Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Chile – Santiago – Bolivia – Uyuni – Atacama – Valparaiso
100% customisable for you
Your Latin American adventure starts today. Head to the airport to catch your 14-and-a-half-hour flight to Santiago de Chile, which touches down the next day.
Upon arrival in Santiago, a private transfer will take you to your hotel for the night in the city centre.
Once you’ve dropped your bags off, it’s time to get to know Santiago like a local. With a friendly local as your guide, head off for a leisurely walking tour together. Wander through Plaza de la Ciudadania in the colonial centre or the lively Providencia neighbourhood; visit La Chascona, Pablo Neruda's former home; sample the city’s top empanada spots; or simply people watch from a leafy café terrace. Don’t hesitate to ask your guide plenty of questions about life in Chile, gathering valuable tips for the rest of your trip.
This morning, take a private transfer to the airport to catch your two-hour flight to Calama. Upon arrival, another private transfer will take you to the desert town of San Pedro de Atacama, where you’ll stay for the next four nights.
Soak in your San Pedro surroundings for the rest of the day – an oasis sitting among sandy plains, complete with a 17th-century adobe brick church (one of the oldest in the country).
To kick off your exploration today, why not grab a drink with a local guide? It’s the perfect introduction to the desert, to find out about must-do activities and gain key information to explore this wilderness with complete peace of mind.
The next three days are yours to enjoy the beauty of the Atacama Desert, a world of silence nestled in the heart of the Andes Mountains. You’ll also have a rental car while you’re here, so you can explore the region independently and at your own pace. While the desert promises plenty of wonders, the Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Moon) is a must-visit: a lunar-like desert landscape with strange rock formations and dunes sculpted by erosion. You can also hike through the Guatin Gorge, in the heart of the Valley of the Cactus, to reach the Puritama hot springs – centuries-old pools that are renowned for their healing waters (thanks to the high concentration of minerals).
Today, we recommend visiting the salt flat lagoons in the Los Flamencos National Reserve. These are located south of Socaire, at an altitude of over 14,700ft. Laguna Chaxa is home to a colony of pink flamingos, and Laguna Cejar (where you can swim) has a salt concentration similar to the Dead Sea.
You might also like to marvel at the El Tatio geysers – one of the largest geothermal areas in the world, covering nearly 19 square miles. Weave your way between dozens of steam vents that rise high into the sky, as well as around 100 natural hot springs and mud volcanoes. Then, in the heart of the reserve, you’ll find Machuca, a shepherd village oozing authentic charm.
Once night falls, take advantage of the clear skies and stargaze without light pollution, accompanied by a team of scientists on hand with telescopes to help unravel the mysteries of the night sky.
Today, head north towards the Aguas Calientes salt flats, located over 95 miles from San Pedro, at an altitude of over 13,700ft.
Marvel at the contrast between the white ground and the multicoloured hills before heading to the Piedras Rojas, not far from Paso de Sico, on the border with Argentina. This site is characterised by its vibrant red stones, thanks to the accumulation of iron oxide. En route, you'll also find the Miscanti and Miniques lagoons, where you might be lucky enough to spot flamingos, as well as vicunas, emus and foxes. Fancy exploring further? You have the option to take a private guided hike up Cerro Toco volcano – an accessible, high altitude hike offering unparalleled panoramic views.
After a couple days' adventure, it's time to return to your rental car.
This morning, take a private transfer first to Hito Cajon – a mountain pass marking the border between Chile and Bolivia – before continuing on to the Salar de Uyuni, your next destination. The journey into Bolivia takes around seven hours in total, so make sure to stock up on snacks and entertainment before hitting the road.
On arrival at the world’s largest salt flat, take in the vast desert landscape surrounding you on all sides, backed by snow-capped mountains in the distance. Perched at an altitude of almost 11980ft, this is one of the most breathtakingly beautiful landscapes in South America.
Tonight, stay at the edge of the sprawling salt flat in elegant, nature-focused accommodation.
Today, travel by private vehicle through the glittering expanse of white. Along the way, stop in the village of Colchani to visit a small craft market and discover the traditional drying, refining and bagging processes of the extracted salt.
The salt flat is an ancient inland sea that’s even home to an island, Incahuasi Hill (House of the Inca), where giant columnar cacti break the abstract effect of the salt flat. It’s a place that truly feels like another world.
At the end of the day, settle in for the night at your next accommodation, tucked in the mesmerising landscape.
Today, head to the Paseo del Leon, a picturesque canyon carved with natural rock shelters. The vibrant green of enormous clumps of the cushion-like yareta plant contrasts sharply with the ochre and beige mineral landscape.
Along the way, pass the Jewels of the Andes: lagunas (small lakes) with striking colours perched between 13,100 and 13,700ft above sea level. Then continue towards the Siloli Desert, a fascinating lunar expanse with colours that shift with the changing light – have your cameras at the ready, it’s a photographer’s dream.
Finally, head to your accommodation for the night, a rustic spot designed to fit with the surrounding wilderness.
Today, head back into Chile the same way you entered – via border crossing at Hito Cajon. Tonight, you’ll stay in familiar territory in San Pedro de Atacama, where you can enjoy views of the majestic Andes Mountains rising up in the distance – see if you can spot the Licancabur volcano.
This morning, a private transfer will take you to Calama airport for your two-hour flight back to Santiago. Another private transfer will take you to your hotel for the next two nights in Valparaiso, a charming coastal city around a one hour and a half drive away. After a long day of travelling, consult our Dossier for tried-and-tested eateries in the area to sample tasty Chilean cuisine.
Akin to an open-air museum, Valparaiso is set like an amphitheatre on vast hills (the cerros) that overlook a beautiful bay opening onto the Pacific. Before the Panama Canal existed, ships that could withstand the crossing of Cape Horn would stop here. The result was a legendary city populated by sailors and whalers that attracted numerous poets, writers and artists.
Looking up at the colourful houses seemingly stacked one on top of the other, it's easy to see why people were drawn to the port city. It’s well worth taking a walk through the maze of streets to see them up close – many buildings are adorned with frescoes and paintings. You can reach the higher elevations by taking the historic funiculars. What better way to explore this UNESCO World Heritage site?
Today, we’ve also organised a private cooking workshop with an experienced Chilean chef. Start with a trip to the market, where you'll buy fresh ingredients to make your lunch. Back at the workshop, prepare a pisco sour (Chile’s national cocktail) and a complete three-course meal under the guidance of your chef. Finally, sit down to enjoy the meal you’ve cooked together and toast to the last day of your trip.
Home calls today – a private transfer will take you the one-and-a-half hour journey back to Santiago airport to catch your flight to the UK. The flight takes around 14 hours and you'll touch down the next day, full of stories for family and friends.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
ENQUIRE NOW
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
ENQUIRE NOW
Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
