Spectacular Oct-Nov 2026 spring trip to five diverse Chilean regions - Santiago, Atacama desert, Puerto Varas lake district, Patagonia soaring peaks and glaciers, and Valparaiso colorful artistic colony. Each distinct in climate, geography, culture, people, cuisine and experiences.
We traveled as two couples - mainly private tours with our own driver and guide, occasionally small group tours (as in Patagonia glacier boat tour). Stayed in mid-level hotels - all comfortable with excellent breakfasts and great locations, and splurged on a few high-end tasty meals - La Cabrera (Santiago), UNAI (Atacama), Casas due Bosque (Casablanca winery).
Lorena Huidobro (Turismo Milodon) and team, our local Chilean travel specialist, designed and coordinated the 3-week trip, where we spent 3 to 4 days in each region, flying between locations. Their knowledge of Chile, and ability to customize and curate an itinerary based on our unique interests and capabilities, is exceptional, as is their responsive round-the-clock support via WhatsApp during the trip itself, which allowed us to ask questions, clarify details and figure out alternatives when inevitable hiccups arise. Lorena's team made our trip a phenomenal experience of the diversity of Chile.
Each region had its highlights, with friendly and knowledgeable local guides. Santiago included "Taste of Chile" - a unique introduction to Chilean cuisine at Chef Gloria's home. Atacama included sunrise at the other-worldly Tatio Geysers, at 14,000 feet in the desert, and flamingo watching at the Salt Flats., with home-cooked breakfasts and lunches in the desert en-route. Puerto Varas Lake District included a ski lift and hike up the snow-capped Osorno Volcano overlooking the lake, as well as drive out to Choloe Island to view penguins and absorb the local surroundings. Patagonia included an all day tour around the dramatic Torres del Paine National Park, boat ride to Balmaceda & Serrano glaciers, and traditional lamb on spit BBQ lunch. And Valparaiso included a walk around the eclectic artistic street art and a Chilean cooking class, ending with a winery tour and superb lunch in Casablanca Valley.
Logistics were exceptional, as were all our local guides, with special experiences in each region. Highly recommend this trip of a lifetime - orchestrated by Lorena.
Hotel Reviews
Hotel Eco Boutique Bidasoa
Santiago
Comfortable boutique hotel
Authenticity & Character
Great restaurant, very popular. Highly rated.
Location
Safe and central, walking distance to park and shopping malls
Hotel La Casa de Don Tomás
San Pedro de Atacama
Simple and clean. Superb restaurant. Rooms/batroom are a little small & can be noisy.
Authenticity & Character
Simple and authentic
Location
Walking distance of small downtown
Cleanliness & Comfort
Not much of a common sitting area
Hotel Wyndham Puerto Varas Pettra
Puerto Varas
Excellent location (beautiful view over lake, walking distance to local town). Comfortable lobby and lounge area, great restaurant, large comfortable rooms with lake view.
Authenticity & Character
Though it is a brand hotel, feels like a boutique style and fits well with lake view.
Casa Galos Hotel & Lofts
Valparaíso, Cerro Alegre
Comfortable apartment/hotel with awesome breakfast, and great roof-top deck with 360 degree view over entire Valparaiso city and bay.
Location
Safe area up on the hill with beautiful view over the city
Staff
Occasionally front desk was not as responsive as we would have liked
Activity Reviews
Excellent informative guide, great overview of the best neighborhoods & art areas
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Carlos was helpful & knowledgeable
Traditional Chilean Cooking Class
Chile
Great fun, Antonia was a patient & supportive cooking coach
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Antonia was a great cooking coach
Explore the Atacama Salt Flats & Lagoons
San Pedro de Atacama
Beautiful views of flamingos in natural habitat, and the eerie color of the Salt Flats.
Food
Loved home-cooked breakfast en-route
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Alberto and Elias made a great guide and driver team combination
Explore Chiloé Island & Puñihuil Penguin National Reserve
Puerto Varas
A wonderful day exploring Chiloe Island and its surroundings though we only saw a few penguins out on the boat
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Pablo was a great guide - humorous and knowledgable
Tatio Geysers at Sunrise
San Pedro de Atacama
Sunrise in the outer-worldly Tatio Geysers is a unique experience. It is freezing at 14,000 altitude before sunrise - you need to be dressed in layers with beanie, scarves, gloves and down jacket.
Food
We stopped at a llama station for home cooked lunch - exceptional
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Alberto and Elias are an awesome guide/driver combination. Fluent English, knowledgeable, and helpful
Boat Tour to Balmaceda & Serrano Glaciers
Chile
The glaciers are spectacular - especially the khike up to Serrano Glacier after the boat ride up the fjord, and the lamb BBQ lunch is delicious
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Wines of Maipo Valley
Santiago
intriguing tours - both the Santa Rita impressive estate, and family owned Perez Cruz winery
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Both guides were knowledgable, friendly and helpful
Day Trip to Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park
Chile
Hiking up the snow-capped Osorno Volcano was a unique experience, with views over the surrounding lake (after taking a chair lift to the mid-station).
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Pablo was an informative and humorous guide
Trekking and Condor Watching
Puerto Natales
Awesome hike up the mountain, but condors were way in the distance
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Jorge was patient and helpful as our guide
Kayaking on Lake Llanquihue
Puerto Varas
Great day, beautiful inlets, professional equipment and helpful guide.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Helpful guide in our sea-kayaking adventure
Wine Tour & Tasting in Casablanca Valley
Chile
Casablanca wine tour in Casas del Bosque was informative, lunch in their restaurant was superb in beautiful setting, but need reserve 48 hours ahead (we were lucky to get a table).
Guides, Drivers and Staff
A Taste of Chile
Santiago
Taste of Chile - special intro to Chilean cuisine with delightful Chef Gloria hosting us in her home
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Chef Gloria provided a unique experience, graciously hosting us in her beautiful home for a delicious dinner
Santiago Highlights
Chile
Excellent overview of Santiago by our guide, Soledad.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Full-Day Tour of Torres del Paine National Park
Chile
Spectacular tour of soaring snow-capped Patagonia peaks
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Jose was terrific guide/driver - knowledgeable and friendly