Arica

Known as the ‘City of the Everlasting Spring’ on account of its generally mild climate throughout the year, Arica is Chile’s northernmost city, situated just 19 kilometres south of the Peruvian border. It is a popular seaside resort for Chileans and Bolivians with a number of nice beaches.

There are some delightful olive orchards and fruit plantations in the Azapa Valley and the principal highlight is the Museo de Arqueologico (Archaeological Museum) which houses a fine collection of regional pre-Columbian artefacts and more importantly the Chinchorro mummies.

There are the mummified remains of a man, a woman and two children in the museum which are just a small part of almost one hundred mummies discovered in one site in 1983. The ancient practice of mummification used here is the oldest form known to the world with most of the mummies dating back two thousand years, but modern radiocabon dating has found this practice was being used as far back as 5000 BC, which is two millenia before the Egyptians first began using the mummification process.

Another interesting site is the hill of El Morro, which is Arica’s most visible feature. This 110 metre high cliff signals the end of the coastal cordillera and offers fantastic views across the city and harbour. At the top of the hill is the Museo Historico y de Armas, which was built on top of a former Peruvian fortification and this was the scene of one of the battles of the War of the Pacific (1879-1884), one of the country’s finest military victories.

You can also visit the central Plaza Colon, dominated by the beautiful Church of San Marcos. This delightful building was designed by none other than Gustave Eiffel and is made entirely from iron and was prefabricated in France before being erected in Arica in 1876. The Aduana (Customs House) is another Eiffel designed property and is a well proportioned building with a pink stone facade and is now used as a cultural centre for the arts.

Our preferred hotels are:

Hotel Arica
Hosteria Las Vicunas (Putre)

Atacama Desert

‘El Norte Grande’ or Chile’s Far North occupies almost one quarter of the country’s terrain yet supports just five per cent of its population and its most dramatic and formidable feature is the Atacama Desert, which is the world’s driest. Stretching south for over 1000 kms from the Peruvian border, this is an area of barren rock and gravel, harsh scrubland pampas and sand dunes and there are parts where no rainfall has ever been recorded. Approaching the cordillera the coastal hills rise to an area known as the altiplano, which is a high windswept plateau of salt flats, lakes and rocky terrain ringed by snow-capped volcanoes.

For centuries man has managed to exist and wrest a living from this hostile environment, either from the sea or from little oases nestling in the desert and altiplano and one such oasis town is San Pedro de Atacama, which has become a popular starting point for a wide range of fascinating trips into this extraordinary region.

Approximately 90 kilometres north of the town is the world’s highest geyser field (4300m) called El Tatio. It is a large flat area containing a huge number of blow holes that send billowing clouds of steam high into the air in the early morning. This is a remarkable spectacle with spray pools surrounding the blowholes, that are particularly striking as they catch the first rays of the sun.

The Valle de la Luna just 15 kilometres to the west of San Pedro offers some dramatic lunar scenery with wind-eroded hills surrounding a crust like valley floor that used to be a lake a long time ago. There is also a vast sand dune which can offer some remarkable views and streaks of rich yellows and reds as the sun starts to set.

The Salar de Atacama is about ten kilometres to the south of San Pedro and is the largest salt flat in Chile. As the waters flow down from the Andes they are trapped by this huge basin covering three thousand square kilometres. The water sits and slowly evaporates leaving a hard crust of saline minerals. There are also a few small lakes including Laguna Chaxa and Laguna Salada which are home to dozens of flamingoes and whose waters are covered by floating plates of salt.

To the south east of San Pedro is a delightful area of azure blue lakes and pretty little villages such as Toconao, Socaire and Peine. The little churches and fields of sunflowers are a highlight as well as the stunning lakes shimmering pink with flamingoes and backdropped by mountains. On the cultural side, the village of Tulor just nine kilometres to the south of San Pedro is the site of some of the earliest known habitations in the region dating back to 800 BC. Just to the north of San Pedro is the town of Quitor, where there are the ruins of a twelve century fortress (pukara).

Our preferred hotels include:
Awasi
Explora Atacama
Tierra Atacama
Alto Atacama
Altiplanico San Pedro

Easter Island

Lost in the vastness of the Pacific Ocean and one of the remotest places on earth, the windswept Easter Island is an extraordinary outpost of humanity which still holds the key to one of civilisation’s most enduring mysteries. This tiny triangular island stretching just 23 kilometres at its widest point is accessed by a five hour flight from Santiago and is home to the world famous Moai, huge monolithic stone sculptures of solemn faces that date back as far as the 2nd Century AD.

Literally hundreds are scattered around the island either standing in rows staring out to sea whilst many others lie flat on their faces, which is thought to be a position of humiliation, brought about by the savage inter-clan warfare that ravaged the island centuries ago when the social fabric of the island broke down due to the population’s inability to continue to feed itself.

Many of the Moai are elaborate in their features and extraordinary in their size (up to 10 metres high and weighing 25 tonnes) and so quite how such a tiny pocket of humanity with no cross-cultural contact with outside influences developed such a sophisticated statue culture is remarkable. Other questions such as how they were moved and erected onto their platforms have still not been fully explained and the resulting mystery ensures these unique statues remain a compelling sight.

The Moai are without question the highlight of a visit to Easter Island, but there are a number of other very interesting places and features to be seen such as the little town of Hanga Roa with its pretty houses, fragrant eucalyptus trees and many extremely elaborate rock carvings and the ceremonial village of Orongo with its associated Birdman legends and the various ceremonial platforms on the island. The marine ecosystem that surrounds Easter Island is renowned for its caves, arches and drop-off cliffs as well as for its abundant coral and colourful tropical fish, so the scuba diving is very interesting here. The island itself is beautiful with spectacular volcanic scenery, sandy beaches and dramatic cliffs that fall hundreds of metres into the ocean below.

Our preferred hotels include:
Explora Rapa Nui
Altiplanico Rapa Nui
Hotel Iorana

Lauca National Park

Arica is the gateway to Lauca National Park, which runs along the Bolivian border in the far north of the country, 160 kilometres away from Arica and the coast. En route to Lauca you can see the extremely slow growing candelabra cactus plants as well as a number of geoglyphs etched into the stone with representations of frogs, humans, birds and a variety of other objects. You can also see the Inca settlement of Poconchile with its lovely 17th Century church.

You then arrive at Lauca National Park, which lies at an altitude of 4400m and is a perfect microcosm of the whole Chilean altiplano as it has all the principal features of snow-capped volcanoes, pretty little white-washed villages, vast panoramas of arid desert scenery, beautiful emerald green lakes and an interesting variety of wildlife including herds of llamas, alpacas, vicunas and vizcachas.

Lying in a dark lava field are Las Lagunas de Cotacotani (Cotcotani Lakes), a series of beautiful emerald green lakes, all interconnected and formed by a number of volcanic eruptions. With an almost lunar like appearance these lakes and the surrounding marsh land are home to a variety of bird species and herds of llamas. Lying at an altitude of 4600m is Lake Chungara, a large and stunning blue lake positioned at the foot of the snow-capped Parinacota Volcano, which is frequented by many types of ducks, geese, giant coot and flamingoes.

This is an area of outstanding natural beauty and although a long drive from Arica (approx. 4 hours), which takes you from sea-level to over 4000m, it is a stunning area and well worth the visit.

Other places of interest en route include The Pukara de Copaquilla, an Inca fortress dating back to the 12th Century. Built on a promontory with stunning views down to a steep, narrow canyon, there are still a number of walls that give a small insight into this once bustling fortification. On the way back you can visit the pretty little village of Parinacota, which is composed of around fifty little white-washed houses and is where the park’s headquarters are based. At its centre is a fabulous stone church dating back to 1789 with white walls, bright blue door and trimmed with yellow and green, a straw roof and a little white bell tower.

Accommodation consists of basic camping or huts only.

Santiago

Santiago is a large and modern capital city of over five million people that sprawls across the wide fertile Central Valley plains with the majestic towering snow-capped Andes as a spectacular backdrop. There is an energy and vibrancy about downtown Santiago which is one of the safest and cleanest of all South American cities and has a number of bustling central plazas, fashionable shopping streets and a number of beautifully landscaped parks that stretch not only along the river, but close to the heart of the city.

The Plaza de Armas dates back to the founding of the city in the 16 th Century and has remained the symbolic heart of the city ever since. This beautiful plaza is also home to the 18th Century colonial cathedral, the Correo Central, palaces and pretty flower gardens whilst all about you are the faces of modern Chile with street performers, singers, old men playing chess, tourists, workers on their lunch break relaxing by the fountain – a perfect place to people-watch and soak up the flavour of the city.

Not far from the Plaza de Armas is the Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino, which is housed in the former Royal Customs House that dates back to 1807 and has recently been beautifully restored. The permanent exhibition is a vast display of pre-colonial artefacts covering ten thousand years of the continent’s artistic and cultural development.

The Palacio de le Moneda on the Plaza de la Constitucion is another of the city’s finest neo-classical buildings and built at the end of the 18th Century by the celebrated Italian architect Joaquin Toesca. Initially used as the Royal Mint, it later became the palace for the presidents of Chile up until 1958 and is now still the official seat of government with the inevitable and colourful changing of the guard ceremony. Other imposing civic buildings include the striking white old National Congress building and the Supreme Court.

Its superb location at the foot of the Andes is perfectly located for easy access to the best ski resorts in South America (see the Skiing Highlight section). Surrounded by fertile plains which are ideal for wine production, there are a number of vineyards within an hour or two’s drive of Santiago, which produce high quality wine and offer fascinating tours (please see the relevant Highlight section.)

Our preferred hotels include:
Lastarria
Le Reve
The Ritz Carlton
Hyatt Regency
Plaza San Francisco
W Hotel

Skiing & Fishing

Within as little as ninety minutes you can have left Santiago and be on the slopes of some of South America’s finest ski resorts.

The skiing season lasts from late June to late September and good quality snow is virtually guaranteed throughout July and August and this is regularly accompanied by hours of sunshine and uncrowded slopes (except for peak holiday weeks).

Valle Nevado is one of the more popular resorts with three principal hotels, many restaurants and bars and many good runs, ski lifts and good equipment hire outlets. Portillo and Chillan are the other two popular and upmarket resorts close to the Argentinian border and attract a rich and glamorous clientele from both sides of the border as well as from overseas.

Over the last few years, Chile has earned a reputation for offering some of the finest fly-fishing in the world with superb fishing water on the rivers, lakes and streams that are so prevalent in the south of the country. The Lake District has traditionally been an angling hub, but recently a number of specialist fishing lodges have opened up in the Carretera Austral region to the south of Puerto Montt.

The season generally lasts from around October to May and the rivers and lakes are home to large numbers of rainbow, brown and brook trout as well as Atlantic and King salmon consequently offering some world-class fishing. Please contact us for further details on suggested lodges and prices.

The Lake District

Stretching from Temuco in the north down to Puerto Montt in the south, the Lake District is a stunning area of outstanding natural beauty boasting lush farmland, dense forest, dozens of crystal clear lakes and snow-capped volcanoes.

This whole area has become one of the country’s favourite playgrounds for those seeking outdoor activities such as walking, canoeing, climbing, fishing, horse riding etc.

The first of the two main tourism centres in the Lake District is Pucon which is based on the eastern shore of Lake Villarrica and a pretty town which acts as a gateway into the Villarrica National Park and a base for a huge variety of outdoor activities.

The second main area of adventure tourism is a little further south and based around Lake Llanquihue, which is close to Vicente Perez Rosales National Park and overlooked by the almost symmetrical perfection of the Osorno Volcano. Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas and the pretty little village of Ensenada are just some of the towns where you can stay.

A typical day’s sightseeing could include a visit to Lake Todos Los Santos, which is one of the most beautiful in the whole of the Lake District and is also known as Emerald Lake on account of its intensely deep green and clear waters. Surrounded by the pine-forested hills of the Vicente Perez Rosales National Park this lake is the gateway to the Argentinian border and lunch can be enjoyed on its beautiful shores.

Later you can drive through the forest to the lower slopes of the Osorno Volcano and walk through the ancient coigue tree forest, which leads not only to the Barbuja crater, but also to the Laguna Verde, a very pretty lake. The lava from the volcano has slowly been eroded over the years into a series of little channels and the Petrohue River that flows out of Emerald Lake is then forced through these channels creating a series of impressive rapids known as the Petrohue Falls. Wild flowers thrive in the area due to the resulting spray of the falls and there are a number of marked nature trails along the river.

Our preferred hotels include:
Antumalal (Pucon)
Quincho Country Home (Puerto Varas)
Cumbres Patagonicas (Puerto Varas)
Puelche Hotel (Puerto Varas)
Cabanas del Lago (Puerto Varas)
Villarrica Park Lake Hotel (Villarrica)
Hosteria Ancud (Chiloe Island)

Tierra del Fuego

Tierra del Fuego, the ‘Land of Fire’ is a vast island at the very tip of the continent and split between Chile and Argentina.

The little Chilean village of Porvenir can be accessed by boat or you can fly from Punta Arenas, but the largest town is Ushuaia on the Argentinian side. Enjoying a rather dramatic location wedged between mountains and the Beagle Channel, Ushuaia is the main gateway to the island’s treasures.

Arguably the island’s principal highlight is the Tierra del Fuego National Park which covers over 630 square kilometres of sub-Antarctic tundra, swampy peat bogs, lakes beech forest and jagged mountain scenery. A visit to Ushuaia is not complete without a boat trip along the Beagle Channel where marine life abounds including sea lions, dolphins, Minke whales, sometime even killer whales and a wide variety of birdlife including giant petrels, albatrosses, Magellanic penguins, skuas and cormorants.

Our preferred hotels are:
Los Cauquenes Hotel (Ushuaia in Argentina)
Las Hayas (Ushuaia in Argentina)

Torres del Paine & Patagonia

Ever since the maritime exploits of Ferdinand Magellan in the 16th Century the area has become synonymous with exploration and legend. Drake, Humboldt, Darwin, Shackleton and Chatwin are just a few of the famous names that have become linked to the area over the centuries and have helped to create its mystique.

From the early explorers seeking the westerly sea-route through to the riches of the East to the scientific voyages of The Beagle, the area has always proved compelling and now the region is becoming extremely popular for visitors looking for some remarkable scenery and great outdoor activities.

Nestling at the southern tip of Chile is Patagonia; a world of vast open pampas, lush forests that explode into colour in Autumn, icy green lakes and waterfalls, glaciers tumbling into lakes, unique wildlife and dramatic mountain peaks…and at the very heart of this is the country’s most spectacular, natural wonder, Torres del Paine National Park.

You can either stay in the National Park or you can stay in either Puerto Natales or the city of Punta Arenas. The park boasts some excellent walking trails that last for anything from a few hours to over a week.

Even during a day trip into the park you can still see some of its greatest highlights including the Grand Falls (Salto Grande) where Lake Nordenskjold falls into Lake Pehoe; the views of the Cuernos del Paine; the Salto Chico where Lake Pehoe drains into the River Paine, the stunning lenga forest en route to Lake Grey where you can enjoy a picnic lunch and lovely views across the Grey Glacier. You can also visit Amarga Lagoon with its stunning views of the main Torres del Paine. The drive to and from the park will take you through a variety of beautiful pampas landscapes, where one can often see many different species of wildlife including guanacos, Darwin’s rhea, condors, water birds and foxes.

Another excellent day trip is to board a cruise boat in Puerto Natales harbour for a visit through the Last Hope Sound (Seno de Ultima Esperanza) towards the Serrano Glacier at the head of the Serrano River. The cruise takes you through some of the world’s wildest, most remote and stunning scenery with the possibility of seeing large cormorant colonies, sea lions and a host of other flora and fauna. You also cruise to the Balmaceda Glacier which offers some equally dramatic viewing of the glacier walls and surrounding landscapes.

It is also possible to cross into Argentina here to see some of the highlights on the other side of the border in the Los Glaciares National Park . At the northern end of the park is the Fitzroy Massif, which is a paradise for climbers and trekkers with some breathtaking mountain scenery. The southern end of the park can be explored from El Calafate where one of the principal highlights is the spectacular Perito Moreno Glacier.

Torres del Paine – our preferred lodges are:
Explora Patagonia
Patagonia Camp
Cerro Guido Lodge
Tierra Patagonia
Hosteria Las Torres
Hosteria Lago Grey

Puerto Natales – our prefered hotels are:
Remota
Indigo
CostAustralis
The Singular

Punta Arenas – our prefered hotels are:
Cabo de Hornos
Jose Nogueira Hotel

Vina del Mar & Valparaiso

A pleasant day trip from Santiago down to the coast through the vineyards and fruit plantations of the Cuacavi and Casablanca valleys, the delightful seaside towns of Vina del Mar and Valparaiso are two of Chile’s best loved coastal resorts.

With its tree-lined avenues and luxury apartments, Vina del Mar is arguably Chile’s most popular and best known beach destination. Full of bars, hotels and restaurants it is a mecca for tourists from throughout Chile and Argentina. Behind the modern, bustling facade there are a number of interesting places to visit including the Quinta Vergara and the Fonck Museum.

The Quinta Vergara is a beautiful park full of of exotic subtropical trees and plants and surrounded by wooded hills. The Fonck Museum is an important museum on account of its interesting pre-Hispanic exhibits and natural history collection, but it is best known for its important collection of Easter Island artefacts including weapons, jewellery and ceremonial items some of which date back over 500 years. There is also an original moai (stone carved face) one of just six that exist outside of the island.

You can head up along the coast road to the pretty little fishing hamlet of Higuerilla and past the beach resorts of Renaca, Salinas and Concon before continuing to the fascinating city of Valparaiso, just to the south of Vina del Mar.

Arguably Chile’s most striking city, Valparaiso is set on a wide coastal bay in an amphitheatre of hills and has been an important port city since the 16th Century, although it was in the early 19th Century that the city rose to prominence and gained great wealth as it lay on the shipping route from Europe to America’s Pacific coast. The opening of the Panama Canal signalled the end of its heyday, but it still remains a busy port in a lovely setting.

Ascensor Artilleria is one of the oldest funiculars, built in 1893 and you take this to the top where you can enjoy some fabulous views across the city and ocean. You can also visit the rambling maize of colourful houses that appear to tumble down the hills at Cerros Alegre.

Another place of interest is La Sebastiana, which is one of Pablo Neruda’s, Chile’s greatest poet, three houses that has been turned into an interesting museum.

Our preferred hotels are:
Casa Higueras
Palacio Astoreca
Zero Hotel

Vineyards & Wine Tours In The Central Valley

The history of wine in Chile began around 1550 a little after its conquest, when Pedro de Valdivia took possession of the country in the name of the King of Spain. Vines were planted soon after this and so it became the first wine producer in the ‘New World’ some 200 years before California and 100 years before South Africa.

The growth of wine making in Chile was quite slow and it was not until the late 19th Century that the introduction of quality French vine stocks finally happened, which improved the quality significantly.

The whole industry then took another major leap forward in the late 20th Century when many vineyards realised that in order to compete on the global stage, they would need to invest heavily in the latest technology. The results are dramatic and now Chile produces some of the finest wines in the world.

Interestingly the wines from the region just to the south of Santiago differ significantly from those produced in the Aconcagua Valley to the north of the city.

A fascinating day’s wine tour takes you down to San Fernando and two of the Colchagua Valley’s most important vineyards, namely Pueblo Antiguo, which was founded by Don Sergio Torreti Rivera in 1978 and La Posada, which was bought in 1905 by Jose Diaz. The tour also includes lunch and some winetasting.

You can also visit the Colchagua Museum, which is a lovely little museum housed in a beautiful colonial hacienda and it has an interesting collection of pre-Columbian pottery, amber and gold, some lovely 19th Century carriages and also a number of historical items dating from the Independence movement and War of the Pacific.

There are a number of other vineyards that can be visited either on day trips or you can stay on a vineyard in the area and all the visits are accompanied by wine experts.

Our preferred hotels include:
Casa Silva
Clos Apalta Lodge
Hacienda Los Lingues
Lapostolle
Santa Cruz Plaza Hotel

Cruises in Patagonia

There are a number of fascinating cruises in southern Patagonia that offer guests the opportunity to see extremely remote, beautiful and otherwise totally inaccesible parts of the coastline. As you glide through the channels and fjords you can see a huge variety of birdlife and marinelife as well as stunning mountains, forests, icefields and glaciers.

Our preferred cruises are:

Skorpios I – 6 night cruise (Saturday – Friday) to/from Puerto Montt

Skorpios II – 5 night cruise (Saturday – Thursday) to/from Puerto Natales

Season: October to April

M/V Stella & Via Australis – 3 night cruise (Wednesday – Saturday) Ushuaia to Punta Arenas

M/V Stella & Via Australis – 4 night cruise (Saturday – Wednesday) Punta Arenas to Ushuaia

Altiplanico Rapa Nui 

Location: Altiplanico Rapa Nui is located on the western side of Easter Island on the edge of Hanga Roa and set in delightful gardens overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Rooms: 16 Bungalows

Facilities: Restaurant, bar and swimming pool

Children: Children of all ages are welcome.

Our View: As with all the properties in the Altiplanico hotel chain, their hotel on Easter Island offers a good 4 star level of service and comfort so a nice property that we recommend at that level.

Altiplanico San Pedro

Location: Altiplanico San Pedro is located just outside the town of San Pedro de Atacama and about a 15 minutes walk into town.

Rooms: 29 rooms

Facilities: Restaurant, bar and swimming pool

Children: Children of all ages are welcome.

Our View: As with all the properties in the Altiplanico hotel chain, their hotel in the Atacama offers a good 4 star level of service and comfort so a nice property that we recommend at that level.

Alto Atacama

Location: Alto Atacama Desert Lodge is located just 3kms outside of the desert oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama.

Rooms: 42 rooms & suites

Facilities: Restaurant, bar, swimming pools, spa and observatory

Children: Children of all ages are welcome.

Our View: Alto Atacama has been built in a traditional adobe style in an amazing location amongst the rocky desert. Very modern, innovative style with great guiding, activities and comfort. A great option in San Pedro.

Antumalal

Location: Antumalal is located in twelve acres of gardens overlooking Lake Villarrica and close to the little town of Pucon.

Rooms: 16 rooms, suites and forests chalets

Facilities: Restaurant, bar, swimming pool & spa

Children: Children of all ages are welcome.

Our View: Built in the 1940′s in the modern Bauhaus style, Antumalal is a small and delightful little hotel enjoying a beautiful location overlooking Lake Villarrica. This is the nicest boutique hotel in the area and perfect for exploring this area of the Lake District – a real gem.

Australis Cruises

Location: Mare & Via Australis operate 3 & 4 night cruises between Punta Arenas and Ushuaia.

Rooms: Via Australis has 64 cabins
Stella Australis has 100 cabins

Facilities: Both ships have a Restaurant, bar, sky lounge, panoramic deck

Children: Children of all ages are welcome.

Our View: The Australis cruise boats offer a unique cruise experience in one of the most remote regions of the world in real comfort and style. A brilliant way to see this part of Patagonia.

Awasi

Location: Awasi in Atacama is located in the oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama.

Rooms: 5 rooms and suites

Facilities: Restaurant, bar, swimming pool

Children: Children of all ages are welcome.

Our View: The key to Awasi’s success is that it is small, exclusive and beautifully run. All clients have private vehicles and guiding and it offers the most exclusive experience in the Atacama. It is one of the more expensive lodges, but it is small, charming and well worth the money.

Casa Higueras

Location: Casa Higueras is perched on the steep slopes of the coastal town of Valparaiso with fabulous views out across the bay.

Rooms: 20 rooms

Facilities: Restaurant, bar, swimming pool

Children: Children of all ages are welcome.

Our View: This small hotel is set in a lovely old 1920′s mansion and is one of the nicest places to stay in Valparaiso. It’s small enough to offer real attention to detail and great service with an excellent restaurant as well as cracking views across the bay.

Explora Atacama

Location: Explora Atacama is located in a quiet area on the edge of the desert town of San Pedro de Atacama.

Rooms: 50 rooms & suites

Facilities: Restaurant, bar, swimming pools & massage room, Sky Observatory and riding stables

Children: Children of all ages are welcome.

Our View: Explora Atacama were the pioneers of sophisticated luxury in Chile and the quality of the guiding, activities, rooms and cuisine is some of the very best in the Atacama. Clients love this hotel and so do we.

Explora Patagonia

Location: Explora Patagonia is located in the heart of the Torres del Paine National Park on the banks of the Salto Chico waterfall.

Rooms: 49 rooms & suites

Facilities: Restaurant, bar, indoor swimming pool with spa & jacuzzis and riding stables nearby

Children: Children of all ages are welcome.

Our View: The Explora Salto Chico Hotel was the first luxury hotel within the Torres del Paine park boundaries and consequently enjoys a beautiful location beside the falls and with stunning views. As with all Explora hotels, it is one of the more expensive options with shared sightseeing, but the quality of the rooms, service, guiding and food is superb.

Explora Rapa Nui

Location: Explora Rapa Nui is located on a hill in the Te Miro Oone area on Easter Island overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Rooms: 30 rooms & suites

Facilities: Restaurant, bar, swimming pool, jacuzzi and massage area

Children: Children of all ages are welcome.

Our View: Explora Rapa Nui continues to offer not only the finest accommodation on the island, but as with all the Explora hotels, some of the very best environmentally friendly practices, guiding and cuisine. This is the hotel of choice on Easter Island.

Hosteria Las Torres

Location: Hosteria Las Torres is located in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park with great views of the Torres peaks.

Rooms: 84 rooms & suites

Facilities: Restaurant, bar, spa, stables

Children: Children of all ages are welcome.

Our View: Hosteria Las Torres is a larger hotel than some, but it still has a smaller hotel feel & atmosphere. It has a great location with no other hotels nearby and perfect for walking or riding straight out of the hotel into the park. Great views and lots of activities – this is an excellent choice.

Lastarria

Location: Lastarria Boutique Hotel is located in the heart of one of Santiago’s most charming and bohemian districts.

Rooms: 14 rooms and suites

Facilities: Deli Lounge bar, gym and walled garden with swimming pool

Children: Children of all ages are welcome.

Our View: This is an historic old house that has been lovingly converted into a small and charming boutique hotel. It is ideally located for restaurants, shopping, museums and galleries and for those wanting a small, good value and exclusive property, Lastarria is perfect !

Le Reve

Location: The hotel is ideally located in the Providencia district the heart of Santiago.

Rooms: 31 rooms and suites

Facilities: Breakfast room & Honesty bar

Children: Children of all ages are welcome.

Our View: This is one of the most charming boutique hotels in Santiago. The building is actually a National Monument with its delightful French architecture and it’s well located for restaurants, shopping etc. We get great feedback from our clients who stay here and it is one of our favourite Santiago hotels.

Patagonia Camp

Location: Patagonia Camp is located beside Lake Toro just outside the park boundary of Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia.

Rooms: 20 luxury tented yurts

Facilities: Restaurant & bar

Children: Children of all ages are welcome.

Our View: Patagonia Camp is a beautiful and unique property with beautiful views out across Lake Toro and across to the Las Torres peaks as well. The cosy yurts are really comfortable and the quality of the food and guiding is excellent. Guests can also go fishing for trout in the lake. This is one of our favourite properties in the Torres del Paine area.

Quincho Country Home

Location: Quincho Country Home is set on the shores of Lake Llanquihue just a few kilometres outside the village of Puerto Varas.

Rooms: 4 large suites

Facilities: Restaurant, sitting area/lounge and bar

Children: Not really suitable for children.

Our View: Quincho Country Home offers the most private and exclusive experience in the Chilean Lake District. With just 4 suites the atmosphere is like a home away from home and the staff are charming. It is on the expensive side, but almost everything is included and the warm welcome and exclusivity easily justify the cost.

The Singular

Location: The Singular Patagonia Hotel is set on the shores of Last Hope fjord just outside the town of Puerto Natales.

Rooms: 57 rooms and suites

Facilities: Restaurant, sitting area/lounge, bar and museum

Children: Children of all ages welcome.

Our View: Since its opening in 2011, The Singular has become Puerto Natales’ most innovative and luxurious hotel. Set within an old post-Victorian cold storage plant, it has been radically refurbished whilst keeping some of its original design features and heritage, so a fascinating hotel from that point of view as well. A great option in our view.

Tierra Atacama

Location: Tierra Atacama is located in a quiet area on the edge of the desert town of San Pedro de Atacama.

Rooms: 32 rooms & suites

Facilities: Restaurant, bar, swimming pool & spa

Children: Children of all ages are welcome.

Our View: Tierra Atacama is a modern, stylish boutique hotel in the heart of the Atacama Desert, close to the oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama. The hotel offers guests a wide range of activities led by experienced guides as well as the chance to relax and enjoy the views and the spa. This is one of the most sophisticated and dynamic properties in the area.

Tierra Patagonia

Location: Tierra Patagonia Hotel & Spa is located on the eastern edge of Torres del Paine National Park.

Rooms: 40 rooms & suites

Facilities: Restaurant, bar, swimming pool & spa

Children: Children of all ages are welcome.

Our View: Tierra Patagonia is a new hotel and sister property to the excellent Tierra Atacama in San Pedro de Atacama. It is a modern stylish hotel and offers an all-inclusive package with excellent cuisine, beautiful light and comfy rooms as well as a wide range of activities led by experienced guides. This is a welcome addition to the relatively few hotels of any quality in the Torres del Paine area and is one of the finest hotels in the area.

The Patagonian Explorer

This fascinating extension to an Argentinan programme takes you overland from the Argentinan border, through some of Patagonia’s wildest and most awe-inspiring scenery. You first head south to the world famous Torres del Paine National Park and the dramatic twisted granite peaks and crashing icebergs of this stunning area.

A flight north to Puerto Montt takes you into the heart of the lake district to enjoy the crystal lakes and snow-capped volcanoes before making the beautiful trans-Andean crossing back into Argentina near to Bariloche.

Day 1 – Cross into Chile – transfer to Torres del Paine N.P – Hosteria las Torres- 3 nights

Day 2 & 3 – At leisure

Day 4 – Fly to Puerto Montt – transfer to Puelche Hotel – 2 nights

Day 5 – At leisure

Day 6 – Spectacular Andean crossing to the Argentinan border by bus

2015 price from £774 per person

(Price based on two people sharing a twin/double room excluding the cost of international flights)

Altiplano Adventure

This wonderful 10 night trip takes you from the cosmopolitan city of Santiago to the lunar landscapes of the high altitude Atacama desert where you spend five days hiking ancient Indian trails of the Altiplano. Accommodation is in a mixture of comfortable hotels and more basic camping, but the trip offers a fascinating insight into this remote world and takes you well off the beaten track.

Day 1 – Fly from London Heathrow to Santiago via Madrid

Day 2 – Arrive Santiago – Plaza San Francisco Hotel – 2 nights

Day 3 – Half day city tour

Day 4 – Fly to Calama – transfer to Altiplanico Hotel- 1 night

Day 5 – Trek from San Pedro to San Bartolo – Camping

Day 6 – Trek from San Batolo to Rio Grande – Camping

Day 7 – Trek from Rio Grande to Machuca – Camping

Day 8 – Drive to Purifica – trek to Termas de Puritama – Camping

Day 9 – Trek to Tatio Geysers – fly to Santiago – Plaza San Francisco- 1 night

Day 10 – Fly to London Heathrow via Madrid

Day 11 – Arrive in London

2015 price from £1,648 per person

(Price based on two people sharing a twin/double room excluding the cost of international flights London/Santiago/London).

Geysers & Glaciers

This 16 night trip starts in the delightful city of Santiago before heading north to explore the remote and stark beauty of the Northern Highlands and the Atacama desert. You then fly south to the Lake District with its snow-capped volcanoes, forests and waterfalls before heading into southern Southern Patagonia to enjoy the dramatic beauty of glaciers and rugged mountains in Torres del Paine which is one of the most stunning National Parks in the world.

Day 1 – Fly from London Heathrow to Santiago via Madrid

Day 2 – Arrive Santiago – Afternoon city tour – Plaza San Francisco – 1 nt

Day 3 – Fly to Arica – Afternoon tour – Arica Panamerica Hotel 1 night

Day 4 – Drive to Putre – sightseeing en route – Qantati Hotel – 1 night

Day 5 – Lauca National Park – Arica Panamerica Hotel – 1 night

Day 6 – Fly to Calama – Transfer to San Pedro de Atacama – Altiplanico – 3 nts

Days 7/8 – In depth exploration of the Atacama Desert

Day 9 – Fly to Puerto Montt via Santiago – Puelche Hotel – 3 nts

Day 10 – Sightseeing Osorno Volcano and Vincente Rosales National Park

Day 11 – Optional activities

Day 12 – Fly to Punta Arenas – transfer to Puerto Natales – Patagonia Camp – 3 nts

Day 13 – Boat trip to Serrano and Balmaceda glaciers

Day 14 – Tour of Torres del Paine National Park

Day 15 – Fly to Santiago – Plaza San Francisco – 1 nt

Day 16 – Fly to London Heathrow via Madrid

Day 17 – Arrive in London

2015 price from £2,972 per person

(Price based on two people sharing a twin/double room excluding the cost of international flights London/Santiago/London).

Fire & Ice

From the lunar environment of the high altitude Atacama Desert to the central region of volcanoes, geysers and thermal springs and on to the glacial senery of the Lake District and the stunning Torres del Paine National Park, this 17 nights itinerary allows you to truly experience Chile’s diverse and unique landscapes.

Day 1 – Fly from London Heathrow to Santiago via Madrid

Day 2 – Arrive Santiago – transfer to Plaza San Francisco – 2 nights

Day 3 – Half day city tour

Day 4 – Fly to Calama – transfer to Altiplanico Hotel- 3 nights

Days 5/6 – In depth exploration of the Atacama Desert

Day 7 – Fly to Temuco – transfer to Pucon – Villarica Park Lake Hotel – 3 nights

Days 8/9 – Volcanoes and Hot Springs

Day 10 – Full day drive to Puerto Varas – Cabanos del Lago – 3 nights

Day 11 – Sightseeing Osorno Volcano and Vincente Rosales National Park

Day 12 – At leisure

Day 13 – Fly to Punta Arenas – transfer to Hosteria Lago Grey – 3 nts

Day 14 – Boat trip on Lago Grey

Day 15 – Tour of Torres del Paine National Park

Day 16 – Fly to Santiago- NOI Vitacura Hotel – 1 night

Day 17 – Fly to London Heathrow via Madrid

Day 18 – Arrive in London

2015 price from £3,3908per person

(Price based on two people sharing a twin/double room excluding the cost of international flights London/Santiago/London).

Southern Carreta Austral

This is the ideal itinerary for those who want to explore the delights of this extraordinary country, but avoid the traditional hotels and instead stay in small, private lodges. This trip takes you way off the beaten track to explore deep Patagonia’s lesser known regions and offers plenty of opportunity to explore and enjoy the wilderness and nature in this area.

Day 1 – Fly from London Heathrow to Santiago via Madrid

Day 2 – Arrive Santiago – Plaza San Francisco – 2 nights

Day 3 – Half Day city sightseeing

Day 4 – Fly to Balmaceda – collect hire car and drive to Puerto Rio Tranquilo – Hostal el Puesto – 2 nights

Day 5 – Full day at leisure to explore the area

Day 6 – Drive to Caleta Tortel – Entre Helios Lodge – 1 night

Day 7 – Drive to Villa O’Higgins – Robinson Crusoe Deep Patagonia Lodge – 2 nights

Day 8 – Full day at leisure to explore the area

Day 9 – Drive to the Chacabuco Valley – The Lodge at Valle Chacabuco

Day 10 – Full day at leisure to explore the area

Day 11 – Fly to Santiago – Plaza San Francisco – 1 night

Day 12 – Fly to London Heathrow via Madrid

Day 13 – Arrive in London Heathrow

2015 price from £1,880 per person

(Price based on two people sharing a twin/double room excluding the cost of international flights London/Santiago/London)

The Best of Chile

This two week trip explores three of Chile’s principal highlights whilst staying in the utmost luxury throughout.

From the Atacama Desert with the El Tatio geyser field, Valle de la Luna and Salar de Atacama in the North to one of the country’s most famous vineyards, the Santa Rita vineyard, south of Santiago and finishing in the heart of the Torres del Paine National Park, one of the world’s most beautiful protected parks this trip really does allow you to experience the very best that Chile has to offer.

Day 1 – Fly from London Heathrow to Santiago via Madrid

Day 2 – Arrive Santiago – private city tour – NOI Vitacura – 2 nights

Day 3 – Full day tour of Vina del Mar and Valparaiso

Day 4 – Fly to Calama – transfer to San Pedro – Awasi – 3 nights

Days 5 & 6 – In depth exploration of the Atacama

Day 7 – Fly to Santiago – Vina Matetic – 2 nights

Day 8 – Half day vineyard tour

Day 9 – Fly to Puerto Montt – Quincho – 3 nights

Days 10 & 11 – Activities in the Lake District

Day 12 – Fly to Punta Arenas – Torres del Paine National Park – Explora Hotel – 4 nights

Days 13 & 14 – In depth exploration of Torres del Paine

Day 15 – Fly to Santiago – NOI Vitacura – 1 night

Day 16 – Fly to London via Madrid

Day 17 – Arrive in London

2015 price from £6,298 per person

(Price based on two people sharing a twin/double room excluding the cost of international flights London/Santiago/London).