Chile: Patagonia & the Atacama

Santiago is finally coming into its own with an exciting emerging food scene with strong focus on local recipes and endemic ingredients, as well as diverse neighborhoods that show off the true charm and character of its people. Its proximity to the Andes mountains means you can easily enjoy outdoor adventure and the closest vineyards for tours and tastings are only 30 minutes away.

You will be greeted on arrival by a representative and escorted from the international airport to your first property, The Singular Santiago. After settling in, enjoy sunset cocktails on the rooftop bar, with panoramic views across the city and distant mountains.

Immerse yourself in the unique flavors of Chilean cuisine as you embark on a culinary adventure through Santiago’s vibrant markets. Chile’s food is defined by its fresh native ingredients grown across a diverse landscape.

Learn about Chilean culture and cuisine and its influences while trying local favorites at the markets, including empanadas, cazuela, and seafood prepared according to your taste.

After the market exploration, you will venture to the bohemian neighborhood of Lastarria, where a delightful tasting awaits. Indulge in the flavors of four wines or craft beers expertly paired with delicious local snacks, and for a sweet finale, savor artisanal ice cream.

Patagonia is wild, barren and beautiful. Here, the sky is big and there is more wide-open space than many travelers have ever seen. Patagonia’s jagged peaks, including the spectacular sights of El Calafate and El Chaltén, pristine rivers and dusty backwater oases, make for a fabulous playground for outdoor adventures.

Your residence is Awasi Patagonia hotel, consisting of only twelve traditionally-inspired villas within a private reserve. Each villa is positioned in such a way as to ensure the utmost privacy while offering the best views of the forest, Lake Sarmiento, and Torres del Paine. The spacious accommodations come equipped with a hot tub, wood-burning stove and seating areas to ensure you have ample opportunities to relax upon returning from each day’s excursions.

During your days at Awasi you will have a four-wheel drive vehicle and a private guide at your disposal, offering excursions that best suit your preferences and interests, whether they be hiking, stargazing, wine tasting or more.

You may choose between full-day excursions with lunch included (from four to six hours) or two half-day excursions (between two and five hours), returning to Awasi for lunch between each excursion.

The Patagonia region is celebrated for its stunning natural beauty. Spanning 935 square miles (2,420km²), Torres del Paine National Park showcases towering mountains, glaciers, pristine lakes, and endemic wildlife.

Today’s excursion caters to those eager to explore Torres del Paine without strenuous hikes, covering a seven-hour four-wheel drive route. Paine Lookouts provide access to key viewpoints, revealing Torres del Paine’s breathtaking landscapes. Starting in the park’s eastern sector, the journey follows the turquoise Paine River, leading to Salto Grande, where Lake Nordenskjold cascades into Lake Pehoé against the Cuernos del Paine backdrop. Further stops include views of Nordenskjold and Sarmiento Lakes as the Patagonian steppe unfolds. Wildlife sightings might include guanacos, foxes, and numerous bird species. The route concludes at Cascada Paine, offering a distant view of the Torres del Paine peaks, weather permitting.

The tour concludes at Laguna Azul, where you will enjoy a picnic with a beautiful view bathed in absolute tranquility, before returning to Awasi.

A short walk begins your tour, arriving at the pier located at the end of Grey Beach, where you will board a catamaran for today’s excursion.

Once onboard, a one-hour journey takes you to the eastern face of the glacier. The lake has a gray color due to the amount of glacier sediments, and you will see  intense blue icebergs floating along the way. After visiting the eastern face of the glacier, which measures three quarters of a mile (1.2km) wide with walls that average 100 to 130 feet (30-40m) high, you will continue towards the western face, which averages 2.25 miles (3.6km) wide.

The shape and appearance in this area are far more dramatic due to the greater pressure exerted by the central current of this great “frozen river”; fissures, caves, and waterfalls of deep blue hues will delight you with their impressive form and color.

Today begins with a transfer to the Millahue Valley, lying 100 miles (160km) south of Santiago.

Situated between the Andes and Costal mountain ranges, this spectacular region is world-renowned for its superb wines. Settling into Clos Apalta hotel, you may wish to take the afternoon at leisure or head straight to the vineyards for a tour and wine tasting.

In addition to private wine tours, the region also offers a visit to Museo Colchagua, hiking and mountain biking through the vineyards and forest.

Prepare for a delightful day of exploration and discover the allure of one of Chile’s most prized wine valleys. The Colchagua Valley is an icon of wine production in Chile, offering first-class wineries whose traditions have been cultivated through the centuries.

Enjoy a day in the valley and taste the award-winning wines for which the region is famous, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Carménère, Syrah, and Malbec.

The first stop is a boutique winery where you’ll explore beautiful vineyards and taste some of their delicious wines. The journey continues to the internationally renowned Montes Winery. Relax and sample some of their top-tier wines, and meander through picturesque vineyards, taking in stunning panoramic views of the Apalta Valley.

This experience concludes with a delectable three-course meal at the acclaimed Fuegos de Apalta restaurant. Nestled amidst the vineyards and enclosed in glass, the restaurant offers a truly enchanting setting with expansive views of the Montes vineyards.

Enjoy a more sedate day with an intimate cooking class hosted at your hotel, Clos Apalta.

Inspired by local produce and traditional ingredients and flavors, this enchanting class will introduce you to authentic Chilean dishes, with insightful tuition and tales shared by your chef.

Enjoy a full-day wine tour to Cachapoal Valley.

Uncover the charms of the Cachapoal Valley, one of the best-known regions for producing some of the country’s finest red wines. Discover its magnificent landscapes at the foot of the Andes mountains and tour its colorful orchards. Explore two wineries, with a delicious lunch provided, complemented by a selection of fine wines expertly paired by the resident sommelier.

Today you will return to Santiago for your transfer to the Atacama Desert and your final residence, Nayara Alto Atacama Lodge and Spa.

Sandwiched between the Pacific and the Andes, Chile’s remote Atacama Desert offers a landscape like nowhere else on Earth. From jagged, rust-colored ravines, to the endless white salt pans, the terrain is as extreme as it is beautiful.

Your hotel is located in the Catarpe Valley of the Salt Mountain Range, just over a mile from the plaza of San Pedro. Enveloped in its natural surroundings, the property’s design was influenced by local village architecture and conceived to blend seamlessly into its environment. It appears as a part of the terracotta-colored ridge that rises behind it.

All of the spacious rooms at the lodge are furnished with everything a guest could need and offer enchanting views of the natural environment. The Alto Atacama seeks to open a traveler’s eyes, to explore, to feel, to connect, and to return revitalized and changed by a truly authentic experience one will never forget.

There is no shortage of ways to stay active at Alto Atacama. Together with your guide, you are free to choose which of the thirty-plus activities appeal to you and create a plan tailored to your desires.

Your day may be packed with discovery and exploration or relaxation in the comfort of your lodge. Options may include cultural excursions to explore the first traces of human activity in the area, dating back more than 10,000 years; contemplative excursions to allow a deep immersion into the diverse topography, nature, and culture of the Atacama Desert; nocturnal astronomical excursions to connect with the universe in the sparkling night skies above the Atacama; or adventure excursions including walking and biking in the desert.

Witness the unparalleled beauty of the Atacama Desert from above during a sunrise hot-air balloon flight. You will be met at your hotel and transferred before dawn to the launch site where the team will welcome you upon arrival with a warm drink.

After the balloons are inflated, step aboard and prepare for take-off. For the next hour, gracefully glide through the sky, taking in incredible views as the breathtaking wonders of the Atacama Desert unfold below. Marvel at the mesmerising hues of the dawning sky as the sun’s golden light gradually illuminates the vast landscape, casting vibrant shades on the rugged terrain, ancient salt flats, and distant mountain ranges.

The flight lasts between 45 minutes and one hour. Celebrate your return to ground level with a glass of sparkling wine, accompanied by cookies made with flavorful local ingredients.

Your day of leisure may be filled with whatever activities you wish.

For the adventurous, walking or mountain bike guided tours will take you into the wilderness, exploring the extraordinary topography and historical archeological sites.

You may wish to simply lounge by the pool, taking in your majestic surroundings, or indulge in one of the many spa offerings.

Today you will be transferred by road from your hotel to Calama Airport for your flight to Santiago.

This afternoon, you will enjoy a half-day Santiago city tour. Santiago combines traditional colonial history with enthusiastic modernity, offering visitors a chance to see a fascinating, often astonishing, mix of architecture from different eras.

Your guide will pick you up at the airport and will drive you to the main cultural and historical sites in Santiago: Plaza de Armas, the classically Baroque cathedral, and the stunning facades of La Moneda (the presidential palace) and Ex Congress. You will walk down the main pedestrian streets in the city center and be able to choose between visiting the Cerro Santa Lucía, the Museo Arte Precolombino, Bellavista district or Cerro San Cristóbal.

At the end of the tour, you will be taken back to the airport for your flight home.