Day 01 Santiago
Reception and transfer from Santiago's airport to the hotel.
City tour of Santiago.
Accommodation at the hotel of your choice in Santiago.
Day 02 Santiago-Punta Arenas - on the way to Puerto
Natales visiting the Penguins on the Otway bay
Notice: Between the months March to October is impossible
to visit the penguin's area.
Breakfast. Transfer from the airport Punta Arenas to Puerto
Natales, but on the way is possible to watch different species
of marine birds and in a lucky day possibly dolphins. Then
the road turns heading North West to take an unpaved road
that goes through the Patagonian steppe, where different
sheep farms can be found and some species of the native
flora can be seen as well. The native fauna of this area
is composed by Lesser Rheas, Upland geese, Andean condors,
Kelp gulls, Eagles, skunks, different species of ducks and
foxes. Before approaching to the Otway Sound the bus drives
bordering a coal open cut mine, important activity in the
region. At the then of the road is located the small colony
of Magellanic Penguins that every year come for breeding
and feeding. The walk stretches for about one mile on a
wooden trail with three different observation points.
Accommodation at the hotel of your choice in Puerto Natal
Day 03 Puerto Natales - Excursion Torres del Paine
Breakfast. Departure at 7:30 am from your hotel to begin
a full day excursion that will drive us to the imposing
Cave of the Milodon (Natural Monument) and later to the
Torres del Paine National Park where we will be welcomed
by an amazing panoramic view of the famous Paine Towers.
We will also admire Lakes Sarmiento, Nordenskjold, and Pehoe.
Typical fauna such as guanacos and foxes roam the park and
a wide variety of birds can be easily observed during the
trip. A short trek will take us to a big waterfall known
as the "Salto Grande", part of the park's hydrographical
network. Later on, returning to the main road, we continue
to Lake Grey, where we will reach a beach after a 30-minute
walk through a millenary forest to admire its glacier and
a great number of drifitng floes. Lunch in Hosteria Lake
Grey is included in the service.
At approximately 7:30 pm we return to Puerto Natales.
Accommodation at the hotel of your choice in Puerto Natales.
Day 04 Puerto Natales - Excursion
Balmaceda & Serrano Glacires
Breakfast. Departure at 8:30am for a water excursion to
the Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers. Ahead of us now we have
the majestic Mt. Balmaceda and the glacier leading off its
eastern slopes. The mountain is 2,035 meters high and only
a few climbers are known to have ascended it. The glacier
is retreating as are practically all glaciers on the planet;
as an indication of its shrinkage rate, it is interesting
to note that 15 years ago the foot of the glacier was at
sea-level. After four hours of sailing we dock at Puerto
Toro, from where you can walk the last kilometer to the
base of the Serrano Glacier. The walk takes you through
a wonderful native forest along the shore of the lake. Both
Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers are in the Mt. Balmaceda
National Park.
Back to Puerto Natales.
Accommodation at the hotel of your choice in Puerto Natales.
Day 05 Puerto Natales-Calafate
Breakfast. The bus picks you up at 07:00 am at your hotel
in Puerto Natales and continues driving along the Patagonian
steppes, known as the Pampa, this time towards Argentina.
We cross the border and continue our way to Calafate. Eexcursion
to the Perito Moreno Glacier (with box lunch included).
Located in Los Glaciares National Park, this imposing ice
river, 3 km wide and 50 mt high, descends from the Patagonian
continental ice shield provoking ice cracks and explosions
during its slow descent. Because of its breathtaking beauty
and unusual behaviour it was declared a World Heritage Site
by the UNESCO. Visitors have access to several walkways
offering impressive views of the glaciar. Transfer from
the bus station to the hotel.
Accommodation at the hotel of your choice in El Calafate.
Day 06 Calafate
Breakfast. Full-day excursion to the Upsala and Onelli Glaciers.
We'll sail through the northern arm of Lake Argentina with
destination to Upsala. We'll disembark either in Onelli
Bay or in Puesta de Vacas, depending on the position of
the glaciers, from where we'll walk through forests. Lunch
is included.
Accommodation at the hotel of your choice in El Calafate.
Day 07 Calafate - Bariloche
Breakfast. Transfer from the hotel to Calafate’s Airport.
Flight from Calafate to Bariloche.
Transfer from the airport to the hotel in Bariloche.
Accommodation at the hotel of your choice in Bariloche.
Day 08 Bariloche - Puerto
Varas
Breakfast. We leave the hotel at 06:30am to start the Lakes
Crossing. We travel on a bus to Puerto Pañuelo where
we board El Condor Catamaran and sail the long and narrow
Blest Arm of Lake Nahuel Huapi. We continue on another bus
ride to Puerto Alegrewhich bordering the Frías River
for a 3-kilometer stretch. On board the Caleuche or the
Dalca motorboat we sail Lake Frías for 15 minutes.
Here we'll have our first glimpse of Mt. Tronador. Upon
arrival at Puerto Frías we clear Argentine customs
and proceed on a bus through lush Andean vegetation to the
Vicente Pérez Rosales Pass and then 29 kms. to the
Chilean customs at Peulla. After customs, it is only a short
ride to Peulla Hotel (lunch optional in Peulla Hotel). Later,
we continue our journey and board the Lagos Andinos Catamaran
and set out to cross the waters of Lake Todos Los Santos.
On our trip we will be able to view Mt. Puntiagudo and the
impressive Osorno Volcano. We arrive to Petrohué
and during our trip to Puerto Varas we stopover for a visit
at the magnificent Petrohué Falls.
(entrance fee approx USD 5).
Arrival in Puerto Varas 7:00pm.
Accommodation at the hotel of your choice in Puerto Varas
Day 09 Puerto Varas
Breakfast. Free day.
Accommodation at the hotel of your choice in Puerto Varas.
Day 10 Puerto Varas-Santiago-Calama-San Pedro de
Atacama
Breakfast. Transfer from the hotel to the airport with a
city tour of Puerto Montt, capital of Region X. We'll tour
its streets, get to know its people and typical architecture
and pay a visit to the Angelmó fishing cove with
its handicrafts center specializing in wool articles and
baskets and its fish market famous for its wide array of
typical seafood dishes. We will meet the fishermen who bring
in their catch everyday from nearby islands. The tour will
take us to a natural lookout point from where we can enjoy
a panoramic view of this bustling city and the Reloncavi
Estuary. The tour includes a visit to Pelluco Beach as well
as Chinqihue Beach on the opposite end, which borders the
Tenglo Channel where old shipyards evoke the city's past.
Transfer to Puerto Montt's airport.
Flight Lan from Puerto Montt to Santiago and connecting
flight to Calama. Transfer to San Pedro de Atacama.
Accommodation at the hotel of your choice in San Pedro de
Atacama.
Day 11 San Pedro de Atacama
Breakfast. Morning archeological tour to the Incan fortress
of Pucara of Quitor, then on to the LePaige Museum, the
barren Salt Mountain Range, and the Tulor Ruins, over 3,000
years old. Return to San Pedro de Atacama.
Afternoon tour of Toconao includes a 30-minute visit, where
we can admire typical handicraft made of cactus wood, llama
wool and volcanic stone. We continue to the Liparita stone
quarry in the Jerez Valley. Then, on to the Atacama Salt
Flats, including the Chaxa Lagoon, to admire the flamingoes
and wait for the evening sunset with its spectacular colors
on the Andean Mountain Range. Back to the hotel.
Accommodation at the hotel of your choice in San Pedro de
Atacama.
Day 12 San Pedro de Atacama
We go out to the Geysers of Tatio, leaving around 04:00am.
Breakfast upon arrival at sunrise, take a walk among the
geysers and a dip in a natural hot springs pool. We then
continue traveling through the towns of Caspana, Chiu Chiu,
Lasana. LLamas, alpacas and vicuñas roam freely across
the Andes plateaus. Lunch not included. Transfer to the
hotel.
Accommodation at the hotel of your choice in San Pedro de
Atacama.
Day 13 San Pedro de Atacama-Calama-Santiago
Breakfast. Transfer from the hotel to Calama's airport.
Flight from Calama to Santiago.
Accommodation at the hotel of your choice in Santiago.
Day 14 Santiago
Breakfast. Transfer from the hotel to Santiago's airport.
End of our service.