CHILE – LAND OF EXTREME
A cultural tour of Chile

Chile squeezed between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean with a maximum with of 44 kilometres and is a unique thin 4.300 kilometres long coastal stripe. For many people, Chile is still a white spot on the map. It lies on an extremely rich and original nature beauty that makes this country a very attractive destination and with its friendly population. It unites the driest desert of the world, abundant forests as well as fantastic glaciers and fjords. The European influence can be noticed in the towns by the people with their culture and their ancestors history.  That is why Chile nowadays is one of the highest developed countries of South America.

Day 01: Arrive Santiago
Arrival at the airport of Santiago de Chile and transfer to your hotel.   Check in time starts from 1400 hrs.   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 Hípico, 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 “Palacio de la Moneda” (seat of government), various monuments and public buildings.  Afterwards, you continue the tour by driving up to the San Cristóbal 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.
Overnight: Hotel (2 nights) (B)

Day 02: Santiago
Day free at leisure. (B)

Day 03: Santiago / Calama (Flight) / San Pedro de Atacama (Drive)
Transfer to the airport for the flight to Calama. Arrival and reception by our local tour guide, transfer of approx. 1 ½ hours to San Pedro de Atacama.  In the afternoon 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.
Overnight: Hotel (3 nights) (B)

Day 04: San Pedro de Atacama
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 & Meñiques, 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. (B, L)

Day 05: San Pedro de Atacama
Day free at leisure. (B)

Day 06: San Pedro de Atacama / Calama (Drive) / Santiago (Flight)
Transfer from the Hotel in San Pedro to the Airport Calama (without local guide). Flight to Santiago de Chile. Arrival at the airport of Santiago de Chile and transfer to your hotel.  Half-day wine tour Cavas de Maipo. In 1950, the Romagosa Machon family arrived in Chile leaving behind ancestral bonds with grape growing in Cataluña, north of Spain, a family tradition since 1714. They started to plant vineyards at the foothill of the Andes Mountains. Today, three generations have passed. “Don Jose”, the grandfather, is in charge of the vineyards. His wife “Doña Anita” is everyday at the wine shop by the entrance of the estate. The rest of the family is busy with the wine making and final distribution to the customers which most of them are with direct home deliveries. It’s a little and charming winery where everything is still handmade.
This is a family business where you can discover how wines are traditionally produced. (B) 
(Remark: The winery may change due to availability)
Overnight: Hotel (1 night) (B)

Day 07: Santiago / Punta Arenas (Flight) / Puerto Natales (Drive)
Transfer to the airport Santiago for your flight to Punta Arenas. Upon arrival half day city tour of 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.  Then transfer to the local bus terminal where you will board the public bus to Puerto Natales (without local guide), the starting point for tours to the spectacular National Park Torres del Paine, passing through the wideness of the Patagonian steppe with its huge sheep farms and beech woods contrasting with the mostly unadorned landscape.  Upon arrival in Puerto Natales you will be transferred from the bus station to your hotel.
Overnight: Hotel (2 nights) (B) 

Day 08: Puerto Natales
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 09: Puerto Natles / Punta Arenas (Drive)
Transfer from the hotel to the local bus terminal where you will board the public bus to Punta Arenas(without local guide). Upon arrival you will be transferred from the bus station to your hotel.
Overnight: Hotel (1 night) (B)

Day 10: Punta Arenas / Santiago De Chile (Flight)
Transfer to Punta Arenas airport. Return flight to Santiago, arrival in Santiago and transfer to your hotel.
Overnight: Hotel (1 night) (B)

Day 11: Depart Santiago
Check out by 1100 hrs and transfer to the airport and end of the journey. (B)

Departure Dates
2012 English Speaking Departures Jan 09 & 30, Feb 13 & 27, Mar 19, Apr 02, Sep 24, Oct 08 & 22 & Nov 05 & 19
Inclusions
Tour Price Includes Tour Price Does Not Include Hotels as mentioned (or similar) Meals as mentioned (B=Breakfast L=Lunch) All sightseeing and transfers on seat-in-coach basis Services of local multilingual guides Entrance fees to the sites included in the itinerary Any international airfares & Airport taxes Domestic/intra air from USD 1160.00 Visa / Insurance Tips / Beverages
Tour Price
We accept payment in US $ (US Dollars), CA $ (Canadian Dollars) or equivalent EURO (for clients outside North America). Bestway Tours & Safaris offers conversion rate protection. Once full payment has been received, and no modification has been made to the tour itinerary, we will honour that rate. For complete payment procedures, please download Bestway_Payment_Info.pdf Note: to read this file you must have Adobe Acrobat.
Hotel Category Double Occupancy Single Room Supplement Option 1 US $ 1860 US $ 495 Option 2 US $ 2325 US $ 720 Hotels below or similar for Option 1 (3-Star) & Option 2 (4-Star) City Option 1 Option 2 Santiago Hotel Torremayor Hotel Atton El Bosque San Pedro de Atacama Hotel Casa de Don Tomas Hotel Altiplanico (3 star) Puerto Natales Hotel Charles Darwin Hotel Costaustralis Punta Arenas Hotel Jose Noguiera Hotel Cabo de Hornos
Estimated International Airfare - International airfare is NOT included in this tour
Canada - West Coast US $ 1400 USA - West Coast US $ 900 Canada - East Coast US $ 1300 USA - East Coast US $ 800
Participants
This tour operates on a minimum of 02 participants.
Notes
Customised Itinerary If you would like to have a tour on dates other than the above ones or with a customised itinerary, please contact us and we will be happy to work out an exclusive program for you. Foreign Language Departures Please contact us for information on French, German, Italian and Spanish speaking departures. You may e-mail us at bestway@bestway.com or call us at 604.264.7378. Residents of U.S.A./Canada may call us toll free at 1.800.663.0844.