Wonders of Chilean Deserts & Patagonia

On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

You will be transferred from your hotel to the airport for your flight to Calama (flight NOT INCLUDED in the trip price). On arrival you are met and transferred to San Pedro de Atacama +/- 2 hours away.

En route you will visit Moon Valley.

After leaving the main highway a good dirt road of about 19 kilometers (12 miles), takes you to the Salt Mountain Range, one of the main attractions in this pre-Andean oasis.

Within this mountain range, between the Andes and Domeyko, we find the ''Dinosaur Valley'' or ''Death Valley'' full of interesting stories and large sand dunes for some fun sandboarding.

Visit ''Moon Valley'', previously called Las Salinas because of its mining past, where you will have the opportunity to learn about the canyons formed by water erosion millions of years ago, while rock salt, selenite, and clay will show you the essence of the Moon Valley.

Visit the Central Crater to have a better view of the valley, the amphitheater and, of course, great photo opportunities. You then move onto visit the Three Marys, a geological formation named so by famous Father Gustavo Le Paige many years ago.

Finally, from the Kari lookout, one of the highest in the Salt Mountain Range, you have an amazing vantage point to watch the sun set over the valley - creating a stunning vista and pallet of colors.

You are then transferred to your hotel.

Today head to one of the many salt flats in the region - Salar de Atacama and Toconao town.

First visit ''Gran Salar de Atacama'', a white and rough surface where shallow lagoons are home to a large number of flamingos that choose this water as a nesting place, allowing you to observe these wonderful birds. Geological studies consider this salar flat as the most important reserve of lithium of the planet.

You then visit one of the local towns Toconao, where you can appreciate an original architecture made of Liparita stone, highlighted by the local church. Walk the streets and meet the local people who dedicate their days to handicrafts in fine wool. You can buy a souvenir if you wish.

Return to your hotel.

A very early rise as you head to the Tatio Geysers.

Located at 4,300 meters above sea level - steam fumaroles, which reach 50 meters in height, mix with the imposing beauty of the Andes. Enjoy an exquisite breakfast prepared in an around the Geysers.

The drive back to to San Pedro de Atacama offers vistas of copper-colored lands, incredibly blue and clear skies, sparse but beautiful vegetation where vicunas move and live, the lone culpeo fox and variety of birds. Continue to the village of Machuca, a place of shepherds of ancestral llamas, llareta and sulphur extraction. Local products such as Andean crafts, llama meat, sopaipillas and empanadas are all on offer.

After breakfast you are transferred to Calama for your flight to Santiago (flight NOT INCLUDED in the trip price) On arrival you head out on a city tour.

Discover Santiago, a cosmopolitan city which has become one of South America's most modern hubs.

Described by the international media as a surprising destination, Santiago stands out for being a cosmopolitan and modern city that perfectly combines its traditions with a modern outlook.

The tour will take you to visit the heart of the city and its emblematic sites such as the Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral, Santiago's Central Postal Office and its Municipality. We will also visit the Moneda Palace, which is the government's headquarters as well as the traditional neighborhoods of the historic city center.

The tour also includes a visit to the Santa Lucia hill, named Huelen by the natives. It is a real urban oasis in the center of the city. There we will learn more about Chile's history and enjoy some of the best views in the city. After knowing Santiago, we will arrive to Barrio Lastarria, famous by it cultural, inherited and gastronomical offer.

The second part of the tour will take you to the eastern side of the city, to the financial heart of Santiago, known for its modern buildings, impressive glass skyscrapers and its impressive sculptures designed by prominent national architects. There, you will see exactly why this area is known as "Sanhattan" among the locals.

At the end of the day you are transferred back to your hotel.

Known as the ''Garden City'', for originally being surrounded by largely green areas and for now preserving its extensive and beautiful urban gardens, with the Pacific Ocean as its backdrop, Vina del Mar is undoubtedly one of Chile's unmissable destinations.

Vina del Mar stands out for its beautiful architecture, its impressive palaces and famous Flower Clock, photographed by tourists from all over the world. During the tour, you will have the option to have lunch in one of the numerous restaurants in the city, with a variety of delicious sea food on offer.

Travel along the sea front, and enjoy the views of the Pacific Ocean, before arriving at the most important ports in Chile; Valparaiso. It was listed as a Unesco World Heritage site thanks to its colorful beauty and the uniqueness of its location on the hills, which create a natural Amphitheatre with the ocean as its stage. Then visit Cerro Alegre, where you can truly appreciate the magic of the city, with its picturesque funiculars, multi-colored neighborhoods and unforgettable sea views.

You then head to the Sotomayor Square, to see the Monument of the Heroes of Iquique. Once in the port, there will be the option to take a boat out around Valparaiso's bay to enjoy the views of the colorful hills from a different perspective.

You are transferred from your hotel for your flight to Patagonia. (flight is NOT INCLUDED in the trip price).

On arrival in to Punta Arenas you are met and transferred by bus to Puerto Natales (+/- 3 hours) upon arrival you will be transferred to the hotel.

Today you drive to the famed Torres del Paine National Park.

En route you visit the Milodon Cave, one of the most important paleontological sites in South America, consisting of three caves where remains of ''milodones'', extinct prehistoric herbivorous mammals of great size have been discovered.

Then continue to Torres del Paine National Park, considered by many amongst the most beautiful spots on the planet. Enjoy magnificent views of Laguna Sofia, the Cordillera Prat, Lake Porteno, among other places.

A short walk will take you to a point where you can see the Cuernos del Paine, the famed granite towers of the park before continuing to Lake Gray. After a tasty lunch (not included), head to the viewpoint of Lake Nordenskiold and then visit the Laguna Amarga.

Return early evening to Puerto Natales.

Today is free to wander the quaint tow of Puerto Natales or journey back into Torres del Paine (extra costs for a return trip to Torres del Paine)

After breakfast you are transferred to the bus station for your return bus transfer to Punta Arenas to connect with your flight back to Santiago (flight NOT INCLUDED in the trip price)