Chile is a country of great extremes. With the Atacama Desert in the north and the Torres del Paine National Park in the south, any itinerary in Chile inevitably involves a fair amount of flying, unless you have lots of time of your hands.
At 2,500m, the Atacama Desert is both the driest and highest desert on earth. In this harsh, often eerie, yet starkly beautiful desert landscape there is a lot of sunshine, and although the temperature drops below zero at night, generally the year-round climate is pleasant and the transparency of light, unique. The mixture of volcanoes, salt flats and high altitude wetlands is unparalleled. With so much diversity in this small part of Chile, the excursions on offer are endless. We’ve whittled down our top five must-do excursions…
Here, Suzie our Marketing Executive (and foodie) gets our taste buds tantalised as she writes about her top places to eat, drink and be seen in the cosmopolitan capital city of Santiago.
Chilean Patagonia is the perfect destination for nature and outdoor enthusiasts who want exploration and adventure. It’s all things majestically alluring and one of our favourite places to dream of. See below the Latin America teams’ top five reasons to travel to this pocket of South America.
Chile is a land of extremes. A frayed ribbon down the west coast of South America, Chile is so diverse and breathtakingly beautiful it should be visited by everyone at least once. Below the Latin America team introduces you to two of its most extreme areas, going from the very bottom to the very top.
Chile is renowned for its mind boggling topography, and it is its extreme geography that lends itself to the perfect wine growing conditions. Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Andes, there are few places in the world that offer such a spectacular setting for vineyard hopping than the wine regions of of Chile.
The Chilean Lake District is a fairy-tale land of snow-capped volcanoes, mountain pastures, emerald forests, lush-green rolling hills, turquoise lagoons and crystal-clear lakes. All these varied landscapes make it the most spectacular adventure playground and the perfect holiday destination for the outdoor enthusiast. With such a wide variety of things to see and do, we have narrowed down the top five things that are not to be missed in the Chilean Lake District.
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Located in a serenely beautiful tranquil valley ten minutes from the oasis village of San Pedro, Alto Atacama Desert Lodge & Spa is the only accommodation option in the region that is completely surrounded by the natural environment. Blending seamlessly into the landscape, the lodge’s 42 comfortable rooms are faithful to the local aesthetic, with local materials and handicrafts used to add rustic warmth and local character. Differing slightly in size and position, all rooms have their own terrace, the perfect spot to enjoy a good book and absorb the colour and silence of the valley.
Cuisine at Alto Atacama blends Mediterranean flavours with local organic ingredients, many of which are collected during excursions in the area, in the outdoor bar and restaurant, where you can be wined and dined while enjoying the desert mountain views. The Puri spa has six outdoor pools, indoor and outdoor whirlpool baths, and a wide range of spa treatments, and there is also a cosy indoor lounge area and library. The hotel even has its own observatory on-site offering intimate, small-group star gazing experiences in the magnificent night skies of the high Chilean desert north.
Guests can choose from over thirty cultural and adventure activities, with everything from a visit to the workshop of a local artisan or a meeting with a shaman, to bike rides, volcano treks and visiting high altitude salt lakes and geysers further afield. The Alto Atacama Desert Lodge & Spa also offers unforgettable 4WD adventures into the most stunning landscapes, where the staff will happily find a unique location for you to enjoy an outdoor lunch or a memorable sunset.
Day time temperatures are luminous and agreeable all year round. A characteristic of the desert climate is the marked fluctuation in temperature between day and night. In winter (June, July and August) the average temperature is 22ºC during the day and at night it goes down to around 4ºC; temperatures can occasionally go below freezing. In summer (December to February) the temperature varies between 28ºC during the day and 16ºC at night. During these months the temperature can reach 32ºC. January-March can sometimes receive a little rainfall and cloudy skies.
On February 2, the biggest festival in San Pedro, Festival de la Candelaria, features a large parade of bands and dancers.
Combining luxury with outdoor adventure, this itinerary takes you on a journey to some of Chile's unmissable highlights. Perfect for those who love being active, dramatic landscapes and indulging in the finest luxury.
Atacama Desert, Chile
Best for: Beach
San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
Best for: Honeymoon,Culture & history,Spa
San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
Best for: Culture & history,Off the beaten track
San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
Best for: Culture & history