CHILE, DESERT AND NORTH TOUR 10 DAYS AND 9 NIGHTS

Prices Valid: Until August 2011

Day 01 : SANTIAGO:
Reception at Santiago's airport and transfer to the Hotel. Afternoon tour around Santiago, visiting the city's most outstanding attractions, including a walking tour downtown visiting the "Plaza de Armas", the Cathedral, Ahumada Boulevard and the Government Palace "La Moneda"(outside).  Then, by vehicle, visit the main avenues of old Santiago, crossing the bohemian neighborhood of Bellavista and drive up San Cristobal Hill, for a magnificent panoramic view of the city and the Andes Mountain Range. After this, the tour will take you to the modern part of Santiago, including its chic neighborhoods, shopping and financial centers. Return to the hotel.
Dinner and overnight at the selected Hotel.  (D)

Day  02 : SANTIAGO - Viña del Mar - Valparaiso -SANTIAGO:
Breakfast in the Hotel. In the morning depart from the hotel and travel through the Casablanca and Curacavi valleys. On arrival at the Pacific coast, visit the beaches of Las Salinas, and Reñaca and continue to Viña del Mar, known as the garden city for its beautiful parks and floral displays. Visit the Municipal gambling Casino and the avenues of this attractive town. In the afternoon, continue to Valparai­so, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where stairways and old funicular lifts lead up to the 44 hills on which the city is built. Dating back to the XVI century, the architecture of this quirky town is attractive and eclectic. Afternoon return to Santiago.
Dinner and overnight at the selected Hotel.  (B/D)

Day  03: SANTIAGO - ARICA - PUTRE :
Breakfast in the Hotel. Transfer to the airport of Santiago to board flight to Arica. Reception at Chacalluta airport in Arica. Continue to Arica for a city tour of this border city with Peru, known as "The city of eternal spring", for its privileged climate. In the afternoon visit the beaches Chinchorro and Lisera, the fisherman's wharf and the historic buildings of the San Marcos Cathedral and The Casa de la Cultura, both of them designed by Gustav Eiffel. Finally a panoramic visit to the city and Morro de Arica. After the visit, start the trip to Putre, 145 km (85 miles) away in the Andes Mountains. Travel through the desert and fertile valleys with sightings of Geoglyphs, chandelier cactus and ancient Inca forts with wonderful views.
*Lunch in route.
Dinner and overnight at the selected Hotel (B/L*/D)

Day  04: PUTRE  - ARICA:
Breakfast at the hotel and depart to Lauca National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and  protected area where the fragile highland ecosystem gives life to wildlife and flora such as majestic vicuñas, llamas and alpacas well as Andean bird varieties in the small lakes where Andean ostriches and sometimes condors can be seen. Visit the village of Parinacota and its 17th century church, now a national monument.
Arrival to Chungara Lake situated at 4,570 meters above sea level one of the world's highest lakes which is surrounded by volcanoes.  Box Lunch at the shore of the lake. We will then visit and have the option of taking a bath in the Jurasi hot springs. In the afternoon, return to Arica.
*Box Lunch at Chungara Lake.
Dinner and overnight at the selected Hotel. (B/L*/D)

Day  05: ARICA - IQUIQUE:
Breakfast in the hotel. Drive to Iquique, approximately 300 km (175 miles) to the south. On the way view the geoglyphs of Chiza, Tiviliche, and then travel to National Preserve "Pampa del Tamarugal". After this arrives to the Giant of Atacama, representing a Tiwanaku chief on the old packhorse roads from the highlands to the coast. Just before arriving to Iquique, visit the abandoned nitrate plant of Santa Laura, and Humberstone, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, once a thriving town for the workers. The trip continues to Iquique.
*Lunch in route.
Dinner and overnight at the selected Hotel (B/L*/D)

Day  06: IQUIQUE - CALAMA - SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA:
Breakfast at the Hotel. In the morning, city tour around Iquique, visiting the Spanish Casino (1904). Arriving to the Prat Square, we will visit the Municipal Theater (1889), the Spanish Center,  Baquedano and Balmaceda streets which reflect the prosperity of the days of nitrate boom, the Regional Museum which display an interesting archeological presentation of the nitrate cycle, then visit the Astoreca Palace (1904) that nowadays is a Cultural center of the Arturo Prat University. Also we will visit the Naval Museum which displays a variety of objects and documents that describe the Combate Naval de Iquique and Punta Gruesa. Afternoon at leisure for a possible visit to "Zofri" tax free zone of Iquique before transfer to the airport for flight to Calama. Reception at Calama airport and transfer to San Pedro de Atacama.
Dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight at the selected Hotel (B/D)

Day  07: SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA - Atacama Salt Flat - Toconao -Altiplanic Lagoons - SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA:
Breakfast in the hotel. We will start by visiting the Atacama Salt Flat which is Chiles biggest Salt Flat and among one of the largest in the world. Here we will find laguna Chaxa where three different species of flamingoes live and breed. We will also have the chance of visiting the picturesque village of Toconao where the most important attraction is the Bell Tower constructed in the classical atacamenian way. After this we will visit the village of Socaire and the altiplanic lagoons of Meñique and Miscanti located at 4.500 meters above sea level (14.850 feet above sea level). This area is a part of the "Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos" (Flamingos National Reserve). These lagoons are surrounded by impressive volcanoes that were formed when the Andes Mountain Range rose from the sea through millions of years of evolution.
Dinner included in a local restaurant.
Overnight at the selected Hotel. (B/D)

Day  08: SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA - Tatio Geisers - Moon Valley - SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA:
Early departure from the hotel (4.00 AM) to the Geysers del Tatio. Breakfast box in the Geysers before a gentle guided walk around the geothermal field with observation of the natural phenomenon of the steam columns which are viewed at their best as the sun rises over the Andes Mountains. Return to San Pedro with spectacular views of the Torcopuri y Sairecabur volcanoes. In the afternoon, visit the Salt Mountain, Marte Valley (also called Death Valley) and Moon Valley to admire the spectacular sunset reflected on this wonderful landscape - nature's own light show. Return to the hotel.
Dinner in a local restaurant in San Pedro.
Overnight at the selected Hotel. (B/D)

Day  09: SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA - CALAMA - SANTIAGO:
Breakfast in the hotel and transfer to Calama to take a flight to Santiago.  Reception at Arturo Merino Benítez Airport and transfer to the hotel.
Dinner and overnight at the selected Hotel. (B/D)

Day  10: SANTIAGO:
Breakfast in the hotel.  Transfer to the airport to take onward flight.

END OF OUR SERVICES

DEPARTURES
Dates arriving to Chile:

2011   MONTH    DAY
              May         10
             June         14
             July           12 - 26
           August        02 - 09 - 16 -23

Notes:
. Passengers must arrive in Santiago on the above mentioned dates.
. Prices do not include air tickets neither airport taxes.
. Lodging in Standard room.
. Standard accommodation with immediate confirmation. Superior accommodation upon request.
.    Program in regular service sharing with other passengers available in Spanish / English, Italian, French,  German. Except transfer Calama- San Pedro de Atacama - Calama in Sib service with driver only.
.    Meals included as per description:  B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, L* = Box Lunch, D = Dinner

The rate does not include:
Meals not indicated in the program, drinks, tips, extras, domestic flights and airport taxes.

IMPORTANT:
. Program could be change according to flight itineraries, climate conditions, or in order to provide a better service
. Referential Price Flight Iquique - Calama, day 6 is USD 120, 00 net p/pax tax include.