CHILE • Escorted Group Tour
From Patagonia to the Ring of Fire
The Volcanoes & Fjords of Chile
M
y country has the shape of a great albatross with wings outstretched” said the
Chilean Nobel Prize-winning poet, Neruda, and certainly the simile is apt. One
wing-tip brushes the Equator and roasts in the bitter heat of the world’s driest desert,
the other wing reaches into the formidable glaciers and fjords of Antarctica. Between
the two extremes lie the rich farmlands and orchards of the Central Valley, the forests
of the Lake District and vast highland plains where llama and alpaca have grazed for
centuries.This tour seeks to reveal Chile’s immense and dramatic diversity, and our hotels
are characterful with excellent standards of service. We start with 2 nights in vibrant
Santiago then fly north to the surreal landscapes of the desert for 2-nights’ exploration
of its bizarre geological features. We then fly south to the prosperous Lake District and
spend 2 nights amidst lush river canyons, sparkling lakes and a volcano-studded landscape
before continuing our journey into the wide expanses of Chilean Patagonia and the subAntarctic, visiting the National Park and seeing amazing wildlife. Progressing through utter
wildernesses and lush landscapes, from sophisticated Santiago to pre-hispanic settlements,
we may well agree with the words of the first European settler, “life here cannot be
equalled…it seems as if God had created everything so that it would be at hand.”
15 days
Santiago (2 nights)
San Pedro de Atacama
(2 nights)
Santiago (1 night)
Puerto Varas (2 nights)
Lake District
Puerto Natales (1 night)
Patagonia
Torres del Paine
National Park (2 nights)
Punta Arenas (1 night)
Santiago (1 night)
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Day 1 London (Sunday) Depart London
Heathrow by Tam Airlines at around 2010 for
Santiago via Sao Paulo.
700-year-old Indian fortress at Pucara de
Quitor. Stay 2 nights at the charming Poblado
de Kimal. (B)
Day 2 Santiago Arrive Santiago in the morning
and rest after your flight. Santiago stands at
2000 feet high at the centre of the country, in
the middle of a wide plain overlooked by the
Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’. A city sightseeing tour
this afternoon showcases the impressive La
Moneda Palace, the Plaza de Armas where
the Spanish stored their ammunition to protect
them from night raids from the Indians, the
Parque Forestal based on the Champs Elysee
in Paris, and Santa Lucia Hill where the city was
founded in 1541. Continue to the bohemian area
of Bellavista and climb San Cristobal Hill for
outstanding panoramic views of the city. Stay 2
nights at the Orly Hotel.
Day 5 El Salar de Atacama, Valley of the
Moon Morning drive to the vast expanse of
the Salar de Atacama, a salt flat ringed by
spectacular snow-capped volcanoes nearly
20,000 feet high. At first glance all seems
empty, but flamingos come and feed on the
tiny fish and crustacea in the marshes, and little
lava lizards bask in the sun. Return to San Pedro
via the quaint village of Tocanao. At sunset
visit the surreal landscape of the Valley of the
Moon. (B)
Day 7 Puerto Varas Fly to Puerto Montt
on the glorious Lake District, where plentiful
rain nourishes farmland and forest. Continue
the short distance to Puerto Varas, a pretty
village set by a wide bay on Lake Llanquihue,
overlooked by the perfectly conical Osorno
volcano. Stay 2 nights at the Cabanas del Lago
Hotel. (B)
Day 11 Torres del Paine National Park A day
at leisure to explore the park independently, or
book optional excursions locally such as hiking,
horse-riding, and other outdoor activities. (BD)
“We have had a superb holiday. The
organisation was terrific and the local
guides were knowledgeable and very
helpful.”
- Mrs Shipley
Day 8 Puerto Varas Morning visit to the
interesting German settlement town of Frutillar.
The town is located on the shores of Lake
Llanquihue with spectacular views of the Osorno,
Calbuco and Puntiagudo volcanoes. Afternoon at
leisure. (B)
Day 12 Punta Arenas Morning drive to Punta
Arenas, founded as a centre for the ‘white gold’
of the Patagonian sheep farms. Stop en-route
to visit the colony of Magellan penguins at
Otway Sound. After lunch, take a tour of the
city, and visit the Regional Salesiano Mayorino
Borgatello Museum to understand more of the
vanished culture and daily lives of the native
tribes, and overnight at the Cabo de Hornos
Hotel. (B, packed lunch)
Tour code GCHILE
Departures 2016
Twin share Single supp
Day 9 Puerto Natales Fly into Punta Arenas
Day 13 Punta Arenas, Santiago Morning at
leisure. Transfer to the airport for your flight
to Santiago and transfer to the Orly Hotel for
overnight. (B)
Day 3 Santiago Optional full day excursion
to Valparaiso and Vina del Mar, or explore
Santiago at your leisure. (B)
on the notorious Magellan Straits facing Tierra
del Fuego – before the Panama Canal opened
this was the first (or last) port on rounding Cape
Horn, and it was known as ‘the town at the end
of the world’. Transfer to Puerto Natales and
overnight at the Martin Gusinde Hotel. (B)
Private journey price from £4390 per person
twin shared (Minimum 2 passengers)
Day 4 San Pedro de Atacama This morning
Day 10 Torres del Paine National Park Today
fly to Calama in the ‘Great North’, and drive
onwards to the pre-hispanic oasis town of San
Pedro de Atacama, via a varied landscape of
both wide, empty plains and rocky outcrops
showing colourful bands of nitrate, copper,
silver and gold deposits. Here are places where
it has never rained and there is little vegetation
but where llamas, alpacas and vultures thrive.
In the late afternoon, visit the Archaeological
Museum and continue to the ruins of the
drive to the National Park of Torres del Paine
that covers 450,000 acres and is designated a
UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Guanacos, hares,
condors and rheas are often to be seen, and
an impressive landscape of glaciers, lakes
and snowcapped mountains reaching 9000ft.
En-route we call at the Milodon Cave where the
remains of a giant, prehistoric sloth were found.
We stay at the comfortable lodge-style Rio
Serrano hotel for the next 2 nights. (BLD)
Book direct, call 020 3750 1655, fax 020 7256 9776 or email [email protected]
Torres del Paine National Park
Day 6 Santiago Fly back to Santiago and
the Orly hotel. Afternoon at leisure or optional
tour to the vineyards of Concha y Toro, whose
Chardonnay and cabernet vines are descended
from cuttings brought from the Bordeaux
vineyards in the 19th century. (B)
Day 14 Santiago, London (Saturday)
Homeward flight to London via Sao Paulo with
Tam Airlines at around 1515, arriving London the
following day (Day 15) at around 1310.
Extensions to Easter Island, Chile’s winelands,
and a Patagonia cruise available
See page 68 for further details.
Please note that sections of this tour operate
on shared basis with other (non-CTS Horizons)
passengers.
Jan 17
£3895
Feb 14
3895
895
Nov 6
3995
945
Departures 2017
Jan 22, Feb 12
£895
Twin share Single supp
£3995
£945
Private journey price from £4490 per person
twin shared (Minimum 2 passengers)
Business Class upgrade from £2795 return
Price includes
• Economy class flights
• Twin-shared accommodation, transfers,
transportation and sightseeing as listed
(B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
• Services of English-speaking local Tour
Guides
Not included
• Travel insurance
• Gratuities
• Any government taxes or compulsory
charges introduced after brochure
publication
Book direct, call 020 3750 1655, fax 020 7256 9776 or email [email protected]
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