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Austral Pigmy Owl
photo courtesy of Jean Paul de la Harpe
Z. |
Dear Travellers:
Welcome to this fascinating tour touching the
three incredible 'corner's' of Chile; north, the Atacama, south,
the Andes of Torres del Paine and the Strait of Magellan, and west,
Easter Island. Few itineraries offer or can match this diversity
of environmental extremes for climate or topography.
By 12,000 years ago humans had reached southern
Chile where archaeologists have uncovered stone age cultural sites
near Puerto Monte (at Monte Verde see National Geographic). Exactly
when and under what circumstances a very different people arrived
on Easter Island is somewhat speculative. In the far north, influence
of the Inca culture, from its epicentre in Peru, is evident. These
three 'stories' are as intriguing as Chile's linear conformation.
From condors and flamingos to penguins, rheas
& caracaras the bird life is equally varied. The world distribution
of arucaria (monkey puzzle) and antarctic beech trees signal biogeographical
ties to southern Africa, Australia and New Zealand, the former mega
continent of Gondwana. An equally fascinating story is that of the
'new world camels', the llama, alpaca and guanaco. For the naturalist,
this itinerary offers a richness of material that challenged young
Charles Darwin.
In modern comfort, this journey will permit first
hand examination in this far away country where strange sounding
names identify plants, animals, features, phenomena and places.
I invite you to join me on this journey into wonder. Bill
Merilees
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Vicuna
photo courtesy of Jean Paul de la Harpe
Z. |
Our proposed itinerary:
Day 1, Wed.November 22: Arrival
in Santiago
Arrival on the morning to the city and check in on the hotel Orly.
After lunch we start our trip to the high mountains of the Andes
Mountain range, in search for the biggest flying bird in the world,
the Andean Condor. There will be chances to see many of this magnificent
bird, beside to a unique wildlife adapted to this environment. Also,
is a perfect place for photo opportunities.
Dinner and overnight in Santiago.
Day 2, Thu. November 23: La
Campana National Park
We leave Santiago at 8:00 AM heading to the only reserve for the
esclerophilus forest, a unique ecosystem of Central Chile. Charles
Darwin, who said, "I never enjoyed a day more like today",
visited this Park. Here we'll have the chance to see the unique
Chilean palm tree forest, endemic specie, endangered. Lunch box
inside the Park. Is an excellent place to photograph different mammals,
reptiles and birds, endemic to Chile. Return to Santiago at 19:00.
Dinner and overnight in Santiago.
Day 3, Fri. November 24: Calama
- San Pedro de Atacama
We fly early morning to the city of Calama. From then we drive one
hour to San Pedro de Atacama, and old village, funded by the Atacameños,
the natives of this region. Check in on "La casa de Don Tomas"
and Lunch on the town. After lunch, some time to go around the village.
From then, we visit the Death valley, a geologic formation, with
mountains of salt and different minerals, to finally watch the beautiful
sunset on the Moon Valley.
Dinner and overnight in San Pedro.
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Llaima Volcano
photo courtesy of Jean Paul de la Harpe
Z. |
Day 4, Sat. November 25:
Early morning we go to the Atacama Salt flake, the third biggest
salt flake on the world. On the way we'll stop on Toconao, an ancient
town where you can appreciate this unique way of life. After this
town we arrive to Laguna Chaxa, a lagoon inside the salt flake,
where it is possible to see 3 flamingo species, the Chilean, Andean
and jammesi. Also a good spot for photography. We keep going south,
to arrive to Socaire at 3000 mts above sea level, another typical
village, where we will have lunch. After lunch, we visit the amazing
Andean lakes of Miscanti and Miñiques, located at 4.300 mts
above sea level. This is a good place to find the lesser rhea, Vicuñas
(related to the Llamas) and more wildlife. Return to San Pedro de
Atacama.
Dinner and overnight in San Pedro de Atacama.
Day 5, Sun. November 26: Ancient
civilizations
On this day we'll visit the ruins of the atacameños culture,
natives of this area that were dominated by the Incas. Early on
the morning we go to the Tulor village, close to San Pedro. Right
here you can see a sample of the atacameños houses. After
this, we'll visit the Garganta del Diablo, a big creek, made by
the erosion of the water on the desert soil. Lunch in San Pedro.
After lunch, we'll visit an old fort of the atacameños, the
Quitor fort. From here you can have an excellent view of the San
Pedro valley and the Andean Volcanoes, beside the desert.
Dinner and overnight in San Pedro de Atacama.
Day 6, Mon. November 27: El
Tatio geysers and altiplanic wildlife.
This day we leave our hotel early in the morning, at 4:00, heading
to the spectacular geyser of El Tatio. Here, we'll be witness of
the magic moment when the sunrise discover the steam of this geyser.
After this there's a possibilities to swim in the hot springs, at
4300 mts. above sea level. With the sunrays start to appear different
mammals and birds, bringing a good photo opportunities. After a
good breakfast up there, we start our way down, visiting lost towns
on these altitudes. We came back to San Pedro at 16:00, to visit
the Le paige Museum, where a good collection of objects and mommies
is found.
Dinner and overnight on San Pedro.
Day 7, Tue. November 28: Flight to Santiago
- Temuco.
The flight will take most part of the day. From
Temuco we drive to one of the most spectacular national park on Chile,
Conguillio National Park. We'll stay on La Baita Ecotourism centre.
Dinner and overnight.
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| Conguillio Lake
photo courtesy of Jean Paul de la Harpe
Z. |
Day 8, Wed. November 29: Laguna
Verde, Arcoiris, and Congullio Lake.
Early on the morning we'll start to discover this unique place,
famous by the Monkey-puzzle tree forest. This place was the perfect
scenery to film the movie, walking with dinosaurs, of discovery
channel. On this day we´ll take an overlook of the main water
bodies, like Laguna Verde, Lago Arcoiris and Conguillio lake. Lunch
inside the park. Also, it will be possible to watch the magnificent
Llaima volcano, with the lava flows crossing some parts of the park.
Dinner and lecture about the park. Overnight
on La Baita.
Day 9, Thu. November 30: Trip to Sierra Nevada.
On this day well do a trekking to Sierra Nevada, a place with a
spectacular view of the national park. Box lunch. After the trekking,
we'll visit the Velo de la Novia waterfall, placed inside the monkey
puzzle tree forest. On these day we'll see the biggest woodpecker
on the world, the Magellanic woodpecker, beside other wildlife.
Dinner and overnight on La Baita.
Day 10, Fri. December 01: Truful
truful - Pto. Varas.
Early on the morning we'll visit another area of the park, where
is possible to watch amazing geologic formation. From here we drive
to Pto. Varas. Lunch on the road.
Dinner and overnight on Pto. Varas.
Day 11, Sat. December 02: Petrohue
waterfalls - Vicente Perez Rosales national Park and Ralun.
In this day we'll visit the Petrohue Waterfall, a magnificent place
to take pictures. From here we'll do a soft trekking beside the
river. Lunch in Ensenada. After lunch we'll visit the Osorno Volcano,
and if the day is clear, there will be an excellent view to the
Pacific Ocean. Dinner on Angelmo, a typical seafood restaurant,
beside the Ocean in Pto. Montt.
Overnight in Pto. Varas.
Day 12, Sun. December 03: Chiloe
Island.
In The Morning we'll drive to the Chacao channel, the place where
you take the ferry to cross to Chiloe Island. Once in the Island,
well go to Ancud to Lunch. After lunch we'll visit the only colony
in the world where is possible to find the Magellanic and Humboldt
penguins nesting together. From Here we'll drive south to Castro,
the capital of Chiloe.
Dinner and overnight in Castro.
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Chiloe National Par
photo courtesy of Jean Paul de la Harpe
Z.
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Day 13, Mon. December 04: Chiloe
National Park.
We will visit the unique Chiloe national Park, where a specific
kind of forest is found.
There will be a several opportunities for photography and for to
learn of this ecosystem. From Here we'll return to Pto. Varas.
Dinner and overnight in Pto. Varas.
Day 14, Tue. December 05: Pto.
Montt - Pto. Natales
Transfer to Puerto Montt and flight to Punta Arenas.
Transfer to Puerto Natales.
Dinner and overnight on Pto. Natales.
Day 15, Wed. December 06: Torres
del Paine National Park
On this day we'll visit one of the most amazing place in the world,
watching the unique geological formations, beside a beautiful nature.
Lunch box. Also, we'll visit the Milodon cave, a place where it
was found a Milodon skeleton.
Dinner and Overnight on Pto. Natales.
Day 16, Thu. December 07: Balmaceda
and Serrano Glaciers.
Early on the morning we'll do a boat trip, heading to The amazing
hanging glaciers, which fall into the ocean. From here we´ll
have a view of the Torres del Paine. Lunch in the old Estancia Perales.
Dinner and overnight in Pto. Natales.
Day 17, Fri. December 08: Santiago.
Transfer to Punta Arenas airport
Flight to Santiago.
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Geyser
photo courtesy of Jean Paul de la Harpe
Z. |
Day 18, Sat. December 09 : Easter Island.
Transfer to airport and flight to Easter Island
Traditional welcoming with flowers
Visit of the:
AHU AKIVI - 7 Moais
ANA TE PAHU Cave (volcanic cave)
AHU TEPEU and boat house
PUNA PAU
Overnight in Hanga Roa at Otai Hotel
Day 19, Sun. December 10: Easter
Island.
RANO KAU Volcano and its lake
Orongo Village
AHU VINAPU
ANA KAI TANGATA Cave
Overnight in Hanga Roa at Otai Hotel
Day 20, Mon. December 11: Easter
Island.
AHU VAIHU
AHU AKAHANGA
RANO RARAKU Volcano
AHU TONGARIKI
AHU TE PITO KURA
ANAKENA beach
AHU NAU NAU
AHU ATURE HUKI
Overnight in Hanga Roa at Otai Hotel
Day 21, Tue. December 12: Santiago.
Free morning in Hanga Roa
Transfer to Mataveri Airport and flight to Santiago.
Overnight in Santiago at Orly Hotel
Day 22, Wed. December 13: Flight Home
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