Chile: Top to Toe

Tour Highlights

SANTIAGO

MOON VALLEY

VOLCAN OSORNO

TORRES DEL PAINE

SANTIAGO

Experience the sophistication of Santiago and soak up the bohemian vibes 

MOON VALLEY

Discover Moon Valley, one of the driest spots on the planet

VOLCAN OSORNO

Take a scenic hike through the plentiful nature around Volcan Osorno

TORRES DEL PAINE

Wonder at the spectacular Patagonia and the breathtaking Torres del Paine National Park

Authentic Experiences

Our Chile: Top to Toe Tour has been thoughtfully designed and thoroughly researched to bring you a range of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, many of which are entirely exclusive to us.

• Patagonia Glacier Cruise

  Cruise on the moody waters of Ultima Esperanza (Last Hope) Fjord, the perfect place from which to admire the majestic and rugged Patagonian landscapes, and visit the magnificent Mount Balmaceda and Serrano glaciers.

• Explore the Technicolour Rainbow Valley

  Venture deep into the Atacama Desert to wander through the magnificent Rainbow Valley, admiring the natural hues of the rock strata which boasts an array of greens, pinks and yellows.

• El Tatio Geyser Fields Picnic Breakfast

  One of the Atacama's most evocative sights, travel across the spectacular altiplano at dawn and enjoy a picnic breakfast overlooking El Tatio Geyser fields at their most active as the sun rises.

Tour Dates & Prices

All of our tour departures include international flights and taxes in the price. If the dates we have available for this tour don't suit your needs, or you are not sure travelling as part of a group is for you, maybe a Private Tour would be more ideal. If your tour departs in less than 30 days, please call our travel experts to book.

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Additional Price Information

Prices include airline fuel surcharge and taxes. Correct as of 12 August 2020, subject to change.

Extra nights' accommodation (pre or post tour) or stopovers may be required at an additional cost.

Customary tipping amount approximately US$115pp (AU$167pp) is paid locally in Chile.

Based on departures from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide.

Departures from other cities and flight upgrades available on request

Land only (Santiago - Santiago) 12 days from $8,310 per person, twin share

Single Supplement from $1,700

Price listed is based on new bookings only

Chile: Top to Toe - Tour Itinerary

DAY 1: FLY TO SANTIAGO

Fly to Chile's sophisticated capital Santiago, arriving the same day. Depending on your time of arrival the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture.

DAY 2: DISCOVER VALPARAÍSO

Travel to the coast to visit the bohemian port town of Valparaíso. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Valparaíso is a unique and delightful tangle, draped over a series of hills. Funiculars connect the industrial seafront with the cerros (hill) neighbourhoods, each a maze of colourful, artfully-dilapidated mansions and enchanting street art. Ride the funicular up into the hills to explore and discover the hidden treasures such as art galleries, breweries, coffee shops and the house of Chilean poet Pablo Neruda's house.

DAY 3: SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA

Transfer to the airport and fly to the northern city of Calama, from where you will drive to the desert oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama before enjoying a local lunch in Ayllu de Coyo. Explore some of San Pedro's most famous landscapes with a drive out to Death Valley and Moon Valley, some of the driest spots on the planet. With lonely volcanoes populating the horizon, enjoy the views and the silence as the afternoon sun turns the hues of the rock from orange, to red to purple.

DAY 4: SALAR DE ATACAMA

Spend the day exploring the otherworldly Salar de Atacama, the largest salt flat in Chile. Journey under the watchful gaze of barren mountains, passing salt lakes full of flamingos, to reach Miscanti and Miñiques lagoons, which sit on the high plains at the base of two colossal volcanoes of the same names. The lagoons are astonishingly blue, whilst the salt deposits around the water's edge are brilliantly coloured.

DAY 5: EL TATIO GEYSERS

Rise early to travel deeper into the Atacama to visit El Tatio. Set within a ring of volcanoes, there are about 80 lively geysers and fumaroles, which are at their best at sunrise. In the afternoon, you'll see the Rainbow Valley and the petroglyphs of Yerbas Buenas. Enjoy stargazing this evening. Atacama is considered to be the best place in the world for stargazing. So relax, sit back and look upwards.

DAY 6: PUERTO VARAS

Transfer back to Calama and fly south to Puerto Montt, the gateway to Chile's spectacular Lake District. Travel on to Puerto Varas, a charming town on Llanquihue Lake, overlooked by two snow-capped volcanoes.

DAY 7: OSORNO VOLCANO

Travel further around Llanquihue Lake to the village of Ensenada at the foot of Osorno Volcano, where you'll take an easy hike on the volcano's verdant slopes to reach the Osorno Ski Mountain Centre at 1,240 metres. Travel through Perez Rosales National Park to Petrohué Falls, where boardwalks will help you admire the turquoise waters and lush greenery of the Petrohué River.

DAY 8: PUERTO NATALES

Visit the City Central Market this morning on the way to Puerto Montt. Fly to Punta Arenas followed by a ground transfer to Puerto Natales, arriving at your hotel in the late evening.

DAY 9: GLACIERS CRUISE

Set sail on the gloomily named Ultima Esperanza (Last Hope) Fjord, a body of water that is set in a magnificent landscape. Cruise to the Mount Balmaceda Glacier, where as well as a tumbling wall of ice to admire, you'll spot cormorants and sea lions. Continue to the end of the fjord and take a short walk through native forest to the foot of the magnificent Serrano Glacier, part of the Southern Ice Field.

DAY 10: TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK

Patagonia is a spectacular destination in general, but the jewel in the crown is the UNESCO World Heritage-designated Torres del Paine National Park. Packed with waterfalls, lakes, glaciers and rugged peaks, the park's best-known view is of the jagged granite towers from which the park takes its name. Spend the day amongst this breathtaking example of resplendent nature, with visits to Salto Grande waterfall, Pehoe and Grey lakes, Milodón Cave and Grey Glacier.

DAY 11: SANTIAGO

Transfer back to Punta Arenas and fly to Santiago, with a farewell dinner in a local restaurant.

DAYS 12-14: FLY SANTIAGO TO AUSTRALIA

Fly to Australia, arriving home two days later.

Useful Information

Visas

Australian passport holders do not require a visa to travel to this destination. Other passport holders should arrange visas well in advance of departure, if required.

Communication

While travelling overseas, the Wendy Wu Tours contact number during business hours is +61 2 9224 8888. Emergency Assistance (24-hours) is 0044 1888 288 288. You will find mobile phone coverage to be quite high throughout South & Central America. We recommend contacting your mobile carrier if you intend to use international roaming during your holiday and ensure you investigate all associated call and data costs before you leave Australia. Some hotels may have Wi-Fi, which usually comes at a cost.

Tipping

Tipping is not commonplace in Australia. In South & Central America however, it is anticipated that a tip be given to reward good service. With that in mind, we have a tipping system for our group tours. Each passenger ‘tips’ a set amount to the National Escort at the start of the tour or on arrival in each country. They then distribute this as appropriate. Tipping is appreciated for Private and Tailor-Made travel. In your final documents, we include guidelines for tipping when travelling independently.

Food

We aim to cater to the tastes of the majority of people and so the food is not too spicy or too unusual. Breakfast at your hotel includes local and western dishes. In remote areas, we suggest embracing local specialities. Drinks such as beer, soft drinks or bottled water are at your own expense locally.

Shopping

Shopping is a fun and entertaining component to any travel adventure. In keeping with most people’s interests while on holiday, your tour includes a reasonable number of opportunities to shop for local goods and souvenirs. Included are visits to establishments that provide locally produced goods, unique to your destination. Witness the creation of these products, and see first-hand how their production supports the local economy. As most travellers like to take home souvenirs, we ensure the shops you visit have a reputation for quality, honesty, and authenticity.

Accommodation

Wendy Wu Tours inspects all hotels to ensure they meet the high levels of service, which we require for our guests. We pick the right hotel for the specific destination, meaning your accommodation can range from a smart business hotel in one city to a family-run guesthouse in a smaller town. Chosen hotels are also chosen for ease of navigation around tourist sights.