Atacama Desert, Chile with Luxury & Style (6 Days): A Sample Itinerary

ID #: DT-C-6-2-9-11-RAIJ

DavidTravel Itinerary Highlights include:

Atacama is nestled along the coast of Chile, and is one of the greatest deserts on Earth. Isolated and beautiful, it offers the extremes – from lunar landscapes to lush river canyons. There are parched areas that have not been touched by rain for three centuries, and hidden arroyos that flood from brilliant summer rainstorms. Beauty here resides in the texture of the land, the starkness of the sky and in how life has found a way to conquer the desert. The Atacama Desert chronicles a history of the struggle for survival, the adaptation to environment and the comprehension of natural cycles.

• The beauty & colonial architecture of Santiago

• The stark and mesmerizing moonscape vistas in Atacama

• Exploring the stark landscape of the Atacama Desert by foot, bicycle or road

• The volcano crater of Tres Marias

• The clear night skies – offering incredible views of the southern constellations

• Navigating through the labyrinth of vendors at the Los Dominicos Craft Center in Santiago

Overview:

Chile’s elongated, unique shape makes it one of the world’s most geographically unique countries, and this South American nation’s cartography lives up to its reputation. From top to bottom, thousands of miles encompass arid, rain-starved desert in the north to the icy glaciers of the south. The beautiful Andes mountain range is rarely far from view, defining the country's eastern border.

Such a rich natural setting provides Chile with a wealth of possibilities for fans of the great outdoors. From excellent skiing facilities, through to trekking, horse riding and white-water rafting, adventure sport opportunities in Chile will push most adrenaline junkies to their limits.

The country's capital Santiago nestles in a central valley between the Andes and the Chilean Coastal Mountain range. A cosmopolitan city with its own version of Bond Street - Alonso de Cordova - it has several museums, Spanish colonial buildings and parks and taking to it by foot is simply the best way to see it. Santiago also has a wide range of accommodation and restaurants nestling on the cobbled street corners.

Chile is a success story among South America's economies with many international firms choosing Santiago as their headquarters in recent years. Its copper industry has long been a mainstay of the country's income, although agriculture and wine bears some economic significance. Chile has been politically stable since 1990 following the demise of General Augusto Pinochet's 17-year dictatorship.