Chile Mystical – Little South of Chile and Iquique on a Round Trip in 3 Weeks

Overview

Discover the island of Chiloé and Araucania in the Little South of Chile as well as the Atacama Desert near Iquique on a round trip in 3 weeks. You visit the vibrant capital Santiago with its many faces, historical places and great city panoramas. Thereon begins your tour by rental car in southern Chile. Admire stilt houses, wooden churches and mystical island culture on Chiloé. Puerto Varas is framed by cone-shaped volcanic peaks and picturesque waters. Valdivia offers appealing river sites and traces of the history of German immigration. In Conguillío National Park, considered one of the most beautiful nature reserves in Chile, you see araucaria trees and intensely colored lagoons at the base of the Llaima Volcano. From Temuco you fly to the Great North. Here, the pleasant desert city of Iquique has excellent beaches and interesting colonial architecture. And back in central Chile, colorful hills, jolting elevators and outstanding street art are waiting for you in the port city of Valparaíso.

Highlights

Stilt houses on Chiloé

Roaring waterfalls of Petrohué

German immigrants’ culture in Valdivia

Araucaria trees and lava fields in Conguillío Park

Volcanoes and Andean lagoons on the Altiplano

Itinerary

Day 1-3: Santiago de Chile

Welcome to Chile! Here in Santiago beats the heart of Chile. And at the same time, at the foot of the snow-covered mountains and not far from the mighty ocean, you feel what gave this country its name according to a legend: Chilli - where the world ends. Glorious buildings and busy commerce on the streets, flourishing parks and modern high-rise complexes come together in Santiago. Here, Chile's past, present and future collide directly.

Day 3-7: Castro

Colorful stilt houses line the shores of Chiloé, the country's second-largest island. Green hills and rugged cliffs adorn the landscape. Wooden churches, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, dominate the image of the villages, just as indigenous mythology influences the inhabitants of the archipelago. The special smells and colors of the lively markets are fascinating. And the local maritime gastronomy is particular.

Day 7-9: Puerto Varas

Puerto Varas carries its own magic with its panorama of the sparkling Lago Llanquihue and the snowy volcanoes on the horizon, with German architecture and inviting cafes. The inexhaustible rapids of Río Petrohué break over the volcanic rocks and roar impetuously. And with its cone shape and snow-capped dome, Volcán Osorno looks like something out of a picture book.

Day 9-11: Valdivia

Valdivia's history and culture are perceptibly influenced by the German immigrants who settled here, especially in the middle of the 19th century. Trace these impacts on a stroll through the city. Branching waterways furrow through the romantic province of Valdivia. And the scenic coastline with its fortifications shows you the dreaminess and resilience of this region simultaneously.

Day 11-14: Conguillío National Park and surroundings

The nickname of Conguillío National Park is "Los Paraguas", the umbrellas. It is a vivid description of the predominant vegetation of one of Chile's most outstanding nature reserves that you hike here. The araucarias, also known as Andean firs, are indeed spread like countless stretched umbrellas over the enormous area. Together with green mountain lakes, wide lava fields and the smoking Llaima Volcano, they create a unique appearance of the park.

Day 14-18: Iquique

The desert town of Iquique combines scenic elegance, Chilean history and modernity like few other places in the country. Examine the interesting architecture of the city center. Switch off at the beach promenade flanked by palm trees. In the inland, the abandoned mining town of Humberstone, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a reminder of the blessings and curses of natural resources. And the Huasco Salt Lake on the Andean highlands is home to flamingos, nandus, guanacos.

Day 18-21: Valparaíso

You return to central Chile. Valparaíso is known for its colorful tin-clad houses, historic elevators and street art full of politics and irony. Meander attentively through the winding sidewalks on the hills of the port city. An entertaining cooking class gives you a taste of Chilean food culture. In the Casablanca Valley, you gain interesting glimpses into local viticulture. And on the coast of Isla Negra, the former home of Pablo Neruda, wild waves whip against rough rocks.

What our Travel Packages Include

Travel service:

Basic package Full package

Individual and professional advice about your journey
Tailor-made travel planning and organization

Accommodation:

Basic package Full package

20 nights in standard, comfort or premium accommodation
Double room usually with private bathroom and breakfast

Local transport:

Basic package Full package

3 national flights
6 transfer connections
Rental car (see below)

Rental car:

Basic package Full package

Rental car for 11 days (SUV)
Car type: Seat Ateca or similar
Pick up: Puerto Montt (Airport)
Drop off: Temuco (Airport)
Kilometers: free
Border crossing: excl.
Insurance: Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) with basic protection against damage and theft without deductible (via refund)

Half and full day tours:

Basic package Full package

City tour Santiago (private)
Humberstone (shared)
Salar de Huasco (shared)
Cooking class in Valparaíso (shared)
City tour Valparaíso (private)
Isla Negra and winery at Casablanca (private)

Our Prices for your Journey through Chile

Included:

Travel service
Accommodation
Local transport
Rental car

Excluded:

Arrival and departure, half and full day tours, entrance fees, travel insurance, short rides, meals not mentioned

Total price per person

(with 2 travelers):

From €3,020.00

Included:

Travel service
Accommodation
Local transport
Rental car
Half and full day tours

Excluded:

Arrival and departure, entrance fees, travel insurance, short rides, meals not mentioned

Total price per person

(with 2 travelers):

From €3,680.00

Add individual travel services to your journey. For example:

Intercontinental flights
Family motorhome
Free adjustment of destinations and order of your journey through Chile

Chile Central promotes sustainable and solidarity tourism. By booking your trip, you support CO₂ offset as well as a social project for disadvantaged children in Santiago.

Decided in advance? We offer attractive special rates for early bookers.