Cultural & Archeological Chile

Travel Program

9 to 15 days

Moderate

Chile

Overview

The Cultural and Archaeological Programme of Chile invites you to discover a mosaic of cultures, landscapes, and heritage that reflect the diversity of the world’s longest country. This journey connects the millennia-old legacy of the pre-Hispanic peoples of the desert with the wealth of the nitrate industry, the unique landscapes of San Pedro de Atacama, and the vibrant cultural life of Santiago and Valparaíso.

Over the course of 8 days, travellers will explore northern Chile, from the geoglyphs and the Chinchorro mummies (UNESCO World Heritage Sites) to the cosmopolitan capital and the bohemian heritage of the port city of Valparaíso. The route blends archaeology, history, gastronomy, and landscapes, offering a comprehensive experience for those seeking to understand Chile in all its cultural dimensions, always under the concept of slow travel.

Itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Santiago → Arica

    In the morning, a city tour of Santiago, followed by a flight to Arica, known as the 'City of Eternal Spring'. Arrival and transfer to Hotel Antay.
  2. Day 2

    Arica

    In the morning, visit the San Miguel de Azapa Museum to see the Chinchorro mummies, the oldest in the world. Then, continue with a tour of the Azapa Valley geoglyphs, pre-Columbian figures etched into the hills of the desert. Free dinner and overnight stay at Hotel Antay.
  3. Day 3

    Arica → Iquique

    Depart from Arica heading to Iquique. Visit the Giant of Atacama, the largest anthropomorphic geoglyph in the world, measuring 86 meters in length. Lunch in Huara, followed by visits to Ex Aura, Tiliviche, and Chiza—archaeological sites of ancient settlements and Andean roads. Arrival in Iquique, check-in at Hotel Gavina. Free dinner. Overnight at Hotel Gavina.
  4. Day 4

    Iquique

    City tour of Iquique, exploring Baquedano Street, Plaza Prat, and the Municipal Theatre. Boat ride around the bay, viewing the port and the city’s naval history. Lunch at Casino Español. Excursion to the Humberstone Nitrate Office, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Free dinner. Overnight at Hotel Gavina.
  5. Day 5

    Iquique → San Pedro de Atacama

    Depart for San Pedro de Atacama via Calama. On the way, visit the Pintados Geoglyphs, one of the most important rock art sites in the north. Lunch at El Rotito restaurant and arrival in San Pedro in the afternoon. Arrival at San Pedro, check-in at Hotel Kimal. Dinner at Restaurant Kimal. Overnight at Hotel Kimal.
  6. Day 6

    San Pedro de Atacama

    Excursion to the Valley of the Moon, famous for its dunes, rock formations, and lunar-like landscapes. Lunch. Excursion to the Atacama Salt Flat. Free dinner. Overnight at Hotel Kimal.
  7. Day 7

    San Pedro de Atacama → Santiago

    Early morning transfer to Calama Airport for a flight to Santiago. En route, visit the Yerbas Buenas archaeological site with pre-Hispanic petroglyphs. Free lunch before boarding the flight. Arrival in Santiago, transfer to Hotel Magnolia. Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel Magnolia.
  8. Day 8

    Santiago

    Visit the Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, which houses collections from native and pre-Hispanic cultures across the Americas. Lunch at Restaurant Magnolia. Free afternoon in Santiago to explore cultural neighbourhoods such as Lastarria or Bellas Artes. Free dinner. Overnight at Hotel Magnolia.
  9. Day 9

    Santiago → Valparaíso → Santiago

    Excursion to the Valparaíso region. Stop in Curacaví to taste local products. Lunch in Curacaví. Visit Viña del Mar and the Fonck Museum, which holds Rapa Nui archaeological pieces. City tour of Valparaíso, a UNESCO World Heritage City. Return to Santiago. Dinner at Restaurant Agua de Piedra. Overnight at Hotel Holiday (or Magnolia).

What's included in this tour?

  • Mentioned services on the program

What's not included in this tour?

  • Domestical & international flights.

Accomodations

  1. Arica (Chile)

    5 stars: Antay Hotel & Spa

    We trust your stay with us will be pleasant and comfortable, offering beautiful rooms with spacious private terraces that allow you to appreciate the wonderful views of the coastline and the Morro de Arica, or simply enjoy the fantastic climate of the city of eternal spring. Our rooms are specially designed to provide comfort and ensure our guests live an unforgettable experience in our city. We feature a space dedicated to your wellness and total relaxation in an ideal setting. Designed to provide an unforgettable experience during your visit, it includes massage rooms for facial and body treatments, a hydrotherapy area with a dry sauna, steam room, and thermal beds, as well as a large outdoor pool and a heated indoor pool with hydromassage. If you need to maintain your fitness routine while away from home, we offer a spacious gym equipped with state-of-the-art machines and comprehensive amenities in an incredible atmosphere with city views.

  2. Iquique (Chile)

    5 stars: Hotel Gavina

    Gavina is a traditional hotel chain with extensive experience located in the north of the country, with a presence in the cities of Iquique and Arica. We offer comfortable facilities in privileged locations that are your best choice, whether for vacation or corporate travel. We are located in world-renowned destinations for practicing sports such as surfing, bodyboarding, sandboarding, and paragliding, or for exploring unique attractions like geysers, hot springs, the desert, volcanoes, salt flats, valleys, and more. Additionally, we feature the largest Convention Center in the Tarapacá region, offering 19 smart rooms equipped with simultaneous translation and state-of-the-art technology, making us your ideal choice for seminars, congresses, and business or corporate fairs.

  3. San Pedro de Atacama (Chile)

    3 stars: Hotel Kimal

    Right in the historical centre of San Pedro, at Hotel Kimal we provide our guests with a true experience of the Atacama thanks to a unique design that fuses the charm of the traditional with the fundamental comforts of the modern. Kimal offers a prime location for your stay in San Pedro, just on the corner of the main street as well as all the services and personalised attention to make for a pleasant and relaxing experience.
  4. Santiago de Chile

    5 stars: Hotel Magnolia

    Located in the heart of Santiago, near Santa Lucía Hill, this iconic destination blends history, design, and hospitality. Enjoy personalized service and unique spaces that combine heritage and luxury for an unforgettable experience. The Hotel Magnolia is surrounded by impressive historical architecture. Nearby, you'll find exclusive dining options and outstanding cultural venues. From anywhere in Chile and around the world, our concierge team is ready to ensure a smooth arrival and a memorable stay.

Tour Details

Duration
9 to 15 days
Type
Travel Program
Activity Level
Moderate
Destination
Chile

Overview

The Cultural and Archaeological Programme of Chile invites you to discover a mosaic of cultures, landscapes, and heritage that reflect the diversity of the world’s longest country. This journey connects the millennia-old legacy of the pre-Hispanic peoples of the desert with the wealth of the nitrate industry, the unique landscapes of San Pedro de Atacama, and the vibrant cultural life of Santiago and Valparaíso.

Over the course of 8 days, travellers will explore northern Chile, from the geoglyphs and the Chinchorro mummies (UNESCO World Heritage Sites) to the cosmopolitan capital and the bohemian heritage of the port city of Valparaíso. The route blends archaeology, history, gastronomy, and landscapes, offering a comprehensive experience for those seeking to understand Chile in all its cultural dimensions, always under the concept of slow travel.

What's included in this tour?

  • Mentioned services on the program

What's not included in this tour?

  • Domestical & international flights.

Itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Santiago → Arica

    In the morning, a city tour of Santiago, followed by a flight to Arica, known as the 'City of Eternal Spring'. Arrival and transfer to Hotel Antay.
  2. Day 2

    Arica

    In the morning, visit the San Miguel de Azapa Museum to see the Chinchorro mummies, the oldest in the world. Then, continue with a tour of the Azapa Valley geoglyphs, pre-Columbian figures etched into the hills of the desert. Free dinner and overnight stay at Hotel Antay.
  3. Day 3

    Arica → Iquique

    Depart from Arica heading to Iquique. Visit the Giant of Atacama, the largest anthropomorphic geoglyph in the world, measuring 86 meters in length. Lunch in Huara, followed by visits to Ex Aura, Tiliviche, and Chiza—archaeological sites of ancient settlements and Andean roads. Arrival in Iquique, check-in at Hotel Gavina. Free dinner. Overnight at Hotel Gavina.
  4. Day 4

    Iquique

    City tour of Iquique, exploring Baquedano Street, Plaza Prat, and the Municipal Theatre. Boat ride around the bay, viewing the port and the city’s naval history. Lunch at Casino Español. Excursion to the Humberstone Nitrate Office, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Free dinner. Overnight at Hotel Gavina.
  5. Day 5

    Iquique → San Pedro de Atacama

    Depart for San Pedro de Atacama via Calama. On the way, visit the Pintados Geoglyphs, one of the most important rock art sites in the north. Lunch at El Rotito restaurant and arrival in San Pedro in the afternoon. Arrival at San Pedro, check-in at Hotel Kimal. Dinner at Restaurant Kimal. Overnight at Hotel Kimal.
  6. Day 6

    San Pedro de Atacama

    Excursion to the Valley of the Moon, famous for its dunes, rock formations, and lunar-like landscapes. Lunch. Excursion to the Atacama Salt Flat. Free dinner. Overnight at Hotel Kimal.
  7. Day 7

    San Pedro de Atacama → Santiago

    Early morning transfer to Calama Airport for a flight to Santiago. En route, visit the Yerbas Buenas archaeological site with pre-Hispanic petroglyphs. Free lunch before boarding the flight. Arrival in Santiago, transfer to Hotel Magnolia. Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel Magnolia.
  8. Day 8

    Santiago

    Visit the Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, which houses collections from native and pre-Hispanic cultures across the Americas. Lunch at Restaurant Magnolia. Free afternoon in Santiago to explore cultural neighbourhoods such as Lastarria or Bellas Artes. Free dinner. Overnight at Hotel Magnolia.
  9. Day 9

    Santiago → Valparaíso → Santiago

    Excursion to the Valparaíso region. Stop in Curacaví to taste local products. Lunch in Curacaví. Visit Viña del Mar and the Fonck Museum, which holds Rapa Nui archaeological pieces. City tour of Valparaíso, a UNESCO World Heritage City. Return to Santiago. Dinner at Restaurant Agua de Piedra. Overnight at Hotel Holiday (or Magnolia).

Accomodations

  1. Arica (Chile)

    5 stars: Antay Hotel & Spa

    We trust your stay with us will be pleasant and comfortable, offering beautiful rooms with spacious private terraces that allow you to appreciate the wonderful views of the coastline and the Morro de Arica, or simply enjoy the fantastic climate of the city of eternal spring. Our rooms are specially designed to provide comfort and ensure our guests live an unforgettable experience in our city. We feature a space dedicated to your wellness and total relaxation in an ideal setting. Designed to provide an unforgettable experience during your visit, it includes massage rooms for facial and body treatments, a hydrotherapy area with a dry sauna, steam room, and thermal beds, as well as a large outdoor pool and a heated indoor pool with hydromassage. If you need to maintain your fitness routine while away from home, we offer a spacious gym equipped with state-of-the-art machines and comprehensive amenities in an incredible atmosphere with city views.

  2. Iquique (Chile)

    5 stars: Hotel Gavina

    Gavina is a traditional hotel chain with extensive experience located in the north of the country, with a presence in the cities of Iquique and Arica. We offer comfortable facilities in privileged locations that are your best choice, whether for vacation or corporate travel. We are located in world-renowned destinations for practicing sports such as surfing, bodyboarding, sandboarding, and paragliding, or for exploring unique attractions like geysers, hot springs, the desert, volcanoes, salt flats, valleys, and more. Additionally, we feature the largest Convention Center in the Tarapacá region, offering 19 smart rooms equipped with simultaneous translation and state-of-the-art technology, making us your ideal choice for seminars, congresses, and business or corporate fairs.

  3. San Pedro de Atacama (Chile)

    3 stars: Hotel Kimal

    Right in the historical centre of San Pedro, at Hotel Kimal we provide our guests with a true experience of the Atacama thanks to a unique design that fuses the charm of the traditional with the fundamental comforts of the modern. Kimal offers a prime location for your stay in San Pedro, just on the corner of the main street as well as all the services and personalised attention to make for a pleasant and relaxing experience.
  4. Santiago de Chile

    5 stars: Hotel Magnolia

    Located in the heart of Santiago, near Santa Lucía Hill, this iconic destination blends history, design, and hospitality. Enjoy personalized service and unique spaces that combine heritage and luxury for an unforgettable experience. The Hotel Magnolia is surrounded by impressive historical architecture. Nearby, you'll find exclusive dining options and outstanding cultural venues. From anywhere in Chile and around the world, our concierge team is ready to ensure a smooth arrival and a memorable stay.

Tour Details

Duration
9 to 15 days
Type
Travel Program
Activity Level
Moderate
Destination
Chile

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