Chile

There is so much to see in such a vast and open country like Chile, that initially it may appear a daunting prospect, or you may not know where to start. That is why we would suggest for your first visit to this amazing country that you should join an escorted group tour. This will enable you to visit all the most scenic vistas that Chile has to offer, learn all about the country from your expert guide, and also enjoy that experience as part of a small group (maximum of about 20 guests per tour).

Your tour will start in the capital Santiago. There will be time to adjust to the new sights and sounds of this vibrant city. Spot the eclectic changes in architecture as you move around the city and listen out for the music that echoes around every corner.

The colourful coastal city of Valparaiso can be vested from the capital where you can witness the brightly painted buildings spilling down the hillside to the ocean as you travel on the local funicular railway. Although the city’s fortunes suffered economically in the recent past, it is now seeing a resurgence as the ramshackle nature of the building attracts visitors, filmmakers and those seeking work at the busy port.

A short flight will bring you to the northern city of Calama, where you will be driven to the desert oasis of San Pedro de Atacama. The sun scorched earth of the Death and Moon valleys are some of the driest places on the whole of the earth and the sheer expanse of dunes, plains and high peaks never cease to amaze. The lack of trees make the landscapes epic in all directions whilst the salt flats, geysers and lunar-like rock escarpments give the impression of being on another planet.

Puerto Varas is the gateway to Chile’s incredible Lake District, and is reached by a flight via Santiago. Puerto Varas is a lakeside town dominated by two snow-capped volcanoes. The Llanquihue Lake is home to Ensenada at the foot of one of the Volcanoes and from here it is possible to hike through the volcanic landscape. In contrast the Perez Rosales National Park is lush and green and the boardwalks enable you to enjoy views of the turquoise waters fed by the glaciers above.

Further south still is Puerto Natales, a bustling and picturesque town that sits on the Straits of Magellan, at the end of continental South America. From here it is possible to sail on the fjords and view the impressive Serrano Glacier that reaches the sea, then spend a full day in the UNESCO World Heritage designated Torres del Paine National Park where the impressive mountains provide a backdrop to some of Chile’s unique flora and fauna.