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Chile Tours - Chile Spectacular
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| Details | | Festival Tours | | Offer valid through 12/31/2008 | | | Day | Destination | Description | | Day 1 | Santiago | SANTIAGO
Arrival to Santiago International Airport where you are met by our local English speaking guide and transferred to your hotel. Morning at leisure; and then in the afternoon, guided city tour of this European style cosmopolitan capital city including historic La Moneda, Plaza de Armas, Santiago Cathedral, Santa Lucia Hill, the site of the founding of Santiago in 1541, and the beautiful residential districts of Vitacura and Las Condes en "el barrio alto". | | Day 2 | San Pedro de Atacama | SANTIAGO - CALAMA - SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA
Morning pick up from your hotel and transfer to the Airport for 2 hour flight north to Calama in the heart of the Atacama Desert. Meeting upon arrival and transfer to San Pedro de Atacama, a remote Spanish-Indian village of just 900 inhabitants founded in the 16th century. Afternoon tour of its central square, quaint Spanish Mission Church founded in 1641, the Father Gustave Le Paige Museum with its extraordinary collection of Andean archaeology including indigenous ceramics, mummies (dating from pre-Hispanic times), garments, ornaments and gold figures, and spectacular Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley) with its eerie otherworldly rock formations suggesting the lunar landscape.
Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner included. | | Day 3 | Salar del Atacama | SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA - TATIO GEYSERS - SALAR DE ATACAMA
Very early morning pick up from your hotel for three hour drive to walk among the billowing Tatio geysers at over 4,300 meters above sea level surrounded by soaring snow covered peaks. At dawn, powerful bursts of steam emanate from perfectly shaped conical mini-volcanoes to over 25 feet in height. Then it's off to the Salar del Atacama (Atacama Salt Flats), Chile's largest salt flat, with its rugged salt crust surface peppered with desert dust. Under the hardened white crust is a great lake which is a breeding ground for improbable flocks of pink flamingos.Box Breakfast-Box Lunch-Dinner included. | | Day 4 | Lasana | SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA - CHUQUICAMATA - CHIU CHIU - LASANA
Morning pick up to tour Chuquicamata, the world's largest open pit copper mine. Miners and bulldozers the size of a small house toil tirelessly mining for copper, Chile's main export product. (Visit of the mine subject to proper authorization from the mine and subject to change without prior notice). We proceed to the Spanish colonial village of Chiu Chiu located at the confluence of two desert rivers and marvel at the miraculous power of water in this dry desert environment. We then visit Pukara, ancient fortress village of Lasana, dating back to the 12th century. This wonderfully preserved fortress perched atop a cliff with defensive walls unfolds to a vast barren pampas with the imposing Linzor Volcano in the backround. Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner included. | | Day 5 | Puerto Montt | SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA - CALAMA - SANTIAGO - PUERTO MONTT
Early morning transfer to airport in Calama for 2 hour flight to Santiago. Arrival to Santiago for connecting 1 -1/2 h our flight to Puerto Montt in Chile's beautiful alpine lake region in the south. Pickup at the airport and transfer to Puerto Montt or Puerto Varas overlookching spectacular Lake Llanquihue. Check in to your hotel, and afternoon city tour of these two colorful port cities. Travel along Costanera Avenue with magnificent view of Reloncavi Bay, the main square and monument to its early German settlers, Angelmo fishing village, continuing to Puerto Varas, the "city of roses".
Breakfast-Dinner included. | | Day 6 | Puerto Montt | PUERTO MONTT - CHILOE - PUERTO MONTT
Morning pick up from your hotel for a full day excursion to the picturesque island of Chiloe.
Board ferry and cross the Chacao Channel enjoying beautiful scenery of channels and fjords and arrive to the port village of Chacao. Then proceed by bus to Ancud founded in 1765. Typical of Chiloe are wooden houses built on stilts over the water. The hillsides are a patchwork quilt of wheat fields and dark green plots of potatoes. We visit the Spanish fort San Antonio built in the 17th centrury, the Regional Museum with its rich history, mythology, folklore and handicrafts of Chiloe. Return for overnight in Puerto Montt or Puerto Varas.Breakfast-Lunch included. | | Day 7 | Puerto Natales | PUERTO MONTT - PUNTA ARENAS - PUERTO NATALES
Transfer from your hotel in Puerto Montt or Puerto Varas to airport for 2 hour flight south to Punta Arenas. Lying at the foot of the Andes Mountains, Punta Arenas is the world's southernmost city and the main jumping off point for Antartic expeditions. Arrival to Presidente Ibanez Airport in Punta Arenas and transfer overland to Puerto Natales (3 hour drive weather conditions permitting). We travel through the Patagonian steppes viewing sheep farms, past villa Tehuelches, and wonderful view of the imposing rock bastion, Morro Chico.Dinner included. | | Day 8 | Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers | PUERTO NATALES - BALMACEDA AND SERRANO GLACIERS
Full day excursion to magnificent Serrano and Balmaceda glaciers. We sail the Ultima Esperanza (Last Hope) sound flanked by rugged mountains, sea lions and cormorants can be seen on the rocks, reaching the foot of Balmaceda Mountain over 2,000 meters high draped with glaciers branching off the huge Patagonian icecap to the sea. Our boat will skirt Balmaceda and Serrano glaciers, ice drifting nearby makes for an unforgettable experience.
Breakfast-Dinner included. | | Day 9 | Torres del Paine National Park | PUERTO NATALES - TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK
Early morning pickup from your hotel for full day excursion exploring the Torres del Paine National Park, declared a Biosphere Reserve in 1978 by UNESCO. Enjoy the rich varied flora and wildlife, dip your toes in pristine ice-cold lakes, marvel at spectacular Grey glacier, small ponds, running rivers and hidden waterfalls until arriving to impressive Paine massif and the towering majestic Cuernos and Torres del Paine peaks.Breakfast-Box Lunch-Dinner included. | | Day 10 | Santiago | PUERTO NATALES - PUNTA ARENAS - SANTIAGO
Morning transfer from your hotel in Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas and 4 hour flight to Santiago. Upon arrival to Santiago, transfer to your hotel.Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner included. | | Day 11 | Santiago | SANTIAGO
Day at leisure for shopping and relaxing, or an optional full day excursion to Vina del Mar and Valparaiso on Chile's pacific coast. Beautiful Vina del Mar, referred to as the "garden city", is a favorite beach resort destination for Chileans and international travelers alike. Beautiful gardens, avenues filled with flowering trees and palms, open air cafes, restaurants, shopping and the elegant Casino are just part of your adventure. Valparaiso, Chile's main seaport and sister city to San Francisco, is easily one of the world's most picturesque port cities. It reminds one of San Francisco in the 1930's, 40's and 50's, and today is also the seat of the Chilean Congress.
Breakfast included. | | Day 12 | Santiago | SANTIAGO
Today, we say adios to this beautiful country of incredible contrasts. From its dry desert, mountains and ageless Spanish colonial villages in the north, to its modern and sophisticated capital city of Santiago, to its stunningly beautiful Swiss-like lake and alpine region in the south, to its spectacular and largely unexplored fjord austral region, Chile will forever leave a lasting imprint. At the scheduled hour, transfer to Santiago's airport for your flight homeward. |
| | | 12 Day/11 Night Program featuring SANTIAGO - CALAMA - SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA - CHUQUICAMATA -PUERTO MONTT - CHILOE - PUNTA ARENAS - PUERTO NATALES - TORRES DEL PAINE Prices from $2869.00 Per Person in Double Occupancy (Includes Land Arrangements Only). Program is Locally Hosted with English Speaking Guide. Ask for our Airline Specials, too! "The exceptional geography of Chile gives shape to a wide variety of climates and landscapes which induce visitors to open new horizons and explore the depths of a country that never ceases to amaze..." |
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