Day 1: Once you arrive in Santiago you won't waste anytime and you will head across the airport to catch a domestic flight down towards Punta Arenas, this is about 3 and a half hours. Here you'll be met by your transfer driver from Awasi and driven to the lodge, this is a long but beautiful drive, should take around 5 hours. This isn't just any transfer, as you continue heading towards Torre del Paine and you'll want to stop at every turn as you won't believe the scenery will get any more beautiful, but trust us, it does...
You'll arrive at the exquisite Awasi Patagonia Lodge. This Relais & Chateaux lodge is situated on a private reserve overlooking Torres del Paine National Park, the lodge has just 14 villas and each one is assigned with a private guide and vehicle so that you can explore this beautiful corner of the world at your own pace, and after days spent out in the elements exploring Patagonia, you will be able to return to the lodge for a soak in your private hot tub, enjoy a drink by the fire while enjoying the views over the Torres del Paine mountain range, the Patagonian Steppe and Lake Sarmiento.
You will have the freedom to choose from over 24 half day and 13 full day excursions during your stay – ranging from 4×4 drives, hikes, horseback rides, boat trips, easy strolls, photographic safaris, wildlife viewing and bird watching. All are conducted on a private basis with individually matched guides so that each day is designed exactly according to the guest's pace and interests.
As this lodge is so 'far' down in the southern parts of Chile, we would suggest 5 nights here, on your first day and last morning there will be no time to do any activities, 5 nights will give you 4 full days to completely immerse yourself there. It is worth every moment getting there.
Day 6: After an early breakfast, you'll check out of the lodge and take your last breathtaking views of the Torres del Paine before getting into your transfer and making your way back up to the airport. As Chile is a country of extremes, you're about to learn that first hand, as you head north into one of the driest regions in the world, a place where it has only rained a handful of times in the last 20 years: The Atacama Desert. From Punta Arenas Airport you'll connect through Santiago before arriving in Calama, this is the closest airport to Awasi Atacama, from here you'll meet your private guide and you'll be transferred 90 minutes to the lodge.
San Pedro de Atacama has been an oasis for travelers for thousands of years, a place to stop and refresh their mind, body and spirit before continuing on their journey through the Atacama, the world's driest desert. Awasi, meaning "at home" in the local kunza language, was created to continue the noble task of sheltering travelers and enriching their connection with the incredible culture and landscape of the Atacama Desert. Indoor and outdoor showers, spacious solariums and oversize comfy armchairs draped with soft, handwoven alpaca blankets are staple in each of the 12 suites.
Awasi provides travelers with 100% personalized service, earning the lodge membership in the prestigious Relais & Châteaux collection. Guests are provided their very own 4×4 jeep and expert local guide for the duration of their stay. Private excursions can be done by vehicle, on foot, bike or on horseback without restrictions. There are no pre-set schedules and no limitations.
This is another area that could take a month to explore, we have suggested 4 nights here. You will be able to fit everything into 3 full days here. With the lodge being so close to the centre of San Pedro, this gives you the freedom to explore town life on your own and return to the intimacy of the lodge afterwards.
Day 10: Once you have enjoyed a delicious breakfast at the lodge, your private guide will transfer you back to Calama Airport and from there you'll take the short flight back to Santiago. Take a short transfer to The Singular Hotel.
The Singular is found in one of most vibrant neighborhoods in Santiago, spend your days here wondering the streets to the many fine dining options in the area, or unwind at the Wellness Centre. The Singular was recently voted into the top 20 hotels in South America.
Your first afternoon you'll enjoy the sights of Santiago on a privately guided tour. Explore Santiago’s most significant sights on a comprehensive private guided tour of the city. Visit legendary landmarks and impressive monuments in stylish transportation with a knowledgeable guide, discovering the bohemian neighborhood of Bellavista and the neoclassical splendor of Moneda Palace.
Day 11: Explore the vineyards of Chile’s Maipo Valley on a full-day tour led by a certified sommelier. You’ll learn the history of wine production in the region and stop at local vineyards to get a glimpse of the process itself. Enjoy tastings at a few of Maipo Valley’s best wineries alongside your sommelier
Day 12: Enjoy a leisurely morning at the hotel or take one last walk around the quaint neighborhood of Lastarria, check out and you'll be transfer back to the airport where you start your journey home.
Overview:
- Arrive into Santiago (1)
- 5 nights at Awasi Patagonia (2)
- 4 nights at Atacama (3)
- 2 nights at The Singular Santiago
Add ons: (There are a lot)
Casa Real Hotel, if you love your wine or just want to stay on a beautiful wine estate on the outskirts of Santiago then this hotel is the perfect add on. Or you can stay here instead of staying in the city. Hotel Casa Real offers 16 classic-style rooms. All of the elegantly decorated rooms provide a view over the park or the inner courtyard. Beautiful wines are on offer, as well as picnics in the park, peddle bar tours and horse drawn carriages through the vineyards and some of the best cuisine in Santiago.
andBeyond Vira Vira (4), Dramatic landscapes of breathtaking glacial lakes mirror the snowy tips of nearby volcanoes, set while within the rainforests that surround the national parks, evergreen Araucaria araucana (monkey puzzle) trees, some over 1 000 years old, stand tall around the lodge. This region is both the gateway to Patagonia, and a thrilling adventure haven. With fantastic guides and over 30 different activities to do in the area such as helicopter flips over the snowed capped mountains, water rafting in Chile's Lake District, trekking in the surrounding national parks, mountain biking, catch and release fishing, horse riding, and numerous winter activities. As Awasi Patagonia only opens in the summer months this could be a good option if you wanted to travel from May to August or just add it the above itinerary. We'd suggest minimum 3 nights here.
Awasi Iguazu (5), once you are done in Chile, you could take the opportunity of being this far south and head across to see one of the seven natural wonders of the world, the Iguazu Falls. As with the above mentioned Awasi lodges, you will have the freedom to explore this beautiful lodge and the surrounding areas with a private guide and vehicle at your disposal. This Relais & Châteaux property has 14 expansive villas on a private reserve just downstream of the falls on the Argentine side and set within the Atlantic Forest . Three nights is perfect here.
