Chile Walk and Brazil Beach Holiday » Itinerary

Fly overnight to Latin America. Please note: international flights are quoted separately for this holiday.

Travel to the north of Chile and the Atacama Desert. Stay in a boutique hotel in the small, characterful oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama.

Set off from the hotel for a gently paced bike ride across the salt flats to a lagoon, home to a family of flamingos. In the late afternoon walk through a narrow gorge in the salt mountains.

Ride up to 20km, 3hrs, flat. Walk 7km, 2hrs, down 100m.

Start today’s walk in small village at 4,000m. Walk along a wide green valley then down an Inca road surrounded by giant cacti and agricultural terraces to an oasis.

Walk 18km, 5hrs, down 1,000m

Today’s walk takes you as high as many of us will ever stand. Walk slowly but steadily to the summit at 5,620m – only a couple of hundred metres lower than Kilimanjaro.

Walk 6km, 3hrs, up 420m, down 420m.

Visit the world’s highest geothermal field – the Tatio geysers as they come to life at sunrise. Afterwards, soak in hot springs. Fly to Santiago this evening.

Today is yours to explore Santiago. Your hotel is in the centre of this bustling city so you can explore on foot quite comfortably.

Fly south along the spectacular spine of the Andes, over the massive Patagonian ice fields. On arrival you are driven across the open plains to Puerto Natales where you spend the night.

Catch a morning boat along the Ultima Esperanza Sound as far as the Balmaceda glacier where you pick up a river boat which takes you along the Rio Serrano into the Torres del Paine National Park.

Travel into Torres del Paine National Park. Enjoy an afternoon boat trip out to the face of Glacier Grey. Sleep in the mountain hut (refugio) near the face of the glacier.

Start walking east across Torres del Paine as you leave the glaciers behind you to walk between lakes and mountains towards the dry grasslands.

Walk under the mountain of Paine Grande then a steady uphill and a steep downhill towards the shores of Lake Nordenskjold.

Continue your walk along a good path in the shadow of the mountains throughout today. You should see lots of condors as you pass beneath the high peaks.

Early start to hike up to the small lake at the base of the towers – the culmination of your Torres del Paine walk. Return to sleep in a comfortable hotel.

Travel up from the far south to the capital, Santiago. Today is a long travel day although the views are always a treat. Dress comfortably, relax and enjoy.

Check out of your hotel and head to the airport from where you catch a flight over to Rio. On arrival, your guide will be waiting for you at the airport to take you to your hotel near Ipanema beach.

What makes Rio special is the setting – it is an city spread across bays and valleys wedged between forested hills and sandy beaches. Today’s tour will be almost entirely outside and take in all of the main sights.

This morning you should take the opportunity to explore Rio a little on your own. You are picked up at a time to suit you for the two-hour drive to Buzios. Relax in your lovely pousada overlooking the bay.

In Buzios daytimes are generally spent on one of the 20 or more beaches, evenings are spent eating well or enjoying a little of that legendary Brazilian nightlife. Many clients rent bikes for their stay in order to have the freedom to explore.

More time around Buzios to enjoy the beaches, scenery, activities and nightlife.

More time around Buzios to enjoy the beaches, scenery, activities and nightlife.

Enjoy more time around Buzios this morning before your afternoon transfer back to the airport and your overnight flight home.

Arrive back home.