Itinerary Include flights Expand all London to London Day 1 Depart London Those on group flights will leave London today for an overnight flight to Chile. Day 2 Arrive Santiago The group flight arrives at Santiago International Airport and we transfer to our hotel approximately 40 minutes away. Those not flying with the group will meet us at the hotel. Hotel Providencia or similar Meals included: Breakfast Dinner Day 3 Full day excursion to the vineyards of the Maipo Valley After breakfast we leave the city behind and venture into the beautiful wine region of the Maipo Valley. While here we will have the opportunity to explore two of Chile’s most prestigious vineyards. Undurraga Winery, located in the heart of the valley, was one of the pioneers of winegrowing in Chile. The vineyard’s first vinestock came from France and Germany, with varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot now cultivated. Doña Javiera is a family business further along the valley and was declared a Historic Monument of Chile in 1974. We will have a tour of its 18th century cellar and learn some of the vineyard’s history. The tour ends with a tasting of fine wines while enjoying panoramic views of the area. Hotel Providencia or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 4 Full Day excursion to the enigmatic port city of Valparaiso The historic World Heritage city of Valparaíso, or Valpo for short, is Chile’s oldest port and home to the country’s National Congress since democracy was re-established in 1989. The Pacific coast is just a short 1.5 hour drive from Santiago and today’s excursion will give us an interesting insight into Chilean culture. The city’s many hills are covered in a glorious sprawl of multi-coloured houses covering every nook and cranny, creating a spectacular panorama which can be enjoyed from a number of vantage points. Strolling through the streets of Valparaíso is a fascinating experience which enables us to soak up the quirky and bohemian atmosphere, different to anywhere else in Chile. We’ll visit the UNESCO recognised historic city centre, in addition to the parliamentary building, and the War of the Pacific memorial. Due to the steep terrain in some parts of the city, it is home to numerous funicular lifts that transport residents up and down the hillsides to avoid climbing through the narrow streets. Many of these lifts have fallen into disrepair and sit suspended in time, hidden amid the labyrinth. However there is a drive to restore as many as possible and we’ll be able to use one of the most iconic functioning lifts on our way to a viewpoint. In the afternoon we will return to our hotel in Santiago. Hotel Providencia or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 5 Fly to Calama; to San Pedro de Atacama In the morning we fly to Calama near the Atacama Desert where we transfer to our simple hotel in the town of San Pedro de Atacama. Once we have checked in, the leader will offer a short orientation tour of the town for anyone who wants to join. At dusk we transfer to the Valley of the Moon. This bizarre lunar landscape is set ablaze with colour at sunset, the strange rock formations framed by the Lincancabur Volcano. We'll stay until the sun goes down to enjoy the array of colours before returning to San Pedro. Hotel Diego de Almagro or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 6 Visit to ALMA Observatory; explore Atacama Salt Flat This morning we have the option of visiting the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA). Located at 5000m in the driest non-polar desert in the world, ALMA is the largest astronomical project in existence and is expected to provide insight on star birth during the early universe. IMPORTANT: As group bookings are not accepted, each person must register directly at www.almaobservatory.org/en/visits/public-visits for the morning of June 29th 2019. As demand for this tour can be high and places are limited, we strongly recommend that you register on the ALMA website as soon as this Exodus departure is guaranteed (the status of the departure can be checked on the ‘Dates & Prices’ tab of this tour). For anyone that does not wish to visit the ALMA observatory, this morning is free to relax or explore the town of San Pedro de Atacama. This afternoon we head to the Atacama Salt Flat. A salt lake of huge proportions (3000 sq km/1,158 sq miles), its surface is covered by a thick layer of snow-white salt crystals as far as the eye can see, caused by the evaporation of the lake’s water. The world’s largest lithium deposits are found here, but the salt pan is also home to several flamingo species, including the Andean, Chilean and James flamingo, who feed on the micro-organisms found in the saline lagoons. We then transfer back to San Pedro de Atacama in the evening. Hotel Diego de Almagro or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 7 Excursion to El Tatio geysers; optional night-time astronomy tour. In order to experience the El Tatio Geysers we’ll have to get up very early to reach the geyser field (located over 4300m/14,108ft above sea level) in time for sunrise! The fountains shoot up to 10m/33ft high, occur when the morning sun melts the nightly ice caps that form over the hot springs. The sun’s first rays reflect an array of colours as they mix with boiling jets coming from the geysers to create eye-catching contrasts of steam and light. At around midday we’ll head back to San Pedro for some free time. There is an optional astronomy tour tonight that can be paid for locally (depends upon availability - doesn't operate on full moon days). Hotel Diego de Almagro or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 8 Fly to La Serena Today we fly to La Serena, our base for the next three nights. Depending on flight schedules, our free time on this day will either mostly be in San Pedro de Atacama or La Serena. Hotel Cristóbal Colón or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 9 Eclipse Day! We begin our day with an introduction to the Elqui Valley; a narrow strip of land winding westward towards the coast. Surrounded by cactus-covered hillsides, this fertile valley thrives with crops such as papaya, figs and grapes. The latter is used for ‘Pisco’, Chile’s famous grape brandy, for which this valley is famous for. We stop at a distillery where we learn about the production process of Pisco (and enjoy a drink or two). In the small town of Vicuña, we will visit the Bauer Tower (the old city hall), the church, and the main square before continuing on to the Cochigua wine valley to enjoy lunch. In the afternoon we transfer to our site not far from Vicuña to witness the total solar eclipse, one of the most spectacular celestial events visible from Earth. Experiencing this phenomenon is a truly memorable and epic experience and one that can only be enriched by being viewed in a beautiful location such as the Elqui Valley. Although totality only lasts for a couple of minutes, it actually takes over an hour for the moon to pass completely between the Earth and the Sun. During our time at the site we will also enjoy local produce such pisco sours, empanadas and homemade bread. Hotel Cristóbal Colón or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Day 10 Boat trip around the Isla Damas Heading north from La Serena, we take a coastal drive through dramatic, arid landscapes before reaching the fishing village of Caleta Los Choros. From here we board a small boat which takes us to the Humboldt Penguin Nature Reserve islands of Gaviota, Choros and Damas. Cruising by the first two of these islands (where tourists are not allowed to land), we’ll see countless sea lions and many types of sea birds on the shore, including cormorants and penguins. We’ll land at Isla Damas and if possuble stop for a picnic lunch near the white sandy beach before taking a stroll around this beautiful island. If you climb the hill, make sure to be on the lookout for whales in the bay. Even if you aren’t rewarded with a sighting, you’re almost sure to get a close-up view of the nature reserve’s friendly dolphins during the boat trip to or from the island – one of the highlights of the tour. Hotel Cristóbal Colón or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Day 11 Return to Santiago A short transfer takes us back to La Serena Airport where we fly back to Santiago (flight times can vary) and have the remainder of the day free to enjoy our final evening in Chile.Hotel Providencia or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 12 End Santiago The trip ends after breakfast. Those on the group flights will be taken to the airport in time for their flight home. Meals included: Breakfast Day 13 Arrive London Arrive back into London.
Easter Island (5 days / 4 nights) Code: XAE In the middle of the Pacific Ocean, 4,000km from the coast of Chile, is an island that still holds a very special magic and mystery. The Europeans discovered 'Rapa Nui', as the locals call it, on Easter Sunday and to this day it is simply referred to as Easter Island. But this island holds an intrigue far greater than one might imagine. So far from everything and everyone, isolated by the largest ocean in the world, it demonstrates a rich history, art, language and interestingly once even suffered a civil war ‐ all upon an island not 25 km across. This 5 day extension will enable you to explore this triangular shaped island, with extinct volcanic cones in each of its three corners. Amidst an atmosphere of friendly Polynesian hospitality, the entire island is today an open‐air museum with approximately 900 Moai (statues), the tallest of which is 21m high. There is also the Orongo Village and many traditional cave dwellings open to view. Please call for details (flight prices will be quoted separately to the price of the extension). Click here for the full webpage and access to the trip notes for this extension.
Chile British, most European and most other nationalities, including Canadians, Australians and New Zealanders, do not require visas. All other nationalities should contact the nearest Chilean Embassy if in doubt. Citizens of Australia pay a fee on first entry into Chile by air (cash US Dollars only, no credit cards or cheques) $95 - valid for only 90 days). There is no fee for other nationalities at the time of writing. The one-time charge is valid for the life of your passport so keep the stub stapled in.
Chile There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Tetanus, Typhoid, Hepatitis A. Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for Dengue, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
Hotels and B&Bs You will spend 10 nights in hotels or locally owned B&B’s. All rooms are en suite and average a 3 star rating. Single accommodation (available on request).
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