Buenos Aires & Chile’s Iconic Extremes: Torres del Paine & Atacama Desert
15 days / 14 nights
Overview
Enjoy a trip with fascinating tours and unique lodging experiences catered to your own interests in Buenos Aires, Santiago de Chile, Patagonia and Atacama Desert. This is an unforgettable journey through the natural beauty and most stunning national parks of Chile. Embark on an epic adventure through the heart of the desert and traverse into the Altiplano plateau as your expedition takes you in regions experienced and known by few. Authentic experiences and an intimate, home-away-from-home atmosphere, where a sense of both adventure travel and pure relaxation lingers in the air.
Memorable Moments
- Take a walking tour of Buenos Aires focused on architecture, food, art or history;
- Savor the dishes Argentina is famous for, including empanadas, steaks and Malbec Wines;
- Enjoy the gaucho lifestyle in San Antonio de Areco and witness Argentina's rural culture, gauchos and their horses, silversmiths and elegant traditions at an authentic Estancia.
- Join a local art enthusiast and discover the most spectacular street art districts in Santiago de Chile;
- Learn about Chilean culture and traditions in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Valparaiso;
- Enjoy stunning views of wildlife, mountains, lakes and glaciers in Torres del Paine National Park.
- See petroglyphs carved by prehistoric hunter-gatherers thousands of years ago;
- Escape to a world of clear night skies, high altitude lagoons and moon-like valleys at Atacama Desert.
Itinerary at a glance
Day 1 – Arrive Buenos Aires
Day 2 – Buenos Aires – Overview of the City & Tango Show
Day 3 – Buenos Aires – Estancia & Gaucho Traditions
Day 4 – Santiago de Chile – Comprehensive Tour and Street Art
Day 5 – Valparaiso – Chile’s Painted Coastline
Day 6 – Arrive in Torres del Paine – Cerro Negro Ranch
Day 7 – Torres del Paine National Park
Day 8 – Torres del Paine National Park
Day 9 – Torres del Paine National Park
Day 10 – Arrive Santiago de Chile
Day 11 – Arrive Atacama
Day 12 – Atacama - Petroglyphs & Rainbow Valley
Day 13 – Atacama – Altiplano Lagoons
Day 14 – Atacama - Tatio Geysers
Day 14 – Depart Santiago
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Full Itinerary
Arrive in Buenos Aires, where you are met and transferred to your hotel.
In the afternoon, set out on a guided walking tour of Recoleta district and its beloved cemetery which is the resting place of many notable political figures and elites in Argentine history including Evita. You will not only learn about Buenos Aires history, but also about different architectural styles; and, above all, you will be amazed by the stories and legends hidden behind each monument. Tonight, gather for a cocktail reception, short briefing of your trip and welcome dinner.
Accommodations: Alvear Palace Hotel
Explore cosmopolitan Buenos Aires during a morning tour of city highlights. You will tour in a private car through Buenos Aires´ different neighborhoods, stopping when you like to get a feel of each, to take photographs and to walk through a sampling of historic districts. When you have finished, you will have identified those parts that appeal to you the most, so that you know best how to use the rest of your time in Buenos Aires. Later, delight in dinner and a tango show at this intimate venue.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.
Accommodations: Alvear Palace Hotel
Your day begins just outside Buenos Aires in the opulent Estancia La Bamba de Areco, one of Argentina’s oldest colonial estates, situated in the heart of Pampas country. Marvel at the gauchos’ equestrian skills and chat with them over a mate (a traditional South American caffeine-rich drink) as you tuck into a tasty asado, the typical gaucho barbecue. You will enjoy activities such as horse riding, horse-drawn carriage rides, or simply cooling off in the swimming pool.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodations:
Following breakfast, morning transfer to Buenos Aires International airport to board flight to Santiago de Chile.
Arrive in Santiago, where you set out on a guided tour of the city, which sits in a dry valley wrapped in the snow-capped Andes Mountains. View the presidential palace, “La Moneda”, and the Palacio de los Tribunales de Justicia, which houses the Supreme Court of Chile. Next, visit the Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, dedicated to ancient artwork and artifacts from Central and South America. Continue to Plaza de Armas — the city’s main square — which is home to the Metropolitan Cathedral of Santiago, city hall, the central post office and the National Historical Museum, set in a 19th-century royal palace. In the plaza itself, you may see artists at work, chess games being played and possibly a dance performance. The tour continues with a visit of more than 40 giant murals that were painted by important national and international street artists. Tonight, enjoy dinner at a local traditional restaurant within walking distance of your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodations: The Singular Santiago
Explore Valparaiso, where the colorful flowerpot-laden alleys are canvas to Latin America’s best street art. Wander through a maze of cobbled streets and colored houses as you learn about the poets, philosophers and artists that all add to the magic of this romantic city. Prepare to be as smitten at Chile’s art elite, especially after visiting the Nobel prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda’s house on the hill.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodations:
After breakfast, transfer to the airport in Santiago, where you are assisted with check-in and fly to Punta Arenas. Upon arrival, you are met by your guide and transferred to your hotel in Torres del Paine.
En route, visit Cerro Negro ranch where guests will enjoy a traditional lamb barbecue and savor the lifestyle of an authentic Patagonian ranch.
Upon arrival at Torres del Paine hotel, check in and dine at your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner .
Accommodations: Las Torres Hotel
Over the next few days your guide will help you choose from a range of excursion options in the Torres del Paine National Park. Be it visiting the beautiful Lago Grey glacier, hiking to the base of the towers or perhaps more gentile strolls taking in the incredible scenery.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Accommodations: Las Torres Hotel
The excursions are designed to enjoy the national park around a variety of themes, from the flora, fauna and geology of the park, to the heritage and culture of the gauchos and the indigenous peoples of the region. They also include several modes of transport: vehicle, trekking, horses, navigation and climbing. Last but not least, they vary from easy to difficult depending on your physical condition and experience.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Accommodations: Las Torres Hotel
This morning, take advantage of the wide range of activities and expeditions available, in varying grades of difficulty and duration. Tonight, dine at your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Accommodations: Las Torres Hotel
After breakfast, transfer overland to the airport in Punta Arenas and fly to
Santiago de Chile. Upon arrival, you are met by your guide and transferred to your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodations: The Singular Santiago
Following breakfast, morning transfer to Santiago de Chile airport to fly to the northern Chilean town of Calama. Upon arrival, you are met and transferred to your hotel near the quaint oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama. This evening, visit the picturesque town of San Pedro de Atacama before dinner.
Meals: Dinner.
Accommodations: Hotel Altiplanico Atacama
Early in the morning you will drive to the heart of the desert, where you will encounter native Atacama wildlife, stunning rock formations and see ancient petroglyphs at Yerbas Buenas on this off-the-beaten-path adventure in the Domeyko Mountains. Located west of the Salar de Atacama Basin, the Domeyko Range has enigmatic and interesting landscapes found nowhere else on earth. Travel with an expert guide trained in regional geology, and learn about history, geology, and natural beauty of the Atacama Desert!
In the evening, enjoy a stargazing tour guided by experts in the middle of the world’s driest desert. With over 330 clear nights a year, the Atacama Desert is one of the best scenarios in the world for star gazing. Live the experience of stargazing through telescopes and knowing our surrounding universe more deeply.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodations: Hotel Altiplanico Atacama
Early in the morning we will arrive to the remote Miscanti and Miñiques lagoons, at more than four thousand meters of altitude, for an excursion with a surprising backdrop featuring the peace and quiet of the desert and colorful salt lakes. We will visit the town of Socaire and two lookouts over the Salar de Talar, also known as “Hot Waters.” From there, we will see the area of Piedras Rojas with its impressive geological formations, a very exciting landscape. We will visit Tuyajto Lagoon and, if the weather permits, we will have lunch outdoors and contemplate the varied palette of the Altiplano.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodations: Hotel Altiplanico Atacama
Feast your eyes on the Tatio Geysers, one of the world’s most impressive geothermal sites and certainly an icon of the Atacama Desert. You will set off early this morning to reach the Tatio Geysers just as the sun begins to emerge above the horizon, casting an ethereal glow on vapor columns which tower over us at heights of up to 12 meters. Appreciate the wonder of this geothermal field, home to over 80 active geysers which protrude from bubbling pools of boiling water, then have breakfast with the geysers as our views. En route, spot wildlife roaming outside, including Vicuñas, Foxes, Vizcachas and Andean Ostriches.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodations: Hotel Altiplanico Atacama
Enjoy a morning at leisure. In the afternoon, transfer to Calama airport to fly to Santiago, and then board your departing flight home.
Meals: Breakfast.
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FAQ
Summer (November through March) is the best time to visit Southern Patagonia and Atacama Desert. The months from September to November and March to May are considered shoulder season for visiting the Atacama Desert. These months are the best to take advantage of pleasant temperatures and desert atmosphere.
Compared with other South American countries Chile is remarkably safe. Petty theft is a problem in larger cities and bus terminals, so always keep a close eye on all belongings.
This is a trip for Travelers who have a high fitness level, expect a vigorous pace, are comfortable participating in up to eight hours of physical activity per day, and enjoy challenging themselves physically.
Most tours are at a very active pace, with full day tours and a demanding daily schedule of physical activities such as trekking. Walking/Hiking tours can be on difficult terrain (up to 14 miles on uneven terrain, city hills, or narrow trails along steep hillsides with no railings). Travelers may be in remote and rugged regions with challenging terrain, possibly at high altitudes with steep ascents/descents. Leisure time may be limited (sometimes only in the later evenings). You should also take into account your stamina when traveling long distances and/or with multiple flight changes.
Las Torres all-inclusive programs include all guided tours, meals, and drinks you desire. They are designed to give you the freedom to visit multiple areas of Torres del Paine National Park and have the most culturally infused and experience diverse stay possible. The program includes: – Transfers to and from Puerto Natales, Punta Arenas, or Calafate – Entrance fee to Torres del Paine National Park – All meals – Open Bar (not including Premium beer, wine or spirits) All tours* inside the National Park – Friendly, attentive, and extremely knowledgeable bilingual guides – WiFi – Accommodation in superior room – A 20% discount in our spa treatments *The “Full Paine” tours to Grey Glacier and Serrano / Balmaceda Glaciers, with navigation on Grey Lake and Serrano River, are the only tours that require prior reservation (and have limited availability). This is because the navigation is offered by an external company and therefore we can’t take any responsibility for cancellations due to weather conditions or technical issues.
Yes, there are many options. There are 10 full and 11 half-day tours, which include horseback riding, sight-seeing in van, and even catamaran trips. Popular horseback tours include Lago Nordenskjold and Cerro Paine, and top vehicle tours include the Full Day Paine and Laguna Azul.
While some horseback riding tours need prior experience, the majority don’t. Las Torres Staff at the Excursion Center will help you make the right choice, and then our expert baqueanos will teach you all you need to know! These tours are favorites and highly recommended by prior guests.
Yes, Las Torres Patagonia offers direct transfers to and from Punta Arenas and El Calafate. This exclusive shuttle service is for guests of our all-inclusive programs. You can also book a shared transfer, which fits up to 8 people.
The distance between Santiago and San Pedro de Atacama is 1000 miles (1629 kilometers) and the fastest way to travel is by plane, which takes about two hours. From Santiago Airport, you’ll take a flight to Calama airport, closest airport to San Pedro de Atacama. The transfer from Calama airport to the hotel in San Pedro de Atacama takes 1 hour.
Altitude sickness can strike anywhere from elevations of 2,400 meters (7,874 feet) and upwards, although the vast majority of people will suffer no discomfort at all at that altitude. Interestingly, there is no correlation at all between age, fitness levels or gender and the extent to which people are prone to suffering from altitude sickness.
San Pedro de Atacama lies at the entrance to the driest desert on earth, the Atacama Desert. The town itself sits at an average of 2,407 meters, just over the threshold for altitude sickness so a minority of visitors experience mild discomfort such as dizziness or headaches. Again it’s not the town itself but the excursions you take while you’re there that tend to reach really high elevations. The explosive and unmissable Tatio Geysers are found at over 13,400 meters, which can cause minor problems for some, but should be fine for most.
Prior to your trip, we will provide you with packing tips and recommendations to avoid altitude sickness in Atacama Desert.
During the summer months the average temperatures are around 27°C (81°F) during the day and 16°C (61°F) at night.
Swimsuit, warm weather clothing, sunblock, hat and sunglasses. Warm jacket, trousers, sweater, fleece, windbreaker, gloves and hat. Binoculars for wildlife-watching and camera equipment for capturing your surroundings. Prior to your trip, we will provide you with packing tips and recommendations to avoid altitude sickness in Atacama Desert.
Currently, proof of a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test is required to enter Chile and Argentina. Given the fluidity of the situation, updated entry requirements will be provided 30 days prior to travel.
No vaccinations are needed for this itinerary.
We strongly recommend that you check with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (cdc.gov/travel) or the World Health Organization (who.int/en) for the latest on required and recommended vaccines for your destination.
We strongly recommend that you purchase this insurance to protect your travel investment. Travel insurance can offer financial protection for trip cancellation and interruption, as well as assistance should you encounter travel delays, baggage loss, or require medical treatment while traveling.
After you sign up for a trip with us, you will receive several pre-trip mailings with specific information about your destination; packing suggestions, etc. You will be able to download our app and have your own password. You will have access to your itinerary, real-time flight alerts and relevant information to help you prepare for your trip.