Activities in the Atacama Desert are at the same altitude as the town (+/-2,400m) with the exception of the Tatio Geysers when you are driven up to 4,300m.

In the Lake District and Patagonia walks are generally short and designed to get you out into the great outdoors in magnificent scenery without being full day hikes.

In both cases, you are at sea level and distances are not great.

How comfortable?

Comfortable small hotels with en suite rooms throughout. These are generally equivalent to 3* or sometimes +3*.

How independent?

You will be part of a fully guided small group of 24 passengers maximum.

Minimum group size for this holiday to run is 4. With smaller groups some of the excursions will be on a shared basis (Santiago, Lake District, Perito Moreno).

In all cases, the Atacama and Patagonia sections of this holiday are private Pura Aventura services.

Holidays are accompanied by a dedicated tour leader/guide.

How Responsible?

Pura Aventura is passionate about the places it visits. To help preserve the integrity of these destinations we:

• Keep groups small to minimise environmental impact.

• Work directly with local businesses and organisations to directly benefit local economies.

• We use small, locally owned hotels and restaurants. We know the owners except in the large cities.

• Work with local guides so that our holidays are more interesting for clients and more beneficial locally.

• Make payment to suppliers before our clients arrive.

When should I go?

The best time for this holiday is during the southern hemisphere summer months, i.e. October to March.

Santiago and Buenos Aires have a Mediterranean climate so you can expect warm and sunny weather.

Weather in the Atacama can change at any time.

Rains come in January, February and March (Bolivian winter affects this part of Chile) but this makes it particularly beautiful.

Days are generally warm and sunny. Nights are always cold due to the altitude.

The Lake District is the wettest part of Chile so this is the part of the trip where you are most likely to see some rain.

Patagonia is very changeable from wind to rain to snow to sun in a day.

Daytime temperatures are generally mild, evenings cool.

Who is it for?

In general this holiday attracts people in their 50s/60s, though there’s no barrier to younger and older.

There is usually a 60:40 mix of couples and solo travellers.

Useful Links

As you already know, Pura Aventura is dedicated to safe and responsible travel. The links below provide useful content and more information about Chile. Please call us of any special requirements on 01273 676 712.

Country Information

FCO

The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office provides useful travel advices on Chile and Argentina.

BBC News

BBC News provides useful information about Chile and Argentina. Read more about it.

Official Government website

Find out more about Chile and Argentina by visiting their official government websites.

Prepare your holiday

Health

Before you go on your holiday to Chile and Argentina please check out the NHS website for advices and visit your GP or a travel clinic, to ensure you have the correct vaccinations.

Currency Exchange

For the latest information on the Chilean Peso currency, visit the ICE website.

Weather

For the forecast in Chile and Argentina, visit Wunderground.

Pura’s Amazon shop

Visit our Chile selection and Argentina selection in Amazon.co.uk for a wide range of travel essentials, such as books, gadgets, clothing, etc. in preparation for your upcoming holiday.

Flight deals

Find the best flight deals for your holiday to Chile and Argentina with Kayak, Expedia, and Opodo.