Tours for Independent Travellers — Chile — Travelbag Latin America online holiday brochure

Tours for Independent Travellers Essential Chile 10 Days from Ł1045 (excludes flights) Highlights Include * Explore the cosmoplitan city of Santiago * Enjoy a tour to Chile's largest and best wineries * Visit the driest desert in the world, the aweinspiring Atacama Desert * See the spectacular El Tatio geysers situated at 4300m * Discover the dramatic scenery of the Torres del Paine National Park and its interesting wildlife Departures: Daily Day 1: Arrive Santiago & City Sightseeing On arrival at Santiago Airport you will be met and transferred to your chosen hotel for your three-night stay. This afternoon, discover this wonderful city on our Santiago sightseeing tour (see page 61 for details). Standard: Galerias Hotel Deluxe: The Ritz-Carlton Day 2: Vińa del Mar and Valparaíso Spend an unforgettable day at Vińa del Mar, Chile's most fashionable beach resort. Discover nearby Valparaíso, a place bursting with character where hundreds of brightly coloured wooden houses cling to the hillside, and which is recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site for its historic architecture and role as a merchant port.(B) Day 3: Vineyard Excursion Today you will have a chance to sample first hand the delightful and highly-regarded New World wines of Chile. Your fascinating guided half-day tour, a wine lovers' delight, to one of the area's leading estates such as Concha y Toro or Vińa Undurraga, will cover every step of the winemaking process and will culminate in some well earned wine tasting. Enjoy spectacular scenery and views of the magnificent Andes on your return to Santiago.(B) Day 4: Santiago Atacama Desert This morning, depart Santiago for your flight (not included) to Calama, gateway to the extraordinary landscapes of the Atacama Desert, the driest desert in the world. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to the wonderfully isolated oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama for a three-night stay. Later, explore the mystifying lunar landscapes of the Moon 1 No. of nights stayed Land Air Calama 3 de Atacama Atacama Desert San Pedro ˛ 2hrs Vińa del Mar Valparaiso 3 Santiago ARGENTINA CHILE ˛ Lake Llanquihue 4hrs30mins (via Santiago) Puerto Varas Puerto Montt SOUTH AMERICA Parque Nacional Torres del Paine 2 Cuernos del Paine Valley and enjoy a spectacular sunset over this eerie bonedry desert.(B) Standard & Deluxe: Hotel Altiplanico Atacama Note: please ask for details should you prefer to stay at the luxurious Tierra Atacama Hotel (page 64) or Explora Atacama Hotel. Days 5-6: Atacama Desert Over the next two days, various activities and excursions are yours to enjoy. Highlights include the mummies of the Padre Gustavo Le Paige museum, the 3,000 year old village of Tulor, the historic Pukara de Quitor fortress, the vast Atacama Salt Lake with its pink flamingos and the El Tatio Geysers, the highest geothermal field in the world at over 4300m above sea level.(BL) Day 7: Atacama Desert Puerto Natales Travel back to Calama airport for your flight to Punta Arenas (not included) and transfer by public bus (May-Sep) or shared vehicle (Oct-Apr) to your accommodation in Puerto Natales, gateway to Torres Del Paine National Park, for an overnight stay. Transfers for the Deluxe option are always on a private basis.(B) Standard: Hotel Weskar Deluxe: Hotel Altiplanico del Sur Note: When travelling privately or by shared vehicle, then a visit to Seno Otway penguin colony or Parque Ńandu will be included en-route to Puerto Natales. Day 8: Torres Del Paine National Park This morning you will enjoy a spectacular journey as you're transferred into Torres Del Paine National Park, part of Chile's Patagonian wilderness where the vistas are magnificent and the immensity of the natural formations almost defies belief. Accommodation for the next two nights is in the heart of the park on Lake Grey with fantastic views onto the lake and glacier that feeds it. Your afternoon is at leisure.(B) Standard & Deluxe: Hosteria Lago Grey Day 9: Torres Del Paine National Park Today you have a full day tour to explore the main attractions of the park. Highlights will include: the Laguna Azul, the Cascada Paine Waterfall, the iconic craggy peaks of Mirador de los Cuernos and also the powerful Salto Grande Waterfall where Nordenkjöld Lake drains into the turquoise Lake Pehoé. (BL) Day 10: Depart Torres Del Paine After breakfast, begin the private journey back to Puerto Natales where you connect onward by shared transfer or public bus (depending on the season) to Punta Arenas Airport where your tour concludes.(B) Prices Include * 9 nights accommodation as shown in itinerary * Meals as specified (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch) * Return private airport/hotel transfers * Shared touring for Standard option * Private touring for Deluxe option Prices Exclude * Airfares and local airport taxes * Drinks, gratuities and items of a personal nature Tour Prices Prices per person, in Ł's from Twin 1165 1045 1249 Standard 01Jan09-30Apr09 01May09-30Sep09 01Oct09-31Mar10 Moon Valley, Atacama 60 ˛ Punta Arenas ˛ Puerto Natales 1 Essential Chile Deluxe Twin 1855 1689 1959 Single 3375 3265 3569 Single 1569 1535 1679

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