Looking for a diverse Chilean adventure that leaves no stone unturned and offers you a rich diversity of experiences? You’ve just found it.
On this Bucket List Company trip to Chile, you’ll contemplate cosmopolitan Santiago, amble through the arid landscapes of the Atacama Desert and witness the most stunning sunsets over salty lagoons.
And that’s all before you’ve even set foot on Easter Island, where the magical ancient moai statues will enchant you like no other mystery has before.
Dramatic, stark vistas like these only exist within the borders of the world’s longest country. It might be narrow too, but its wide spectrum of cultural and geographical variety will surprise you at every turn as you pack in so much on this unique adventure.
Just make sure you pack a jumper because it’s Chile over there. (It’s not really, but it wouldn’t be a page about Chile without a terrible pun now, would it?)
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Hikes, bikes and beaches are the name of the game on this action-packed adventure in Chile and Easter Island. If you love getting outdoors and you’re not averse to panoramic views from plateaus or glorious sunsets above salty lagoons, then this is most definitely a trip for you.
And if the mysterious moai of Easter Island have always been on your Bucket List? That’s even more reason to join us.
Because on this Chilean adventure, you’ll not only get to grips with the most breath-taking scenery on the mainland but you’ll spend five days on the otherworldly Easter Island too.
Over 14 days, you’ll immerse yourself in the great traditions that are unique to this special country. You’ll meet locals in villages where you can still see historic stone dwellings, witness traditional tribal war dances and get up close and personal with those stone monoliths on Easter Island.
You’ll be treated to the stunning landscapes of the Atacama Desert too. And if the striking colours of Rainbow Valley or the sublime sunsets over rolling sand dunes aren’t enough to whet your appetite, maybe the unforgettable star tour will.
Either that or the wine tasting back in Santiago.
This adventure really does have everything, including a 5,604m summit! You’ll climb to the top of Cerro Toco, an impressive and – thankfully – dormant stratovolcano that offers insane views over the Andes, the desert and several salt flats. And since we’ll be driving most of the way up, you’ll have plenty of energy for the rest of the adventure.
There are just so many places in Chile that should be on your Bucket List (Easter Island included), and here’s your opportunity to tick them off with a bang. Vineyards, volcanoes, deserts, salt flats, hot springs, glaciers and forests await you, and the sheer natural diversity of this place is like nothing else on earth.
The Chile and Easter Island Itinerary
Day 1
TRAVEL FROM THE UK TO SANTIAGO
If you’ve included group flights in your package, we’ll meet at Heathrow and start the journey together. It’s the best way to do it! Otherwise, we’ll see you in Santiago.
Day 2
ARRIVE IN SANTIAGO
Once we’ve touched down in Santiago, we’ll take a private transfer to our city centre hotel to freshen up. In the afternoon, we’ll enjoy a detailed tour of downtown Santiago and find out what this place is all about! And in the evening? It’s wine tasting time!
Day 3
BIKE TOUR OF SANTIAGOS MOST BEAUTIFUL PARKS
We’ll spend fives hours or so pedalling through six of Santiago’s most beautiful parks, taking in the city’s fascinating architecture and admiring the Andes mountains from afar as we go. No need to worry about packing a helmet; it’ll be provided for you (as well as your bike!) on the day.
Day 4
TRANSFER TO SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA
We’ll take a private transfer to the airport for the two-hour flight to Calama, where our guide will meet us and take us on to San Pedro de Atacama. We’ll visit the nearby Cordiallera de la Sal (or the “Salt Range” to you and me), and hike through vast sand dunes in the Moon Valley to catch a glorious sunset.
Day 5
ATACAMA RAINBOW VALLEY TOUR AND STARGAZING
We’ll set out to the Domeyko mountains and drink in the desert landscapes beneath the Andes. 3,500m above sea level, at the foothill of the mountains lies the native village of Rio Grande. We’ll explore the village and talk to the local people before we transfer to Rainbow Valley. After a little education on volcanic rock formations we’ll head to our hotel for dinner before a sublime astronomical tour that night. You won’t see stars like these anywhere else!
Day 6
LOCAL TOUR OF ATACAMA SALT FLATS AND LAGOONS
The morning of Day 6 is free for exploring the local area or – if you’ve pre-booked in advance – you’ll be heading up to watch the sunrise from a hot air balloon! In the afternoon the whole group will visit the Atacama Salt Flat and enjoy a stunning sunset over the salty lagoons.
Day 7
CLIMB TO THE PEAK OF CERRO TOCO
Close to the border with Bolivia and Argentina lies Cerro Toco, the dormant stratovolcano. We’ll take a 4×4 most of the way up before scaling the final 400m up to the peak at 5,604m above sea level. The two-hour climb is more than worth the panoramic views from the summit, where you can see the Andes, the Atacama Desert and salt flat, the Domeyco Tange and the Chajnantor flat too!
Day 8
VISIT THE VILLAGE CASPANA
At dawn, we’ll head to El Tatio; the world’s highest geothermal field and home to a series of hot springs that look simply incredible as the sun rises behind them. We’ll take our breakfast in the fresh air then drive across the Andean high plateaus to the native village of Caspana. There’s a lot to see in this pink and green village and we’ll make sure we squeeze in the 17th century church while we’re there. After lunch we’ll head to Calama airport for the flight back to Santiago.
Day 9
TO EASTER ISLAND!
After a night in a hotel in Santiago, we’ll take the early 5-hour flight to Easter Island. Once we’ve checked in at the hotel, we’ll tour nearby Orongo village and the Ranu Kau Crater. Set between the sprawling crater and plunging cliffs, Orongo is the only place on the island where you can see historic stone dwellings – it’s well worth a visit!
Day 10
GETTING TO KNOW THE ISLAND
We’ll spend the day exploring this amazing island with our English speaking local guide. We’ll see it all: the fabulous Moais Ahu Tongariki monoliths in the Vaihu area, the Rano Raraku Crater, the ceremonial field of Ahu Te Pito Kura and Anakena Beach!
Day 11
ARCHEOLOGY AND WAR DANCING
The morning is free for you to enjoy the beaches or book in some extra activities, then we’re ramming the afternoon with archaeology galore! You’ll visit three ancient sites, hike through underground caves to witness old tribal residences and learn about the spiritual ceremonies that took place beneath the island’s famous statues. In the evening you’ll be treated to traditional Hoko war dances by some enthusiastic locals!
Day 12
SUNRISE OVER THE PACIFIC
We’ll rise before dawn to take a short drive to Ahu Tongariki, the largest set of sculptures on the island. Watching the sun rising with such stunning surroundings will leave you in no doubt that Easter Island is a very special place. Then the afternoon is yours to play with.
Day 13
A SUNSET INSTEAD
Spend your day enjoying the beaches, dipping in the warm, turquoise sea (and even spotting the odd goldfish!). Feel free to add in more activities to make your time on Easter Island extra special. Then rejoin the group in the evening for sunset with drinks at Ahu Tahai.
Day 14
BACK TO SANTIAGO
We’ll say goodbye to the island this morning and take a private transfer to the airport for our flight back to Santiago, and on to our hotel for the night. There’ll be time for a final exploration of the city and some souvenir shopping if you feel like it.
Day 15
The flight home
We’ll be transferred back to Santiago de Chile airport for the flight back to Heathrow. If you’re travelling with us land-only, this is where we say goodbye! Otherwise, we’ll have 17 more hours together to swap stories from our adventure and enjoy one another’s company before we head home.
Food and Accomodation for Chile and Easter Island
Day 1
Flight
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Day 2
Twin room
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Day 3
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Day 4
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Day 5
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Day 6
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Day 7
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Day 8
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Day 9
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Day 10
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Day 11
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Day 12
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Day 13
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Day 14
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Day 15
Flight
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Reviews about the Chile and Easter Island trip
Here’s what some of our awesome customers had to say:
“Rocking up to the airport ready to meet the other “bucket listers” who signed up to the same adventure; I felt nervous of what was ahead and who would I be spending the next 10 days with.
My nerves were put at rest instantly. I now have 10 new awesome friends!
We were welcomed by Keith at the airport and from then on in, everything was wonderfully organised. So much so that Keith even helped us find a TV to watch the Arsenal game during the trek when were in the middle of Lares. Totally going above and beyond!
The knowledge and passion to travel really shone through and made the entire experience a true dream. The Bucket List Company are smaller than other companies in this market; however don’t let that put you off, this is a strength!
They are a super knowledgeable company, led by people who have a real passion for what they do. It was all about my bucket list of activities and ticking them off – this was their main objective. They were also happy to tweak plans to fit others needs; this level of flexibility (including the payment plans/options) is not so welcoming in larger companies.
I would encourage everyone to jump onto the adventures The Bucket List Company offer – go on do it now!
I am already signing up to my next adventure with the Bucket List Company!”
Michelle Newton Lares Trek to Machu Picchu
“Could not have asked for a better trip . Everest base camp with TBLC was a most memorable epic adventure.”
Brian Taggart Everest Base Camp
I have just returned from the most epic trip to Kilimanjaro organised by The bucket list company. They are there to answer any questions before you travel and a representative is with you and your group every step of the way.
We enjoyed the hustle of the local markets, the 6 day trek to the summit, and finally a visit to a local school. We had an amazing group of trekkers, we laughed, cried and sang together and got each other through. If your thinking of booking a life changing adventure with like minded people then your with the right company 😊.
Richard McDonagh Mount Kilimanjaro climb
“I love these guys – their knowledge and enthusiasm is amazing. They’re all so supportive of everyone in the group, so whatever your motivation for going on one of their trips, you’ll achieve it.”
Sally Pitt
“Well organised and very welcoming! Keith and the team were very welcoming and helped with my bucket list trip from beginning to end!”
Deepak Lodhia
“Signed up and hiked EBC in 2018. The trip was very well organised – staff, sherpas & porters were all excellent. I really did have the trip of a lifetime… so much so that I’ve signed up for a second trip back to Nepal through The Bucket List Company, this time to climb Mera Peak.
A big plus for me was having the option to pay off my balance in affordable monthly chunks – otherwise I couldn’t afford trips like this. I also liked having my own individual web portal/log-in where I could access all the details of my trip.”
Gary Creen Everest Base Camp
Approaching from the air, you could be forgiven for thinking that Easter Island is nothing more than a wind-bruised, hummocky hunk of volcanic rock. It’s only when you’ve got your feet on solid ground that the matchless end-of-the-world feel of this place will take hold of you and never let you forget it.
And that’s before we’ve even caught sight of the enigmatic stone statues that pepper the island. Scattered all around its fringes are the moai that this landmass is so famous for. For centuries, these brooding figures have captivated both scholars and travellers with their unwavering gaze.
But what the heck are they?
It’s believed that the moai were carved by the Rapa Nui people between 1100 and 1680. There are nearly a thousand of them dotted around the island, though many are still half buried in quarries. Most of them are carved out of compressed and solidified volcanic ash, which can only be found to the side of the extinct volcano Rano Raraku.
Apparently each figure represents the deceased head of a lineage, and those that were moved to their intended locations ended up being toppled over many years ago. And here’s the weirdest bit of the whole saga: no-one knows why.
So if you want to witness for yourself the squatting bodies and grimacing heads of the centuries-old monoliths…
If you want to attempt to work out the story behind the mysterious toppling of the moai while sipping a cocktail on one of Easter Island’s beautiful beaches…
And if you want to benefit from the guidance of an experienced team who’ll help you discover all of Northern Chile’s best gems…
Then you need to join us on this Bucket List Co adventure!
Check out the itinerary, chuck any questions you have in our direction, book your spot and get ready to tick an incredible experience off your Bucket List.
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Day 15
