Module A

Day 1: Departure from Europe to South America

Departure from Europe in the afternoon or early evening and night flight to Santiago (Chile) direct or with one stop (potentially in Madrid).

Day 2: Arrival at Santiago

Arrival in Santiago in the morning. Meet and greet and transfer, with a guide, to the Hotel Plaza San Francisco (or equivalent). Free afternoon for resting or to visit the town, and dinner (on own account).

Overnight at Hotel Plaza San Francisco. Bed & Breakfast.

Day 3: From Santiago to Punta Arenas to Torres del Paine National Park

After a good night’s rest and your breakfast, private transfer to Santiago airport, and morning flight to Punta Arenas

Meet and greet at Punta Arenas airport and private transfer to Torres del Paine National Park.

Night at Hotel Pehoé. Full board.

Day 4 to day 9: Torres del Paine National Park and its surroundings

These days are devoted to the observation and photography of the wildlife and landscapes of the National Park of Torres del Paine and its surroundings with the main objective of observing pumas, patrolling in vehicles and on foot along tracks in the surrounding hills if necessary, in the morning and the afternoon.

If the pumas are located in the hills, a few hours walking (optional) on paths on flat and hilly terrain can be necessary to observe them.

Nights at Hotel Pehoé. Full board.

If some participants are interested, it will be possible to organise for them, or the entire group (subject to the number of people interested), a day trip to the Grey Glacier that is part of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field.

Day 10: From Torres del Paine National Park to Santiago via Punta Arenas

After breakfast, transfer to the airport of Punta Arenas for the afternoon flight to Santiago. Meet and greet at the airport and private transfer to the Hotel Plaza San Francisco for dinner (on own account).

Overnight at Hotel Plaza San Francisco. Bed & Breakfast.

End of Module A

For the participants who only take part in module (A), Day 10 is the last full day in Chile. In the morning of Day 11 a private transfer will be arranged to Santiago airport for their return flight or a flight to their next destination.

 

Module B

The participants taking part in module (B) will arrive in Santiago on Day 10 of the global itinerary and, after an afternoon of rest or visit to the town they will meet the participants of module (A) who have chosen the two module option. Day 11 will be their first full day in Chile.

Day 11: From Santiago to Calama to San Pedro de Atacama

After breakfast, transfer to Santiago airport for the morning flight to Calama.

Meet and greet in Calama and transfer by road to San Pedro de Atacama (1h30) with a stop to observe and photograph a series of petroglyphs.

After lunch and some time to rest, trip to the Cordillera de la Sal or to the Valley of the Moon where we will admire the sun setting at the end of the afternoon.

Dinner and overnight at the Hotel NOI Casa Atacama. Full board.

Day 12 and day 13: San Pedro de Atacama

These two days are dedicated to resting, acclimating to the altitude and exploring the region of San Pedro de Atacama and places like the Salar of Atacama and the Laguna Chaxa to observe and photograph the numerous species of birds. One additional visit to the Cordillera de la Sal and the Valley of the Moon can also be organised.

Morning of day 13 will be an early departure (approx 4:30am, before dawn) for a drive to the Geysers of the Tatio, located 95km from San Pedro and at an altitude of 4,320 metres. In the low light of the first beams of the sun, columns of steam rise into the sky. Vicunas are also frequently observed close to the goethermal field.

Return to San Pedro via the tiny village of Machuca and stop at its « bofedal » (wet prairie of high altitude), which offers a concentrated experience of the local fauna and flora (llamas, alpacas, viscachas, ducks, etc.).

Dinners and overnights at the Hotel NOI Casa Atacama. Full board.

Day 14: From San Pedro de Atacama to Villamar

Departure toward the Bolivian border (45 km) for a day of extraordinary discoveries.

Drive by the foot of the Licancabur volcano (5,940 metres altitude) and access Avaroa National Park.

Observation and photography of the Laguna Blanca, the Laguna Verde, the desert of Dali, the salar and thermal waters of Chalviri, and the geysers « Sol de Mañana » (taking us to the highest point of the itinerary at an altitude of 4,850 metres).

Arrival at the end of the afternoon at the Laguna Colorada, reknowned for its striking red colouration, which hosts a very large colony of pink flamingoes.

Dinner and night at the Hotel Jardines de Mallku Cueva. Full board.

Day 15: From Villamar to Coquesa

Continuation of the itinerary on tracks of the Bolivian Altiplano. Observation and photography of mineral landscapes, counting numerous multicoloured lagunas and hosting an abundance of flamingos.

Arrival at the large salar of Uyuni and continuation to the village of Coquesa on the northern shore of the salar, close to the Thunupa volcano.

Dinner and overnight at the Hotel Tambo Coquesa. Full board.

Day 16: Salar of Uyuni

Long crossing of the Salar de Uyuni and visit to the Incahuasi Island covered by giant cacti. Drive to the Colchani area to spend the night at the salt hotel (subject to availability) located just at the edge of the salar.

Dinner and overnight at the Hotel Tambo Coquesa. Full board.

Day 17: From Coquesa to Ollague, Calama and Santiago

Long transfer (4 hours) and return to Chile, passing by the Salar de Chiguana.

Border crossing at Ollague.

Continuation on the Chilean side along the Salar de Ascotan (3 hours) to reach Calama airport.

Evening flight to Santiago.

Meet and greet at Santiago and private transfer to the Hotel Plaza San Francisco for the night.

Dinner (on own account). Breakfast included.

Day 18: Departure from Santiago

After breakfast, private transfer to Santiago airport for your international return flight or your flight to your next destination.

Module A

 

Module B

Indicative price on the basis of participants sharing twin or double rooms.

The departure is guaranteed from a minimum number of 4 participants.

The final budget will be communicated after establishing a personalised quotation that will depend on the exchange rates at the time.

Module A

– The transfers between Santiago airport and the Hotel Plaza San Francisco and return, and between Punta Arenas airport and the Hotel Pehoé and return, as well as all the transfers to the various activities of this itinerary in a vehicle (type Mercedes Sprinter) privatised for the group

– The domestic flights Santiago – Punta Arenas – Santiago

– The services of Vincent Gesser as tour and photographic workshop leader

– The services of a local world-renowned local guide specialist in trekking pumas

– 2 nights at the Hotel Plaza San Francisco (or equivalent) in Santiago in a twin or double room with bathroom and toilets en-suite. Breakfasts included

– 7 nights at the Hotel Pehoé in Torres del Paine (or equivalent) in twin or double room with bathroom and toilets en-suite. Full board

– The park fees for Torres de Paine National Park

Module B

– The transfers between Santiago airport and the Hotel Plaza San Francisco and return, as well as all the transfers to the various activities of this itinerary in a vehicle (type Mercedes Sprinter in Chile and Toyota Land Cruiser in Bolivia) privatised for the group

– The domestic flights Santiago – Calama – Santiago

– The services of Vincent Gesser as tour and photographic workshop leader

– 2 nights at the Hotel Plaza San Francisco (or equivalent) in Santiago in a twin or double room with bathroom and toilets en-suite. Breakfasts included

– 3 nights at the Hotel NOI Casa Atacama (or equivalent) in San Pedro de Atacama in a twin or double room with bathroom and toilets en-suite. Full board

– 1 night at the Hotel Jardines de Mallku Cueva (or equivalent) in Villamar in a twin or double room with bathroom and toilets en-suite. Full board

– 2 nights at the Hotel Tambo Coquesa (or equivalent) in a twin or double room with bathroom and toilets en-suite. Full board

– The park fees for Avaroa National Park

– International flights to Santiago and return

– Travel and other insurances (cancellation, repatriation, luggage, other risks, etc.)

– Meals not mentioned or mentioned as « on own account » in the itinerary (e.g. some dinners)

– Drinks (beer, wine, spirits) other than the ones mentioned

– Any extras of personal nature, tips, laundry and drinks not mentioned in the program, etc.

Extension to the Fitz Roy Massif: Please consult us.