Patagonia and Easter Island (luxury)

We recommend you take the early flight from Santiago to Punta Arenas (4 hours), flying over the Andes and enjoying incredible views of the Patagonian ice fields. Upon your arrival in Punta Arenas, the most southern city on the continent, a private transfer takes you to Puerto Natales. As we leave Punta Arenas, we can see the Strait of Magellan and the island of Tierra del Fuego. Our 5-hour drive takes us through open pampas and huge ranches (estancias) and -if we get lucky- we might observe one of the most typical animals in this area, the ñandú, (similar to an ostrich). We pass through Puerto Natales, located on the Last Hope Sound, a typical fishing town surrounded by mountains. We continue driving along an unpaved road to the Torres del Paine National Park. We then enter the park, where we can take magnificent pictures and have the chance to see different birds as we drive alongside lagoons frequently visited by Chilean flamingos and black-necked swans. Today’s total travel time is 5 hours by private transfer) (D) During the next two nights, you can take advantage of one of the Spa-services at our hotel: Las Torres.

We begin our first full-day trek, heading to the base of the Towers viewpoint following the Ascencio River before entering the Ascencio valley. Our walk is uphill for one hour, stopping to observe the first glimpses of the valley and panoramic views of the Nordenskjold Lake. During the following 2 hours, we walk through unbelievable forests of tall deciduous beech (Nothofagus Pumilio) and waterfalls, and then continue ascending through a huge terminal moraine up to a photographic viewpoint (900 m). From here, we are surrounded by three giant granite towers (2850 m) and a lagoon with slurry waters resulting from glacial erosion. We stop here fr lunch, taking our time to enjoy this astonishing scenery, before our descent, returning along the same path back to our hotel. The travel time is 7-8 hours back and forth, throughout 18 km. (B-BL-D) You stay the night at Las Torres Hotel.

Today we drive to Lago Grey, inside Torres del Paine National Park. The road passes through a landscape of towering mountains, glaciers, wetlands, steppes and forests. This unique habitat harbors a number of species restricted to southern latitudes. We make a stop at the Salto Grande waterfall to do our first hike to a viewpoint at the Paine Grande (3050 m) and the Nordenskjold Lake. We then arrive to the administration area to enjoy a lunch in front of the Toro Lake (the biggest in the region). In the afternoon, we are going up the Grey Lake by boat. In order to get to the boat, we walk through a mature beech forest where we might observe woodpeckers. We navigate about one hour through icebergs of different tones of blue up to the Grey glacier, where we stay for a while in front of the glacier in the hope of seeing icebergs calve. Our return journey offers views of Paine Grande with its impressive ice mushrooms. Then we take a transfer to our hotel Rio Serrano on the shore of the Serrano River with amazing views of the Paine Massif.  (B-BL-D)

Travel time: 1.5 hour by private transfer, 2 hours hike in the morning, 3 hours boat cruise in the afternoon)

We start a hike on a one-way path with panoramic glimpses of the park. Depending on the season, we should be able to see specific flowers such as orchids, calceolarias, and neneos, or maybe even experience the flight of the condor. Once we are at the highest point of the trail, we connect to the rarely-visited trail heading to Estancia Lazo and its Hosteria Mirador del Payne, which are located outside the park. The Estancia Lazo is a huge cattle center dating from the last century, with magnificent views of the Paine Massive and Laguna Verde. The rooms are very comfortable; the main Estancia´s house has been remodeled as a dining room-bar, keeping it cozy and country-style. A typical Patagonian style lamb barbecue is waiting for us at the Estancia-Hosteria Mirador Del Payne, where we spend the night. (B-BL-BBQ)

Travel time: (20 minutes by private transfer, 5 hours hike)

We take a private transfer to Punta Arenas. (It takes 5 hours by private transfer) (B). We spend the night in Santiago to fly to Easter Island on the next day.

Located 3,700 kilometers (2,237 miles) away from the American continent, surrounded by the world’s most transparent waters, Rapa Nui is the cradle of an unusual and enigmatic culture which persists to this day. The language, music and many traditions remain alive amongst the island’s inhabitants, while the enormous moai carved stones date back to a more remote past. The lodge is located on a hill in the “Te Miro O’one” area, in the center of the island. Every day you can choose from a wide range of included explorations. On foot or by bicycle; a couple of hours or a full day; relaxed or physically demanding, it is up to you.

At the end of each exploration, our lodge is always there waiting for you: a place to enjoy and regain the energy you need to continue exploring.