Patagonia In Style

Leave the sophisticated capital behind and travel into the heart of Chile’s pastoral wine country. Enjoy a winery tour and tasting and then check in to your choice of wine-country resort. In the Casablanca Valley, La Casona is an intimate 8-room boutique hotel set in a turn-of-the-century Colonial residence on the lovely grounds of Matetic Vineyards. Or you can choose Lapostolle Residence, an enchanting Relais & Chateaux property overlooking Apalta Vineyards in the heart of the famed Colchagua Valley. This afternoon is yours to enjoy one of the activities offered by your winery hotel – perhaps a guided walking or biking tour.  Meals L+D

From celebrated Carmenère and Cabernet Sauvignon to fine whites including Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, Chile’s vineyard estates are known for their state-0f-the-art winemaking facilities and sustainable practices. This morning, you’ll enjoy a guided winery tour and wine tasting that will deepen your appreciation for Chile’s renowned wine industry and its fine vintages. Then journey back to Santiago where our tour services end.  Meals B+L

On the fifth and final morning of our Chile + Patagonia journey, you’ll embark on a scenic overland journey from Patagonia Camp and across the border into Argentina. Continue to El Calafate and check in to the hotel of your choice.

Today’s excursion into the magnificent landscapes of Argentina’s Los Glaciares National Park begins with an expertly guided nature walk through Seno Mayo along the westernmost arm of Lake Argentino. Rocky peaks and Andean forests define the region, as do spectacular views of the Mayo and Negro Glaciers. From here, a scenic drive brings us to the celebrated Curve of Sighs, where you’ll catch your first glimpse of the enormous Perito Moreno Glacier. This incredible moving wall of ice stretches nearly 3 miles across and soars more than 250 feet above the pristine waters of Lake Argentino. From specially constructed viewing platforms and catwalks in front of Perito Moreno, you’ll have unforgettable views of the glacier’s immense face!  Meals B+L

After breakfast, you’ll be escorted to the airport in El Calafate for your onward journey.  Meals B

On arrival at the airport in Calama, you’ll be warmly greeted and escorted to our luxury desert lodge. The scenic journey to the Alto Atacama Desert Lodge & Spa takes about 90 minutes and transports you from a lively Chilean town into a breathtaking wilderness of dramatic mountain ranges, hidden valleys and the bone-dry Atacama Desert. Settle in to your spacious, stylishly appointed guestroom and take in the mesmerizing views from your private terrace. This evening, you’ll sit down to a farm-to-table dinner prepared by our Lodge’s skilled chefs and accompanied by fine Chilean wines.  Meals D

Choose from a wide variety of included excursions, and tailor your exploration to your own interests and personal taste for adventure. Led by experienced naturalists or culturally-savvy guides, you’ll be joined by just a small group of other Lodge guests so as to leave no trace. Cultural excursions usually combine traveling in a comfortable van and some walking or hiking; you can meet with villagers in the High Andes, discover ancient petroglyphs that reveal the development of the region’s ancient farming communities, or explore the 2,400-year-old archaeological site at Tulor.
 
Back at our luxury lodge, you’ll enjoy delightful dining accompanied by fine house wines, spirits and beverages. This evening, you might join an Astronomical Adventure! The Atacama Desert is one of the driest places on Earth; with such low humidity, nearly cloud-free skies, and the absence of ambient light, this is one of the best places in the world for stargazing. The Alto Atacama Desert Lodge also has the only open-air observatory in the region – with swivel chairs, a powerful telescope and an expert guide to enrich this activity. If the moon is full during your stay here, you can even join an exciting 2.5-mile night-time walk into the appropriately named Valley of Mars!  Meals B+L+D

With our luxury eco-lodge as your base, delight in another day of guided adventures and activities. Once again, you can choose from a variety of included excursions to pursue your personal interests. Guided excursions by van can take you quite far afield, if you wish… to explore a high-mountain geothermal field of bubbling mud pools, geysers and fumaroles; to learn about the geological forces that formed the ethereal landscapes of the Valley of the Moon, or to experience rural life in remote mountain villages. Longer, more challenging hikes and guided mountain biking expeditions are available for active travelers.
 
Again, fine dining back at Alto Atacama is accompanied by a selection of house wines, spirits and beverages. And in between meals and excursions, you might opt for a spa treatment, go for a swim in one of six spectacular pools, or just relax on your private terrace enjoying the captivating scenery. Meals B+L+D
 

After breakfast, we’ll take you back to the airport in Calama for your included flight to Santiago.  Meals B