Trip at a Glance
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Trip Code: EBACLAT9D -
Trip Duration: 09 Days -
Trip difficulty Easy -
Trip Starts at: Santiago -
Trip Ends at: Santiago -
Best time to travel: March - September -
Accommodations: Hotels -
Highlights: Santiago, Tatio Geyser, Wine Tasting, Rafting
Overview
Discover the mystical beauty and inspiring geology of the Atacama Desert in Chile, the driest place on the planet. Witness the fantastic colorful display of the Valley of the Moon. Visit the Altiplanic lagoons Mescanti & Meñiques and Tatio Geysers. Explore the Lasana Valley and its preserved petroglyphs. In the second part we will bike through wine country at Maipo Valley, taste wine and see local vineyards. On the last day of the trip we will head for the river for some fun wild river rafting.
Itinerary
Santiago
Transfer to the hotel upon arrival
Santiago – City tour
Morning city tour of Santiago, visiting the Government Palace, San Cristobal Hill. Afternoon at leisure for shopping or taking an optional excursion. (B)
Santiago – Calama - San Pedro de Atacama
Transfer to the airport to take a flight to Calama (1 hour and 45 minutes). Upon arrival in Calama, transfer to San Pedro de Atacama, an oasis located in the middle of the driest desert in the world, Atacama Desert. An exploration to the Cordillera de la Sal (Salt Mountain Range), with magnificent geological formations and sediments of various colors. The origin of the Cordillera de la Sal corresponds to the origin of the Atacama Salar; therefore, its rocks are mainly composed of salt and similar clay, creating an extremely special and inspiring landscape, and originating the mystic Moon Valley. Exploration trek through inner valleys, watching caverns and abandoned salt mines and winding dunes (B, L)
San Pedro de Atacama – Altiplanic Lagoons
Today we will visit the Altiplanic (High Plains) lagoons. Located 4500mts above sea level, these turquoise blue lagoons are surrounded by imposing volcanoes created by the lifting of the Andean Mountain range, during remote geological times. Its waters come from the underground and are originated by defrosting. During the trip, you will also visit Socaire, town of Atacaman peasants. Return to San Pedro. (B, L)
San Pedro de Atacama - Geisers del Tatio
Trip at dawn towards the Andean foothills. There are few places in the world where thermal energy can be actually seen by man. The peculiar geological conditions of the mountains of Tujle, together with the volcanic activity in the area, created the favorable geological conditions for the creation of El Tatio Geysers. We will enjoy the thermal pools. On the way back will have reached 4500 m. of altitude, which is literally being close to the clouds and the Andes Mountain Range, blended with beautiful colors. We will view the active Tocorpuri volcano and the amazing Sairecahur (6200m High). Breakfast will be served at the Tatio Geysers. Return to San Pedro at mid-day. Rest of the day at leisure. (B)
San Pedro de Atacama - Calama - Santiago
Breakfast at hotel and transfer to Calama to take flight back to Santiago. Transfer to the hotel upon arrival. Rest of the day at leisure. (B)
Maipo Valley Wine Tour
Once in the wine country, we unload the bikes and ride through three vineyards and the small towns supported by the wineries. The three vineyards vary not only in the wine they produce but also in the background of their origin. We visit a rustic family-owned estate producing a wide variety of wine including Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenere (thought to be extinct until its rediscovery in Chile in 1995); a contemporary vineyard, started by a wealthy Santiago family to produce high quality Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Syrah and Cot (Chile’s version of the famous Argentine Malbec); and finally we finish in a 100% organic vineyard where we will taste wine directly from the tanks. After the final vineyard we take the transport to a countryside restaurant for lunch. Back to Santiago. (B)
Maipo River Rafting
After breakfast we head to Maipo Valley, and towards the Andes Mountains, ever growing closer and more visible as we continue. Arriving at the river base of either San Alfonso or San Jose we will meet our experienced and skilled guides who will equip us will all the rafting gear needed (wetsuit, helmet, paddle jacket and life jacket) and go over all technical and safety instructions with us to prepare for this exciting trip! The Maipo River, flowing between steep canyon gorges and cutting through the heart of the Andes mountains is a class 3 to 4 river (depending on the snow melt) and thus suitable for both first timers as well as experienced rafters. Putting in at Either San Alfonso or at El Melocoton we sail through this river valley crowned by spectacular Andean Scenery. Return to hotel. (B, L)
Santiago - Fly Home
Cost Includes
- All ground transportations
- Hotel accommodation
- Meals as in itinerary: 8 – breakfasts, 3 – Lunches
- Guide
- Bikes, helmet, gloves, support van
- Raft, life vast, fist aid kit, helmet
- Insurance
Cost Excluded
- Air ticket of any kind
- Chile visa reciprocity fee ($130)
- Drinks of any kind
- Gratuities
- Tax
- Personal expenses
Gallery
Featured Hotels
We at Earthbound Adventures carefully choose hotels that are safe, clean and ideally located, we stay in charming locally owned 3 stars hotels with great and friendly service. We go to great length to make sure the hotel are up to our high standard, we personally visited each and every hotel on our list and we are constantly evaluating the hotels we stay in.
We are listing 4 and 5 stars hotels, if you choose to upgrade your hotel an additional fee will apply to the tours according to the hotels you choose.
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Altiplanico San Pedro
Tucked away on a gentle stretch of land in the outskirts of San Pedro de Atacama, surrounded by the quiet presence of the Andes, Altiplanico San Pedro faces the impressive Licancabur Volcano, with a unique design inspired in the style of an Altiplano village. The hotel has 29 rooms arranged in three semicircles, with cultivated fields in between. It has single, doubles, triples and family rooms, based on separate houses, with individual terraces, private bathrooms and independent entries. Some rooms have outside showers to enjoy the starry night and sunny days.They are decorated with great simplicity, using different resources of color and shape. Inside the atmosphere is fresh and cozy; each has a terrace to enjoy the view. Most furniture is in built to give the feeling that the hotel is part of Atacama, arising from the earth. Each room is unique, with different distribution and decoration. This contributes to the feeling that predominates which is that the hotel is really a home. To honor Atacama’s old Indian concept of rooms as a refuge for the intense sun of the day and cold of the night, was developed. This is why windows are small and walls are thick; to live the desert one has to go outside.
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Awasi Hotel
Made of stone, adobe and wood, the Awasi Hotel was once a site which for centuries was used by sheltered cattle drivers and shepherds. It is now a beautiful retreat made up of only eight cottages, each having a private patio, reading sofa, indoor and outdoor showers. Local materials have been crafted to create a unique, harmonious space designed for relaxation and rest. Awasi prepares special outings that are customised to ensure adventure and surprise. There is a lovely little pool should you wish to spend your time at the hotel rather than exploring.
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Hotel Gomero
The family-run hotel Gomero located 10 walking minutes away from the village center of Hanga Roa, features single-, double- and triple rooms with private bathrooms, all equipped with minibar, telephone, safe deposit box and ventilator. With its cozy atmosphere, the tropical garden and the swimming-pool it is a really pleasant place to stay. Further facilities include: restaurant and bar, laundry service, travel agency, airport transfers.
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The Orly
A boutique hotel, with only 28 rooms, the Orly is one of the most intimate and cozy hotels in Santiago. Despite its homely and small nature, it is situated in the heart of Providencia, with easy and immediate access to all the amenities, cafes and restaurants that this area brings. Rooms are on the small side but are clean, bright and pretty, with ensuite bathrooms and cable television, and guests are welcome to relax in the comfortable lounge or the internal courtyard garden.
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Explora in Patagonia
Staying at the Explora is a complete experience. Justifiably renowned for its pioneering architecture and unashamed luxury, the Explora in Patagonia is without doubt the best hotel in the park and indulges its guests’ every whim and need. The sensational view of lake, mountain and waterfall can be enjoyed from the lounge, the restaurant, many of the bedrooms and even the open air jacuzzis, and despite the hotel’s distinctly designer interior and exterior, it is well-known for its environmental awareness and sympathy with its surroundings. The rooms are Scandinavian in style and combine rustic charm with unlimited comfort – you will sleep in Spanish bed linen, eat from English chinaware and admire tapestries flown over from New York. Unlike other accommodation in the park, the Explora has full communication facilities, including international television and video, telephone, radio and fax, as well as an indoor heated swimming pool and spa As the name suggests, the Explora concept is based around exploration and the hotel’s exclusive guides and excursion routes will ensure that you get the very most out of Patagonia and Torres del Paine. You will meet the lodge’s guides every evening, and they will then tailor-make the next day’s activities for you, dependent on the weather and what you would most like to do.
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The Kimal
The Kimal is located just off San Pedro’s main street but thanks to its pretty maze of courtyards planted with flowers and shrubs and its spacious, cool interior, it feels like a calm oasis. The hotel has just 19 rooms and all are examples of typical construction, built out of local wood and mud and with attractive features such as lattice straw ceilings and bamboo pillars. Some rooms have their own terrace going onto an inner courtyard and there’s an outdoor area with swimming pool and bar. Although it has a good restaurant, a great advantage of the hotel’s central location is that there are plenty of choices for eating out. Next door, Restaurant Paacha is a favorite with the San Pedro locals due to its hearty and delicious food and reasonable prices, as well as its live music and entertainment evenings.
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Explora Posada de Mike Rapu
Top quality accommodation, food, facilities and excursions at the Explora Posada de Mike Rapu make it most certainly the best place to stay on Easter Island. Set on a hill that faces the sea, the hotel is in the south west of the island, 5.6 km from the only town, Hanga Roa. It’s a fantastic base to begin exploring this mysterious and intriguing island, where the origin and evolution of the culture has yet to be fully explained. Volcanic rock from the island and wood from the mainland have been used in the construction of the new Explora, with 30 guest rooms branching off from the living and dining areas. There’s also a bar, pool, massage salon and an open-air pool.
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The Aubrey
The Aubrey is situated at the foot of the Cerro San Cristóbal Hill within the Metropolitan park, one of the six largest urban parks in the world, a short stroll from Pablo Neruda’s beloved house La Chascona in the lively Bellavista district. After 3 years of careful restoration acknowledging the architectural and historic value of the house, The Aubrey has been transformed into a modern luxury boutique hotel with 15 beautifully appointed en-suite bedrooms (some rooms have toilets with glass walls separating them from the bedrooms), all with their own character and most with balconies or terraces. The old Mission style outdoor patio terraces are now an outdoor oasis where you can relax by the heated jacuzzi swimming pool or enjoy, from September to May, alfresco dining or simply enjoy the pavilion bar. ‘The Dining Room’ restaurant offers good ‘fusion’ cuisine or enjoy tapas in the piano lounge. All the rooms have free Wi-Fi, Ipod docks, LCD cable TVs, mini bars, safes, Hansgrohe showers, fine cotton sheets and feather beds.