Ultimate Chile

Begin your adventure flying into Santiago, staying for one night at The Aubrey, a stylish converted mansion in the Bellavista district of the city. Relax and unwind, perhaps heading up to Cerro San Cristobal for a stunning view of the city. The trip continues the following morning on to the mysterious Easter Island, 5 hours and 30 minutes away by plane and famous for its fascinating Moai statues.

Exploring the island's Rapa Nui National Park on foot or in a group tour, and taking a boat tour out to learn about the abundant marine life are just a couple of the many exciting activities on offer on the island. The guided tours run by the Explora hotel are excellent, with the guides providing insightful and fascinating information on the history of the island. Heading back to Santiago, spend a further two nights at The Aubrey and further explore the delights of Chile's beautiful capital with its picturesque historic center.

From here, a 2-hour flight from Santiago brings you to Calama, from where you take a road transfer to the wonderful Tierra Atacama in the oasis town of San Pedro, the perfect base for making forays into the extraordinary desert landscapes. The choice of experiences from Tierra is impressive and the expert guides will make sure that your stay is tailored to your interests. This could include walking through breathtaking lunar landscapes, gazing towards infinity across the mighty salt pans and towering volcanoes, soaking in hot springs and marvelling at the power of the bubbling El Tatio geysers. Enjoy some truly magnificent stargazing and even explore on horseback before heading into the central valleys surrounding Santiago for some well-deserved vino.

Stay at the gorgeous Clos Apalta Residence, a Relais & chateaux property with just four individual casitas which produces award-winning wines which are highly regarded as some of Chile's best, with its namesake Clos Apalta being the signature blend. Enjoy tours of the vineyards on horseback, picnic lunches and, of course, plenty of wine tasting!

Return to Santiago to connect with your 4-hour flight down to Punta Arenas, the gateway to the Torres del Paine National Park with its breathtakingly beautiful landscapes. The road transfer to the hotel is 5-hours through stunning scenery, arriving at Tierra Patagonia, set in truly spectacular surroundings. It's a great base from which to explore the beautiful and remote National Park with its lakes, glaciers and giant granite peaks. From here, fly home via Santiago.

Due to its length and topography, Chile’s north, central and southern regions have different climates:

Easter Island is a comfortable year round destination. The peak tourist season runs from January to March. Prices are highest and accommodations scarcest during this period, especially during the Tapati Rapa Nui festival. The rest of the year is less crowded and at times you'll have the whole island to yourself. July and August might be a bit chilly for some tastes but it's ideal for hiking.

Southern Patagonia is best visited from November to March when temperatures are milder but visitors should be prepared for strong winds and changeable weather at any time. It is worth considering traveling outside this time, especially rewarding in April (for autumn colors) or October (for spring flowers) because winds can drop significantly and there are fewer visitors in the National Parks.

The Central Valley enjoys a temperate Mediterranean climate from Mid-October to April with cooler temperatures and higher rainfall from May to September. The wine harvest takes place in March.

The north of Chile is a year round destination but its weather, particularly in the Atacama desert, is affected by the high altitude with temperatures fluctuating dramatically from day to night. In winter (June, July and August) the average temperature is 22ºC during the day and at night it drops to around 4ºC. In summer (December to February) the temperature varies between 30ºC during the day and 16ºC at night. There can be some rain between January-March.