Marvels of Chile

Arrive in Santiago, the dynamic capital of Chile, where you are met and transferred to your hotel, enjoying guaranteed early check-in. This afternoon, remain at leisure to relax or explore the city on your own. Tonight, after a welcome briefing, enjoy dinner at the private home of an art lover and chef who has appeared on MasterChef Chile, a nationally viewed competitive cooking television show. Relish every moment as she delights you with dishes prepared with locally sourced ingredients and paired with superb Chilean wines — a firsthand introduction to life in Chile, with great food and lively conversation to be savored.

This morning, set out on a walking tour of Santiago with a local expert guide. Stroll the streets and neighborhoods, marveling at the outstanding architecture, inspired by the art and culture you encounter. Begin in front of the presidential palace, La Moneda, and proceed to the historical Court of Justice and National Congress to reach the Plaza de Armas. Proceed to the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art for an introduction to the main pieces of the collection. Next, drive out into the countryside to the nearby wine district, for a visit to a vineyard, where you sample the organic and biodynamic wines produced on site. Enjoy a Chef ’s Table experience with a delicious lunch served by the vineyard’s chef. Afterward, tour the winery to learn about each stage of the winemaking process as well as the challenges of managing a biodynamic farm. Enjoy a brief street art tour in Santiago’s Bellavista neighborhood before returning to your hotel.

This morning, fly to Temuco, gateway to the gorgeous Chilean Lake District. Proceed overland to Pucón, a lakeside town surrounded by forested hills, to check in to your luxurious hotel. Set in an idyllic location, on a sprawling estate in a park on the shores of the Liucura River, it is surrounded by snow-capped volcanoes. It is adorned with natural lagoons, flowing rivers and sensational views, and boasts a modern working farm and an organic vegetable garden on site. The Lake District, known locally as Los Lagos, is exceptional in its beauty, even for a country such as Chile that is noted for its stunning scenery. The white of the snow on the region’s conical volcanic peaks contrasts vividly with the clear, blue-green glacial water that fills its many lakes. Picturesque villages and vast swaths of rugged forest beckon visitors to set out to explore it in a variety of ways including walking, biking and horseback riding. Tonight, enjoy a private wine tasting at your hotel, hosted by a sommelier, an exclusive way to experience the region’s most renowned bounty.

During your two-day stay here, experience the natural beauty of the hotel’s pristine surroundings. Enjoy a spectacular array of curated cultural activities and outdoor excursions. Privately tour a cheese factory to see what goes into creating its premium Parmesan, Gruyère and Camembert, and marvel at the massive wheels of aging cheese on display. You may also create your own exciting adventure as you select from a wide range of inspiring experiences, perhaps setting out to discover the mystic ambience of the ancient Mapuche territories on your own. Extending from southern Chile into western Argentina, this area remains the home of Chile’s indigenous peoples, whose collective history dates back to 600 BC. Or choose from more active options, such as rafting on the Trancura River, floating on Villarrica Lake, trekking in the Cordilleras or hiking in a nearby natural park. On the evening of Day 5, savor a private dinner that features a chef-led cooking demonstration just for your group.

Fly to the northern Chilean town of Calama via Santiago. Upon arrival, you are met and transferred to your amazing lodge near the quaint oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama. Surrounded and embraced by the Cordillera de la Sal (Salt Mountains), luxurious Alto Atacama rests in the driest place on earth, the Atacama Desert. Its design borrows from local architecture to help it blend seamlessly into its surroundings. Appearing almost as if it were part of the natural rock ridge looming over it, it is a sanctuary of tranquility and quiet, offering its guests sweeping desert views. In the late afternoon, enjoy a private excursion to the Valley of the Moon, a spectacular geological formation created through the conflicting pressure of the Andes and Domeyko Cordillera. Refresh with a cocktail, enjoying a Scenic Sundowner as the setting sun paints the stark surroundings in flaming oranges and pinks.

Early this morning, enjoy a private breakfast in the beautiful, natural location of Laguna Tebinquinche, sitting beside its crystal clear salt waters, surrounded by imposing mountains, to witness the intense contrast of color, texture and shadow of a high Andean sunrise. Watch as the landscape appears to shift and change as the sun rises and the light levels move across the plains. Later, enjoy one of these Design Your Day activities. Mountain Bike Along Winding Paths and through the gorges of Cordillera de la Sal, taking in the inspiring views. Walk in the High Catarpe, experiencing scenic lookouts and viewing age-old petroglyphs and rock carvings. Take a Rock Art Excursion to explore caves and view the mineral-colored hills and cliffs of the Rainbow Valley. Additional activity options are also available. Tonight, take advantage of one of the best locations on earth for stargazing, beholding the spectacular majesty of the Milky Way through some of the clearest skies in the world.

Today, visit the pre-Columbian archaeological site of Pucará Quitor, a mud and stone fortress dating from the 12th century. Built by the local atacameños to defend themselves from attack by other towns and, later, the invading Spanish, it offers commanding views over the San Pedro River valley. Walk its ruins and perhaps imagine the valiant battles once fought upon its weathered ramparts. This afternoon, relax at your leisure or select from the variety of included excursions available, such as biking, a trek of the Catarpe Valley or a guided hike up to the Toco Volcano. This evening, visit the picturesque town of San Pedro de Atacama before your farewell dinner.

Enjoy a morning at leisure, free to simply relax or take advantage of one of the half-day activities available at Alto Atacama. Eat lunch at your lodge. Later, transfer to Calama airport to fly to Santiago, and then board your departing flight home.