean cuisine by chef Jorge Morales at El Mesón Nerudiano. The architectural details and flavors are inspired by Chile's esteemed poet, Pablo Neruda. Overnight in the The Aubrey.
Huge sand dune in the
Valley of the Moon, Atacama Desert, Chile.
Photo: Richard Alleman. Luxury Chile Tours & Travel.
Day 2: Santiago - San Pedro de Atacama - Valley of the Moon
Breakfast. Morning departure to the airport for the flight to Calama. Arrival, reception and transfer to San Pedro de Atacama, an unusually colorful village, 2,440 meters above sea level and surrounded by a green oasis.
Awasi suggests a series of excursions so you can enjoy the magic of the Atacama geography, the silence of its landscape and the warmth of its people. Guests can program their outings according to their
own rhythm and particular interests, and will be accompanied by a travel companion willing to share his
knowledge of the place and his own experiences. Our wish is that every image, every road, and every memory will become an unforgettable experience. Keep in mind that these proposals are just suggestions, as all the outings may be fitted to your tastes and preferences. Some of the excursions have been planned for the last days of your stay at Awasi so that people who are not used to the altitude may gradually adapt to it.A possible excursion: Visit San Pedro, the center of a Palaeolithic civilization that built impressive rock fortresses on the steep mountains encircling the green valley. Its colonial church was constructed in 1577. The village is the center of the native culture of Atacama, where mummies and artifacts have been excavated. You can admire them in the Father Le Paige Museum. Over 4,000 skulls, innumerable mummies, weapons, stone tools and ceramic objects are on display. Close by San Pedro is Tulor, a 3,000-year-old village that evidences the earliest human habitation in the valley, and the Pukara de Quitor, a 12th century pre-Inca fortress. Lunch.
In the afternoon, go into the eerily silent landscape of the Valley of the Moon, with its backdrop of snow-capped volcanoes, and enjoy this scene during sunset. Dinner and overnight in the Awasi.
Laguna Meñiques,
Atacama Desert, Chile.
Photo: Jorge Tutor. Luxury Chile Tours & Travel.
Day 3: Toconao - Altiplano Lagoons - Atacama Salt Lake
Breakfast. A possible excursion: Start with a visit of the white volcanic stone sculptures in Toconao village, then continue to the highlands and the colorful Miscanti and Meñiques lagoons. Lunch. On the way back, proceed to the huge Atacama Salt Lake, an inland sea formed millions of years ago. It's a unique experience to view the vast plain of salt crusts formed of octagonally-shaped crystals, in the middle of the driest desert on earth. The flat emptiness here is overwhelming. At Laguna Chaxa, we may be able to observe flamingos. Dinner and overnight in the Awasi.
Valley of the Moon,
Atacama Desert, Chile.
Photo: Servicio Nacional de Turismo, Chile. Luxury Chile Tours & Travel.
Day 4: Full-Day Hike from Machuca to Rio Grande
Breakfast. A possible excursion: Depart early in the morning and drive to the village of Machuca, at an elevation of 3,400 meters. Three people are still living at this former rest place for the ancient llama caravans that traveled the "Inca Highway". It is a breathtaking place in the middle of the highland. We start our trek here -- going downhill almost the whole day -- following the Peñaliri River to reach our final destination of Rio Grande, a small village of only fifty inhabitants. Along the way, be fascinated by the changing landscape and panoramic views. Box lunch. Dinner and overnight in the Awasi.
El Tatio Geysers, Atacama
Desert, Chile.
Photo:
Jorge Tutor. Luxury Chile Tours & Travel.
Day 5: El Tatio Geysers - Pukara de Lasana - Santiago
Breakfast. A possible excursion: Early 4:00 am departure to El Tatio Geysers, a geothermal field flanked by soaring peaks. Drive toward the high Andes, across the High Plateau, crowned by the superb Putama Volcano, ascending to the geysers, at an elevation of 4,300 meters. After breakfast, hike among fumaroles, small geysers and multicolored craters. At dawn, powerful spurts of steam shoot out from various blowholes. The steaming ponds are encrusted with brilliant salt crystals, which reflect the metal-blue sky at dawn. Alongside rising columns of steam, they make a breathtaking sight. On our way back to the Calama airport, visit the typical villages of Caspana and Chiu Chiu, with Chile's oldest known church, built by the Spanish conquerors in the 16th century. Continue to the Indian Cemetery, where mummies' bones have been kept intact by chuca, dry desert dust, for over 20 centuries. Following the Lao Riverbed, visit the partially rebuilt Pukara de Lasana, a 12th century fortress. Lunch. Transfer to the Calama airport for the flight to Santiago. Dine on Chilean fusion cuisine by chef Don Vicente Gómez at the bohemian El Caramaño. Overnight in the The Aubrey.
Atacama Desert.
Photo: Miranda Loh. Luxury Chile Tours & Travel.
Day 6: Santiago (Colonial Architecture & Museums)
Breakfast. Begin a cultural tour of the city by heading west on the Alameda, the main avenue, to the lavishly landscaped Santa Lucía Hill, where Santiago was founded on behalf of the Spanish crown by Pedro de Valdivia in 1540. Pass the 16th century La Iglesia de San Francisco and the 18th century El Palacio de la Moneda (originally the Royal Mint) on your way toward the old neighborhoods of Santiago. Afterward, cross Santiago's Plaza de Armas or main square, which dates back to 1541 and is surrounded by historic structures, notably the 18th century Catedral Metropolitana. Lunch at Akarana. Afternoon visits to the Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino, the 19th century Palacio Cousiño and Bellavista, the Bohemian quarter, to see La Chascona, once the home of Nobel Prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda. Dine on the gourmet fusion cuisine of chefs Gastón Acurio and Astrid Gutsche at Astrid y Gastón. Return to your hotel. Overnight in the The Aubrey.
Osorno Volcano and Petrohue
Falls, Lake District, Chile.
Photo: Radek Tezaur. Luxury Chile Tours & Travel.
Day 7: Santiago - Puerto Varas - Vicente Perez Rosales National Park
Breakfast. Early morning transfer to the airport for the flight to Puerto Montt. Arrival, reception and a drive to Petrohue. On the way, we pass through Puerto Varas. The "City of the Roses" is located on Lake Llanquihue, Chile's largest, with the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes reflected in its clear waters. We proceed east along the lake shore to Enseñada, just after which the Vicente Perez Rosales National Park begins. Box brunch. Morning excursion in the park, with a visit to the famous Petrohue Falls. Continue to the Hotel Petrohue, on the shores of Lake Todos los Santos, for lunch and a private eco-adventure. Horseback riding is available if requested in advance. Dinner and overnight in the Petrohue Lodge.
Petrohue Waterfall,
Lake District, Chile.
Photo: Servicio Nacional de Turismo, Chile. Luxury Chile Tours & Travel.
Day 8: Petrohue - Peulla - Puerto Varas
Breakfast. At Petrohue Pier, the catamaran awaits to sail across Lake Todos los Santos, also called "Emerald Lake" due to its deep green colors (September through March, Monday through Saturday only). During the navigation you can enjoy the magnificent presence of the Osorno, Puntiagudo and Tronador volcanoes. Upon arrival in Peulla, at the eastern end of the lake, time for lunch at Hotel Natura and to explore the beautiful surroundings, including a rainforest walk to the Cascada de la Novia waterfall. Return to Petrohue for an early evening drive to Puerto Varas. Dinner of Chilean-Mediterranean fusion cuisine by chef José Luis Corces at Mediterráneo. Overnight in the Cumbres Patagónicas.
Riders, Torres del Paine,
Patagonia.
Photo:
Radek Tezaur. Luxury Chile Tours & Travel.
Patagonia's Magellan Province & Torres del Paine
Day 9: Puerto Varas - Punta Arenas - Puerto Natales - Torres del Paine
Breakfast. Early transfer to the airport for the flight to Punta Arenas. The city was once the boomtown of southern Chile because of the trade passing through the Strait of Magellan, a passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific discovered in 1520 by Ferdinand Magellan during his search for a western route to the Spice Islands (India, Ceylon and the Moluccas). Punta Arenas is still filled with buildings erected in its glory days -- mansions now converted to hotels and government buildings. An important visit will be the Museo Regional Salesiano, a collection gathered by Salesian monks in the early days of European exploration and colonization. It covers what little is known about the former residents of this far-off land, in addition to exhibits on local flora and fauna. Arrival, reception, city tour and private excursion to the Torres del Paine National Park.
Grey Glacier, Torres
del Paine, Patagonia, Chile.
Photo: Radek Tezaur. Luxury Chile Tours & Travel.
Driving through the typical pampas steppes of Patagonia's Magellan Province, we begin to encounter distinctive fauna -- the native ostrich, called the ñandu, black-necked swans, flocks of flamingos, condors and eagles. After lunch at Restaurante Las Llanuras, we reach the picturesque city of Puerto Natales, situated on the banks of the Bay of Ultima Esperanza, or Last Hope. Continue to the Milodon Cave to see the remains of a giant sloth that lived there around 12,000 years ago. After the border crossing at Cerro Castillo, look up to the sky -- we are entering condor territory. As we get closer to the park, we see the first guanacos, which will accompany us for the next few hours.
At Lake Sarmiento, we catch our first glimpse of the Paine massif. Driving along the shore of Lake Nordenskjold, we have magnificent views of the Paine massif before visiting the administration center to get a better idea of the national park. Finally, we arrive at the Cerro Guido Lodge. In 1905, German pioneers as well as others of British, French, Chilean and Spanish nationality formed large sheep ranches in the territory of Ultima Esperanza. These "estancias" made it possible for Chile to establish sovereignty over one of the most attractive and rich areas of Patagonia. Cerro Guido Lodge was developed by the owners of the Estancia Cerro Guido in order to preserve the estancia's historical patrimony and traditions. It continues to be a fully functioning farm with some 220,000 acres and 50,000 sheep. The estancia has conserved the English style and structures which characterized its first years in the early 1900s. Any modernization carried out has not affected the taste of that era. Dinner and overnight in the Estancia Cerro Guido.
Navigation to Grey Glacier,
with boat in distance, Torres del Paine, Patagonia, Chile.
Photo: Radek
Tezaur. Luxury Chile Tours & Travel.
Day 10: Navigation to Grey Glacier & Torres del Paine Explorations
Breakfast. This morning, we arrive at the Grey Peninsula, where a walk along the beach at Grey Lake allows us to see the Grey Glacier. At the beach, in a primordial scene, huge blocks of ice are stranded like battleships run aground. We depart across the lake on our vessel, Grey II, for the glacier, a natural marvel of impressive dimensions and millennial age, that constitutes the end of the Southern Ice Field. Weighing anchor from the pier and after sailing for a half-hour among icebergs, each with its unique shape and color, we'll approach the glacier's front wall, which is divided in two by a central island, where we land. Here, it is possible to appreciate the glacier's true magnitude and its apparent infinitude of crevasses.
Lunch. In the afternoon, your guide will arrange a private exploration of Torres del Paine according to your preferences and the weather. Choose among hiking, trekking or a 4 x 4 excursion. Horseback riding and kayaking are available at additional cost. Dinner and overnight in the Estancia Cerro Guido.
Salto Grande, Torres
del Paine, Patagonia, Chile.
Photo: Claudio Almarza. Luxury Chile Tours & Travel.
Day 11: Torres del Paine Explorations - Puerto Natales
Breakfast. A full-day of private explorations in the national park; visiting Lakes Pehoe, Nordenskjold and Sarmiento, glaciers and the great waterfall of Salto Grande, ever under the enchanting gaze of the Paine mountain range and the incredible, vertical spires of the Torres del Paine. Box lunch. Continue to Puerto Natales. Dinner by chef Alexis Paredes at Cormorán de Las Rocas. Overnight in the Hotel Altiplanico Puerto Natales.
Torres del Paine, Patagonia,
Chile.
Photo:
Radek Tezaur. Luxury Chile Tours & Travel.
Day 12: Puerto Natales - Punta Arenas - Santiago
Breakfast. Depart on a scenic private excursion toward Punta Arenas, admiring the magnificent scenery and the penguin colony at Otway Sound (October to March only). Box lunch. Upon reaching the airport, board the flight to Santiago. Arrival, reception and transfer to your hotel. A dinner of creative Latino cuisine by chef Raúl Yévenes at Como Aqua para Chocolate. Overnight in the The Aubrey.
Moai at Rano Raraku, Easter Island.
Photo: Cliff Wassmann. Luxury Chile Tours & Travel.
Authentic Easter Island...
This unique cultural program presents a personal insight into the history, traditions and beliefs of the Rapa Nui people of Easter Island. The Tuki Family, one of the oldest and most important families on the island, will not only show you the archeological sites but allow you to take part in their daily life. We will experience authentic activities, ceremonies and cuisine as we explore the Polynesian world of earlier centuries.
Rano Raraku caldera, Easter Island.
Photo: Cliff Wassmann. Luxury Chile Tours & Travel.
Day 13: Santiago - Easter Island
Early transfer to the airport for the flight from Santiago to Easter Island, or Rapa Nui, as it was called by the natives. Brunch on board. Upon arrival, you will be welcomed with a flower necklace, or lei, and receive an introduction into island customs and traditions by your hosts, the Tuki Family. Enjoy a welcome drink with them after transfer to the oceanfront Cabañas Mahia in Hanga Roa, the capital. Afternoon visit to the Padre Sebastian Englert Anthropological Museum to see the only intact moai eye ever found. It is carved from white coral and has a red scoria pupil. Most of the other artifacts are reproductions of originals that were removed from the island. Return to the hotel. Tonight and any night, star gazing on Easter Island is an unforgettable experience. Bring your handbook of the Southern constellations. Dinner and overnight in the Cabañas Mahia.
Statue on slope of Rano Raraku, Easter Island.
Photo: Cliff Wassmann. Luxury Chile Tours & Travel.
Easter Island, or Rapa Nui, is an open-air, archaeological museum of a fascinating but vanished culture, a stark lesson in what can happen when humans fail to live in harmony with nature. We still do not know for sure how or why the first inhabitants carved, transported and raised their monolithic stone statues, or why the "moai" gaze inland instead of out to sea. But, as you walk with your private guide, you can contemplate the enigma of almost 900 mysterious idols created over a period of five centuries by a civilization that later tried to destroy them.
Day 14: Easter Island (Ahu Akahanga - Ahu Tongariki & Rapa Nui Curanto)
Breakfast. In the morning, we depart to view the most important of the famous Moai statues. First, we visit Ahu Akahanga, approximately 13 kilometers from Hanga Roa, on the south coast of the island. This ceremonial center is a holy place for the Rapa Nui people. According to their beliefs, the first king of this Polynesian island, Hotu a Matu'a, is buried here. Afterward, we continue to the Rano Raraku volcano, where the majority of the Moai were created, and along the north coast to Ahu Tongariki, the most important ceremonial site of Easter Island, with 15 figures. The tallest one is 14-meters high, including his pukao (headdress). Our excursion ends at the periphery of Hanga Roa, where we prepare a traditional Rapa Nui curanto together with the Tuki Family. Nowadays, curanto, a variety of seafood and vegetables cooked on hot rocks and covered with banana leaves, is a typical food on Chiloé Island, as well, which supports the theory that there was an early Polynesian settlement there. After having prepared this labor-intensive but wonderful dish, we enjoy it for an early dinner, and celebrate a small ceremony for success on our travel days to come. Overnight in the Cabañas Mahia.
Erected moai with red lava rock headdress, called pukao, Easter Island.
Photo: Cliff Wassmann. Luxury Chile Tours & Travel.
Day 15: Easter Island (Ahu Akivi, Anakena Beach & Polynesian Customs)
Breakfast. Today’s excursion leads us to Puna Pau, a crater of red lava rock, approximately 15 kilometers from Hanga Roa. This rock is the material used to fabricate the "pukao", the headdresses of the Moai. From Puna Pau, we continue to Ahu Akivi – the only Moai that face the sea. According to legend, these seven Moai represent the first seven settlers who arrived on the island, sent by King Hotu Matu'a before his own travel. Afterward, we visit Anakena Beach, famous for its warm turquoise waters and coral sand.
In the area of Poike, near Rano Raraku, we find the caves of Hanga Tu Hata. On the coast, we collect mussels and catch fish in the way that the Rapa Nui people did in this place for centuries. Along with the Tuki Family, we prepare our catch in the traditional Polynesian way, roasted on a fire, which is covered with stones. Together, we enjoy a lunch of the food that we hunted and prepared ourselves. Return to the hotel to relax. Dinner on your own at the Cabañas Mahia or a five-minute walk away at Hetu´u, Au Bout de Monde or Aringa Ora. Overnight in the Cabañas Mahia.
Ahu Vinapu, Easter Island.
Photo: Cliff Wassmann. Luxury Chile Tours & Travel.
To the many mysteries of Easter Island, or Rapa Nui, add one more: Inca oral history tells of a voyage to the west by Inca king Tupac Yupanqui. The precisely carved and fitted stone walls at Ahu Vinapu may evidence that visit. Other mysteries are revealed in Nova's Secrets of Easter Island.
Day 16: Easter Island (Vinapu - Orongo - Ma-unga Terevaka & Traditional Dances)
Breakfast. In the morning, depart for the exploration of the archeological sites of Vinapu, Ana Kai Tangata and Orongo. Vinapu is located about 8 kilometers from Hanga Roa on the southwest coast. Here, the ancestors of the island families were honoroed. We will have sufficient time to examine the three Ahus in detail, which have been built with a technique similar to the Inca constructions in Peru.
Our tour continues to the Ana Kai Tangata Caves, on the cliffs south of Hanga Roa, near the village of Mataveri. Here, we find the wall paintings of Manutara, a sea swallow, whose egg was the object of the traditional Birdman competition. This competition took place at the border of the holy village of Orongo, which we will visit afterward. Your guide will tell you the legend of the Birdman and its culture and show you the petroglyphs with images of Tanga Mau (birdman), Make Make (the god that created him) and Komari (fertility symbol). This site looks out over the three island rookeries -- Motu Nui, Moto Kau and Moto Iti. Lunch at the hotel.
This afternoon, we go to the Ma-unga Terevaka volcano on horseback. At 512 meters of elevation, it is the highest point on the island. From the top, there is a 360° view of the biggest ocean on the planet. On the horizon, we can clearly see the curvature of the Earth.
To end a day full of new experiences, your hosts will prepare a farewell dinner. Freshly-picked fruits and delicious local dishes will be served in the traditional manner. As usual during family visits and according to custom, there will a presentation of rhythmic Rapa Nui dances and music. Overnight in the Cabañas Mahia.
Birdman petrogylphs at Orango, Easter Island.
Photo: Cliff Wassmann. Luxury Chile Tours & Travel.Day 17: Easter Island - Santiago - Valparaiso
Breakfast. Transfer to the airport. As the last goodbye, a traditional necklace of small mussel shells will be placed over your head by a member of the Tuki Family. Flight to Santiago. Lunch on board. Arrival, reception and an opportunity to purchase a take-out dinner at the airport. Drive to Valparaiso, recently declared a World Heritage Site. This port town's colorful streets and picturesque houses by the sea are sure to capture the imagination of any traveller. Stay in one of the old homes on a hill overlooking the port and the ocean. Overnight in the Zerohotel.
Funicular railway, Valparaíso, Chile.
Photo: Paula Moya. Luxury Chile Tours & Travel.Day 18: Valparaíso - Viña del Mar - Santiago
Breakfast. The picturesque layout of Valparaíso, enhanced by the surrounding hills that seem to dive into the sea, remind us that this was once the most important maritime destination on the Pacific Coast until the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914. We will visit the downtown's Government House, Plaza Sotomayor, Plaza Victoria, Valparaíso Cathedral and the historic Port District. Afterward, we will discover the colorful hill neighborhoods. Here, high above the city, there is a fantastic agglomeration of brightly painted houses and a fantastic view over the city. The upper and lower parts of the city are connected with 16 funicular railways constructed around the turn of the century, when the Valparaíso experienced tremendous growth.
Visitors can admire the unusual geography from another home of Pablo Neruda, situated on a spectacular site on one of the many hillsides. Called La Sebastiana in honor of its builder, the architect Sebastian Collado, and described by Neruda as "a place to live and write in peace", the poet shared the house with his great friends, Francisco Velasco and Maria Martner. You can see Martner's mural made of colored stones, based on an old map of Antarctica and Patagonia, as you go up the stairs to the main part of the building. A guided tour gives a greater insight into Neruda's life and passions.
To the north along the coastline of the bay is Viña del Mar, Chile's most luxurious beach resort, with mansions from the early 1900s and parks of huge trees that gave it the well deserved name of "The Garden City". After a drive through Viña, we wend our way back to Santiago. In the Rosario Valley, one of Chile's wine regions, is the prominent Matetic Vineyards, where we will enjoy some of its wines. A dinner of traditional Chilean cuisine at Aqua de Piedra before arrival at the airport for your Overnight Flight Home.
Day 19: Santiago - Home
Flight and arrival home.
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