Explore Northern Argentina & Chile - 14 Days

Highlights

• Explore Santiago on a panoramic city tour
• Wander through the famous Rainbow Valley in the Atacama Desert
• Experience the thrill of whitewater rafting in Salta
• See a live tango show in Buenos Aires

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Santiago, Panoramic City Tour

Welcome to Santiago! Your driver will meet you in the arrivals hall and take you to your accommodation, after which the rest of your day is free. Later, prepare for a tour of Santiago's main attractions. Start on the main road downtown, Avenida Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins, also known as La Alameda. From there, head to La Moneda Presidential Palace, a neoclassical construction that hosts an important part of Chilean history. Roam the streets of the Huerfanos and Ahumada pedestrian walks, where a lot of the capital's commercial activity takes place.

Then head to Plaza de Armas, a strategic place from where the city's first layouts were drawn. Surrounding it are many historical buildings, such as the Cathedral Church, the Post Office, and Santiago City Hall. Your next stops will be Santa Lucia Hill, Forestal Park, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Lastarria neighborhood. Cross the Río Mapocho to get to Bellavista, which is known for its cultural and artistic activity as well as its nightlife. Finally, get to know the city's most modern districts, such as Providencia, Las Condes, and Vitacura.

Day 2: Full-Day Tour of Valparaíso & Viña del Mar

This morning, you'll be picked up from your hotel and taken on a tour through the fertile valleys of Curacaví and Casablanca, heading toward the Pacific coast and the port city of Valparaíso. The area surrounding the nearby bay is steep, with colorful cliffside homes and an amazing network of cable cars or funiculars. The city center of Valparaíso was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the surrounding architecture only adds to the charm and personality of this vibrant region. 

Your travels continue to the neighboring sea town of Viña del Mar, known for its gardens and working flower clock, which was created in celebration of the 1962 World Cup. You'll see the amazing architecture of the residential sectors of Casino de Juegos, Avenida Perú, and Avenida San Martín before stopping at Reñaca Beach, a popular destination for both tourists and locals. Here, you'll have a chance to visit one of the nearby restaurants for lunch before returning to Santiago in the afternoon. 

Day 3: Fly to Calama, Transfer to San Pedro de Atacama, Evening Astronomy Tour

It's time to head to your next Chilean destination today! Your driver will take you from your hotel to the airport, where you'll catch a two-hour flight north to the city of Calama. From there, you'll be transported to your hotel in San Pedro de Atacama, the gateway to Chile's vast, high-altitude Atacama Desert. Your afternoon is free to relax or start exploring the city.

In the evening, enjoy an astronomy tour, where you'll closely observe and get to know the crystal-clear night skies of the Atacama. For two hours, observe stars, planets, galaxies, and clusters, among others, some with the naked eye and others with more detail through telescopes. Your guides will explain the sky and the different meanings it has had for various cultures throughout history. At the end, enjoy a coffee break, and take some astrophotography to capture the moment.

Today you'll travel into the interior of the Domeyko Mountains, a range that marks the western limit of the Salar de Atacama, Chile's largest salt pan. Here, a series of geological events that occurred over millions of years have created a picturesque and colorful mountainous landscape known as Rainbow Valley. You'll also have the chance to visit the Yerbas Buenas Petroglyphs archaeological site. On the beautiful and ancient rock formations here, you can observe petroglyphs (rock carvings) that are thousands of years old and show the lifestyle of the Atacameña Lickanantay culture.

Next, visit the Tatio Geothermal Field, located at 14,108 feet (4,300 m) above sea level in the middle of the Andes mountain range. Here, the constant volcanic activity generates a unique phenomenon where boiling water at 185°F (85°C) is expelled from the earth, creating columns of hot water and fumaroles that reach several meters in height. When you return, head to the beautiful Vado de Putana, where vicuñas, foxes, and different birds come to drink water and feed on the spot—perfect for landscape and wildlife photography. Finally, visit the Machuca Wetland, home to a colony of colorful flamingoes. 

Day 5: Full-Day Tour of Piedras Rojas, Altiplanic Lagoons & Salar

Today's tour takes you south of San Pedro de Atacama toward the Paso Sico border crossing. Your first stop will be at the Laguna Chaxa sector of the Los Flamencos National Reserve, where you'll keep an eye out for flamingoes and listen to an explanation of the importance of microbial diversity in the Salar de Atacama. Your next visit will be to the Altiplanic Lagoons. Here, you can travel at least two regular access trails to visit the Miscanti and Miñiques lagoons, which offer an excellent view of the surrounding volcanoes.

Continue to the volcanic landscapes of the Piedras Rojas (Red Rocks), where you'll follow a path to the closest point of the otherwordly Salar de Talar salt flats. Snap some photos of the scenery and enjoy a boxed lunch, then return to San Pedro de Atacama around 4:30 pm.

You'll have this morning free to relax at your hotel or explore the charming town of San Pedro at your leisure. Later in the afternoon, grab your swimsuits and sunscreen and join your guide for a half-day excursion to some of the region's most remarkable salt lakes.

Take a stroll around Laguna Cejar, whose waters have a similar salinity to the Dead Sea, then go for a dip in Laguna Piedra, where you can float effortlessly in the buoyant saltwater. At Laguna Tebenquiche, you'll learn about the ancient microbes in its water that date back over 3,800 years and admire the stunning sight of the Andean volcanoes reflected in its glassy waters. 

Day 7: Scenic Bus Journey to Salta (Argentina)

It's time to bid Chile farewell as you transfer to the bus station and take a regular bus from San Pedro de Atacama to Salta in Argentina. Located in the province of the same name, Salta lies in the northwest corner of Argentina and is the jumping-off point for excursions into a breathtaking region of arid plains, dramatic red canyons, and rich Indigenous culture. Buses leave in the very early morning and take approximately 10 hours. Upon arrival at Salta Bus Station, you'll be picked up and transferred to your hotel. 

Day 8: Full-Day Cafayate Excursion

Today's spectacularly scenic guided road trip will take you from Salta along Argentina's Route 68, traversing the Lerma Valley and its historic towns. Soon, you'll reach Quebrada de las Conchas (Shells' Gorge), where wind and water erosion have carved the rocks into curiously-shaped formations. Some of the most famous of these formations include the Amphitheater, the Devil's Throat, the Toad, and the Castles, among others.

When you arrive at Cafayate, head off to visit a winery. This region is famous for its production of torrontés grapes, which have special characteristics due to the particularities of the climate and land. After lunchtime, return to Salta through the Lerma Valley.

Day 9: Explore Purmamarca & Humahuaca

Learn about the religious history of Argentina on a day trip to the Quebrada del Purmamarca Valley. The first stop will be Purmamarca village at the base of Seven Colors Hill. Spend the morning exploring the 400-person village's 17th-century architecture, browsing a craft market, or listening to street musicians. Next, your road trip will continue to Uquía and its restored church. The church is known for its Cusco School paintings of ángeles arcabuceros (angels with arquebus guns)—your guide will explain more about this style, which originated from the 16th to 18th centuries in Cusco, Peru.

Before lunch, you'll reach the Humahuaca Valley and its main city, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The timing may be ideal to see a clock in the town square which chimes at noon, followed by a door opening to reveal a figure of Saint Francisco Solano. Take a break for lunch before continuing on to Maimará to see the mountains known as La Paleta del Pintor (Painter's Palette), so-called for their geological formation of painted hills. The next stop will be at San Salvador de Jujuy, with time to explore its cathedral and main square before returning to Salta.

Day 10: Whitewater Rafting Adventure in Salta

Get ready for a day of exhilarating whitewater adventure as you depart Salta at 8:30 am and head off on a rafting excursion on the Río Juramento. You'll begin at the Salta Rafting base with an instructive safety course. Then pick up your equipment and begin your descent through the rapids.

There are 10 Class III rapids and five Class II rapids here, all framed by the imposing landscape of the Río Juramento canyon. The canyon resembles a giant pit between the mountains, with its walls once having been huge beaches inhabited by prehistoric animals. The descent begins at the base and ends 7 miles (12 km) later in the Los Lapachos area. 

Day 11: Fly to Buenos Aires, Tango Show & Dinner

This morning you'll catch a two-hour domestic flight southeast to Buenos Aires, then transfer to your hotel. Get some rest, then start exploring the Argentine capital at your own pace. Vibrant, sprawling, and multicultural, Buenos Aires lies on the country's eastern coast at the mouth of the Río de la Plata and is made up of countless colorful neighborhoods, each with its own unique character. 

As evening falls, a memorable night of music and dancing awaits. The barrios (neighborhoods) around the Río de la Plata are considered the birthplace of tango, and you'll go straight to those roots to experience one of Argentina's best-known examples of cultural heritage. Enjoy an authentic Argentine meal as more than 30 performers entertain you with their music and accompanying tango dancing. After dinner, you can learn tango steps with an optional lesson or explore a variety of Argentine wines with an optional wine-tasting.

Day 12: Neighborhoods Tour, Food Walking Tour of Palermo

Discover more of Buenos Aires' distinctive neighborhoods on today's three-hour small-group tour. See the grand Plaza de Mayo and Casa Rosada, where some of the most important events in Argentine history have played out, then explore the cobblestone lanes, tango venues, and street markets of San Telmo. Continue to waterfront La Boca to admire the colorful houses of Caminito Street and the famous Bombonera Stadium, then it's on to the affluent docklands of Puerto Madero with its modern high-rise buildings, and Recoleta, where the star attraction is the Recoleta Cemetery.

Later, prepare for a food walking tour of the Palermo district. From the meeting point, head to four amazing restaurants, each of which will present its best selection of dishes. Enjoy more than 10 dishes and drinks showcasing the best of Argentine cuisine, including a wine tasting. Walk through impressive streets as you get to know the history of the neighborhood, street art, and the deep-rooted culture of Palermo. 

Day 13: Private Sailing Trip in the Paraná Delta

Celebrate the penultimate day of your trip with a private boat trip into the Paraná Delta. Sail along this vast waterway, cutting through the North Zone province of Buenos Aires and its suburbs of Olivos, La Lucila, and Martinez. You'll also stop in San Isidro to see the magnificent neo-Gothic San Isidro Cathedral, which has stood here since the beginning of the 20th century. Sit back and soak up the peaceful scenery as you navigate through the rivers that make up the Lower Delta, gliding past lush riverbanks, stilted houses, and floating markets. 

It's time to say goodbye to Buenos Aires! After breakfast at your hotel, your driver will pick you up and take you to the airport. Have a safe journey home, or to your next destination!

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