Day 1: Arrival in Santiago.
Day 2: Rapa Nui – Travel to Easter Island.
Day 3: Rapa Nui – In Search of the Birdman Cult.
Day 4: Rapa Nui – The Mystery of the Moai,
Day 5: Rapa Nui – Tongariki Sunrise – Travel to Santiago.
Day 6: Central Region – A Bite of Santiago City Tour.
Day 7: Central Region – Valparaíso and Vineyard Tour.
Day 8: Travel to San Pedro de Atacama.
Day 9: San Pedro de Atacama – Altiplanic Lagoons.
Day 10: San Pedro de Atacama – Tatio Geysers.
Day 11: San Pedro de Atacama – Moon Valley.
Day 12: Return to Santiago & International Flight.
From the ancient archaeological wonders of Easter Island to the Martian landscapes of a sky-scraping desert, our “Easter Island to Atacama: Culture and Nature” tour will immerse you in the natural wonders and cultural diversity of our unique country. We’ll start our journey on Easter Island. This island has been home to the Rapa Nui people for thousands of years, who crafted the giant rock “Moai” statues that dot the island’s landscape. We’ll hike up the island’s volcanoes to take in magnificent views across the Pacific horizon, explore ancient archaeological sites to discover the treasures of this Polynesian gem, and learn about local culture and traditions. Returning to the mainland, we’ll explore the highlights of Central Chile, like the capital city of Santiago, the colorful port of Valparaiso, and the idyllic wine valleys. The trip ends in the Atacama Desert – the driest desert in the world – where we’ll discover otherworldly landscapes like steaming-hot geyser fields, timeless lunar valleys, highland lagoons, hazy mountains and volcanoes, and some of the most spectacular night skies on the planet.
Welcome to Chile! A representative from our company will be waiting for you at the Santiago Airport to welcome you and take you to your hotel in the city. Along the way, we’ll go over your upcoming itinerary, as well as answer any questions you may have.
Depending on when your flight arrives, you will have free time during the day and evening to rest or explore the city a bit on your own. If you choose to go out and explore, here are some of our suggestions for points of interest.
Meals: None.
Eco Boutique Hotel Bidasoa
In the morning, you’ll be picked up from your hotel and taken to the airport for your flight to Easter Island. Upon arrival, another EcoChile representative will fetch you from the airport in Hanga Roa and take you to your hotel, where you’ll have a short break to rest and refresh yourself before heading out.
Meals: Breakfast and your choice of either lunch or dinner.
Hare Uta Hotel
During your time on Easter Island, you can choose the activities you do each day. You’ll have a wide range on offer, from sight-seeing at the local hotspots and cultural visits, to hiking the landscapes, horseback riding, and even snorkeling and scuba diving! If you can’t decide, here are our recommendations!
AM Private Half-Day Tour: Memories of the Volcano
Discover the incredible history of the birdman, or Tangata Manu. On this tour, you’ll visit Rano Kau quarry, Orongo ceremonial village, and the Inca wall Ahu Tahira as you learn more about this curious tradition in which representatives of each family would race to decide the year’s leader.
PM Private Half-Day Tour: Discover the underground caves of Rapa Nui
Peaceful walk through the volcanic caves in the Roiho area. Along the way, we explore about five different caves, including Ana Te Pahu (the banana cave) and Ana Kakenga (the cave of two windows).
Meals: Breakfast and your choice of either lunch or dinner
Hare Uta Hotel
On your second full day on Easter Island, you can again choose which activities you want to try. Here’s another recommendation if you just can’t select!
Private Full-Day Tour: The Arrival of the Hotu Matu’a
After having breakfast in your hotel, you’ll head out to get to know some of the island’s main attractions in more detail. Your journey will include sites like Ahu Te Pito Kura, where you can see the only fallen Moai that has stayed in that position over time. You’ll also visit the Rano Raraku volcano, where all the island’s Moai and other statues were made, and Ahu Tongariki, which is considered to be the biggest built ceremonial structure on the island. It has fifteen Moai, displayed in a row. After looking around, you will go to an ancient ceremonial platform called Ahu Akahanga, see the petroglyphs at Papa Vaka, and round the day off at the beautiful Anakena beach.
Meals: Breakfast and your choice of either lunch or dinner.
Hare Uta Hotel
Last but not least! One of the most unforgettable ways to conclude your Rapa Nui experience is by starting early to witness the breathtaking sunrise at Ahu Tongariki.
AM Private Half-Day Tour: Sunrise at Tongariki
You’ll sense the magic in Easter Island’s air as soon as you arrive. But watching the magnificent sunrise over the 15 Moai giants of Ahu Tongariki is an unforgettable experience and one of the greatest spectacles the island offers.
Shared Transfer.
At a pre-arranged time (depending on your flight), you’ll be fetched from your Easter Island hotel by the hotel’s representatives and transferred to Hanga Roa airport for your five-hour flight back to the mainland. After arriving in Santiago, you’ll be taken to your hotel and will have the remainder of the day free.
Meals: Breakfast.
Eco Boutique Hotel Bidasoa
Private Half Day Tour: A Bite of Santiago City Tour.
Today, you’ll get to discover Santiago on this insider city tour. We’ll visit the historic city center, where you’ll learn about the history of the city and Chile, be introduced to Chilean cuisine by visiting the local markets to try traditional dishes and learn about how they’re prepared, visit popular attractions around town, connect with locals, and much more. By the end of the tour, you’ll be an honorary “Santiaguino”! After the tour, you’ll have the rest of the day free to explore more or rest at your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast and food samples.
Eco Boutique Hotel Bidasoa
Private Full Day Tour: Valparaíso and Casablanca Wine Valley.
Today, we head out of Santiago to visit central Chile’s scenic wine valleys and the bohemian port city of Valparaiso. We’ll start in Valparaiso, which is located on the Pacific Coast, roughly an hour and a half from Santiago. This city is renowned for its counterculture atmosphere, colorful houses, unique regional architecture, vibrant street art, and hill-scaling funicular elevators, all of which we’ll discover on a walking tour. We’ll also stop at a local restaurant to enjoy some of the city’s incredibly fresh and delicious offerings. Then, we’ll drive back toward Santiago, stopping in the luscious Casablanca wine valley, which is renowned world-wide for its red and white wines. We’ll visit one of the valley’s most preeminent wineries, Emiliana, which specializes in organic and biodynamic wines. We’ll go on a tour of the vineyard and winery and have a tasting of their wines accompanied by local cheese or chocolate. We’ll then return to Santiago for the evening.
Meals: Breakfast.
Eco Boutique Hotel Bidasoa
At a prearranged time, you’ll be picked up from your hotel and taken to the airport for your flight to Calama in the Atacama Desert. Upon arrival, one of our representatives will pick you up from the airport for the drive to San Pedro. Along the way, you’ll pass spectacular desert scenery like endless plains and high-altitude mountains streaked with colorful stones and sand. When we arrive in San Pedro, you’ll be dropped off at your hotel to get settled and enjoy the evening at your leisure.
Optional Semi-Private Half-Day Tour: Stargazing Experience.
At night, you’ll also have the option to take part in a stargazing tour, as long as climatic conditions and the moon cycle allow. Take in some of the clearest night skies on Earth in the Atacama Desert. Learn about the constellations, look at the planets in astounding detail through the telescopes and find out more about the Andean cosmovision and the importance of the celestial objects in indigenous worldviews.
(Note that this activity is not included in the price.)
Meals: Breakfast.
Our Habitas Hotel
Semi-private Full Day Tour: Altiplanic Lagoons.
Today, we’ll drive up to the high-altitude plateau to discover some of the remarkable landscapes that this desert is famous for. After roughly an hour, we’ll arrive at the enchanting Miscanti and Miñiques lagoons. We’ll then drive to Socaire, a traditional adobe village. After lunch at a local restaurant, we’ll visit some of the village’s weavers, where we’ll get to learn about and observe their knitting. After this class, we’ll return to San Pedro for a free evening.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch.
Our Habitas Hotel
Semi-private Full Day Tour: Tatio Geysers and Machuca Village.
Today, we’ll visit the famous Tatio Geysers, which at 14,173 feet (4,320 meters) above sea level are the highest in the world!
At around 6:30 am, we’ll drive to the village of Machuca on the way to the geysers, where we’ll pause to explore the ancient adobe dwellings and historic church. Most visitors stop here after coming back from the geysers, so we’ll have the place all to ourselves. We’ll then continue on to the Putana wetlands, located next to the Putana Volcano. After a photo up there, we’ll head to the geyser field, which we will explore by walking along the marked paths that weave through the geysers, watching them erupt and fill the air with steam. After exploring the area, we’ll return to San Pedro around 2:00 pm, and you’ll have the rest of the day to relax or explore.
Meals: Breakfast.
Our Habitas Hotel
Semi-private Half Day Tour: Moon Valley.
We’ll depart in the morning to visit one of the most famous places in Atacama, the Valle de la Luna (The Moon Valley). After arriving, we’ll enjoy breakfast amongst the morning hues as we take in the full grandeur of this lunar landscape. Then we’ll have the opportunity to visit an “Ayllu,” an ancient community-dwelling that was created by the Atacameños or Lickan-Antay tribe. Then we’ll return to San Pedro around 11:30 am, and, at a pre-arranged time, your driver will pick you up from your hotel to take you to Calama’s airport for your return flight to Santiago.
When you arrive in Santiago, a representative will be waiting to drive you to your hotel. The rest of the day will be yours to enjoy at your leisure.
Meals: Breakfast.
Eco boutique hotel Bidasoa
Private Transfer.
On your final day, after your breakfast, at a pre-arranged time depending on your flight, you’ll be fetched from your hotel and taken privately to the airport in Santiago for your departure flight. Safe travels!
Meals: Breakfast.
End of EcoChile Services.
The semi-private tours in this itinerary are personalized, high quality small group tours with a maximum of 10 people on each outing. The tour will be led by a bilingual guide (Spanish/English).
We consistently endeavor to organize and conduct sustainable trips. Here’s what we always strive to achieve:
However, it’s important to acknowledge that in certain areas, resources, and awareness may be limited, so we can’t always guarantee complete adherence to our sustainability standards
Duration: 12 days
Price: from USD$ 5,243 / person
Customize This Trip
