Chile Intensive - Rough Patagonia, Cone-Shaped Volcanoes and the Driest Desert in the World

Pulse of the capital

Welcome to Chile! You arrive in the capital of the narrow Andean country and head for your accommodation. Gather yourself after your long flight and follow the energetic pulse of the metropolis. Here in Santiago beats the heart of Chile. And at the same time, at the foot of the snow-covered mountains and not far from the mighty ocean, you feel what gave this country its name according to a legend: Chilli - where the world ends.

Past, present and future of the country

Glorious buildings and busy commerce on the streets, flourishing parks and modern high-rise complexes come together in Santiago. Here, Chile's past, present and future collide directly. In the first half of the day, your city guide takes you to the traditional center and introduces you to the bright Plaza de Armas with its popular cathedral, the government palace La Moneda and the green city hill Santa Lucía. You browse Santiago's trendy districts before getting to know the elegant facade of the metropolis. The afternoon is free to delve into Chile's art and history by visiting the exhibition hall of Bellas Artes or the Museo de la Memoria.

In the middle of the Andes in front of Santiago

The Andes tower sturdily to the east of Santiago. Condors fly over the white mountain ridges and volcanoes lie in a nebulous sleep. The secrets of the Andean habitat of central Chile get revealed on your excursion to the Cajón del Maipo. Through the narrow Maipo Valley snakes the same-named river, which you follow up to the friendly Andean town of San José de Maipo. Deeper in the mountains, a glacier boasts between the peaks. And the peaceful secrecy of the Yeso Dam seems like a counterpoint from the excited yet close capital.

Into the heart of Patagonia

You move on to the extreme south of Chile. After a domestic flight you land in Punta Arenas and head to Puerto Natales. Here is the gateway to the grandiose phenomena of Patagonia. Before entering more intensively into this enthralling nature, first get absorbed by the vivid and dreamy mood of the town. Have a walk along the promenade of the Fjord Última Esperanza and breathe in the fresh air of the fissured tip of South America.

Mountains, glacial ice and lakes of Torres del Paine

It is one of the most significant attractions of the continent and a valued destination for hiking enthusiasts around the world: the famous Torres del Paine National Park. Discover the highlights of this nature reserve on a guided tour. Turquoise lakes and jagged granite mountains, floating ice floes and grazing guanacos combine to create an incomparable scenery of Patagonia.

Fjord trip to Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers

Today you enjoy the fascination of Patagonia by water. On a boat trip, you cruise on the Fjord Última Esperanza to the glaciers Balmaceda and Serrano in the Bernardo O'Higgins National Park. On your tour across the strait, look out for steep mountains, colonies of sea lions and cormorants, southern beech forests and small waterfalls. It is rough out here and magical.

Massive Perito Moreno Glacier in the Argentinean Patagonia

For many travelers, the visit to the Moreno Glacier is the crowning glory of their South America trip. Without a doubt, the view of the imposing and seemingly endless massif of ice is breathtaking. On your today's day tour to the Perito Moreno Glacier in the Argentine Patagonia, the five to six hour drive each way demands patience from you, but you get rewarded with a singular natural spectacle. From time to time, you hear a powerful cracking sound as parts of the glacier break into the water. And you get that special feeling of a certain tininess in relation to this mighty and seemingly carefree nature that embraces you here.

The end of the world

You travel to Punta Arenas, one of the southernmost cities on earth. Here, in front of the Strait of Magellan and facing the island of Tierra del Fuego, you are in a truly historic place. Epochs of great adventures, booming trade and terrible tragedies characterize Punta Arenas as much as the fresh wind that sweeps through its streets. This is where the American continent ends. And that is how it feels.

King Penguins on Tierra del Fuego

Your excursion to Tierra del Fuego starts with an approximately two-hour ferry ride across the famous Strait of Magellan. On the legendary island, you make a stop in Porvenir. The municipal museum explains the origins of civilization in this frosty region. Afterwards, you encounter the remarkable penguin colony in Pingüino Rey Park. King Penguins with orange beaks and up to nearly one meter tall, breed in groups, waddle around and groom their plumage. There is a special aura that pervades Tierra del Fuego, which you soak up here and on your way back through the sparsely populated landscape.

Magic of the Lake Region

The midpoint of Chile's Lake Region awaits you. Puerto Varas carries its own magic with its panorama of the sparkling Lago Llanquihue and the snowy volcanoes on the horizon, with German architecture and inviting cafes. Saunter through the quaint core of the town, pause on the lakeshore and devote all your senses to this extraordinary concord.

Waterfalls of Río Petrohué and active Osorno Volcano

On your excursion of today, you follow the southern shore of the Llanquihue Lake to Chile's oldest National Park, Vicente Pérez Rosales. Inexhaustible rapids of Río Petrohué break over the volcanic rocks and roar impetuously. Afterwards, you focus on the magnificent heritage of Chilean tectonics. With its cone shape and snow-capped dome, Volcán Osorno looks like something out of a picture book. You drive up to the ski station of the volcano and surrender to the great perspectives on the huge, deep blue Lago Llanquihue.

The unique island of Chiloé

Chiloé holds a very special nature and culture. Colorful stilt houses line the shores of the country's second largest island. Wooden churches, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, dominate the image of the villages just as indigenous mythology influences their inhabitants. And the local maritime gastronomy is particular. All this expects you during your day tour on Chiloé.

Sealed Villa Peulla on Lago Todos los Santos

Feel the gentle as well as vigorous essence of the Lake Region. From Petrohué you cross the iridescent Lake Todos los Santos. Round views of volcanoes, dense forests and the snowy Andes appear on your boat trip to Villa Peulla. This tranquil village in the middle of Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park is completely cut off from the outside world and accessible only by water. On your free afternoon, you can study its truly privileged environment on your own, or you join an optional kayak tour, horseback ride, or waterfall hike.

The veins of the driest desert in the world

Steaming geysers, bizarre lunar landscapes, majestic volcanoes and the magical starry sky – this and more is presented by the Atacama Desert around the oasis of San Pedro de Atacama, which welcomes you. First, get to know the special charm of this bustling little town. With its isolated vitality, San Pedro appears like the central vein of the driest desert in the world. Experience instantly this duality of such a lively place in a seemingly hostile environment.

Andean lagoons, Salar de Atacama and Piedras Rojas

In the solitude of the Atacama Desert, mirror-like mountain lagoons spread out over 4,000 meters above sea level, which you tackle in the morning. Pink-feathered flamingos gather on the shores of Andean waters, watched over by cone-shaped volcanoes. The copper-colored rock formations of the Piedras Rojas contrast sharply with the turquoise tones of the remote Salar de Talar. And between small desert settlements with traditional adobe architecture stretches the crusted salt field of the immeasurable Salar de Atacama.

Bubbling Tatio Geysers and views into the starry sky

Before sunrise you start your tour to the famous Tatio Geysers. You enter the Andes and ride to the craters of the El Tatio Volcano at about 4,300 meters above sea level. Smoke rises from the bubbling geysers, in which you can bathe at dawn, while vicuñas and rheas roam the mountains. With these versatile impressions of the Atacama Desert you return to San Pedro, where you let the pictures of this unreal nature sink in. Or you join an astronomical excursion on your own. Here you quickly understand why this region is considered one of the world's best starting points for star researchers.

The range of colors of the desert and moon landscapes

The name of the Valle del Arcoíris is symptomatic: the rock stratifications created by clay and minerals resemble a rainbow in the middle of the desert. Reddish, green, yellow and white earth tones merge into a splendid play of colors, which you observe up close during the circuit of your half-day tour. The road leads along a small farming and artisan settlement, curious mountain ranges and the indigenous petroglyphs of Yerbas Buenas. In the afternoon you focus on the Valle de la Luna, whose name suggests the structure of the terrain: this fascinating desert scenery looks like a lunar landscape, like the ground of an alien planet. As the sun dips on the horizon and the surreal salt mountains darken to a reddish blue, you climb the sandy dunes and let yourself be captivated by this preeminent show of Mother Earth.

Miniature of Chile's diversity

Your journey continues to Valparaíso. The port city is known for its colorful tin-clad houses perched on its many hills, its historic elevators, and views of the dazzling ocean in front of the broad mountain silhouette. Meander attentively through the winding sidewalks of this freedom-loving coastal metropolis and scale Valparaíso's myriad, exhilaratingly designed stairways. Or you may spontaneously decide to take a short boat trip in the Pacific Bay and contemplate the aesthetics of this extroverted place from the sea.

Over the hills of the port city and insights into the traditional cuisine

Today you first get an impression of the Chilean food culture. During a guided tour, you buy the necessary ingredients in the large city market of Valparaíso and learn step by step how to prepare a delicious traditional dish. Afterwards, you meet with your personal city guide who shows you the many faces of Valparaíso. You ride jolting elevators up the hills and walk the UNESCO World Heritage-listed city center. Discover outstanding street art full of politics and irony and get background on the port city's turbulent history.

Chilean wines and the fishing village Quintay

Chile is globally honored for its excellent wine culture. On your tour, you visit one of the prestigious wineries of central Chile in the Casablanca Valley. Here you gain interesting glimpses into local viticulture and during an optional tasting you literally get a flavor of what makes Chilean wine so special. In the second part of the day, the delightful Quintay opens its doors to you. Encircled by pine forests, smooth hills and the shimmering Pacific Ocean, small restaurants offer fresh fish in the village's bay. And during a leisurely walk along the sandy beach, you can listen to the harmonious sound of the sea and the singing of the seagulls.

Goodbye to Chile

Today your journey ends. You go to the airport of the Chilean capital. From there you travel home, full of new impressions of this special piece of earth.