Introducing Intrepid’s first Chile-only adventure. Awash with phenomenal landscapes, this destination stands every bit as tall as its photogenic neighbours Peru, Argentina and Bolivia. Set off from the cobbled streets of Santiago, pop over to the Casablanca Valley for a winery tour, and explore what must be one of the most romantic (and good-looking) little towns in South America – Valparaiso. Before returning to the capital, venture up into the Andes and the Acatama desert and spend a few days checking out hot springs, lagoons, hiking trails, geological oddities and high-altitude geyser fields.
Highlights
Contrast Santiago’s historic city streets with the scenic vineyards of the Casablanca Valley, Chile’s fastest growing wine hot-spot
Explore the delightful port town of Valparaiso, where culture spills out into the streets and a rainbow of houses line the coast
Head out to the Moon Valley in the Atacama Desert and climb to the top of a sand dune for an unforgettable sunset
Visit the otherworldly El Tatio geyser, one of the highest elevated geyser fields in the world (4,300 metres above sea level)
A free day in San Pedro opens up a world of opportunities – lagoons, hot springs, hiking trails and more
- You will visit the following places:
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Valparaíso
Valparaíso is a major city, seaport, and educational center in the county or commune of Valparaíso, Chile. It's known for its steep funiculars and colorful, clifftop homes. Valparaíso played an important geopolitical role in the second half of the 19th century, when the city served as a major stopover for ships traveling between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans by crossing the Straits of Magellan. Valparaíso mushroomed during its golden age, as a magnet for European immigrants, when the city was known by international sailors as "Little San Francisco" and "The Jewel of the Pacific". In 2003, the historic quarter of Valparaíso was declared a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site.
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Quilicura
Santiago, also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation. It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of 520 m (1,706.04 ft) above mean sea level. Although Santiago is the capital, legislative bodies meet in the coastal town of Valparaíso, a one-hour drive to its west. Chile's steady economic growth has transformed Santiago into one of Latin America's most modern metropolitan areas, with extensive suburban development, dozens of shopping centers, and impressive high-rise architecture.