Chile Land of Extremes

Day 1: Arrival in Santiago de Chile

Monday - Arrival at the airport of Santiago de Chile and transfer to your hotel. Santiago de Chile is a city of contrasts with remains of its colonial past to the ultramodern, high-rise buildings of the financial center; Chile's capital city will surprise you. The city tour begins with the visit of the church San Francisco, which was build between 1572 and 1618. You will pass through the Barrio Paris & Londres which is characterized by its European architectural style and its' narrow cobbled street. Then you will pass by the sector of Club Hipico, one of the most beautiful horseracing tracks in South America, privileged by its architecture of the early centuries. Continuing your tour to the Barrio Concha y Toro where you will immediately notice that the constructions of the buildings are very similar to those in the Barrio Paris y Londres. While walking through the main street you will recover vestiges of the aristocratic past of the capital. 1989 this district was declared as "Zona Tipica". You will be impressed by the gothic, neocolonial and Bauhaus constructions. After that you will visit the Plaza de Armas and the cathedral. Just around the corner, you will find the main post office, the National History museum, the Metropolitana and the town hall of Santiago. From here you head along the famous Alameda, Santiago's colorful main avenue, to the heart of the city, seeing the àPalacio de la Moneda" (seat of government), various monuments and public buildings. Afterwards, you continue the tour by driving up to the San Cristobal Hill. From one of the hill's view points, you will have the finest views of Santiago and the Andes Mountains. To round off the tour, you will pass through the modern residential areas of the city with their daring architecture and, finally, the bustling Providencia shopping zone.

Day 2: Santiago

Tuesday - Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and full day at leisure to explore Santiago on your own. Alternatively you may wish to take part in an optional full day excursion towards the pacific coast, Valparaiso and the resort town of Vina del Mar. (B)

Day 3: Santiago | Calama | San Pedro de Atacama

Wednesday - Transfer to the airport for the flight to Calama (not included). Arrival and reception by our local tour guide, transfer of approx. 1 ½ hours to San Pedro de Atacama. Upon arrival, we begin a half day city walk of San Pedro de Atacama. San Pedro de Atacama is the most important Archaeological center in Chile situated 2,438 meters above sea level and surrounded by a green fertile oasis picturesque, San Pedro has been the center of a Paleolithic civilization with its narrow streets that have preserved of its old style dating back to the Spanish Conquerors and its beautiful colonial church that was built in 1577. The village is the center for Indian culture in the Atacama Desert. Artifacts have been recovered and are now shown nowadays in the Father Le Paige Museum, which you will visit during the walking tour. There are over 4,000 skulls; weapons and stone sand potteries that are found on display. Afterwards, you will visit the beautiful white church of the town, with an inside construction of cactus. (B)

Day 4: San Pedro de Atacama

Thursday - Full day excursion to Salar de Atacama, Lagunas and Toconao. Today you will start your tour visiting the huge Atacama Salt Lake, an inland sea dating back millions of years. Enjoy a unique experience viewing this doubtlessly driest desert in the world. The flatness, clearness and emptiness here are overwhelming. Following the road in direction to Argentina, you will get to know the Lagunas Miscanti & Meniques, set at the base of two immense volcanoes. These alti-plane lakes are fringed with salt deposits and surrounded by brilliantly colored clumps of "paja brava", creating a singular visual experience. Afterwards you continue to the small Indian village of Toconao. The inhabitants of Toconao are producing beautiful small sculptures out of a white volcanic stone that can be found in a quarry near the village. Lunch included. Return to the hotel. (B, L)

Day 5: San Pedro de Atacama

Friday - Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and spend the day at leisure. Or you may wish to start the day early with an optional tour to the El Tatio Geysers.(B)

Day 6: San Pedro de Atacama | Calama | Santiago

Saturday - Transfer from the Hotel in San Pedro to the Airport Calama (without guide). Flight to Santiago de Chile. Arrival at the airport of Santiago de Chile and transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon enjoy a half day tour to Undurraga winery. Established in 1885 by Don Francisco Undurraga, one of the pioneers of wine making in Chile, Undurraga winery has been in the family for five generations and today produces more than 15 million litres each year sold to over 60 countries. Wander through the estate's stunning park with its centenary trees, visit the modern cellars and learn about the production of wine,with chance to taste some of its final products (winery may change due to availability). (B)

Day 7: Santiago | Punta Arenas | Puerto Natales

Sunday - Transfer to the airport Santiago for your flight to Punta Arenas. Upon arrival half day city tour of Punta Arenas. Punta Arenas, which is the southern most continental town of South America, founded in 1848 at the shores of the Magellan Strait. You'll see the Independence Avenue with many monuments placed here and Cerro La Cruz vantage point offering a sweeping view of Punta Arenas' colourful roofs, the Magellan Strait and Tierra del Fuego Island in the background. The tour ends at the local bus terminal where you will board the public bus to Puerto Natales, passing through the wideness of the Patagonian steppe with its huge sheep farms and beech woods.Upon arrival in Puerto Natales you will be transferred from the bus station to your hotel. (B)

Day 8: Puerto Natales | Torres del Paine

Monday - Full day excursion Torres del Paine National park. Today you are going to see one of the most spectacular scenic regions, nowhere found in the world, the Torres del Paine National Park! It covers an area of 113,000 hectares and has been named Biosphere Reserve by the UNESCO in 1978. Cascading waterfalls, roaring creeks, shimmering lakes and jagged spires of mountains are just a part of what Paine offers you. On route you will visit the legendary Milodon Cave. In this impressive natural cave a gigantic prehistoric fossil has been discovered. A replica is on view inside of it. The road you take borders majestic lakes. Have a glimpse at herds of guanacos, foxes, swans, and several small-sized birds. Enjoy a hike along the Grey Lake with spectacular views of the Grey Glacier. (B)

Day 9: Puerto Natales | Punta Arenas

Tuesday - Transfer from the hotel to the local bus terminal where you will board the public bus to Punta Arenas. Upon arrival you will be transferred from the bus station to your hotel. Spend the afternoon at leisure. Alternatively you can book optional excursions to the Penguin Colony in Otway Bay, the habitat of the Magellan-Penguins respectively Sphenicus Magallanicus, OR to the Nandu Park, where the South American flightless birds, which look similar to the African ostrich, can be observed at close range. (B)

Day 10: Punta Arenas | Santiago

Wednesday - Transfer to Punta Arenas airport. Return flight to Santiago, arrival in Santiago and transfer to your hotel. (B)

Day 11: Depart Santiago

Thursday - Today unfortunately marks the end of your Chile exploration. Breakfast at your hotel and, at the appropriate time, transfer to Santiago airport for your return flight. Or ask your travel agent about extending your South America vacation with CIT Tours. (B)

Guaranteed departures (min. 2 persons):

2013: Jan 14, Jan 28, Feb 18, Feb 25, Mar 11, April 1, Sep 23, Oct 7 and Oct 21 A similar tour is also offered for individual departures and with private services. Itineraries are subject to change without prior notice.