- Chile
- Chile and Easter Island with Puerto Varas - Private Tour
Explore the Lake District of Chile where you will stay in the city of Puerto Varas, also known as the city of Roses. Relax on the shores of the second biggest lake in Chile, Llanquihue Lake, and admire the breath-taking backdrop of the conical Osorno Volcano and the snow-capped peaks of Mt Calbuco and Mt Tronador.
2022 Dossier
2023 Dossier
This map is for the main tour only
Depart London on your scheduled, overnight flight to Santiago via Sao Paulo.
Dinner
On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
Breakfast
Set against a spectacular backdrop of snow-covered Andean peaks, this morning's tour of Santiago includes the city's historic heart, visiting beautiful baroque buildings and the provincial Santa Lucia Hill where Spanish conquistadors founded the city in the 16th century.<br><b>Optional excursion (payable locally):</b> Full day Colchagua Valley with wine tasting at 2 wineries with lunch included.
Breakfast & Lunch
Journeying south to Colchagua valley, discover where some of the country's very best red wines are produced. Located in one of the New World's finest wine regions, enjoy some samples of award winning cabernet sauvignons and wonderfully rounded merlots.
Breakfast
Fly to Calama in the Atacama Desert, the driest place on earth. The resulting eerie landscapes are beautiful beyond belief, boasting unworldly vistas and huge, clear night skies. Transfer to the oasis town of San Pedro and late afternoon climb the sand dunes of the Moon Valley to watch a mesmerising sunset.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
This morning travel to the incredible Salar de Atacama, Chile's largest salt flat. Cross the crunchy crystalline edge of this immense basin to the Chaxa Lagoon, where dozens of flamingos forage in the mineral rich waters. Next, the nearby Miscanti and Menique Lagoons, with their intense blue-coloured waters, provide incredible views over the unique landscape. Return to San Pedro for the rest of the day at leisure.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Rise before dawn to reach the dramatic Tatio Geysers and witness the gurgling craters forcing columns of white steam high into the skies above. Arriving back in San Pedro, the rest of the afternoon will be at leisure.
Breakfast
This morning transfer to Calama airport for your flight to Santiago. On arrival you will be met and taken to your hotel to spend the evening.
Breakfast
Departing mainland Chile, fly to Easter Island, a tiny island formed from volcanic rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Known as Rapa Nui to its native Polynesian settlers, the UNESCO World Heritage Site is the most remote inhabited island in the world.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today visit Ahu Tongariki, the island's largest Ahu (shrine) with 15 imposing moai statues that have become synonymous with Easter Island itself. The meaning and creation surrounding these sublime works of art have sparked lively debate for centuries. The tour concludes at the beautiful beach of Anakena where you can take a refreshing swim in the Pacific Ocean's warm waters.
Breakfast & Lunch
Ascend the extinct Rano Kau volcano to the Orongo ceremonial village to discover where indigenous kings were once chosen following a gruelling competition. This afternoon, venture out to explore some more shrines and archaeological sites including Hanga Poukhura where toppled moai reveal tales of ancient battles.
Breakfast
Today has been left as a day of leisure.
Breakfast
Return to Santiago by flight and transfer to your hotel.
Breakfast
This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to the UK (via Sao Paulo).
Breakfast
Transfer from Santiago to Puerto Varas and onto your hotel.
Breakfast
Stay at your own leisure.
Transfer to the Airport for your flight home via Sao Paulo.
Linda Finn
19 Mar 20All the hotels during this trip were excellent, especially the Best Westerns in Santiago and Vina Del Mar. The staff were very friendly and accommodating. Thoroughly enjoyed the trip.
John Wilson
26 Feb 18All the hotels were very good. The staff were efficient and helpful. We especially liked the hotel in Atacama for its friendly staff and excellent food. They also provided complimentary water, coffee and tea throughout the day which was much appreciated. The hotel in Easter Island was minutes from the sea, restaurants and shops and the gardens at the hotel were beautiful. The hotel in Santiago was very convenient for areas of interest and the shops.
Vilma King
10 Jan 18All hotels lived up to expectations given their differing locations. Breakfasts were good with plenty of choice, beds comfortable and staff friendly. Wi-Fi available in all.
Jean Deane
07 Oct 17My only complaint is that despite hanging up towels they were replaced daily in each hotel including Easter Islands excellent Hotel
Gerald Potten
14 Apr 17All 3 hotels were in great locations. No complaints.
Ann Evans
12 Apr 17Fundador Santiago excellent location but a little jaded. Other hotels very good.
Josephine Owen
28 Nov 16Brilliant holiday and one I won't forget for a long time. Could do the Atacama dessert and the whole trip all over again it was so great.
Derek Magnet
24 Oct 16A dream holiday come true! What an excellent tour. All our guides were good and the hotels were great.
Stephen Malarby
09 Jun 16There could have been better accommodation in the hotel room at Easter Island & the Atacama desert hotel didn’t have tea & coffee faciltlies and radio & TV
If you are a British passport holder a visa is not required for entry into Chile. Further visa advice should be sought from the applicable tourist authority for other nationalities and for general queries. We strongly advise you to check with your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy for the most up-to-date guidelines regarding required passport validity.
We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras. To arrange your travel insurance with Holiday Extras, please call 0800 781 4237 and quote 'WK830' for preferential rates. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24-hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.
If booking more than 10 weeks before departure a deposit of £250pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 10 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 10 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.
Your flight to Santiago International Airport is with TAM Airlines (JJ) departing from London Heathrow Terminal 3. Each passenger is entitled to 23kg of hold luggage plus one item of hand luggage not exceeding 56cm x 40cm x 20cm in size and 1 personal item such as a handbag or laptop. Internal flights are with LAN airlines. Each passenger is entitled to 20kg of hold luggage plus one item of hand luggage not exceeding 5kg. It is compulsory to recheck luggage in Sao Paulo when connecting with a domestic flight. Please be aware of the difference between the weight restrictions of international and internal flights. Weight restrictions will be finalised on E-ticket receipt. Check-in for your international flights should be at least three hours before departure. Flight times/numbers are for guidance only and are subject to change. On arrival in Chile you will be met by a representative from our local agent, Pure Chile, holding a sign displaying: 'Mercury Holidays'.
It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, http://travelhealthpro.org.uk/, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.
This tour is accessible to most people with an average level of fitness and normal mobility. It involves full days of sightseeing, often on foot, and includes some climbing of stairs and getting on and off coaches. This tour is not suitable for anyone with walking difficulties.
This is a fully escorted tour with local guides throughout ensuring that you have first-hand knowledge at all times.
The currency in Chile is the Chilean Peso, also known as CH$. US Dollars are widely accepted in Chile should you wish to keep an alternative currency on you.
You will need to take money with you to cover any personal purchases such as souvenirs, laundry and extra drinks and snacks. Approximately £200 will be sufficient for the durations of the tour, depending on how much of a bargain-hunter you are!