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 Atton El Bosque (2 nights) (B)

Day 02: Santiago
Full day excursion to Valparaiso and Viña del Mar. The tour leaves Santiago in western direction. Arriving in Valparaiso, you pass by the main square where you can view the monument honouring the Naval Battle fought in 1879. Driving towards the southern side of the city and seeing the old funiculars you will drive up a hillside for a most spectacular view of the bay seeing Valparaiso’s downtown district and its adjoining hills. Then proceed to the lower level of the city through the commercial heart of the port, where you’ll take the coastal highway that links Valparaiso with the resort city of Viña del Mar. Reaching the Concón beach, you can admire various fish stands displaying a great variety of seafood. Summer homes and restaurants are spread out along the coast. Afterwards, visit the main square Plaza Vergara and the shopping avenue before returning to Santiago. (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 1⁄2 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 Altiplanico (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
Early in the morning (04:00 AM) you will depart for a drive of 78 miles northeast to visit the impressive Tatio Geysers at an altitude of 4.321 meters high! The steaming geysers are at their best between 06:30 and 08:30 hrs. A breakfast-box will be served at the geysers. The rest of the day is free. (B)

Day 06: San Pedro de Atacama / Puerto Montt (Flight) / Puerto Varas (Drive)
Transfer to the airport for the flight via Santiago to Puerto Montt, main port of the Lake Region. Arrival and reception by our local tour guide. Afterwards, transfer to your hotel in Puerto Varas, the “city of roses" overlooking Lago Llanquihue, one of Chile's largest lake, where the reflection of the eternally snow covers Osorno Volcano is mirrored in the clear waters. On route short city tour of Puerto Montt. Proceed for a sightseeing tour of Puerto Montt founded by German settlers in 1852, whose influence still remains in the style of the wooden houses. You will pass along the „Costanera“ Avenue and continue to the observation point for a beautiful view of the city, Reloncavi Bay, Tenglo Island and channels. Afterwards, you will pass through the town’s centre with its typical square and its cathedral.
Overnight: Hotel Cabanas del Lago (2 nights) (B)

Day 07: Puerto Varas
You start this extraordinary excursion with one of the most beautiful scenic trip through the soft lush green countryside, past oxen and tractor-ploughed fields, weather beaten clap-board barns and churches surrounding Lake Llanquihue. You then proceed to the little Ensenada village to reach the Petrohué Rapids, a fabulous, dashing and gleaming succession of azure blue cascades against a backdrop of majestic mountains at the east. Then you will enter the Vicente Perez Rosales National Park to reach Petrohué at Lake Todos los Santos, also called "Emerald" for its vivid green colour. Here you do a boat-trip on a catamaran enjoying breathtaking views of the majestic volcanoes in the background. On the other end of the lake you reach the little village Peulla. You have the possibility to do some hiking in the nature to a waterfall or along the lake and learn more about the native flora and fauna. In the afternoon, the catamaran returns to Petrohue. (B)

Day 08: Puerto Varas / Puerto Montt (Drive) / Punta Arenas (Flight)
Today it’s time to say good-bye to the lovely lake region full of volcanoes!
Transfer to the Puerto Montt airport for the flight to Punta Arenas to Southern Chile! Arrival and reception at the Punta Arenas airport. Afterwards transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon visit to the Penguin Colony Otway Bay, the habitat of the Magellan-Penguins respectively Sphenicus Magallanicus, OR visit to the Nandu Park, where the South American flightless birds, which look similar to the African ostrich, can be observed at close range.
Remark: The excursion to the Otway Bay can only be operated during the period from Oct 15th tu March 15th. Therefore, the groups from March to September will visit the Nandu Park alternatively (subject to change without prior notice)
Overnight: Hotel Cabo de Hornos (1 night) (B)

Day 09: Punta Arenas / Puerto Natales (Drive)
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, 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 Costaustralis (2 nights) (B)

Day 10: 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 11: Puerto Natales / Punta Arenas (Drive) / Santiago (Flight)
Transfer to the public bus station, where you board the public bus to Punta Arenas airport. Return flight to Santiago, arrival in Santiago and transfer to your hotel.
Overnight: Hotel Atton El Bosque (1 night) (B)

Day 12: Depart Santiago
Check out by 1100 hrs and transfer to the airport and end of the journey. (B)

Departure Dates
2010 English Speaking Departures Jan 16, Feb 13 & 27, Mar 13 & 27, Apr 17, Sep 25, Oct 09 & 23 & Nov 06 & 20
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 English Speaking guides Entrance fees to the sites included in the itinerary except where mentioned Any airfares & Airport taxes Visa fees / 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.
Departure Double Occupancy Single Room Supplement 2010 US $ 2995 US $ 885
Estimated International Airfare - International airfare is NOT included in this tour
Canada - West Coast N/A USA - West Coast US $ 1400 Canada - East Coast N/A USA - East Coast US $ 1200
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.