Desert & Culture
Santiago & Atacama
Overview
A unique journey combining the vibrant city of Santiago, the relaxing coast of Viña del Mar, and the majesty of the Atacama Desert. From the capital, full of history and modern contrasts, to the tranquility of Viña del Mar’s beaches and gardens, culminating in the breathtaking, otherworldly beauty of the driest desert in the world.
Trip Highlights
- Santiago city tour — Palacio de la Moneda, Cerro Santa Lucía & the Central Market
- Viña del Mar and UNESCO World Heritage-listed Valparaíso, including La Sebastiana
- Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley) at sunset in the Atacama Desert
- Cejar Lagoon, Ojos del Salar & Tebinquinche Lagoon
- Pre-dawn El Tatio Geyser field and the Atacameño village of Machuca
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival in Santiago
Welcome to Chile — a country of startling contrasts and extreme beauty. Upon arrival, transfer from the airport to the hotel.
Day 2
Santiago City Tour
Breakfast at the hotel. Explore the bustling, colourful streets of the capital, visiting the Palacio de la Moneda, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Stock Exchange building, the Cathedral and the Plaza de Armas, plus the Parque Forestal and the romantic Cerro de Santa Lucía with its fountains and terraced flowerbeds. The tour ends at the Central Market, with its wrought-iron structure and stalls of fresh fish and seafood — picorocos, piure, locos, machas and oysters — alongside family-run restaurants and live traditional Chilean music (lunch not included).
Day 3
Viña del Mar and Valparaíso
Breakfast at the hotel. En route to Valparaíso, stop at a wine cooperative in the Casablanca Valley for a tasting of local products. In Valparaíso, a UNESCO World Heritage City, visit La Sebastiana (Pablo Neruda’s House Museum), Plaza Sotomayor, Paseo 21 de Mayo, Cerro Artillería and Cerro Alegre. Lunch in Viña del Mar, home of the Quinta Vergara Amphitheater’s international song festival, followed by a stroll along the beaches and a visit to the Fonck Museum, with a final coffee-shop stop on the way back.
Day 4
Fly to Atacama Desert
Breakfast at the hotel, then transfer to the airport for your flight to Calama. From there, travel 13km west of San Pedro de Atacama to Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley), part of the Los Flamencos National Reserve, with rock formations shaped by wind — the Tres Marías and a natural amphitheatre — set within the Cordillera de la Sal at 2,550masl. The tour ends at the Mirador de Kari, watching the panorama shift through pastel, pink and purple as the sun sets. Return to your hotel.
Day 05
Atacama — Cejar Lagoon, Ojos del Salar & Tebinquinche
Breakfast at the hotel. At 18km from San Pedro de Atacama, visit the turquoise Cejar Lagoon, where a high salt concentration lets you float effortlessly. Continue to the Ojos del Salar, two deep freshwater wells in the middle of the desert, then to the Tebinquinche Lagoon, where a path offers views where the sky merges with the desert and the whiteness of the salt.
Day 06
Tatio Geyser and Machuca
Breakfast at the hotel. An early, pre-dawn pickup drives north (1.5–2 hours) to the El Tatio geyser field, arriving as the rising sun gives the geysers their most spectacular steam columns. After about two hours exploring the field, enjoy a light breakfast (ham and cheese sandwich, biscuit, fruit, juice, tea and coffee). On the return, visit the Machuca bofedales, home to flamingos and vicuña, and the small adobe town of Machuca, plus the Putana bog, a nesting site for migratory birds with views of the plateau and volcanoes. Drive back to San Pedro de Atacama, arriving around midday.
Day 07
Departure
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Santiago, connecting to your international departure.
Hotels Included
- SantiagoModerate: Sheraton Hotel, Classic room · Deluxe: Renaissance Santiago Hotel, Std room
- San Pedro de AtacamaModerate: Vicuña Lodge, Superior room · Deluxe: Quelana Lodge, Superior room
Inclusions & Exclusions
Included
- Private airport transfers throughout the trip
- 6 x Breakfasts at Hotel
- Seat-In-Coach (SIC) tours with professional, bilingual guides
- Entrance fees to all attractions mentioned in the itinerary
- Accommodation at selected hotels with daily breakfast
Not Included
- International and domestic flights
- Bank transfer or credit card fees
- Meals, beverages, tours, and transfers not mentioned in the itinerary
- Tips and gratuities, and laundry services
- Visa fees and travel insurance
- City taxes
Important Notes
- Check-in 3:00–4:00 PM, check-out 11:00 AM; breakfast served 7:00–9:30 AM (may vary by hotel).
- Children aged 1–10 are considered children; guests over 10 are counted as adults.
- Rates are based on a minimum of 2 passengers travelling together and are subject to availability.
- Package validity: until December 31, 2026. Not available during Carnival, December holidays, or public holidays in South America.
- Payment terms: 25% deposit at booking, 50% due 60 days prior to travel, balance due 45 days prior.
- Cancellation: 25% fee at 60+ days; 50% at 59–45 days; 100% within 44 days or no-show.
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