Signature Northern Chile and Argentina: Atacama Desert to Iguazu Falls
15 days from £5,600
Explore the tour day by day, from the highlights to the quieter moments in between. Here’s how each day unfolds and what to expect along the way.
Arrive Santiago and transfer to your hotel in Providencia, a leafy, upmarket residential and commercial district. The cosmopolitan capital, has to its east the immense wall of rock of the Andes – snow-capped in winter. You have a guided walking tour of the historic heart of the city, which is home to a few notable buildings such as the house of celebrated poet laureate Pablo Neruda. There’s a panoramic view of the city from Cerro Santa Lucía, a hilltop park.
If you have time, a funicular tram or cable car can take you to the top of Cerro San Cristóbal. A mixture of chic, residential areas and smart office towers surround a compact colonial centre. Beyond are sprawling working class districts with a crush of more modest homes.
Solace Santiago is a modern hotel in Providencia, an upscale residential and commercial neighbourhood of Santiago – perfect for a soft landing if you’ve just arrived in Chile.
Unassuming from the outside, Solace is a surprisingly stylish hotel with impressive interiors and facilities which include a bar, restaurant and a small rooftop lap pool with great views across the city. The 80 or so guest rooms echo the modern vibe of the public areas, with air con and crisp, comfortable beds inviting you to rest weary legs after a day in the city.
Positioned on a quite side street in the heart of Santiago’s leafy, vibrant Providencia neighbourhood, the hotel is moments away from everything you need with a host of shops, restaurants and bars within walking distance. Easy Metro connections nearby can transport you throughout the city in minutes. All in all, we think it’s the perfect fit for the mid-range traveller in the Chilean capital.
Mountain air, haciendas and stately manor houses set the scene for a tour which takes you into the heartland of Chile’s wine growing region. Pirque in the Maipo Valley is home to two of the country’s most prestigious names in wine; Concha y Toro and Cousiño Macul. A short distance from the capital, these vineyards offer an insight into a wine growing region blessed with what is often referred to as the trilogy: climate, soil and vine-stock.
Visit two vineyards with the opportunity to learn about the wine-producing processes and sample the results. Lunch is usually taken at the atmospheric Tesoros del Chile restaurant, situated in a quaint nineteenth century residence in Pirque.
Solace Santiago is a modern hotel in Providencia, an upscale residential and commercial neighbourhood of Santiago – perfect for a soft landing if you’ve just arrived in Chile.
Unassuming from the outside, Solace is a surprisingly stylish hotel with impressive interiors and facilities which include a bar, restaurant and a small rooftop lap pool with great views across the city. The 80 or so guest rooms echo the modern vibe of the public areas, with air con and crisp, comfortable beds inviting you to rest weary legs after a day in the city.
Positioned on a quite side street in the heart of Santiago’s leafy, vibrant Providencia neighbourhood, the hotel is moments away from everything you need with a host of shops, restaurants and bars within walking distance. Easy Metro connections nearby can transport you throughout the city in minutes. All in all, we think it’s the perfect fit for the mid-range traveller in the Chilean capital.
Fly to Calama in the Atacama Desert and continue by road to the little resort town of San Pedro de Atacama. There’s a guided afternoon excursion to the moon-like Valle de la Luna. Drive through the spectacular rock formations of Cordillera de la Sal towards the valley where, especially in early-evening light, the lunar landscape is astonishingly photogenic.
Huge sand dunes sweep across a panorama of salt-encrusted canyons, gullies and eroded rock sculptures such as Las Tres Marias. Walk up to the top of the impressive ‘Gran Duna’ – a popular venue for extreme sports such as sand-boarding – and take your position for arguably the most memorable experience of today’s excursion: the valley’s appearance at sunset – a dazzling artist’s palette of gold and reds.
Inspired by the natural materials and ambience of the Atacama desert, the small, design-focused Terrantai incorporates sun-baked adobe bricks, thatching and weathered wood and stone into the surrounds of a restored colonial house. A labyrinthine layout of outdoor corridors, built from smooth rounded pebbles and atmospherically lit at night, adds a somewhat mystical feel in keeping with the otherworldliness of the desert environment.
The hotel is right in the heart of San Pedro, overlooking the town church. Rooms are decorated in rustic yet contemporary style, with wooden floors, ceiling beams and either whitewashed or exposed stone walls, and furnished with local artisanal textiles. Outside there’s a plunge pool and sun terrace fringed with cacti. There’s no restaurant service at the hotel (besides breakfast) but you’ll find a wide choice of places to eat on your doorstep thanks to the ultra-convenient location.
This scenic full-day excursion to the high altiplano above San Pedro de Atacama reaches an altitude of over 4,300m. The road heads south, passing the distinctive cone of Lincancabur volcano and cutting across the eastern corner of the Salar de Atacama before reaching the village of Toconao (2,600m), which is typical of the small oasis villages of the area. Figs and quinces and a handsome whitewashed bell tower help give the village its own distinctive character.
Continue to the village of Socaire (3,500m) with its 18th century church set against a field of sunflowers and a market specialising in llama wool knitwear. Next, drive up to Minique and Miscanti lagoons. At over 4,100m above sea level, Minique has deep, dark blue waters while Miscanti is a brilliant azure colour. Stroll along the shores before crossing the Salar de Atacama, the third largest salt flat in the world and home to colonies of Andean, Chilean and James flamingos. Arriving at Laguna Chaxa, you should have the opportunity to observe flamingos and a variety of other birds.
Inspired by the natural materials and ambience of the Atacama desert, the small, design-focused Terrantai incorporates sun-baked adobe bricks, thatching and weathered wood and stone into the surrounds of a restored colonial house. A labyrinthine layout of outdoor corridors, built from smooth rounded pebbles and atmospherically lit at night, adds a somewhat mystical feel in keeping with the otherworldliness of the desert environment.
The hotel is right in the heart of San Pedro, overlooking the town church. Rooms are decorated in rustic yet contemporary style, with wooden floors, ceiling beams and either whitewashed or exposed stone walls, and furnished with local artisanal textiles. Outside there’s a plunge pool and sun terrace fringed with cacti. There’s no restaurant service at the hotel (besides breakfast) but you’ll find a wide choice of places to eat on your doorstep thanks to the ultra-convenient location.
Depart in the early hours of the morning (normally before 5am) for the guided excursion to Tatio geysers. It’s a 98km drive to the highest geyser field in the world (4,300m). At this altitude, sub-zero temperatures are the norm, especially just before dawn. Upon arrival, enjoy a picnic-style breakfast and explore with your guide. The geysers are a memorable, surreal sight at sunrise – blow-holes send jets of water and steam into a cloudless sky and, as the sun rises, the pools of water turn to shimmering silver.
Inspired by the natural materials and ambience of the Atacama desert, the small, design-focused Terrantai incorporates sun-baked adobe bricks, thatching and weathered wood and stone into the surrounds of a restored colonial house. A labyrinthine layout of outdoor corridors, built from smooth rounded pebbles and atmospherically lit at night, adds a somewhat mystical feel in keeping with the otherworldliness of the desert environment.
The hotel is right in the heart of San Pedro, overlooking the town church. Rooms are decorated in rustic yet contemporary style, with wooden floors, ceiling beams and either whitewashed or exposed stone walls, and furnished with local artisanal textiles. Outside there’s a plunge pool and sun terrace fringed with cacti. There’s no restaurant service at the hotel (besides breakfast) but you’ll find a wide choice of places to eat on your doorstep thanks to the ultra-convenient location.
Drive down through the eastern flank of the Andes into Argentina. This is a spectacular drive by comfortable public coach over the Andes. It takes 6-7 hrs, including border controls outside San Pedro de Atacama and again at Paso de Jama (4,400m) on the Argentine side, 3hrs hours later. Along the way, enjoy breathtaking wilderness scenery: turquoise lakes backed by high mountains, glistening salt flats and desert strutted by battalions of cacti.
The bus stop in the village of Purmamarca is right outside your accommodation for the night.
El Manantial del Silencio, a former monastery is a 10-minute walk from the village centre with a spectacular backdrop of the sweeping multicoloured rock ridges of the Quebrada de Humahuaca (Hill of Seven Colours). The hotel retains the original character of the whitewashed, estancia-style building, and the simple décor and wooden furnishings complement the property’s high ceilings and cool terracotta-tiled floors, all set among lawns, terraces and gardens.
The 18 modest rooms have a rustic charm and views of either the gardens or the spectacular Hill of Seven Colours. Local artefacts add a distinctive Latin American character to the common areas, which include a TV room and a cosy lounge with a fireplace. There’s also a small swimming pool and a restaurant whose menu features local specialities such as llama.
At leisure in Purmamarca, in the north-western area known as Quebrada de Humahuaca. Purmamarca is at the foot of the famous Seven Colour hill, one of north-west Argentina’s most popular attractions. The hill’s deeply-defined strata seem to constantly change colour according to the light conditions. Purmamarca is a relaxing place to explore – its dazzling white 17th century church dominates the village square where inhabitants like to relax in the shade whilst visitors wander among colourful handicrafts stalls.
El Manantial del Silencio, a former monastery is a 10-minute walk from the village centre with a spectacular backdrop of the sweeping multicoloured rock ridges of the Quebrada de Humahuaca (Hill of Seven Colours). The hotel retains the original character of the whitewashed, estancia-style building, and the simple décor and wooden furnishings complement the property’s high ceilings and cool terracotta-tiled floors, all set among lawns, terraces and gardens.
The 18 modest rooms have a rustic charm and views of either the gardens or the spectacular Hill of Seven Colours. Local artefacts add a distinctive Latin American character to the common areas, which include a TV room and a cosy lounge with a fireplace. There’s also a small swimming pool and a restaurant whose menu features local specialities such as llama.
Check out of the hotel and you’ll be driven along the Humahuaca gorge, famous for its deep terracotta rock strata and giant cacti. Even this far into Argentina, there are echoes of Bolivia in the canyon’s peaceful towns and villages with their solid-looking colonial churches and quaint adobe-brick houses. Just south of Humahuaca village, the Tropic of Capricorn passes through the village of Uquia.
Meanwhile Tilcara is one of the region’s most important settlements where you’ll visit the pre-Inca Pucara fortress which has great views across the town and valley beyond. Continue to Salta (3hrs)
A former family residence, Hotel Solar de la Plaza is a colonial-style mansion right in the centre of the charming and graceful city of Salta. It is ideally located roughly halfway between the main square and Avenida Balcarce with its restaurants and bars.
Although the building is less than a century old, the opulence of the colonial era has been convincingly re-created in the ornate furnishings of the public areas. The hotel has 30 well-equipped guest rooms, each neutrally decorated with subtle floral accents; suites have grand four-poster beds and a living room.
There is a restaurant overlooking the garden, as well as a wood-panelled lounge, bar, gym, sauna, and a small rooftop outdoor pool.
Walking tour of Salta. The friendly north-western city is renowned for its colonial architecture and claret-red ponchos. This is the only Argentine region where vestiges of indian heritage are still visible. There is a walking tour of the attractive city including the cathedral, San Francisco church, the Northern Historical museum, San Bernardo convent, and the view of the city from San Bernardo hill reached by cable car. Later, fly to Puerto Iguazú on the border with Brazil in the northeast.
Mercure Iguazú Iru is an excellent base for visiting the Iguazú Falls, enveloped by the tropical rainforest of the Iryapú jungle, creating the feeling that you are staying in a remote natural wilderness.
This property offers a peaceful stay accompanied by birdsong, even though you are not far from the town of Puerto Iguazú and the airports on both the Argentinian and the Brazilian sides of the border.
To take advantage of forest views, all the guest rooms have wall-sized picture windows and balconies, surrounded by tropical plants. The buildings, linked by wooden walkways, are low-rise and use of stone, wood and foliage-studded décor blends the property with the environment, while the style is strikingly contemporary with rustic touches.
There’s a smart restaurant, woodland-fringed pool and fitness centre with whirlpool to relax after exploring the Falls.
Excursion to the Argentine side of Iguazú Falls. Stop at the National Park Visitor Centre, where there is a display illustrating the biodiversity of the tropical rainforest. From here, a little gas-powered train transfers you to Cataratas station where the Upper Walk begins. This sequence of causeways and passerelles links dozens of tiny, basalt islands at the top of the rock face. The walkways cross the myriad streams of the Río Iguazú as they cascade over the lip of the precipice. A succession of lookout points allows your gaze to follow the water, as it plunges onto the rocks below.
You can then continue to the Lower Walk, which involves stairs, and gives you a totally different view of these falls. Climb back up to the train and continue, about 20mins, to Devil’s Throat station. From here, a kilometre-long walkway leads you across the river to the thunderous Garganta del Diablo, which offers a spectacular vantage point to peer into the thundering vortex below.
Mercure Iguazú Iru is an excellent base for visiting the Iguazú Falls, enveloped by the tropical rainforest of the Iryapú jungle, creating the feeling that you are staying in a remote natural wilderness.
This property offers a peaceful stay accompanied by birdsong, even though you are not far from the town of Puerto Iguazú and the airports on both the Argentinian and the Brazilian sides of the border.
To take advantage of forest views, all the guest rooms have wall-sized picture windows and balconies, surrounded by tropical plants. The buildings, linked by wooden walkways, are low-rise and use of stone, wood and foliage-studded décor blends the property with the environment, while the style is strikingly contemporary with rustic touches.
There’s a smart restaurant, woodland-fringed pool and fitness centre with whirlpool to relax after exploring the Falls.
Guided excursion to the Brazilian side of the falls. Cross the bridge which spans the Iguazú river and links the cities of Puerto Iguazú in Argentina and Foz do Iguaçú in Brazil. You’ll board a (shared) National Park service here and continue by road for the final stretch to the falls themselves.
There’s a walkway of about a kilometre, with viewpoints at strategic intervals – you get a panoramic view of the whole sweep of the cataracts – an entirely different experience from the Argentine side. Towards the end of the walk, there’s an observation tower adjacent to the falls, and a walkway at the bottom takes you out for a closer and much wetter experience.
Mercure Iguazú Iru is an excellent base for visiting the Iguazú Falls, enveloped by the tropical rainforest of the Iryapú jungle, creating the feeling that you are staying in a remote natural wilderness.
This property offers a peaceful stay accompanied by birdsong, even though you are not far from the town of Puerto Iguazú and the airports on both the Argentinian and the Brazilian sides of the border.
To take advantage of forest views, all the guest rooms have wall-sized picture windows and balconies, surrounded by tropical plants. The buildings, linked by wooden walkways, are low-rise and use of stone, wood and foliage-studded décor blends the property with the environment, while the style is strikingly contemporary with rustic touches.
There’s a smart restaurant, woodland-fringed pool and fitness centre with whirlpool to relax after exploring the Falls.
Fly to Buenos Aires (2hrs) and transfer to your hotel in Recoleta, the smart belle époque/Italianate residential quarter of leafy plazas, pavement cafés and the famous cemetery where Eva Peron was buried. Buenos Aires is probably the most cosmopolitan metropolis in South America. Certainly it looks more European than any other in the Americas: wide boulevards, monumental architecture, art deco cafeterias and designer-label shops.
This seductive city oozes old world atmosphere and nostalgia, with its colonial buildings, antique markets, shady squares and tango halls. That’s not to say Buenos Aires is just stuck in its past – it’s equally vital and contemporary with a vibrant arts scene, top drawer restaurants, ultra-chic boutique hotels and a pulsating nightlife. The city’s passion for football reaches a crescendo during the local derby between Argentina’s two biggest football clubs, Boca Juniors and River Plate.
The comfortable and elegant mid-range Loi Suites Recoleta hotel is on a conveniently located avenue in the well-heeled district of Recoleta, an area brimming with chic cafés, parks and boutiques.
Many of the double-glazed rooms have impressive views over the neighbourhood’s most famous tourist attraction: the beautiful, labyrinthine Recoleta Cemetery, lined with the impressive marble mausoleums of Argentina’s late great and good.
The main entrance leads into an attractive marble lobby and atrium with an indoor ‘winter garden’ and heated pool beneath a large skylight with iron supports.
The hotel has a European feel to its design and architecture, and the décor of the well-equipped guest rooms is led by subtle tones and contemporary style. There’s a buffet breakfast, gym, sauna and sophisticated restaurant.
Your guided city tour takes you along Avenida 9 de Julio, one of the widest boulevards in the world and studded by the Obelisk, an emblematic symbol of the city. On to the Plaza de Mayo, enclosed on three sides by the Metropolitan cathedral, the Town Hall and the Casa Rosada, the presidential palace. The tour continues to bohemian, arty La Boca, which was settled and built by Italian immigrants and has streets lined with brightly painted corrugated iron-clad houses. Visit the district of Recoleta where the elegant architecture of its tree-lined streets feels distinctly Parisian. Recoleta’s vast cemetery is the resting place of generations of the Argentinean elite including Evita as well as an array of presidents, artists, scientists, writers and athletes.
The comfortable and elegant mid-range Loi Suites Recoleta hotel is on a conveniently located avenue in the well-heeled district of Recoleta, an area brimming with chic cafés, parks and boutiques.
Many of the double-glazed rooms have impressive views over the neighbourhood’s most famous tourist attraction: the beautiful, labyrinthine Recoleta Cemetery, lined with the impressive marble mausoleums of Argentina’s late great and good.
The main entrance leads into an attractive marble lobby and atrium with an indoor ‘winter garden’ and heated pool beneath a large skylight with iron supports.
The hotel has a European feel to its design and architecture, and the décor of the well-equipped guest rooms is led by subtle tones and contemporary style. There’s a buffet breakfast, gym, sauna and sophisticated restaurant.
A final day at leisure to enjoy Buenos Aires. In the evening why not head out to one of the city’s tango venues. The passage of time has given respectability to a dance once confined to the seedy underworld bars of the red-light La Boca district. Nowadays, a number of ‘tango houses’ cater to visitors and a visit is a must. San Telmo’s tango venues occupy elegant, atmospheric buildings where you can observe a polished performance of this sensual, often melancholy art form of which the porteños are justificably proud – all whilst enjoying a sit-down dinner of, typically, steak and Malbec.
The comfortable and elegant mid-range Loi Suites Recoleta hotel is on a conveniently located avenue in the well-heeled district of Recoleta, an area brimming with chic cafés, parks and boutiques.
Many of the double-glazed rooms have impressive views over the neighbourhood’s most famous tourist attraction: the beautiful, labyrinthine Recoleta Cemetery, lined with the impressive marble mausoleums of Argentina’s late great and good.
The main entrance leads into an attractive marble lobby and atrium with an indoor ‘winter garden’ and heated pool beneath a large skylight with iron supports.
The hotel has a European feel to its design and architecture, and the décor of the well-equipped guest rooms is led by subtle tones and contemporary style. There’s a buffet breakfast, gym, sauna and sophisticated restaurant.
The places you’ll stay and explore on this tour. Here’s a closer look at each one and what makes it worth the trip.
Chile - Santiago and the vineyards
Snow-capped Andean peaks overlook cosmopolitan neighbourhoods, historic plazas and sun-drenched vineyards in Santiago Chile – the country’s sophisticated capital and its surrounding wine country. Combining urban culture with world-class wineries, Santiago and vineyards nearby give you the perfect introduction to Chile.
Chile - Atacama Desert
Vast salt flats, steaming geysers, flamingo-filled lagoons and volcanic peaks create a world that feels more like another planet than the Atacama Desert in northern Chile. As the driest non-polar desert on Earth, this is one of South America’s most spectacular destinations for adventure, wildlife and stargazing.
Argentina - Salta
Drive through rust-red canyons to villages, taste crisp Torrontés in the high vineyards of Cafayate, and stand on salt flats that stretch white to the horizon. In Argentina’s remote northwest, Salta is the gateway to a corner of the country that feels closer to Bolivia and Peru, indigenous heritage and extraordinary Andean landscapes.
Argentina - Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side
Walk the spray-soaked catwalks that carry you out over the falls, take the ecological train through the jungle to the Devil’s Throat and ride a speedboat into the base of the cascades. The Argentinian side of Iguazú puts you closer to the water than anywhere else, deep inside the national park and its wildlife-rich forest.
Argentina - Buenos Aires
Discover Argentina’s elegant and energetic capital, where grand European-style architecture, vibrant neighbourhoods, world-class cuisine and the passion of tango come together to create one of South America’s most captivating cities. Dynamic, stylish and nostalgic in equal measure, Buenos Aires is a destination worthy of a trip in its own right.
The Andean crossing between the Atacama Desert and Salta in the Argentine Andean foothills is the highest and most elemental pass, where sun-bleached arid rock gives way to ice-clad skeletal peaks. Salta, a friendly, laid-back but cultured colonial city, with its graceful baroque architecture and stunning, colourful cathedral, is a great contrast to the vast capital, Buenos Aires. Around it are communities and vestiges of the country’s indigenous population, whose crafts and agricultural practices survive to this day.
From there you’ll fly to the subtropical rainforest of Iguazú National Park and survey and explore the monumental Iguazú Falls; 276 separate cascades thundering over a granite precipice. At either end of the holiday there’s time in a historically significant, sophisticated city – Santiago and Buenos Aires.
Rosie Kay
All of our experts have lived or travelled extensively in Latin America, so you will receive unrivalled advice based on unique personal experiences.
The practical detail for this tour, all in one place. Transport, accommodation, what’s included and what to pack, so you know exactly what to expect before you go.
- Summary of Nights
15 days, 14 nights: Santiago 2; San Pedro de Atacama 3; Purmamarca 2; Salta 1; Iguazú 3; Buenos Aires 3.
- Accommodation
This trip features small or mid-sized hotels, traditional or contemporary in style with well equipped rooms, private bathroom and heating. Some are considered to be boutique hotels with special features and good service.
- Transport
Three flights (longest 4hrs); 2 scenic road journeys (longest 7hrs).
- Meals
Breakfast daily, lunch days 2, 4; dinner day 14.
- Guides
Our local, trusted and carefully selected partners understand the expectations of our customers very well, and their staff and guides are consistently singled out for praise by clients on their return. On this holiday, you will be joined by different guides for each activity and or region, ensuring you benefit from specialised expertise and knowledge, often from someone local to the area.
- Optional Excursions
As well as any included activities, this Private Journey includes some free time for optional excursions. As optional excursions are often subject to availability, we recommend you discuss and arrange them with your Travel Expert as early as possible before you depart.
A selection of these include:
• Helicopter ride over Iguazú falls.
• Bird Park Iguazú (Brazilian side).
• Guided trip into the River Plate delta from Buenos Aires. - Altitude
Some of the excursions in the Atacama Desert are spent at high altitude, although you stay the night in San Pedro de Atacama which is at a comfortable height of 2,500m. Please refer to the Country Information page or your briefing dossier, for further information on altitude, including how to avoid and treat altitude sickness.
- Do I need a visa to visit Argentina?
British passport holders don’t need a visa for tourist visits of up to 90 days. Your passport should be valid for at least six months from the start of your trip. If you’re routing through the US, you’ll need an ESTA in advance. Always check the latest entry requirements before you travel, as rules can change.
- How do I get to Argentina from the UK?
British Airways flies direct from London Heathrow to Buenos Aires in about 13.5 hours. There are also connecting routes via Madrid, São Paulo and other hubs, taking roughly 16 to 17 hours depending on the routing. We arrange all flights and transfers, and can quote them separately based on your dates.
- What’s the best way to travel around Argentina?
The country’s size makes domestic flights the most practical way to cover long distances, and most routes connect through Buenos Aires. Within regions, we arrange private transfers and guided excursions, while self-driving works well in the Lake District, Mendoza and parts of Patagonia, where the roads are good, and the scenery is spectacular.
- What currency does Argentina use?
The official currency is the Argentine peso. US dollars are widely accepted in cities and tourist areas, and it’s worth carrying some. ATMs are available in cities and larger towns but can have low withdrawal limits, and credit cards are taken in hotels and restaurants in the main destinations. We’ll advise on the latest currency situation before you travel.
- How long should I spend in Argentina?
Two weeks works well for a first trip, pairing Buenos Aires with Iguazú and Patagonia, or with Mendoza and the lake district. To go further and add the northwest, Península Valdés or an estancia stay, allow three weeks or more. We’ll help you build an itinerary that makes the most of your time.
- What language is spoken in Argentina?
Spanish is the official language, spoken with a distinctive Argentine accent and plenty of Italian influence. English is widely spoken in hotels and tourist areas, less so beyond them, so a few basic Spanish phrases go a long way.
- Is Argentina safe for travellers?
Argentina is generally safe for visitors, especially in the main tourist areas. As in any large city, take sensible precautions in Buenos Aires: keep an eye on your surroundings, avoid flashy valuables, and use licensed taxis or ride apps. Our Travel Experts will advise on anything specific to the regions you’re visiting.
- What can I combine with Argentina?
Argentina pairs naturally with Chile, crossing the Andes from Mendoza, taking the lake crossing from Bariloche or linking a Patagonia trip across both countries. Brazil is a popular add-on to Iguazú Falls; Uruguay is a short ferry ride from Buenos Aires; and Peru pairs well with a broader South America itinerary. Our Travel Experts can design a multi-country trip around you.
- Do I need a visa to visit Chile?
British passport holders don’t need a visa for tourist visits. Your passport should be valid for at least six months from the start of your trip. If you’re routing through the US, you’ll need an ESTA in advance. Always check the latest entry requirements before you travel, as rules can change.
- How do I get to Chile from the UK?
British Airways flies direct from London Heathrow to Santiago, taking around 14.5 hours. There are also connecting routes via Madrid, Paris and other European hubs. We arrange all flights and transfers, and can quote them separately based on your dates.
- What's the best way to travel around Chile?
The country’s length makes domestic flights the most practical way to cover long distances, with most routes connecting through Santiago. Within regions, we arrange private transfers and guided excursions. For scenic stretches like the Lake District or the Carretera Austral, overland travel is part of the experience.
- What currency does Chile use?
The official currency is the Chilean peso. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in cities and tourist areas, and ATMs are available in most towns. Carry some cash for tips, smaller purchases and rural areas. We’ll advise on the latest currency situation before you travel.
- What's the altitude like in Chile?
Most of Chile sits at low to moderate altitude, but parts of the Atacama, including Lauca National Park and areas around San Pedro, reach over 3,000m. Altitude can cause headaches, dizziness and breathlessness, so it’s important to acclimatise gradually, drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol on arrival. We plan all itineraries with altitude in mind.
- How long should I spend in Chile?
Two weeks works well for a single focus, such as the Atacama with a few days in Santiago, or Torres del Paine with time in the lake district. To cover Chile’s full range, from desert to Patagonia, allow three weeks or more. We’ll help you build an itinerary that makes the most of your time.
- Do I need vaccinations for Chile?
There are currently no mandatory vaccines for UK travellers visiting Chile, but we always recommend checking the most up-to-date requirements well before travelling. You can do this by visiting TravelHealthPro and FCDO travel pages. Alternatively, you can contact us and speak to one of our experts who can advise on any current considerations for the areas you’re visiting.
- What countries can I combine with Chile?
Chile pairs naturally with Argentina, crossing the Andes from Santiago to Mendoza, or the lakes from Puerto Varas to Bariloche. Bolivia is an easy add-on from the Atacama, with routes through the Salar de Uyuni salt flats. Our Travel Experts can design a multi-country trip around you.
Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday
We’ve been planning trips to Central and South America for over 45 years, longer than any other UK specialist. Every holiday is built around you by a Travel Expert who has been to the places they recommend, with support from your first enquiry to the day you fly home.
Rosie embarked on a year-long backpacking trip across Latin America. She is excited to share her knowledge and experiences with others.
Finn discovered his passion for travel on an extensive 18-month trip to Latin America, experiencing the vibrant Carnaval in Rio, the end-of-the-world city of Ushuaia, trekking the Andes and volunteering on the Galápagos Islands.
Maggie visited Latin America on her first backpacking trip when she was 19. Since then, she has taken every opportunity to travel, and has managed to explore a lot of the region in subsequent trips.
Gary discovered what he had been missing with his first foray into the wilds of Latin America. In his role as Product Manager, he combines this personal obsession with years of industry experience to help ensure that travellers will fall for the region every bit as much as he has.
Things to do
We proudly offer the widest range of activities, excursions and one-of-a-kind experiences across all our destinations, tried and tested personally by our travel experts.
Visit prestigious wineries just an hour’s drive from Santiago for a guided tour and tasting.
Take a guided tour around the Valley of the Moon with their otherworldly rock formations, before watching an unforgettable sunset from the top of a desert dune.
Watch jets of steam gush out of the earth at the geyser field of El Tatio.
Visit a flamingo colony and colourful high-altitude lakes on a drive through the hallucinatory landscapes of the Atacama salt flats.
Upgrade your visit to Iguazú with a wildlife safari and open boat ride to the base of the falls.
Explore an otherworldly landscape drenched in colour and dotted with remote adobe villages and pre-Inca ruins.
Accommodation
Browse our unrivalled portfolio of accommodation. Every option has been carefully chosen by our team of travel experts, so you can rest assured that you will relax in utter comfort
Colonial-style hotel in a great location, close to the attractions and entertainment of the beautiful city of Salta.
If there’s somewhere you particularly want to go that isn’t included in this tour, we can add on an extension to take you there.
Winery
The Chilean Central Valley, with its rich soils and sunny Mediterranean climate, is Chile’s breadbasket. Orchards flourish, and the slopes of the Andean foothills support vineyards producing world class wines. Several now welcome visitors: here you visit one of the most attractive and luxurious. Day 1: By road to the Casablanca valley (1.5hrs), celebrated among…
Estancia
Throughout Argentina prestigious rural estates have been adapted to accommodate visitors. La Bamba is a colonial-style property oozing with atmosphere and history, restored to its former elegance in parkland, with a good-sized pool. A few days here will allow you to relax and savour life on the pampa prairies, while feasting off delicious food and…
Easter Island
Polynesian Easter Island (Rapa Nui) lies 3,790km off the Chilean coast in the remote sub-tropical South Pacific. Windswept and grassy on one side, lushly vegetated on the other, and with a benign climate, it is famous for the clusters of huge enigmatic stone heads standing starkly against an azure skyline. Experience the unique atmosphere and…
A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.
Papagaio
Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.
Featured Articles
To round the corner of a mountain and see the lost citadel of Machu Picchu unfold beneath you remains one of the most awe-inspiring experiences in Latin America, one of those dreamlike experiences that makes travelling here truly extraordinary.
The Pantanal wetlands cover an area almost the size of the British Isles and offers better wildlife opportunities than the Amazon. Writer and photographer Alex Bellos discovers them.
Small, breathtakingly beautiful Costa Rica is a treasure trove for the nature lover. Trees laden with orchids are home to quetzals and hummingbirds, while the Caribbean shore hosts volcanic beaches and palm-sheltered coves.
