Undiscovered Chile

The Aisen region of Chile is largely unexplored by the majority of tourists who visit the country and so this itinerary will take you off the beaten track to some of the most breath taking scenery of this diverse country. The itinerary combines lodge stays and camping, with luxury accommodation, trekking, kayaking and boat trips. This is just a taste of how the region can be enjoyed and of course every trip can be tailored to suit varying needs and requirements. We hope this will give you the inspiration to explore this beautiful region of Chile.


Tour Includes:

  • Two domestic flights in economy class.
  • 11 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 8 dinner.
  • Private vehicle, normally a saloon car for one or two people. Some hotels provide their own transfers and will generally be on a shared basis.
  • Local English Speaking Guides for sightseeing on a private or shared basis, including all entrance fees.
  • Private transfers to and from all airports.


Departures: Daily

Flight Inclusive Price:
Based on return economy class flights with Lan Chile from London Heathrow to Santiago, via Madrid. This will add 2 days onto your itinerary. UK Airport Passenger Duty and airport taxes are also included.

Tour Prices:
Whilst all best endeavours are made to ensure the prices for private journeys on our website are accurate - given the nature of peak season air supplements and fuel surcharges - prices given above may vary depending on departure date and availability.

How to book your Private Journey

Undiscovered Chile

Undiscovered Chile

Day 1: Santiago
On arrival to Santiago you will be met by a local guide and transferred to your hotel in the city centre.

Day 2: Santiago - Puerto Guadal
Today you will leave Santiago and fly to Balmaceda, touching down in Puerto Montt en route. When you arrive you will be met and transferred along the Carretera Austral to your lodge on the banks of the Lake General Carrera. This evening you will have dinner at your lodge. (B,L,D)

Day 3: Puerto Guadal - Cochrane
This morning you will leave the lodge and be driven to the "Balseo Baker" a cable crossing raft just 6 miles from your lodge, where you will be able to enjoy breakfast on the river bank. You will then pack your equipment and have the briefing for your kayaking before beginning the first day's journey to Colonia which will take approximately 4 hours. Tonight you will camp on the banks of the Baker River. (B,L,D)

Day 4: Balseo Colonia - Paso Lucas Bridges
Today you will have the option to paddle the kayak or walk along the banks of the river that weaves through the Andes. There are two sets of rapids, the Colonia and Gonzalez rapids that will be run by the experienced guides giving you the opportunity to take photos. Today's paddling will take between five and six hours, including breaks to rest, eat and enjoy the scenery. This afternoon you will arrive in El Salton where the river becomes unrunable and you will be required to portage your equipment to the campsite at the end of the canyon, about 1km from the river. This can take up to three hours and your campsite is next to the El Salton waterfall. (B,L,D)

Day 5: Paso Lucas Bridges - Estancia Cruces
Once again today there is the opportunity to do an optional hike to the Paso de Lucas Bridges or the Paso San Carlos. You will then leave the campsite at around midday to start the three-four hour journey to the next campsite on Estancia Cruces where an Asado will be waiting for you. You then have the afternoon at leisure to enjoy the estancia, go fishing or just relax. (B,L,D)

Day 6: Estancia Cruces - Caleta Tortel
Leaving the campsite after breakfast, today is the last day of kayaking; a smooth journey taking you to the town of Caleta Tortel, which is famous in Chile for having no streets, just board walks. Tonight you will stay in the town and a farewell dinner is included as part of the program. (B,L,D)

Day 7: Caleta Tortel - Coyhaique
Early start this morning for your journey to Coyhaique. The drive to the capital of the region takes you along the Carretera Austral passing through the magnificent Lake General Carrera. Overnight in Coyhaique. (B)

Day 8: Coyhaique - Puyuhuapi Lodge
This morning you will be picked up from your hotel and taken on a short city tour of Coyhaique before continuing along the Simpson river until you reach Puerto Chacabuco where the Patagonian Express Catamaran will be waiting to take on a 5 hour cruise through the southern fjords and channels to Puyuhuapi Lodge and Spa. (B,L,D)

Day 9: Puyuhuapi Lodge
During your stay at Puyuhuapi Lodge you will be able to experience the wilderness of Chilean Patagonia through different excursions in the Queulat National Park; to see the Hanging Glacier, a visit to the village of Puyuhuapi, and kayaking in Dorita Bay. After days of exploration guests can enjoy the benefits of the thermal waters and Spa. At night, you will be offered a Gourmet 5 course dinner, with a combination of tastes, textures and colours to try. (B,L,D)

Day 10: Puyuhuapi - Laguna San Rafael - Chacabuco
This morning you will board the Patagonia Express catamaran to begin the 7 hour journey through the Austral fjords, experiencing the transparency of the waters, the majesty of the Andes Mountains wrapped in lush forests, and sometimes encounters with playful dolphins. You will sail through a number of channels, which lead you to the San Rafael Lagoon, home to a millenarian glacier. After a visit of 2 hours, you begin your return trip, arriving in Puerto Chacabuco at about 10:30pm where we will be transferred to your hotel. (B,L,D)

Day 11: Chacabuco - Santiago
This morning you will be picked up from your hotel and taken by bus to Balmaceda airport, a journey of approximately 2 hours, where you will board your flight to Santiago. On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel for the final night of your stay. (B)

Day 12: Santiago
Today you will be transferred to the airport for your return flight. (B)

How to book your Private Journey

Undiscovered Chile

Without flights

DatesTypePrice Per PersonSingle Supplement 
1 Jan 12 - 31 May 12Adult Price From£4,665 £725 Make an Enquiry

With flights from the UK

DatesTypePrice Per PersonSingle Supplement 
1 Jan 12 - 31 May 12Adult Price From£5,515 £725 Make an Enquiry

* Please note the prices shown above are based on two persons sharing a twin or double room

Undiscovered Chile

Please select the regions you are interested in.

Orly Hotel

Santiago

This three star hotel is a lovely, intimate lodging in the heart of the neighbourhood of Providencia. With just 28...

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Puyuhuapi Lodge & Spa

Puyuhuapi

Experience the wild beauty of the Carretera Austral and Laguna San Rafael, your base for the exploration of Chile's...

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Hotel El Reloj

Coyhaique

The Hotel El Reloj is in Coyhaique, just a few streets away from the main square. The owners have been providing their...

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Hotel Terra Luna Lodge

Puerto Guadal

The Terra Luna Lodge lies near Puerto Guadal, in the middle of a beautiful and wild landscape between the Northern Ice...

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Loberias Del Sur Hotel

Puerto Chacabuco

The Loberias del Sur hotel in Puerto Chacabuco is located on the shores of the Patagonian channels in the Aisen region...

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How to book your Private Journey

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More useful information when travelling to:
Chile

Flight Information

There are no direct flights to Santiago from London. There most common route is usually via Madrid with Iberia which takes around 16hrs.

Useful Tips

• Pack layers for any trip to Chile as its length creates varying weather conditions

• For internal flights make sure you get a 'vista cordillera' seat to see the best views of the Andes from the air

• With 4300km of coastline try some seafood during your stay; Cantolla (king crab) is delicious

• Take sturdy walking boots for the Torres del Paine National Park to support your ankles

• A tripod is essential for taking night sky photos in the Elqui Valley and Atacama Desert

When To Go

With Chile being such a long country, its coastline is some 4,000 miles, the climate can vary enormously. Broadly speaking it is hot and dry in the north, warm and occasionally wet in the middle and cold in the south.

As one would expect the coastal areas are generally cooler and the rainy season is from May through to August. Like Argentina the mountainous lake district is cool most of the year with November - March being the most favourable time to visit, but also attracting the most visitors.

The Chilean side of Patagonia is as unpredictable as the Argentinean - Tierra del Fuego has summer temperatures as high as 11degrees in summer time but during the winter months is so cold that much of it becomes impassable for anyone other than mountaineers.

Chile is also home to one of the driest areas on the planet; The Atacama Desert which is hot weather all year round.

Off the coast is Easter Island with a tropical climate that can be heavily influenced by winds and ocean currents. January and February are generally the hottest months but it is largely fine all year round.

Packing List

Below is a list of general items you might take with you on a Wild Frontiers trip to Chile.

Luggage:
It is best to use a soft bag - rucksack/hold-all/duffel bag - so it can be transported and stored more easily.
A small daypack is practical for keeping general items (e.g. camera, books, wallets etc.) at hand when your main luggage is out of reach. It is also handy for day trips and excursions.

Clothing:
In general you should bring clothes you feel comfortable with, so as a guide we suggest a packing list like this:
• 4 x Light cotton shirts or T-shirts, short sleeved and long.
• 2/3 pairs of cotton trousers. If preferred, women can wear dresses and skirts
• 2 x Lightweight jumpers or sweatshirts
• Good quality fleece or warm jumper
• Warm jacket
• Down jacket or warm ski jacket
• Set of lightweight waterproofs (poncho provided)
• Warm nightwear
• Swim suit or trunks
• Gloves
• Warm Hat
• Wide brimmed sun hat or cap
• Change of clothing for the evenings
• An extra “outfit” if you’d like to dress up a bit on occasion
• Pair of recreational shoes (adventure sandals or trainers)

Equipment:
The following is useful extra equipment for your trip:
• Travel towel, travel soap and toiletries
• Torch and spare batteries (LED head-torch keeps your hands free)
• Pair of good quality sunglasses
• Water bottle
• Plug adapter (see ‘Electricity’ section)

Personal First Aid Kit:
• Any prescription medication required (please inform the tour leader at your pre-departure meeting about these)
• Antibacterial dry hand wash
• Painkillers: paracetamol & ibuprofen
• Rehydration salts (Gastrolyte)
• Travel motion-sickness tablets if required (e.g. natural ginger tablets)
• Diarrhoea remedies
• Antihistamines
• Cold/flu decongestants
• Mosquito Repellent
• Insect bite cream
• Laxatives
• Plasters/Bandage/Steri-Strips/Blister pads
• Sunscreen (30+ factor)
• Moisturiser/after sun cream/lip balm
• Contact lenses and solution if required
• Tweezers
(A kit with most of this in is available at www.nomadtravel.co.uk)

Optional Extras:
• Ear plugs (if sharing a room / camping)
• Alarm clock
• 3-4 plastic carrier bags are very useful for dirty washing, dirty shoes and rubbish
• Binoculars
• Small packs of tissues
• Money belt or secure pouch for money and passport etc.
• Eye patches if light affects your sleep
• Sewing kit/scissors
• Writing materials
• Spare batteries/camera memory cards
• Swiss Army knife
NB: If you wear glasses, it is advisable to bring a spare pair since opticians are rare. If you wear contact lenses you may find that climatic changes and dust can create visual irritation, therefore, it is advisable to bring a pair of glasses.

You might be tempted to buy a few souvenirs here and there, so leave a little room for those extra purchases!!

Hand Luggage:
Although it is very rare that luggage goes missing on flights, it has been known to happen and so it’s a good idea to carry a spare top, toothbrush, wash kit, underwear and any other essentials in your hand luggage so that you can at least freshen up while waiting for your bags to catch you up. If you wear your sturdy shoes/boots it will also reduce weight in your luggage and keep them safe.

Practical Information

Time:
Chile is 3hrs behind GMT.
A useful website to check the time zone differences is www.worldtimezone.com

Food and Alcohol:
Food and alcohol " really means beef, lamb and wine " one of the treats of travelling to Chile. If you are a vegetarian or have special dietary needs you can also be catered for; however in South America the type of food may be limited. Please let us know your requirements as soon as possible so we can make any arrangements to cater for your needs.

Electricity:
Those bringing video & digital cameras that require battery chargers should also bring a 2-pin European-style adapter. In most hotels you can charge from the mains using a travel adaptor plug.

Money:
In Chile the unit of currency is the Peso.
To check out the latest exchange rate for the places that you are visiting you can go to www.oanda.com
A few points to help you plan:
• US dollars are the easiest to exchange in South America although all major currencies are manageable.
• Traveller’s cheques are only exchangeable in large towns and cities and incur a higher charge to do so.
• The cities are often similar to modern European locations and can take credit card payments and have ATM’s nearby.
• If using ATM machines, be sure to notify your bank before you travel, sometimes specific cards are required to work

Language & Religion:
While Spanish is the official language of Chile it is distinctly accented and quite unlike that of neighbouring South American countries. Other languages spoken are German in the south and English more frequently by the younger generation since mandatory teaching occurred within schools. Chile is a predominantly Christian country with 70% being Roman Catholic, 15% evangelical (referring to all non-catholic churches) and about 8% atheists or agnostics.

Cultural Sensitivity:
At Wild Frontiers we are very aware of the ethical impact tourism can have on ancient cultures. We realise that taking a group of tourists through such a region can have a negative impact on the lives of those who live there and on all our tours we therefore go to great lengths to minimise the negative and accentuate the positive…after all, there are also many good things that the tourist can bring.

To help this process we ask that our clients do not hand out pens or sweets to children. As one sign in Egypt emphatically put it, ‘Please don't make beggars out of our children!' No matter how well intentioned, in our opinion the dolling out of free gifts fosters a ‘beggar mentality' that is ultimately extremely destructive to a society. In addition we do not condone giving out money to beggars or ‘students'.

However, we also realise that we are exceptionally privileged to be travelling in areas where most of the people have far less than us and that the desire to ‘help' can be very powerful. As a result we ask that you refer to your trip dossier for information on the Wild Frontiers Foundation which supports specific projects in the areas where we travel.

Photography:
Please remember, we are guests in the countries through which we travel and we may sometimes inadvertently cause offence by taking photographs without first asking permission.

Also many countries have very strict rules about taking photos of army, police or any official personnel; restrictions apply at borders, bridges and any government building. Please exercise care in this regard as the penalty may be to have your film and/or camera confiscated.

K2 Trek and Baleygon School

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