CHILE

We land in Santiago and are met at the airport – about 20 km from the centre of the capital, a 40-minute drive.

Note: for landings between 23:00 and 07:00, a 50% surcharge is applied to the transfer cost.

The city tour (about 6 hours) begins at Parque Bicentenario, passes through the "Sanhattan" financial district and bohemian Bellavista, and reaches Parque Metropolitano – one of the largest urban parks in the world. Across the bridges over the Mapocho River we enter the historic centre with Plaza de Armas, the former Congress and the Government Palace. We stop at the Mercado Central with its wrought-iron hall and in the Lastarria district with its cobbled streets, galleries and cafés. We finish along Avenida Alameda.

Overnight: Santiago – Hampton by Hilton Santiago Las Condes (Standard) / Bidasoa Hotel (First Class) / Ritz-Carlton (Luxury)

Meals: no meals included

A full-day private excursion (about 6 hours). Viña del Mar is known as the "Garden City" for its parks, palaces and flower clock – a favourite spot for photos. We drive along the coastal road with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and reach Valparaíso – one of Chile's most important ports, inscribed by UNESCO on the World Heritage List.

The city is laid out on the hills like a natural amphitheatre, and the ocean is the stage. We stroll along Cerro Alegre – with funiculars, colourful houses and views of the bay. We have lunch at a seafood restaurant, where we can taste Chilean cuisine.

Overnight: Santiago – Hampton by Hilton Santiago Las Condes (Standard) / Bidasoa Hotel (First Class) / Ritz-Carlton (Luxury)

Meals: breakfast, lunch

Transfer to Santiago airport and a domestic flight to Calama (included in the price). From Calama we travel to San Pedro de Atacama.

The afternoon is devoted to the Valley of the Moon – a half-day private excursion at 2,400 metres above sea level. The valley is surrounded by sand dunes, salt formations and mountain ranges, and its brown colour contrasts with the blue Atacama sky. Until 1994 salt was mined here, and at the Victoria mine we learn about the labour of Atacameño (Lickanantay) families. We stop at the "Three Marías" rock formations.

We finish in the Valley of Mars – a sunset with a toast.

Recommendation: sunscreen, a hat and suitable clothing.

Overnight: San Pedro de Atacama – La Casa de Don Tomás (Standard) / Cumbres San Pedro de Atacama (First Class) / Nayara Alto Atacama (Luxury)

Meals: breakfast

In the morning we start with Yerbas Buenas – an archaeological site with rock paintings (petroglyphs), where the ancient Atacameños stopped with their camelids. Then we go to Rainbow Valley, whose colours come from minerals of extinct volcanoes, and take a short walk.

The afternoon is at Laguna Cejar – the salt lake where the water is so salty that we float on the surface effortlessly. We pass Ojos del Salar – freshwater springs in the middle of the salt flat. We finish at Laguna Tebenquiche, where the blue sky, the mountains and the salt formations are reflected in the water.

Recommendation: swimsuit, comfortable walking shoes and sandals. In the winter months (May–August) the afternoons are cool, so warmer clothing is needed.

Overnight: San Pedro de Atacama – La Casa de Don Tomás (Standard) / Cumbres San Pedro de Atacama (First Class) / Nayara Alto Atacama (Luxury)

Meals: breakfast

A full-day private excursion (about 10 hours, from 08:00 to 18:00). We begin at the Salar de Atacama, in the Soncor sector of Los Flamencos National Reserve, at Laguna Chaxa – a bird-watching spot with flamingos as the main attraction. We pass through Socaire – a village with traditional cuisine and terraced fields where corn, quinoa, beans and potatoes are grown.

We climb to the Miscanti and Miñiques lagoons (4,200 m) at the foot of the volcanoes of the same names – with an intensely blue sky, ochre mountains and walking paths. On the way back we stop in Toconao – a village with a bell tower and the Church of San Lucas, a national monument, and with crafts made of pumice, cactus wood, alpaca and llama.

In the evening an astronomical tour awaits us (about 4 hours) with 16-inch telescopes – planets, star clusters, galaxies and a story of how the ancient Atacameños read the sky. A warm aperitif. During a full moon, visibility of the stars is weaker.

Attention: the excursion is not recommended for people with heart problems and high blood pressure.

Overnight: San Pedro de Atacama – La Casa de Don Tomás (Standard) / Cumbres San Pedro de Atacama (First Class) / Nayara Alto Atacama (Luxury)

Meals: breakfast

We get up very early – the El Tatio geysers (4,400 m) are most impressive between 06:00 and 08:00, when the hot vapours meet the cold air and form columns of steam. It is one of the largest geothermal fields in the world, with over 80 active geysers. Temperatures may drop below zero, so three layers of clothing are needed. There is also a small thermal pool with water at about 35°C.

On the way back we pass Laguna Machuca and may see vicuñas, viscachas and birds. Then we go to Puritama – a thermal river that forms eight natural pools with water at about 33°C in a deep canyon. We bring swimwear and sandals.

Attention: El Tatio is not recommended for pregnant women, children under 10 and people with hypertension. Chilean pesos in cash are needed for personal purchases – dollars and cards are not accepted. The Puritama excursion must be booked at least 25 days in advance.

Overnight: San Pedro de Atacama – La Casa de Don Tomás (Standard) / Cumbres San Pedro de Atacama (First Class) / Nayara Alto Atacama (Luxury)

Meals: breakfast (breakfast box)

Transfer to Calama airport and a domestic flight to Santiago (included in the price). Transfer to the hotel in Santiago.

The afternoon is free – we can return to Lastarria or Bellavista for a last stroll and a last Chilean lunch.

Overnight: Santiago – Hampton by Hilton Santiago Las Condes (Standard) / Bidasoa Hotel (First Class) / Ritz-Carlton (Luxury)

Meals: breakfast

Transfer to the international airport and a flight home (included in the price).

Meals: breakfast

Eight days from the capital to the desert that resembles Mars. We looked up at a sky that has vanished from cities, swam in a salt lake and saw the earth breathe at El Tatio. Chile showed us that even the driest place on the planet can be full of life.

Until the next adventure!