Chile holiday, 17 days south to north
Description of Chile holiday, 17 days south to north
Chile is diverse, both ethnically and geographically, and its many natural wonders, amazing landscapes and warm people are not to be rushed. So this Chile holiday allows 17 days to journey from south to north, to fully appreciate this spectacular country. This is a self guided adventure, so you’ll be travelling independently, discovering Chile on your own terms. Transport is via a mix of private transfers, internal flights and self driving. Throughout, you are fully supported by a road book, which contains all the information you’ll need for the trip to run smoothly. We also provide a local SIM card, so you can contact us 24 hours a day and friendly hosts and homestay families will be waiting to welcome you at each destination. This trip is also tailor made, so it can be tweaked and adapted to suit your interests and needs.
The trip begins in Santiago, from where you fly south to properly begin this adventure. First, explore Chilean Patagonia, home to the breath-taking Torres del Paine National Park, with its towering peaks, impressive glaciers, fjords, blue lakes and deep forests. From here, pick up your rental car and drive through Chiloé Island, a place drenched in myths with many wooden churches, before exploring the Pacific Coast’s lush virgin forest. You’ll then have time to discover the volcanoes and lakes of the beautiful Lake District and your adventure ends in San Pedro de Atacama. This small village sits like an oasis in the Atacama Desert, with its lunar landscapes and huge starry skies.
Highlights of this memorable trip include the National Park of Huerquehue, which lies in the foothills of the Andes, the Huilo Huilo biological reserve in central Patagonian and the lagoons of the Los Flamencos National Reserve. Sunrise at the Tatio Geysers is spectacular, while the Moon Valley in the Atacama Desert glowing pink as the sun sets is really special. In addition you could spend a full day at an estancia, to experience “huaso” culture, hike to the summit of Villarrica volcano or enjoy a night in the wine region between Santiago and the Atlantic coast.
There are plenty of opportunities to meet local people and learn about their culture. At the estancia, help out with organic farming, and herding and milking the animals, while on Chiloé, spend a couple of nights staying with local small scale farmers and their families. It’s a really authentic way to find out more about local life and enjoy some home cooking, too.
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12 Reviews of Chile holiday, 17 days south to north
Reviewed on 23 Feb 2025 by Steve France
Doing a road trip through South America is fantastic. Use this operator. She is brilliant. Everything ran smoothly. Best travel consultant/agent we have ever dealt with. Read full reviewReviewed on 31 Jan 2025 by Julie Forshaw
Excellent itinerary and a wonderfully organised trip. The most memorable was the variety of sights and places to visit which I hadn’t appreciated before I left. Read full reviewReviewed on 11 Dec 2024 by Alun Griffiths
Absolutely fantastic! Chile is a beautiful country, the people very friendly and the organisation was outstanding. If forced to choose then I would say that the Torres del Paine was the most memorable. Read full reviewReviewed on 08 Dec 2024 by Caroline Cobbing
Absolutely excellent. The local operator arranged everything to perfection, were clearly tracking our progress and were readily available when we had a couple of questions/concerns. Read full reviewReviewed on 07 Apr 2024 by Samuel
A fantastic holiday which met all our expectations. The country was spectacular and the people were so friendly. Going through responsible travel and their partner was also great value compared to other tailor made companies. Read full reviewReviewed on 06 Mar 2024 by Lisa Bintliff
Meeting with Federica from the operator was great. She gave us a fantastic overview of how and what they do as a company with the communities they work with. The service we received was 5 star and beyond. Everything was perfect from start to finish. Read full reviewReviewed on 23 Apr 2023 by Christine Taylor
Brilliant. Awesome scenery, lots of interesting birds and animals and very friendly and helpful people. Read full reviewReviewed on 21 Jan 2023 by Gareth Jones
It's hard to pick one thing from such a grand trip but one of the standout moments for me was the stargazing night in the Atacama desert... This was an extraordinary adventure and we loved it. Read full reviewReviewed on 08 Jan 2023 by Sophie Jefferys
The views all around the country are inspirational but climbing up the mirador Torre de Paine was just stunning... We saw so much wildlife and all of this would not be possible without the support of Fede!! Read full reviewReviewed on 08 Nov 2018 by Howard Lawes
There are so many memories - we enjoyed seeing the wildlife on Peninsula Valdes, driving across endless wilderness in the Chubut Valley, the lake views in Bariloche, the white-water rafting on Petrohue River... Read full reviewReviewed on 23 Nov 2017 by John Robinson
The overall package was never the same day in day out. Read full reviewResponsible Travel
Planet
This is a tailor-made, independent trip; groups are very small, normally composed of 2 to 4 people, helping to minimise the negative environmental and social impact.Much of the trip is spent in pristine nature, including Torres del Paine National Park, Huerquehue National Park, the Huilo Huilo biological reserve and Los Flamenco National Reserve. Our travellers are briefed by local guides as to how to minimise their impact on the environment. Advise includes staying on marked tracks, where the picnic areas are and how to reduce waste. Some useful information on local flora and fauna and tips on how to travel responsibly, can also be found in the road book we provide to our travellers.
On this tour, we work with small hotels run by people aware of their environmental responsibilities. Most of the accommodation consists of traditional constructions, often built using local materials such as native woods.
In the Huilo Huilo Biological Reserve, located in Chile’s rainforest, travellers will get to know more about this great example of sustainable tourism, a conservation project of both local nature and culture.
On the Island of Chiloe, travellers will meet a group local fishermen who have created an association for the protection and development of their natural heritage. Aware of the negative impact of fishing on biodiversity, they are using tourism as a new source of income. Travellers will learn about local marine life including penguins, sea lions, sea otters and pelicans among other animals.
People
We support local employment and communities in our choice of accommodation, tours, restaurants, etc. This trip is no different from others we provide, in that it encourages real interaction between people while respecting the culture, history and customs of each individual community. This carefully planned itinerary includes several small villages along the way, where the traveller can gain insight into the local culture. Travellers will spend a day in an authentic estancia, experiencing the traditional “huaso” culture, in the middle of the Patagonian countryside. An opportunity to learn and participate in some of their daily activities such as organic farming, herding and milking the animals... On the Island of Chiloe, travellers will have a chance to spend a couple of nights with local families of small scale farmers. In these small communities, they will meet local people, eat locally produce and have a truly authentic experience, while at the same time supporting local businesses.We donate 3% of the total price of this trip to co-fund micro-projects implemented by local schools, associations and ONGs. These are community projects based on education and conservation activities, especially addressed to young people.
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