Santiago, Easter Island, Atacama, and Patagonia Cruise

16 Days/14 Nights

From $6,239 per person

(Dbl. Occupancy, Not Incl. Airfare)

Select Departures from October to March

Overview

This tour combines three of Chile’s most popular destinations with a five day Australis Cruise to Southern Patagonia. Santiago is one of South America’s most modern cities. Easter Island is known for its colossal Moai statues whose origin is still a mystery. San Pedro de Atacama is a small oasis village in the middle of the Atacama Desert, the driest desert on Earth. And, the Patagonia cruise takes you through the Strait of Magellan and the Beagle Channel to Ushuaia, Argentina.

Lodging and Meals: This tour includes accommodations for 14 nights (4 nights in Santiago, 3 nights in Easter Island, 3 nights in Atacama, and 4 nights aboard the ship), and 23 meals (14 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 4 dinners). 4 Star, 5 Star and Deluxe accommodations include 29 meals.

Best Time to Go: September-April.

Destinations: South America, Chile, and Patagonia.

Interests: Adventure, All-Inclusive Properties, Culture & History, Expedition Cruising, Wildlife Viewing, and Wine Tasting.

Places Visited: Santiago, Easter Island, the Atacama Desert, Punta Arenas, and Ushuaia & Tierra del Fuego.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Note: The itinerary below reflects our suggested excursions for the Atacama portion of the tour. The exact order of the tours may vary, depending upon your arrival date. Excursions in Atacama for 4 Star, 5 Star, and Deluxe accommodations are offered on an a la carte basis, meaning you can choose from a number of different alternatives.

Day 1: Santiago.

Depart to Santiago via overnight flight.

Day 2: Santiago.

After passing through immigration and customs, proceed to the reception area, where our inbound services representative will be holding a sign with your name on it. You will be greeted and then transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Santiago.

Note: Check-in time is 2:00 PM. We can request early check-in but cannot guarantee it.

Day 3: Santiago-City Tour-Winery Tour.

In the morning, you will have a panoramic city tour of Santiago, which will include Parque O’Higgins, Plaza de Armas (the city’s historic center), Palacio de la Moneda, ex-National Congress, Mapocho Station Cultural Center, Santa Lucia Hill, the place of Santiago’s founding in 1541,and the Bohemian district of Bellavista. In the afternoon, you will visit your choice of one of the following vineyards around Santiago (included in price): Concha y Torro, Cousino Macul, and Undurraga. Overnight in Santiago. (B)

Day 4: Santiago-Easter Island.

Transfer to the airport for the flight to Easter Island. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Easter Island. (B)

Day 5: Easter Island-Rano Raraku-Anakena Beach.

Full day excursion visiting the archaeological site of Akahanga and the quarry at Rano Raraku volcano, where all of the moai on the island were carved. You will see over 300 statues in various stages of completion, and one giant moai, 21 meters (69 ft.) tall. You will also visit Ahu Tongariki, the largest ahu (burial site), whose moai were re-erected after a tsunami flattened the statues, Ahu Te Pito Kura, site of the largest moai moved from the quarry, and the ahu Nau Nau at Anakena Beach. Picnic lunch at Anakena Beach. Overnight in Easter Island. (B,L)

Day 6: Easter Island-Orongo-Ahu Akivi.

Morning visit to the Rano Kau extinct volcano crater (1.6 km in diameter), the ceremonial village of Orongo, which features the largest concentration of Petroglyphs on the island, with images of post-moai deity’s, such as Tangata Manu (birdman), Make Make (the creator), and Komari, and then to Ahu Vinapu. After lunch (not included), the tour continues on to Ahu Akivi, site of the seven moais overlooking the sea, the Caves of Ana Tepahu, among the largest on the island, and Pun-a-Pau quarry, the sole source of red scoria that was used to carve the pukao (topknots) of some of the moia. Overnight in Easter Island. (B)

Day 7: Easter Island-Santiago.

Transfer to the airport for your return flight to Santiago. Upon arrival in Santiago, you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Santiago. (B)

Day 8: Santiago-Atacama-Salt Mountains-Moon Valley-Mars Valley.

Morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Calama. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel in San Pedro de Atacama. In the afternoon, you will have a half-day excursion to the Cordillera de la Sal (Salt Mountains) which features magnificent geological formations and sediments of various colors. You will visit the Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley) and Valle de Marte (Mars Valley), and enjoy an amazing sunset. Overnight in San Pedro de Atacama. (B)

Day 9: Atacama-Toconao-Atacama Salt Lake-Chaxa Lagoon-Minique and Miscanti Lagoons.

Today you will have a full day excursion to the Altiplanic Lagoons. One the way, you can see the impressive Licancabur Volcano, and will stop at the oasis town of Toconao, known for its Liparita (volcanic) stone houses, which are quarried nearby. The town also features the Church and bell tower of San Lucas, which dates to the mid-18th century. You will also visit the Atacama Salt Lake and Chaxa Lagoon. The Lake is an important nesting site for three species of flamingos, and contains 40% of the world’s lithium reserves. Box lunch. After lunch, you will visit the small village of Socaire, and then continue on to Minique and Miscanti Lagoons, where you will have time to walk around and enjoy the surroundings. Overnight in San Pedro de Atacama. (B,L)

Day 10: Atacama-Tatio Geysers-Puritama Hot Springs.

Early morning (4:00 AM) you will depart for an excursion to the Tatio Geysers, the world’s highest geyser field at 14,107 ft. above sea level. The steaming fumaroles, which reach a height of 160 ft., are a sight to behold, especially at sunrise, against the backdrop of the altiplano. On the way back, you will visit the Puritama Hot Springs, which will be much appreciated after an early rise and day of exploration. The mineral rich waters are 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Overnight in San Pedro de Atacama. (B)

Day 11: Atacama-Santiago.

Transfer to Calama for the flight to Santiago. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Santiago. (B)

Day 12: Santiago-Punta Arenas-Australis Cruise.

Morning transfer to the airport for the flight to Punta Arenas. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the Cruceros Australis office for check-in (between 1:00 and 5:00 p.m.), and then to the pier for boarding at 6:00 p.m. The Captain and crew give a welcome cocktail reception on board. Immediately afterward, the ship departs for “the uttermost part of the earth”. Our excursion will take us through the Strait of Magellan and Beagle Channel to explore one of the most breathtaking wilderness regions in the world: Southern Patagonia, and Tierra del Fuego. We have just embarked on a Great Adventure! Overnight aboard the Ship. (B,D)

Day 13: Australis Cruise-Ainsworth Bay-Tucker Islet.

At dawn, we continue navigating through Almirantazgo Sound until finally arriving near Marinelli Glacier in Ainsworth Bay, where we enjoy a walk to discover a beaver dam in the midst of a marvelous Magellanic forest. On the beach we observe a colony of Elephant Seals. Later we visit Tucker Islet, where we view colonies of Magellanic Penguins and Cormorants from the Zodiac boats. The islet’s penguins migrate in April; as a replacement we visit Brookes Bay, for a short walk to see a glacier. Overnight aboard the Ship. (B,L,D)

Day 14: Australis Cruise-Pia Glacier-Glacier Alley.

We navigate through the main part of Beagle Channel to reach Pia Bay, where we disembark near Pia Glacier. We take a short hike to a lookout point with a spectacular view of the entire glacier tongue, stretching from high in the mountains all the way to the sea. After this unforgettable experience, we sail again along the northwest arm of Beagle Channel through majestic “Glacier Alley”: Spain, Romanche, Germany, Italy, France and Holland glaciers. Overnight aboard the Ship. (B,L,D)

Day 15: Australis Cruise-Cape Horn-Wulaia Bay.

We sail through Beagle and Murray channels to reach and disembark in Cape Horn National Park (weather permitting). Cape Horn, on Hornos Island, is a sheer, 425-meter (1,394-foot) high rocky promontory. This mythical place is known as the “End of the Earth”; a visit is a singular privilege. The park was declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in June 2005. In the afternoon, we go ashore in historic Wulaia Bay, once the site of one of the region’s largest aboriginal settlements. This area is also renowned for the mesmerizing beauty of its vegetation and geography. We walk through a Magellanic forest of Lengas, Coigües, Canelos, ferns and other native vegetation to reach a lookout point. Overnight aboard the Ship. (B,L,D)

Day 16: Australis Cruise-Ushuaia.

Arrival at Ushuaia, Argentina’s most important city on Tierra del Fuego, and the southernmost city in the world. (Disembarkation is at 8:00 a.m. or 9:30 a.m., depending upon the departure). (B)

B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

Itinerary Map

What's Included

Price Includes

South American Vacations’ expert pre-departure planning services and documentation.
Airport/hotel/pier transfers with baggage handling.
Hotel accommodations including taxes and service charges.
Accommodations on board the M/V Stella Australis.
All meals scheduled on board including alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and other meals as indicated on the itinerary.
Port tax in Punta Arenas, Chile ($50).
Excursions as indicated on the itinerary including all applicable entrance fees.
Local, English-speaking tour guides.

Price Does Not Include

International airfare.
Domestic airfare.
Meals not indicated on the itinerary.
Hotel nights after the cruise.
Gratuities to tour guides, ship crew and guides, drivers, and hotel staff.
Gifts and personal items.
Travel insurance.

We will be happy to quote the cost of airfare and travel insurance, and to make these arrangements for you.

Accommodations

Santiago

Hotel Plaza San Francisco

Hotel Cumbres Lastarria

Lastarria Boutique Hotel

The Singular Santiago

Easter Island

Hotel O’tai

Altiplanico Easter Island Hotel

Hotel Hare Noi

Hangaroa Eco Village & Spa

Atacama

La Casa de Don Tomas

Alto Atacama Desert Lodge & Spa

Tierra Atacama Hotel & Spa

Awasi Atacama

Patagonia

Stella Australis

Additional Details

Group/Private: All airport transfers in Santiago are private, and the city tour and winery tour in Santiago are group tours for single passengers and 3 Star accommodations, and private for 4 Star, 5 Star, and Deluxe accommodations. All services in Easter Island are operated on a group basis for single passengers and 3 Star accommodations, and are private for 4 Star, 5 Star, and Deluxe accommodations. And, all services in Atacama and on the Australis Cruise are operated on a group basis. The transfers in Punta Arenas are private, and the transfers from the pier in Ushuaia, Argentina to the airport in Ushuaia, and from AEP Airport to EZE Airport in Buenos Aires are private.

Elevations: Santiago is 1,700 feet above sea level, Atacama is 8,005 feet, and Tatio Geyser is 14,107 feet.

Passport/Visa: For Chile, U.S., Australian, Canadian, and EU citizens (except Greece) require a valid passport (for the duration of your visit) and return ticket for stays of up to 90 days. Greek citizens can stay for up to 60 days. Australian, and Canadian citizens are required to pay a reciprocity fee (considered a multiple entry visa) of $95 and $132 respectively upon arrival (subject to change without notice due to currency fluctuations or other reasons). Citizens of other countries are advised to contact the Chilean embassy in their country before traveling. For Argentina, U.S., Australian, Canadian, and EU citizens require a valid passport (for the duration of your visit) and return ticket for stays of up to 90 days. Australian and Canadian citizens are required to pay a reciprocity fee of $100 and $75 respectively (subject to change without notice due to currency fluctuations or other reasons) online, and must show proof of payment prior to arrival. The reciprocity fee for U.S. citizens has been suspended until further notice. For citizens of Australia, this fee covers unlimited entries to Argentina for 10 years, while citizens of Canada are charged the fee every time they enter the country (or $150 for multiple visits within five years). The fee can be paid online at ProvinciaNet.com.ar. You will need to register in order to make the payment. Citizens of other countries are advised to contact the embassy of Argentina in their country before traveling.

Travel Insurance: In order to protect your travel investment from unforeseen circumstances that may arise before or during your trip, we strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance. We offer Allianz Global Assistance’s Classic Comprehensive and other plans. The Benefits and Coverage Limits are summarized on our Travel Insurance page. Call your travel counselor if you have any questions or to purchase a plan.

To Book This Trip: We require a non-refundable deposit of $800 per person plus the cost of the airfare (if we arrange it for you). 4 Star, 5 Star, and Deluxe accommodations require a more substantial non-refundable deposit. Ask your travel counselor for the details.