Enchanting Chile - Magic Desert & Santiago 06 Days
Tour overview:
This 6 days tour of Santiago de Chile is a perfect mélange of history, panoramic views, and cultural landmarks. From the top of the iconic Cerro San Cristóbal to enjoy Santiago's stunning views in all its splendor. The city is filled with the most charming streets and neighborhoods full of history that coexists with the most modern side of Santiago, you will taste one of its most typical flavors, such as “mote con huesillo”, a sweet and refreshing drink. Travel south, gaining altitude, to enter the lands of the puna and surprise ourselves with its particular vegetation, wildlife, lagoons and salt flats where, Miscanti Lagoon stands out, the largest in the entire region.
Day 1 - Arrive Santiago
"Upon your arrival to Santiago airport. Condor Travel’s staff will be waiting to take you to your hotel. Please look for the sign with your name on it. Dynamic and cosmopolitan Santiago is a vital and versatile city. Home to many events showcasing the very best of Chilean culture, it also hosts superb international festivals of sound, flavor, and color. The Chilean capital breathes new life into all its visitors!
The city’s diversity shines through in its many contrasting neighborhoods. Set out to explore the city streets and you will discover beautiful and original art galleries, design shops and handicraft markets, as well as a great selection of restaurants, bars and cafes. Night owls can enjoy a taste of lively Latino nightlife in Bellavista!
Lodging in Santiago
Day 2 - Santiago At Your Choice
"Option 1: Half day - Santiago city tour
Private service with English speaking guide
This captivating half-day tour of Santiago de Chile is a perfect mélange of history, panoramic views, and cultural landmarks. Led by our knowledgeable guide, this immersive journey will reveal the essence of this beautiful city. Aboard the picturesque cable car, we will reach the top of the iconic Cerro San Cristóbal to enjoy Santiago's stunning views in all its splendor. We will continue the tour in the emblematic Main Square (Plaza de Armas), surrounded by architectural wonders such as the Cathedral and the Municipality, and then move to the Constitution Square (Plaza Constitución) that houses the famous Palacio de la Moneda (Palace of the Mint) - the presidential seat of the government. While we explore the city's most charming streets and neighborhoods full of history that coexists with the most modern side of Santiago, we will taste one of its most typical flavors, such as “mote con huesillo”, a sweet and refreshing drink. Finally (whenever time permits), we may extend our tour to go through the Paris-Londres neighborhood and enjoy the views of its streets and churches. As we move, we will observe Santiago's eastern part, where the exclusive neighborhoods of Providencia, Las Condes and Vitacura are located.
Option 2: Half day - Santa Rita winery
Private service without guide (Guide service provided from the winery)
We will pick you up from your hotel in Santiago to Viña Santa Rita, located in the town of Alto Jahuel. This vineyard, founded in 1884 by Domingo Fernández Concha, has become a premium destination, due to its historical interest, and the quality of the wines they produce. You will begin the tour at the Casa del Turismo where you will enjoy the variety of gardens. An expert guide will explain the complete winemaking process, passing through the vinification cellars, storage and bottling plant. You will visit the historic Bodega 1 made of lime and stone, as well as the famous Bodega de los 120 Patriotas, which today is a national monument. Your tour includes the tasting of 2 amazing Reserve wines, and you will be able to visit the store that has attractive souvenirs and gourmet exclusivities. (B)
Lodging in Santiago
Day 3 - Santiago / Calama / San Pedro De Atacama
Based on your departure flight, you will be picked up by our staff to transfer you to Santiago Airport.
Welcome to the driest desert all over the world!
Upon your arrival to Calama, our staff will be waiting for you to take you to San Pedro de Atacama. This transfer takes 1,30 hours. The power of the desert and its impressive stone color will make you take more than 1 photo! At approximately 100 kilometers from Calama, the driest desert in the world jealously hides a small oasis called San Pedro de Atacama.
A village of dirt streets and adobe housing that have stolen the hearts of thousands of tourists with the charms of the Atacama and Spanish culture evidenced in each one of its buildings. After your arrival, prepare yourself to enjoy your first activity.
Half Day Moon Valley, Ayllus & tasting
Our senses will be activated today! We will have a privileged view of the Cordillera de la Sal, we will see impressive landscapes in the Moon Valley, and we will become acquainted with the traditions of the town of San Pedro de Atacama, its history, and its people. Our day will begin with a delicious breakfast outdoors. From there, we will be able to appreciate the Andes Mountain range and its runoff, to San Pedro, which makes it a true oasis. In the middle of the Cordillera de la Sal, we will find the Moon Valley, with its rock formations that look like sculptures and the mantle of salt that covers it in white, hearing the crunch of salt underfoot. In addition, as we walk the trails to reach Tres Marías, the largest dune in the valley, we will have some photo ops that look like we are on the moon. To top off the day, while departing the mountain range, we can visit an ayllu, a traditional community, to try the typical flavors of the area or a traditional ceramics workshop, where in addition to learning about ancient techniques we can purchase some souvenirs. (B)
Lodging in San Pedro de Atacama .
Day 4 - Full day Altipanics Lagoons & Chaxa Lagoon
We will travel south, gaining altitude, to enter the lands of the puna and surprise ourselves with its particular vegetation, wildlife, lagoons and salt flats where, Miscanti Lagoon stands out, the largest in the entire region. We will also visit the Salar de Atacama and especially the Chaxa Lagoon, center of the Los Flamencos National Reserve. On the way we will visit the villages of Toconao and Socaire, where the local indigenous communities still preserve part of the traditional Atacama way of life. This tour includes the passage through the Tropic of Capricorn, where you can also see some remains of the ancient Inca trail that used to cross these lands. (B, L)
Day 5 - San Pedro De Atacama
"Full day Excursion to Geyser del Tatio
With the sunrise we head towards one of the entries to the Andean highlands, passing through important altitude ecosystems of extremely rich biodiversity such as the wetlands of Machuca and Putana. We make a stop at Machuca, a little farmer´s village, to then continue towards an overwhelming spectacle of nature: the geyser field ´El Tatio´. Before returning to San Pedro we explore yet another mighty gift of the earth, known as the “Geyser Blanco” (White Geyser), where the ones who have the heart can get into the thermal waters in the middle of the river trough. (B)
Day 6 - Depart San Pedro De Atacama
"Based on your flight departure, you will be transferred to Calama Airport.