364 - Santiago, Lakes District, Torres del Paine & Cruise!

An amazing 12-night program with Santiago and the best of Patagonia!
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12 nights including Santiago, the Lakes District, Torres del Paine and the incredible Skorpios III Cruise

Enjoy this unique 12-night tour that includes Santiago, one of the most important metropolis in South America, capital city and place to visit vineyards and wineries, enjoy great gastronomy and discover places like Viña del Mar and Valparaiso, with the best of the chilean Patagonia. Yes, the program continue to the south, to visit the Lakes District first, with national parks, incredible landscapes of lakes, forests and volcanoes, and Puerto Montt and Puerto Varas as main cities. You also can cross to Chiloe Island and enjoy the local culture. Then, we will continue to Torres del Paine, one of the highlights of Patagonia, where you can enjoy incredible unique trekkings, such the trek to la Base de las Torres, or the W Trekking. From Puerto Natales you also can visit Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers. Finally, the Skorpios III Cruise is an amazing expedition cruise, with disembarkations and soft trekking activities includes. The cruise is fantastic and navigate the southern fjords and glaciers of Patagonia.

Enjoy this incredible program in just 12 nights.

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Itinerary

Day 1

SANTIAGO DE CHILE: Arrival to the capital city

Arrival to Santiago Merino Airport, in Santiago de Chile. The Chilean capital has become a good choice for international business travelers, developing a reputation as a calm and clean city with a good quality of life. It`s one of the most important and populated cities in South America. Most government activities take place in Santiago’s downtown area, which is home to La Moneda (the presidential palace), Plaza de Armas, and the Judicial and Executive Branches. There are also many museums and shopping malls.Districts such as Providencia, Bellavista, Las Condes, and Vitacura offer a dazzling array of businesses, shops, and restaurants as well as a bustling nightlife.

Chile's Flag Santiago is also located near many attractions such as the beach house of poet Pablo Neruda, Isla Negra, ski resorts located around 60 km from the city, spots in the Andean foothills like Cajón del Maipo, the port of Valparaíso, which is about an hour from Santiago, and Viña del Mar and other summer resorts on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. Options for enjoying the mountains and sea are always right at your fingertips in Santiago.

After arrival, transfer to your hotel and check in. Free time for to rest, or may be if you`re interested, you can book any of the optional activities below

Our Suggested Hotels

Day 2

SANTIAGO DE CHILE: Enjoying the best of the capital city

After breakfast, in the morning, our guide will be waiting for us for our first visit. We will enjoy a city tour to discover one of the most modern capitals of South America.

Santiago is a cosmopolitan and vibrant capital that perfectly combines tradition and modernity. The tour will allow you to know the origins of the city and emblematic places like the Cathedral, the Post Office, the Plaza de Armas, and the famous Palacio de la Moneda, the house of the Chilean government. You will discover the traditional neighborhoods of the historic center. We visit Santa Lucía hill, called Huelén by the natives, a real urban oasis in the heart of the center. Learn more about the history of Chile and enjoy privileged views of the capital and the mountains surrounding the city. The second part of the tour will take you to the east, to see the financial area of Santiago, and watch modern buildings. Duration is around 4 hours. Return to the hotel and free time.
Please note, there are many optional activities available for the afternoon. Check options below

Day 3

SANTIAGO DE CHILE: Visiting Viña del Mar and Valparaiso

After breakfast, our guide will be waiting for you to start our visit to Viña del Mar and Valparaiso, in the direction to Chile`s coast. We drive through the country’s main wine- producing areas, so we can admire the vineyard-covered landscapes along the way which is fascinating.  We will stop to take some great photos of this important area.  Again in the route we will continue to the coastal road known as the Camino de la Pólvora, arriving at Valparaíso, considered the cultural capital of Chile and full of colors and unique views of the pier and the city over the hill. We will visit the Muelle Prat, a historic dock filled with dozens of colorful boats. From Plaza Sotomayor, the main gateway to Valparaíso from the sea, you’ll immerse yourself in the old quarter, declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Place.

We will visit the House-Museum of Pablo Neruda, called as La Sebastiana. You’ll then reach Paseo 21 de Mayo, a natural viewpoint at the bottom of the Artillería Hill, where you’ll be able to take in a panoramic view of Valparaíso’s view from the blue sea to the city and the surrounding mountains.

Our next step is the visit to the city of Viña del Mar, whose name in Spanish means “Vineyard of the Sea”. The coastal town is also often called the Garden City, and you’ll soon see why when you visit sights such as the iconic Flower Clock on the side of Castle Hill. Free time for lunch and then, some free time to enjoy the beach, after return to your hotel in Santiago de Chile.

 

Day 4

SANTIAGO: Good bye Santiago!

After breakfast, free time to enjoy the city until your transfer to the airport. If you leave the city in the afternoon or evening, you can choose any of our optional activities you can see below.

Goodbye Santiago!

PUERTO VARAS: Arrival to the Lakes District

Arrival to Puerto Montt Airport or to Puerto Varas pier and transfer to your hotel in Puerto Varas. It`s the starting point for many excellent activities in the lakes district of Chile. Free time to rest. Anyway, if you`re an active person, you can choose any of the optional activities available. Check options below!

Our Suggested Hotels

Day 5

PUERTO VARAS: Visiting Frutillar and Puerto Octay

After breakfast, we will enjoy a full day visit to Frutillar, a city and commune located in southern Chile in the Los Lagos Region. The bay of Frutillar is placed on the banks of Lake Llanquihue, the largest lake entirely within Chile. Frutillar is known as the “City of Music”. The village was founded by Vicente Pérez Rosales in 1856, after a period of clearing up the land and upon the arrival of German settlers from Hamburg in 1852 and other cities of Germany in sailing ships to the ports of Valdivia and Puerto Montt.

Vicente Perez Rosales on a later expedition towards the south of Valdivia changed the course of the incoming colony to Lake Llanquihue. Rosales was searching for more land for the German settlers, south of Valdivia, as many sailing ships were arriving to the port of Valdivia from Germany sent by Bernardo Philippi under the official colonisation program of Southern Chile. This program was granted by President Manuel Bulnes and executed by president of Chile Manuel Montt naming officially Vicente Perez Rosales the head of the German colonisation of Llanquihue, as a continuation of the initial efforts done by Bernard Philippi.

There is an interesting local german museum. Travel back in time as you browse exhibits with your guide and then enjoy free time to wander around the town at your leisure. Return to your hotel in Puerto Varas and free evening. Overnight.

Day 6

PUERTO VARAS: Visiting Chiloe Island

After breakfast, we will start our full-day tour to Chiloe Island. We will take the route to the south for about 130 kilometres to arrive to a small town called Pargua. Once in this city, we take a ferry that will allow us to cross the Chacao Canal and reach the Isla Grande de Chiloe. Chiloé Island is the second largest island in Chile, after the Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego, and the fifth largest in South America. We will go to Chacao, one of the oldest villages of the island founded in 1567 which has a typical square where stands a curious and picturesque building of strong color. We will visit the old and interesting church.

The Churches of Chiloé are a unique architectural phenomenon in the Americas, and one of the most prominent styles of Chilota architecture. Unlike classical Spanish colonial architecture, the churches of Chiloé are made entirely in native timber with extensive use of wood shingles. The churches were built from materials to resist Chiloé Archipelago’s humid and rainy oceanic climate. The churches represent the fusion of European Jesuit culture and local native peoples’ skill and traditions: an excellent example of mestizo culture.

The Churches of Chiloé were designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2000. The University of Chile, Fundación Cultural Iglesias de Chiloé and other institutions have led efforts to preserve these historic structures and to publicize them for their unique qualities

We will go to the city of Ancud, to visit the Plaza de Armas, the Church, the crafts market, the Museum, the Gulf of Quitalmahue, Cerro Huaihuén and Fort San Antonio, historic site located in the uptown built in the late eighteenth century, all in the midst of stories of customs and myths of one of the larger islands of South America. Ancud is the second largest city of Chiloé Archipelago after Castro. It was established in 1768 to function as the capital of the archipelago and held that position until 1982.

Later we will go to Castro, capital of Chiloé Island. Castro is Chile’s third oldest city in continued existence. Rodrigo de Quiroga as the temporary governor of Chile in 1567 launched a campaign led by his son in-law Captain Martín Ruiz de Gamboa to conquer Chiloé Island, establishing the city of Castro there, and pacifying its inhabitants, the Cuncos. From its founding on 12 February 1576 until 1767 Castro was the administrative centre of Chiloé Island. In 1594 Castro had 8.000 inhabitants most of whom were farmers. Up to the mid of the 17th century the town was looted by Dutch pirates several times. In 1767, during the time of the Bourbon Reforms that sought to modernize the Spanish Empire, Chiloé was separated from the General Captaincy of Chile to which it had previously belonged and made a direct subject of the Viceroyalty of Peru.

The town hall and many of the wooden palafitos houses ( typical constructions made wooden pillars on water), were destroyed or damaged by the earthquake and the tsunami of 1960. Only in 1982 did Castro regain its role as capital in Chiloé Archipelago.

We will visit the local Church which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000, handicrafts market and the Mirador del Barrio Gamboa to appreciate the famous “Palafitos”. We finish our tour visiting Dalcahue, famous for its craft fair on Sundays where locals bring from the outer islands of the archipelagos the most varied handicrafts for marketing. During the tour we will have time for lunch in a typical restaurant Chiloé Island. It`s a full day trip. Return to your hotel in Puerto Varas and overnight.

Day 7

PUERTO VARAS: Good bye lakes district!

After breakfst, free time to enjoy  Puerto Varas, until your tranfser to airport or local pier. There are many optional activities you can choose if you leave the city in the afternoon or the evening. Take a look to the list below

Good bye Puerto Varas!

PUERTO NATALES: Arrival to the Ultima Esperanza Sound

Arrival to Puerto Natales bus station or Punta Arenas Airport and transfer to your hotel in Puerto Natales. The city is located at the opening of Ultima Esperanza Sound, and from here you will visit amazing places sush as Torres del Paine National Park or Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers. After check in, free time to enjoy walking the city, or just rest to be ready for the next day.

Our Suggested Hotels

Day 8

PUERTO NATALES: Excursion to Torres del Paine National Park

After breafkst, we will start one of the best excursions you can do in Patagonia. Yes, it`s the visit to Torres del Paine National Park. So, after picking up all the passengers from their accommodations, the tour starts around 8:00 am ready to take the first pictures. Our first destination is Milodon’s Cave, the place where in 1895were found remains of a prehistoric animal, and nowadays there is a replica of that mammal together with detailed information of the glaciological process of how the cave was formed.
After this, we will go to Cerro Castillo to have a short break and enjoy snack services, coffee shops and souvenir stores.

From that point, we will go to Torres del Paine Park where the first natural sceneries we will see are: Sarmiento Lake Lookout, Paine’s towers, Paine’s horns and Almirante Nieto Hill. Regarding fauna, the most predominant animals you will see are guanacos, lesser rhea and condors, considering that in the park also live foxes, hares, rufous-collared sparrow and the lion of America: the mountain cat.

Inside the park we will know the turquoise lakes such as Pehoé and Nordenskjold, waterfalls and mountains covered in ice. A walk of 15 minutes is necessary to get close to Salto Grande waterfall.

After lunch, the visit continues with a walk along the shore of the Grey Lake from where you can see small icebergs and at the back the great Grey glacier. Depending on the needs, the return can be on the same route or else using the new road and leave you at you accommodation place. Free time and overnight

Day 9

PUERTO NATALES: Choice of activitites available!

After breakfast, we keep the day free, so you can choose any of the optional activities you can find in the list below.

Day 10

PUERTO NATALES: Good bye Ultima Esperanza Sound!

After breakfast, fee time to enjoy Puerto Natales until your transfer to the bus station or Punta Arenas Airport to continue with your itinerary.

Remember to add an unforgettable Cruise Expedition aboard Skorpios III Cruise and visit southern glaciers and fjords in the Chilean Patagonia!

 

SKORPIOS III - PUERTO NATALES: Embarkation and departure

Passenger reception starts at 17.15 hrs and after that, we will take a safety speech about the vessel. You´re aboard the Skorpios III Cruise to enjoy an unforgettable expedition cruise to the southern channels and fjords of Patagonia.  Departure from Puerto Natales will be between 17.30 hrs. and 18.00 hrs. We start sailing through Angostura Kirke, Morla, Vicuña, Unión, Collingwood, and Sarmiento channels. It´s our first day. Relax with the views and be ready to enjoy dinner aboard.

 

Day 11

SKORPIOS III - Enjoy El Brujo and Amalia Glaciers!

On our second day, we will arrive at Amalia Glacier around 8 am. So be ready after your breakfast, because your cruise will approach the glacier and you will enjoy an incredible experience. First, we will enjoy a panoramic view from the ship, and around 09.30 am, we will disembark on a nearby beach, to start soft hiking through the beach, to learn more about local flora, fauna, and rocks,  and arriving at a viewpoint where we can appreciate this beautiful glacier.

After that, and around 11.30 am, we will start navigation to El Brujo Glacier. Around 2 pm and if weather and ice permitting, passengers can disembark and contemplate this incredible glacier from a nearby rock.

Around 3,30 pm we sail to the amazing Calvo Fjord.  and around 5 pm we will arrive at Calvo Fjord and start excursion aboard the “Capitán Constantino” icebreaker, an appropriate ship to navigate in the iced waters. We visit the Fernando, Capitán Constantino, and Alipio glaciers, among others. Around 8 pm we sail towards Montañas Fjord. We complete a full day of activities enjoying this incredible place of Patagonia. Be ready for dinner and overnight.

 

 

Day 12

SKORPIOS III CRUISE: Enjoying more glaciers and fjords of Patagonia!

After breakfast, and around 9 am, we will visit Montañas Fjord, from where we can see four amazing glaciers, that slide down the Sarmiento Mountains to the sea, two of them are on our route.

After that, around 09.30 am, we will visit Alsina Glacier. Again, we will disembark to enjoy an excursion on our boats, to explore this small bay and its glacier, enjoying its beauty and enormous mountains surrounding the area. At 10.30 am approx, we return to Skorpios III and continue sailing through Montañas Fjord toward Bernal Glacier.

At 11.15 am we disembark in Bernal Glacier to initiate a soft walking in a small native forest, and then crossing through a stream, which crosses a glacier water lagoon. Continue soft hiking over front and side moraines until arriving at the glacier. Once there, passengers can feel and touch the ice and appreciate the iceberg melting. You will see ice, ice, and more ice!

12.45 am. Passengers return to the ship, which is in the natural water supplying phase. This water, provided from a cascade, is used onboard for all ship services and around 2 pm, Skorpios III continues sailing through Montañas Fjord. We will be able to see Herman and Zamudio glaciers from the ship. Be ready to take incredible photos!

Around 5.45 pm, we arrive to White angostura. Disembarkation in our zodiacs to sail among island and islets, enjoying the native fauna and flora. Around 7 pm we return to the ship. Free time to be ready for the Captain’s dinner arouund 9 pm.  Farewell Party. Captain’s Dinner and dance. Navigation through Almirante Montt gulf.

 

 

Day 13

SKORPIOS III CRUISE: Return to Puerto Natales

On our last day, we will arrive in Puerto Natales between 02.00 hrs. and 07.00 hrs. depending on wind conditions, to reach Skorpios Terminal back in Puerto Natales

Between 8 and 9,30 am, and after breakfast, passengers are ready for disembarkation in Puerto Natales Terminal.

Note: The program and schedules may change depending on weather conditions or force majeure. Also, disembarkations will depend on the authorization of the captain of the ship who will evaluate the safety and ice conditions of each place. Timings of lectures and activities will be informed during the sailing.

If you continue with us, in an organized tour, we will transfer you to the airport in Punta Arenas, or hotel in Puerto Natales, or Puerto Natales bus station, to continue with your itinerary. If you only booked the cruise, end of our services. 

End of our services. We can personalize your program, by adding or deleting nights, add new destinations, or make any necessary change. Just let us know. Optional activities you can see below each day, are just suggested options. You can add any of these activities to your quotation, or ask for any other available in each destination.

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MENDOZA EXTENSION PROGRAM

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DAY 1 – Arrival to Mendoza, gate to the wine country
DAY 2 – City Tour with visits to vineyards and wineries in the area of Lujan de Cuyo
DAY 3 – Excursion to the incredible High Andes, approach the unique Aconcagua Mount!
DAY 4 – Good bye Mendoza!

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SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA EXTENSION

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DAY 1 – San Pedro de Atacama. Welcome!
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It`s just a suggested program, we can make any change you need.

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