From Lunar Dust to Glacial Glass
Traverse the vertical extremes of the world’s most slender nation, from the bone-dry moonscapes of the Atacama to the jagged granite cathedrals of Patagonia. Discover the rhythmic soul of Santiago and the volcanic heart of the Lake District in one epic, luxury odyssey.
The Spine of the Andes: A Symphony of Earth’s Extremes
Chile is a land defined by its impossible verticality—a slender ribbon of life caught between the crashing Pacific and the soaring, snow-capped Andes. This journey is more than a traverse of a country; it is a study in geological contrast. You begin in the high-altitude north, where the Atacama Desert mimics the surface of Mars with its salt-crusted lagoons, steaming geysers, and terracotta canyons, providing a serene, silent start to your adventure.
From the desert, you’ll drop into the cosmopolitan pulse of Santiago before the landscape begins to liquify and then freeze. In the deep south, you will find yourself in the shadow of the Torres del Paine—granite monoliths that stand guard over turquoise glacial lakes and calving ice fields. Staying at the legendary Explora Patagonia, you will walk the very edge of the world, where the wind tells stories of ancient seafarers and the wildlife remains truly indomitable.
Your odyssey concludes in the Araucanía Lake District, a region of emerald forests and perfectly conical volcanoes. Here, at the award-winning &Beyond Vira Vira, the pace slows to the rhythm of the Mapuche people. Relish sublime farm-to-table cuisine, explore labyrinthine volcanic tunnels, and soak in thermal springs while reflecting on a journey that has spanned the entire spectrum of our planet’s natural wonders.
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Trip Itinerary
San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
Welcome to the Atacama Desert! Upon arrival at Calama Airport, you will be met and transferred to the Catarpe Valley in the Salt Mountain Range. This is the world’s driest landscape, a high-altitude marvel of geological and archaeological wonders. Your retreat, Nayara Alto Atacama, blends effortlessly into the terracotta-coloured surrounds. This afternoon, take time to adjust to the altitude or relax by one of the six outdoor pools before meeting your hosts to plan the adventures ahead.
Atacama Desert - Culture & Ruins
Begin your exploration of ancestral cultures with the Likanantai Culture Tour. After a short walk to the Pukara de Quitor ruins, you'll visit the historic old town of San Pedro to explore its picturesque church and museum. Later, drive to the 2,800-year-old settlement of Tulor. For those seeking adventure, the afternoon offers cycling through the Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s Throat), where the path winds through spectacular red rock gorges and ancient mythical landscapes.
Atacama Desert - Highlands & Geysers
Today is dedicated to the dramatic beauty of the Andean Altiplano. Embark on the Jauna Trek, a full-day hike in the highlands north of San Pedro. Reaching altitudes of 4,200 meters, you will traverse unique wetlands to observe specialized flora and fauna. Alternatively, visit the nearby Tatio Geysers or soak in local hot springs. The desert's silence and the immense scale of the volcanoes provide a perfect backdrop for a deep immersion into one of Earth's most extreme environments.
San Pedro to Santiago
After a final desert breakfast, you will be transferred to Calama Airport for your domestic flight to Santiago. The Chilean capital is a vibrant metropolis flanked by the Andes and the Coastal range. Upon arrival, an &Beyond representative will escort you to the El Golf neighborhood. Settle into the sophisticated Ritz-Carlton Santiago, located in the heart of the city's administrative and culinary hub, and enjoy an evening at leisure exploring the surrounding cafes.
Santiago City Highlights
Discover the contrasting neighborhoods of Santiago on a half-day panoramic tour. Visit the historic 'heart' of the city, including the Government Palace (La Moneda) and the Plaza de Armas. For the best views, ascend Cerro San Cristóbal via the rickety funicular to look out over the sprawling city toward the Andes. Your tour also covers the avant-garde architecture of Providencia and the leafy boulevards of Parque Forestal, providing a perfect introduction to South America's hot culinary capital.
Santiago to Southern Patagonia
Leave the city behind for the wild beauty of Southern Patagonia. Fly from Santiago to Punta Arenas, followed by a scenic 5-hour drive into the heart of Torres del Paine National Park. Your home for the next few days, Explora Patagonia, is anchored like a white ship on the shores of the turquoise Lake Pehoé. This UNESCO Biosphere Reserve is an icon of Chilean Patagonia, where the immensity of the ice floes and the majesty of the granite towers create a constant source of wonder.
Patagonia - Lake Pehoé & Miradors
Explora offers over 40 guided hikes and rides. Today, choose the Mirador Pehoé trek, walking along the lake among orchids and ñirre trees to see the intense blue waters against the Paine ridge. For a more moderate challenge, the Mirador Cóndor offers a 360° view of the park, Lake Sarmiento, and the Paine Massif. Keep an eye out for local wildlife, including guanacos and rheas, which thrive in this vast, indomitable landscape of mountains and lakes.
Patagonia - Grey Glacier Exploration
Embark on a demanding but rewarding journey to the Grey Glacier. After a transfer to Grey Station, ascend through dense forests to witness the enormous ice barrier of the Southern Ice Fields. You will eventually reach the shore of Lake Grey, where you can board a boat to navigate close to the towering glacier walls. Witnessing the scale of the blue ice and the floating icebergs is a quintessential Patagonian experience that highlights the region's raw, exotic power.
Patagonia - Serrano River & Riding
Today, experience Patagonia from a different perspective at the Explora stables. Choose a horseback ride across the Serrano Plain, crossing rivers and pampas toward the Donosito Lookout. From here, the views of the Paine Massif are unparalleled. Alternatively, explore Laguna Negra for exceptional bird watching, including southern lapwings and upland geese. Whether on foot or horseback, today is about feeling the force of the Patagonian wind and the freedom of the open plains.
Patagonia to the Lake District
Bid farewell to the granite peaks of the south and fly north to the lush Chilean Lake District. From Punta Arenas, fly to Puerto Montt, where you will be met and transferred to &Beyond Vira Vira near Pucón. This region is the homeland of the Mapuche people, characterized by breathtaking glacial lakes, frosted volcanoes, and ancient Araucaria (monkey puzzle) trees. Your lodge sits on a 22-hectare estate with its own organic farm and state-of-the-art cheese factory.
Lake District - Volcanoes & Culture
The 'Adventure Capital' of Chile offers a plethora of choices today. You might choose to explore the nearby Villarrica Volcano, visiting its labyrinth of volcanic tunnels or trekking its foothills for unbelievable views. Immerse yourself in the mystic ambiance of ancient Mapuche territories with a cultural excursion, or spend the afternoon at the lodge’s cheese factory. The day culminates with a farm-to-table dining experience, blending Chilean and ancient indigenous recipes.
Lake District - Nature & Wellness
On your final full day, enjoy the tranquil beauty of the Lake District. Options include fly-fishing in crystal-clear rivers, mountain biking through evergreen rainforests, or a peaceful day in the lodge's organic garden. After your exploits, unwind with a yoga session or an indulgent dip in a bubbling hot tub under the stars. The quality of life and the sensory journey of the Araucanía landscape offer a perfect, peaceful conclusion to your 13-day Chilean adventure.
Departure via Temuco
Your wonderful journey comes to an end this morning. After a final Chilean breakfast at the lodge, you will be driven to Temuco (Araucanía) Airport for your flight to Santiago. In Santiago, you will connect to your international flight onwards, waving a warm farewell to the 'slender ribbon of land' that has shared its desert, mountains, and glaciers with you over the last 13 days.
Where You’ll Stay
Nayara Alto Atacama
A Serene Sanctuary in the World’s Driest Desert
Nayara Alto Atacama is a soulful desert retreat set within a dramatic canyon just outside San Pedro de Atacama, where rust-colored cliffs, vast salt flats, and impossibly clear skies define the experience. Designed to blend seamlessly into the landscape, the lodge feels grounded and elemental—an oasis of calm in one of the planet’s most otherworldly environments.
Days are built around guided explorations into the Atacama’s stark beauty: high-altitude lagoons, geysers, volcanic valleys, and ancient cultural sites. Between excursions, the rhythm slows—guests return to shaded terraces, tranquil pools, and a spa inspired by Andean traditions, with wide-open views that invite reflection rather than distraction.
Nayara Alto Atacama is luxury without excess, offering warmth, authenticity, and a deep sense of place. It’s ideal for travelers seeking silence, space, and perspective—where the desert strips life back to its essentials and leaves you feeling profoundly restored.
The Ritz-Carlton Santiago
Timeless Luxury at the Gateway to the Andes
The Ritz-Carlton, Santiago offers a refined urban retreat in the heart of Chile’s capital, where cosmopolitan energy meets the dramatic backdrop of the Andes Mountains. Located in the upscale El Golf district, the hotel places guests steps from Santiago’s best dining, shopping, and business hubs—while still feeling calm, polished, and unmistakably luxurious.
Inside, classic Ritz-Carlton elegance sets the tone: richly appointed rooms, attentive service, and an atmosphere designed for comfort and composure. Days begin with city exploration or wine-country excursions and end back at the hotel’s standout rooftop pool and spa, where panoramic mountain views steal the show. Dining and lounges lean upscale and relaxed, making the property as appealing for a celebratory stay as it is for a strategic stopover.
The Ritz-Carlton, Santiago is ideal for travelers who want Patagonia-level scenery without leaving the city—or who appreciate having a world-class, familiar luxury anchor before or after more rugged Chilean adventures. It’s a place to reset, indulge, and ease into South America with confidence and style.
Explora Torres del Paine
Immersive Exploration in the Heart of Patagonia
Explora Torres del Paine is designed for travelers who want to experience Patagonia not from a distance, but from deep within its wild, elemental landscape. Set inside Torres del Paine National Park, the lodge offers front-row access to one of the most dramatic natural environments on the planet—towering granite peaks, glacial lakes, wind-sculpted plains, and ever-changing skies.
The experience here is intentionally immersive. Days revolve around expertly guided military-style explorations—ranging from gentle walks to demanding hikes and horseback rides—led by seasoned guides who interpret the land, wildlife, and geography with depth and clarity. Between adventures, the lodge provides a warm, minimalist retreat where panoramic views take center stage, meals are nourishing and thoughtfully prepared, and the pace encourages true disconnection.
Explora Torres del Paine isn’t about excess or spectacle; it’s about access, expertise, and presence. By stripping away distractions and focusing on movement, landscape, and understanding, it delivers a form of luxury rooted in experience rather than indulgence—ideal for travelers who believe the greatest comfort comes from standing in a place that still feels utterly untamed.
&Beyond Vira Vira
Refined Adventure at the Edge of the Andes
&Beyond Vira Vira is a destination unto itself—an intimate, design-forward lodge set amid forests, rivers, and volcanoes in Chile’s Lake District. Purpose-built for travelers who want both exhilaration and restoration, Vira Vira offers a seamless balance between active days outdoors and deeply restorative moments of calm. The setting is dramatic yet grounding, inviting guests to fully engage with nature without sacrificing comfort or style.
Days at Vira Vira are shaped by choice and curiosity. Guided adventures range from hiking, biking, and horseback riding to fly fishing, kayaking, and cultural excursions into the surrounding countryside. Between experiences, guests return to a lodge that feels warm, contemporary, and quietly luxurious—where fires crackle, views stretch endlessly outward, and every detail feels intentional rather than indulgent.
Wellness is woven into the fabric of the experience. The on-site spa, hydrotherapy facilities, and farm-to-table cuisine support a sense of renewal that lingers long after the journey ends. As with all &Beyond properties, sustainability and community engagement are central, ensuring that each stay contributes positively to the land and people that make this place so special. For travelers seeking an experience that is active yet restorative, adventurous yet refined, &Beyond Vira Vira delivers a rare kind of luxury—one that energizes the body and steadies the soul.
What's Included
- All nights of accommodation mentioned in the program
- Tours and activities as mentioned in the program with bilingual speaking local guides
- Meals and drinks as indicated in the program
- National Park fees where applicable
- Taxes included, where applicable
- Early check-in or late check-out charges
- Items of personal nature like laundry, phone calls, etc.
- Certain extra activities at the lodges not mentioned in the program such as spa treatments and helicopter excursions
- Any video/still camera fee during the trip
- Tipping
- Drinks when not mentioned in the program
- Excess of baggage
- Trip Insurance
- Visa or reciprocity fee expenses
- International Airfare
- Domestic Air Tickets
