Chile’s Scenic Splendour

Chile’s Scenic Splendour

Chile has long been recognised as one of the most spectacularly and diversely scenic countries in the world.

The stunning jagged spires and virgin forest of Torres del Paine National Park, patrolled by condors and pumas, could not be further removed from the lifeless, hauntingly beautiful Atacama Desert, the colourful cities and fertile valleys of the central coast at greater odds to the shimmering waters and snow-capped volcanoes of the Chilean Lake District.

Yet the majority of travel companies only include three of these amazing areas in their touring itineraries - travel with us to experience the full contrast and majesty of this slim Latin American wonderland.

What's Included:

• Return flights.
• 11 nights in hotels and 2 in flight (accommodation as specified or similar).
• Mixed meal plan basis.
• All listed excursions, activities and entrance fees.
• All domestic transfers.
• Services of an experienced tour manager.

Day 1 - 2: London - Santiago

Titan’s VIP Home Departure Service® collects you from home, for your journey to London Heathrow airport for a direct, scheduled TAM Airlines flight to Santiago via Sao Paulo. On arrival we transfer to the Hotel Plaza San Francisco, for the rest of the day to relax.
Overnight - Hotel Plaza San Francisco (day 2)

Day 3: Valparaiso - Vina del Mar

Today we travel to Valparaiso, a striking tangle of colourful houses crammed onto the hillsides that surround the wide bay and port that once made the city its fortune. We drive to the southern side of the city to see the old funiculars and experience wonderful views of the vast bay, the downtown district and its adjoining 42 hills. Later we continue onto Vina Del Mar, a fashionable resort that has become popular for many Chileans who come here to enjoy their summer. We have time here to enjoy the coastline and take a tasty included lunch. This afternoon we travel back to Santiago via the Casablanca Valley to enjoy a fascinating guided tour of a winery, followed by an opportunity to sample some of the famous Chilean wine.
Overnight - Hotel Plaza San Francisco Meals - Breakfast & Lunch

Day 4: Santiago - Puerto Natales

This morning we transfer to Santiago Airport for our flight to Punta Arenas located in Chile’s southern Magallanes province. On arrival we travel through Patagonian wilderness to Otway Bay and view the large colony of Magellan penguins and their sandy burrow nests. Later we continue to Puerto Natales and the Hotel Costaustralis, our base for three nights.
Overnight - Hotel Costaustralis Meals - Breakfast

Day 5: Balmaceda National Park - Fjord of Last Hope

Patagonia combines the largest concentration of national parks in Chile awash with raw breathtaking scenic beauty, vast mountains, crystal clear lakes, fjords and glaciers. Our spectacular day starts with a boat ride on the Rio Serrano to view the Serrano Glacier before continuing on the Fjord of Last Hope for spectacular views of the Balmaceda Glacier. Lunch is included on today’s journey of discovery. Later we return to our hotel in Puerto Natales.
Overnight - Hotel Costaustralis Meals - Breakfast & Lunch

Day 6: Torres del Paine National Park

Awe-inspiring sights await us today at the Torres del Paine National Park. Nothing can prepare you for the imposing grandeur of the array of near-vertical jagged spires of the mountain peaks that rise up from the flat pampas below. Covering an area of 113,000 hectares and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, this park supports a fragile ecosystem inhabited by guanacos, pumas, flamingos and condors. A remarkable array of natural environments can be explored here including cascading waterfalls, shimmering lakes and virgin forest. Today you will also visit the Milodon Cave Natural Monument. Lunch is included today.
Overnight - Hotel Costaustralis Meals - Breakfast & Lunch

Day 7: Puerto Natales - Puerto Varas

Today we transfer to Punta Arenas for our flight to Puerto Montt in the Chilean Lake District. On arrival we transfer to Puerto Varas, founded by German settlers in 1852. The city overlooks Lago Llanquihue, where reflections of the eternally snow-covered Osorno Volcano are mirrored in the clear waters. We tour the coast road and visit the main square before arriving at our hotel, the Cabanas del Lago, where we stay for two nights.
Overnight - Cabanas del Lago Meals - Breakfast

Day 8: Osorno Volcano - Petrohue

This morning we travel along the shore of Lake Llanquihue to Laguna Verde before entering Vicente Perez Rosales National Park, one of the oldest in Chile, and travelling up to the mighty Osorno Volcano. Here we have time for a short walk to take in the amazing views of the volcano and the shimmering Lake Llanquihue far below in the valley. After an included lunch we continue to the Petrohue rapids and view the dashing succession of azure-blue cascades against a backdrop of majestic mountains. We continue to the port of Petrohue for views of spectacular Lake Todos los Santos, also known as the Emerald Lake, before returning to Puerto Varas.
Overnight - Cabanas del Lago Meals - Breakfast & Lunch

Day 9: Puerto Montt - San Pedro de Atacama

Perhaps the biggest contrast in scenery today as we transfer to Puerto Montt for our flight to the northern city of Calama, via Santiago. It is hard to believe that the dry and barren landscapes of the north are indeed in the same country as the lush Chilean Lake District. On arrival at Calama we transfer to the town of San Pedro de Atacama, where our hotel and base for three nights is the Hosteria San Pedro or Kimal Hotel.
Overnight - Hosteria San Pedro or Kimal Hotel Meals - Breakfast

Day 10: Quitor - San Pedro - Moon Valley

This morning we start with a short visit to the Pre-Inca fortress of Pukara de Quitor, before exploring San Pedro de Atacama village, Tulor and Quitor. Most of the afternoon is free to explore before ending our day, at sunset, at the stunning Moon Valley where multicoloured rows of mineral deposits form a strange, almost lunar, landscape.
Overnight - Hosteria San Pedro or Kimal Hotel Meals - Breakfast

Day 11: San Pedro de Atacama

A free day to relax, or make further explorations of San Pedro de Atacama. You may wish to take an early morning optional excursion to see the magnificent spectacle of the Tatio Geysers, which is the highest geyser field in the world at over 14,000 feet above sea level and which are at their best as the sun rises.
Overnight - Hosteria San Pedro or Kimal Hotel Meals - Breakfast

Day 12: Salar de Atacama - Toconao - Santiago

The Atacama Desert is among the driest deserts in the world, and the flatness, clearness and emptiness here is overwhelming. Today we visit a huge salt lake before continuing to Toconao, a small Indian village. We continue to the Chui-Chui Church and onwards to Pukará Lasana, an indigenous fort built in the 12th century. Later we transfer to Calama Airport for our flight to Santiago and, following our arrival in the evening, we transfer back to the Hotel Plaza San Francisco.

Day 13: Santiago - London

This afternoon we take a tour of this cosmopolitan capital city that occupies a spectacular location at the base of the mighty Andes Mountains. We pass by a variety of architecture, from ultramodern high-rise towers to beautiful colonial buildings, the National Museum and the Bohemian Bellavista district. Our journey continues to the summit of San Cristobal Hill that affords fine views of Santiago and the towering Andes. We transfer to Santiago Airport for a scheduled TAM Airlines flight to London, via Sao Paulo. On arrival at London Heathrow Airport you will be met and guided to your Titan vehicle, for the journey home.
Meals - Breakfast