Upon arrival into Santiago and after clearing immigration and customs, you will be met by a Luxury Trips representative and transferred to your hotel. After settling into your hotel, you will be picked up for a half day private guided city tour.

This morning, you will be picked up from your hotel for a full day private guided tour of the Maipo Wine Valley, inclusive of tastings.

You will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Calama, gateway to the Atacama Desert region in Northern Chile.

Upon arrival into Calama, you will be met at the airport by staff of explora Atacama and transferred to the lodge.

Continue with your 3-night explora Atacama program.

explora Atacama offers over 40 different explorations, on foot, horseback or by bicycle; a couple of hours to a full day, gentle or more physically demanding. The series of explorations including treks, horseback rides, cycling explorations, high-mountain climbs and stargazing sessions will enable you to discover the ancient culture of Atacama, its singular wildlife, and get to know in-depth the natural landscapes of this vast terrain: from the brown of the Andean Mountains and volcanos, to the white of the salt flats and the green of the oases. More extensive explorations include open-air picnics.

San Pedro de Atacama is located at an altitude of 8,202 feet above sea level. The explorations, planned to enable your body to gradually become accustomed to the altitude, can take you to heights of between 13,123 feet and 14,764 feet above sea level and if you wish, even further on the high-mountain climbs. Explorations are safe and made up of groups with a maximum of 8 people, all accompanied by an expert bilingual guide. All guides speak excellent Spanish and English and some also speak French and German. The guides have substantial knowledge of the area and all have Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification, which guarantees that they have the expertise and skills necessary to provide assistance to people in remote places.

Every evening, one of the guides will meet with you in the bar/living room area of the hotel to tell you about the explorations planned for the following day and help you with the difficult task of choosing the best exploration for you (according to your interests and abilities) out of the 7 to 14 different options, all of them exciting.

INCLUDED EXCURSIONS

Treks:

Trekking makes it possible for you to contemplate your surroundings in an unhurried and meaningful way. It also means you are more likely to meet and talk with the descendants of the ancient Atacameño culture than you would be with other forms of exploration. On foot, it is possible to get to places which would otherwise be inaccessible, whether through labyrinths of rocky formations or narrow gorges and ravines by which you descend to the very center of this land. explora Atacama offers an array of different and amazing Atacama Desert travel treks which will enable you to get to know the people descended from ancient cultures, salt flats, geysers, archaeological sites and the diverse wildlife of the area. These treks can take you to altitudes of between 8,202 feet and 14,764 feet. An effort is always made to adjust to the rhythm of each person, enjoying each step of the journey.

Horseback Rides:

Because of the altitude and climate of this area, horses have not been part of traditional Atacameño culture. It took special efforts for explora Atacama to introduce horses to this area and create the right conditions for them. Walking, trotting or galloping along the dunes, valleys and plains will enable you to appreciate the contrasts in landscapes, forms and colors of this extensive area. explora Atacama offers a variety different horseback rides, on horses that have been specially trained for explorations. On this incredible Atacama travel adventure, horses, equipment and routes suitable for those who are new to riding as well as children and expert riders are provided. There is also a basic course offered for those who wish to learn to ride. The equipment used is of the highest quality: Chilean saddles, handmade by a master craftsman; British saddles; Argentine leather chaps; and helmets.

Cycling Trips:

Cycling makes it possible to travel longer distances and experience the contrast between the different ecosystems of Atacama. For instance, you can cycle from the green of the oases through the brown of the mountains to the white of the salt flats, all in one journey. In a few hours, the landscape can really change radically. By taking advantage of Atacama’s altitude with inclines of varying lengths, cycling explorations will enable you to get to know different aspects of this area. explora Atacama offers several explorations by mountain bike. Most of the routes are moderate to difficult, but there are also some for more experienced cyclists. On this great travel adventure in Atacama, all the necessary equipment to ensure full enjoyment and safety is provided: Cannondale bicycles with front shock absorbers, helmets and gloves. It is strongly recommend using sunglasses, closed-toe tennis or lightweight hiking shoes, and sunscreen.

Stargazing:

The clear skies of Atacama, considered the best in the Southern Hemisphere for astronomy, offer exceptional observation of the firmament and celestial bodies. Your exploration of the sky begins at night with an introductory talk outdoors. Continue to the observatory to contemplate in detail the constellations of stars, planets and galaxies through a powerful telescope, equipped with advanced optics for excellent resolution and clarity. Because of Earth’s movement and rotation, celestial bodies appear at different times depending on the time of year. Thus, during each part of the year, and depending on which Atacama tour you take, you may observe different stars, nebulae, clusters and galaxies.

PLEASE NOTE: The itineraries can experience modifications at any time and without prior notice. The explorations are grouped by elevation and activity in order to safely acclimatize the body to the altitude accordingly. Please make sure to speak to an explora guide daily to know the exact explorations being offered.

Continue with your 3-night explora Atacama program.

End your 3-night explora Atacama program. You will be transferred back to Calama airport by explora for your for your flight to Santiago, connecting to Temuco. On arrival, you are met and transferred to Pucon, gateway to the Lake District Region of Northern Chile’s Patagonia.

Upon arrival into Temuco, you will be met by a representative of Hacienda Hotel Vira Vira and transferred to their Hacienda Hotel in Pucon. Drive time is about 1 ¼ hours.

Commence your 4-night Hacienda Hotel Vira Vira program.

Your stay will be an unforgettable experience filled with daily excursions such as horseback riding, trekking or a stunning ascension to the Volcano. Daily excursions and activities tailored to your individual needs and preferences are included. Your stay is also inclusive of all meals; all beverages including a large selection of premium beers and carefully selected wines from Chile (excludes premium wines and liquors).

Continue with your 4-night Hacienda Hotel Vira Vira program.

Continue enjoying the excursions and activities included at your hotel. Please note that excursions are arranged based on your personal preference, expected weather conditions, availability and seasonality. Please understand that not all excursions and activities are available at all times. Some activities are carried out by trusted and experienced partners, others will be arranged and conducted by the hotels our own staff. Your excursion manager will coordinate and set the daily excursions with you. Once back from your excursions, relax at our bar, enjoy a discussion with one of our experienced tour guides or simply indulge in a fantastic dinner at the hotels gourmet restaurant.

Continue with your 4-night Hacienda Hotel Vira Vira program, enjoying the excursions and activities included at your hotel.

Continue with your 4-night Hacienda Hotel Vira Vira program, enjoying the excursions and activities included at your hotel.

Continue with your 4-night Hacienda Hotel Vira Vira program, enjoying a final morning for explorations.

End your 4-night Hacienda Hotel Vira Vira program. This, afternoon, you will be transferred to Temuco for your flight to Santiago. On arrival, connect with your flight to your onward destination.