The key moments
Chile is a very stretched country and distances are very long. Therefore we propose you this 16 day-trip which concentrates on the Must-See-Sites of Southern Chile!
Of course, we include as it is our philosophy, the time to live the traditions and the culture of the country through cultural visits and meetings with local communities.
Between several days in the Torres del Paine National Park and sea excursions around the Isla Grande de Chiloé, you will be amazed by the harshness of the climate and the associated landscapes and the warm welcome of the inhabitants!
- Private driver and English speaking guide, but also transfers by bus or small group
- 3 star hotels
- Visit of the city of Santiago
- Torres del Paine National Park
- Isla Grande of Chiloe
- Valley of Maipo with its wine production
Detailed itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival in Santiago, capital of Chile
You arrive at the airport of Santiago, the capital city of Chile, with your international flight. Our driver picks you up and drives you to your hotel.
The afternoon is free.
Included: transportation, room and breakfast
Day 2 – Transfer – Flight – Bus – Hostal Alcazar
In the morning transfer from your hotel to Santiago airport for your flight to Punta Arenas (duration of flight approx 3 hours 30 minutes).
Arrive in Punta Arenas in southern Chile. You will take a bus that will take you to Puerto Natales (about 3 hours 15 minutes).
Included: transportation, national flight, room and breakfast
Day 3 – Condor Watching Cerro Mirador
This morning you leave Puerto Natales for Estancia Mercedes.
At Cerro Mirador you will have the opportunity to follow the path of the elders to immerse yourself in the abundant native forest with an impressive flora and fauna (especially birds). You will arrive at the foot of Cerro Mirador, a nesting place of the majestic national bird, the Condor, which you can see very closely if they rest.
The duration of this excursion is 10 hours and the difficulty is average, but you can always ask to make another excursion according to your interests or to make a horseback trip.
Tonight you enjoy a delicious dinner that your host has prepared for you at Estancia.
If you wish, ask for the typical grilled lamb on fire (Asado de cordero al palo).
Included: transportation, excursion, local guide, lunch, dinner, room and breakfast
Day 4 – Hike to Turbales waterfall
This excursion revives an old hiking path that led to Puerto Natales. It was followed by the ancestors who inhabited this territory and at the end of this beautiful walk you will find a magical waterfall.
The duration of this excursion is 10 hours and the difficulty is average, but you can always ask to make another excursion according to your interests or to make a horseback trip.
Tonight you enjoy a delicious dinner that your host has prepared for you at Estancia.
Included: transportation, excursion, local guide, lunch, dinner, room and breakfast
Day 5 – Transfer – Hosteria Pehoe
After your breakfast, you leave the Estancia Mercedes and you take the opposite way to Puerto Natales. From here you take the bus to Hosteria Pehoe (about 2 hours) in the park of Torres del Paine.
Included: transportation, room and breakfast
Day 6 – Full Day Excursion to Torres del Paine, Chile
During this trip, you will enjoy a full day excursion in the National Park of Chile with a small group. It is an excellent option to visit most of this amazing and pristine land, starting with the Serrano River with an unobstructed view of the Paine Mountain Range. Later, you will make a short hike to Gray Lake to observe the glacier and many icebergs. You will then visit the information center to learn more about the park’s ecosystem.
Lunch will be served in the Cascada Paine area, where you can observe the majestic peaks of Torres del Paine. On the way back, and weather permitting, you will visit the waterfalls of Salto Grande.
Included: excursion, English speaking guide, lunch, transportation, room and breakfast
Day 7 – Excursion of your choice in Torres del Paine
You will have breakfast at the lodge and then leave for a new walk. The transport will take you to Pudeto and then you will take a catamaran that will leave you at Paine Grande, to start your hike.
Today, you have two options:
- The hike Valle Fránces, with its incredible views of Cerro Catedral, Cerro Aleta de Tiburón and much more.
- Hike in the gray glacier, where you can admire this imposing white giant and its landslides in the water.
Duration: 9-10 hours Difficulty: Medium
Included: transport, excursion, english speaking guide, room and breakfast
Day 8 – Day trip from Hosteria Pehoe to Puerto Natales to Puerto Montt
Today is a day of travel. You leave in shared transfer to go from Hosteria Pehoe to Puerto Natales in 2 hours. From Puerto Natales take a bus to reach Punta Arenas (about 3 hours 15 minutes). Here you take a flight to Puerto Montt which will last 2 hours 20 minutes.
Our driver picks you up to take you to the hotel.
Included: transportation, national flight, room and breakfast
Day 9 – Ceramic activity with Elvia
This morning you leave Puerto Montt for the Big Island of Chiloé (about 2 hours by bus). On the way you will cross the Chacao Canal by ferry and admire the seascapes. Arrival at destination, you go for a tour of the island with your private transfer.
After a delicious lunch in an organic restaurant and run by a family, you will meet Elvia. Together with her you go for a nice hike on the coast of the island by the forest and the beach. Elvia is a local ceramist, she will take the time to teach you how to choose clay for her work!
Then you return to your hotel for a shark dinner and rest.
Included: transport, bus, lunch, local guide, dinner, room and breakfast
Day 10 – Boat Tour for Wildlife Viewing – Meal Preparation – Guided Hike
This morning you leave with your private transfer to discover the island.
The Southeast Pacific is a unique marine ecosystem due to the presence of the Humboldt Current, which comes directly from Antarctica. This makes these cold waters the most fertile in the world.
After breakfast, you will go to the fishing village of Puñihuil and enjoy a boat trip to observe the fantastic fauna of the nearby coastal areas: dozens of species of birds and marine mammals, sometimes including whales.
Later, you will go to the city of Colo and participate in the preparation of the Curanto, a traditional meal in Chiloe, which includes many seafood and the famous local potatoes, which gave the island the declaration of SIPAM, Agricultural Heritage of World Importance by FAO.
Then you go for a hike through Tenaún: Stroll through the small town of Tenaún and its surroundings. Relax with Héctor, our local guide, who will take you on a gentle trail along the coast and small hills.
Finally return to your family hotel for a typical dinner « Once chilena ».
Included: transportation, excursion, lunch, local guide, dinner, room and breakfast
Day 11 – Bird watching – Beach cleaning
Another day of discovery!
With your hosts Zarapitos, after breakfast, you will realize bird watching activities, knowing the different pelagic and aquatic species that populate the bay and marshes nearby.
You will have lunch in Zarapitos in a family restaurant.
Then you meet Hector Llanquin who will help you to discover the local environment. He will work with you to clean the local beach while teaching you life and navigation in the inland seas.
Return to the hotel for dinner and rest.
Included: transportation, excursion, lunch, local guide, dinner, room and breakfast
Day 12 – Return from Chiloë to Santiago
This morning you leave Chiloé by bus to Puerto Montt (about 2 hours). Then our driver will take you to the airport for your flight to Santiago.
Transfer to your hotel.
Included: transportation, bus ride, national flight, room and breakfast
Day 13 -Valley of Maipo, visit of the vineyard
Our driver picks you up at your accommodation to reach Isla de Maipo (1 hour).
Isla de Maipo, a rural town located 80 kilometers from Santiago. Once there, the local guides will welcome you to La Espina del Arte, an art gallery located in the middle of an old family home. Together with Constanza and Rodrigo, owner artists, enjoy a delicious coffee under a centenary Ceibo tree. Then you will be invited to visit the gallery where other local artists share the space.
After this peaceful reception, you will enter one of the original buildings of Isla de Maipo, Chichería de Los Mesa. Stroll among old oak barrels, wrapped in the aroma of local wine, chicha and pipeño.
Then we will visit the house of Don Rolando, who has been working in his garden for many years. Take the time to discover his orchard and his enormous avocados and small cacti. Everything in the orchard has a purpose and Don Rolando will teach us why!
Viña La Era, the vineyard that we will visit next, is closed since the 70’s and is more than 100 years old, that is to say that it is an establishment that truly represents the origin of the wine In the region. He still keeps his old machines, his pipes and his vines. You will taste three wines in the old cellar.
We will lunch in a country house and enjoy the local gastronomy in a small farm, with a large avocado plantation and an organic garden.
To end this day, you will meet a producer, Elizabeth, in her chocolate factory, and Francisco, dedicated to the production of honey and bees.
You have already completed your visit to the beautiful valley of the Maipo River. We are now ready to return to Santiago.
Included: transportation, excursion, lunch, english speaking guide, room and breakfast
Day 14 – The Matriz Valparaiso – Visit of Valparaiso, Chile
Today, early in the morning, you will take public transport to the bus station, then a bus to Valparaiso (2 hours), the second largest city in Chile.
Valparaiso, a UNESCO World Heritage Site – a city on the edge of a cliff. Our local guide will be waiting for you to visit the oldest part of the city with a local poet. Interesting characters and a magnificent view of the colorful hills await you.
You will begin the journey in the founding sector of Valparaiso, visiting the oldest temple of the city, the church of La Matriz. We will then move on to the « Social Dining Room 421« , where we will learn about the social work done by neighbors and volunteers in support of homeless brothers.
Then we will climb the stairs of the hill of Santo Domingo, which preserves innumerable secrets of architecture and heritage and which is the first inhabited of the city. You will arrive at « La Chinita », who will welcome you to her home for lunch and discuss pleasant life in the neighborhood of Buenos Aires.
We will go to downtown Valparaiso through the heritage area of the hill. In the company of the local guide, we will continue our walk by enjoying the street art that highlights Valparaiso as a bohemian city and cultural center of the country. Subsequently, a visit to the museum of the house of Pablo Neruda, La Sebastiana, is organized (depends on the day).
Included: transport, English speaking guide, local guide, lunch, room and breakfast
Day 15 – City Tour of Santiago
You will certainly be impressed by this city of more than 7 million inhabitants in the center of the country.
The tour begins with the traditional center of Santiago along heritage buildings such as La Moneda, Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral, etc. Then, we will go to the emblematic cultural center Gabriela Mistral, passing by the Cerro Santa Lucía and its magnificent views. of Santiago, Barrio Lastarria, Parque Forestal and the Museo de Bellas Artes. This district, full of art, shops and alternative cafes, has the most beautiful architecture of the city. Barrio Bellas Artes is connected to Cerro San Cristóbal and Museo Casa la Chascona by the poet Pablo Neruda.
Included: excursion, lunch, English speaking guide, room and breakfast
Day 16 – Departure from Santiago, Chile
End of your discovery of Southern Chile. You will have a private transfer to Santiago airport and take your international flight.
Included: transport
Budget
Our travel programs are given as an example, to inspire you and take ideas.
Then we create with you the trip of your dreams. Depending on the duration of your trip, we advise you on the sites to visit, you choose your accommodation, the means of transport and if you want a guide who accompanies you and you discover Chile.
Contact us by email at info@phimavoyages.com or by our contact form. We return to you within 24 hours.
This program includes
- English speaking guide and local guide as indicated
- Private transfers, by bus or boat, as indicated
- National flights
Santiago – Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas – Puerto Montt
Puerto Montt – Santiago - Entrances for excursions
- Accommodation in 3-star hotels in a double room or a bed and breakfast, including breakfast
- Meal as indicated
- Personalized assistance during the trip 24 hours a day
- A donation to the WINTA (Global Alliance for Indigenous Tourism) organization, with which we have a strategic alliance of collaboration to strengthen the global tourism network.
This program does not include
- Food not specified in your program
- Alcoholic beverages
- Expenses for souvenir purchases
- Bank transfer fees
