{"id":278564,"date":"2024-03-14T17:41:34","date_gmt":"2024-03-14T17:41:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.blacktomato.com\/destinations\/the-world\/into-the-chilean-wilds\/"},"modified":"2025-02-13T13:00:32","modified_gmt":"2025-02-13T13:00:32","slug":"into-the-chilean-wilds","status":"publish","type":["Experience"],"link":"https:\/\/www.blacktomato.com\/us\/destinations\/chile\/into-the-chilean-wilds\/","title":{"rendered":"Into the Chilean wilds: an adventure through Patagonia, Santiago and the Atacama Desert"},"content":{"rendered":"

Of the landscapes that mark his homeland, Pablo Neruda wrote that \u201che who does not know the Chilean forests, does not know the planet\u201d. It\u2019s an astute observation, we think \u2013 but it\u2019s only after spending time in the rugged wilds of Chile that it rings quite so true. That\u2019s where this trip comes in. Inspired by an incredible research trip our Travel Experts undertook, we’ve curated this exhilarating journey, on which you\u2019ll forge a deep connection with your natural surroundings. By 4×4, by foot, by bike, by kayak. We\u2019ll take you to and through the heart of Chilean Patagonia and the vast expanse of the Atacama Desert \u2013 with a quick stop in Santiago in between (partly for some city chic, mostly for wine tasting). One for thrill-seekers and intrepid explorers, this is a trip that\u2019ll leave you lingering. Someplace between the city and the sky.<\/p>\n

THE UNTAMED WILDERNESS OF PATAGONIA<\/h2>\n

Style in a remote corner of the world always goes down well with us. And arriving at Explora Patagonia National Park, that\u2019s exactly what you\u2019ll find. Hidden in the Chacabuco Valley, the lodge is the epitome of secluded luxury. But it\u2019s the 600,000-acres of picturesque landscapes beyond its walls that make this place even more special. Snow-capped mountains, clay-red peaks and glossy teal lakes \u2013 all protected by the newly founded National Park\u2019s vital eco-restoration and rewilding projects.<\/p>\n

During your three full days here, you can choose from an extensive program of experiences. Your own private adventure \u2013 curated as it unfolds \u2013 is in your hands. Each evening by the fire, plan what you’d like to do the next day with your expert guide, who you\u2019ll get to know throughout your stay. Many of them are so passionate that they spend their days off in the wilderness, testing new explorations \u2013 so you\u2019ll be in the best, most knowledgeable company.<\/p>\n

On your first morning, fuel up at breakfast if you\u2019ve opted for a hike. Our favorite? The Lagunas Altas full-day trek. Leaving the lodge on foot, the upward walk is well worth it to view the valley from an incredible perspective. The elevation reveals mountains and plateaus dotted with bright blue lagoons and interspersed with forests. For keen birdwatchers, condors and black-chested buzzard eagles can be spotted along the route. And if you\u2019re lucky, you might catch sight of the ultra-rare Andean deer. Even a stalking puma.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

ALONG THE COCHRANE RIVER<\/h2>\n

Another day, a new adventure. We\u2019d recommend kayaking along the Cochrane River and lake basin, reaching the Correntadas sector. The word \u2018crystalline’ to describe waters so rarely actually applies. But it does here, where they\u2019re considered among the clearest and most pristine in the world. You might not be able to resist jumping in. From there, hike along the southern slopes of the park with your guide, through dense forests brimming with wildlife.<\/p>\n

We can\u2019t predict the future, but we’ll take a guess. That on your final morning in Patagonia National Park, you\u2019ll want to witness its undisputed beauty one more time. A bike ride would be our choice (we like Los R\u00edos). Beginning in a sector of crop-coated fields, pedal along the edge of the Cochrane River. Passing through rolling hills that offer magnificent views, your ride will end at the bridge over the El Salto River, whose waters run from the ice of the Calluqueo glacier.<\/p>\n

WINE AND DINE IN SANTIAGO<\/h2>\n

While Chile is best known<\/a> for the irresistible pull of its landscapes, its cities can\u2019t be overlooked. And we wouldn\u2019t \u2013 couldn\u2019t \u2013 let our travelers miss out on vibrant Santiago. So, on your fifth day, you\u2019ll fly there. Check in for two nights at Hotel Magnolia in the city\u2019s trendy El Centro district. Impeccably stylish rooms and a rooftop terrace. Elegant art deco touches, elevated with a modern twist. Don\u2019t mind if you do.<\/p>\n

On your afternoon to spend in Santiago, meander through the lanes and into local shops with a private guide, and visit Mercado Central to watch the locals haggle with grocers for the freshest Chilean ingredients. In the evening, jump behind the bar for a cocktail making class with an expert bartender \u2013 shaking up your own signature drink to enjoy alongside traditional tapas dishes.<\/p>\n

The next afternoon, you\u2019ll head just outside the city to Vi\u00f1a El Principal \u2013 a small family-owned winery in the Maipo Valley. Sitting at the foot of the Andes Mountains, the perfect combination of climate, soil and altitude gives their wine a distinct (and delicious) character. Uncover the secrets behindChile\u2019s famous wine production whilst tasting their finest reds, before lunch in the sunshine, overlooking sprawling vineyards. Probably accompanied by another glass. Cheers to that.<\/p>\n

TO THE DRIEST PLACE ON EARTH<\/h2>\n

Waving goodbye to Santiago, you\u2019ll fly to the arid Atacama Desert. It’s like landing on the surface of another planet. Where jagged peaks give way to deep valleys, and the air is crisp and fresh. Your base is Tierra Atacama, set within diverse desert landscapes, neatly framed by the Andean Mountains. There\u2019s nowhere like it. Inside? It\u2019s boutique, it\u2019s thoughtful simplicity. Outside? Your own desert backyard, where serious adventure awaits. Again, you\u2019re at liberty to consult and choose your experiences throughout your three-night stay here. Just see how you feel. And go from there.<\/p>\n

After some time to unwind upon arrival \u2013 and perhaps a dip in the Uma Spa pool, which overlooks Licancabur Volcano \u2013 it\u2019s time for sunset drinks. The perfect way to soak up your new surroundings before dinner.<\/p>\n

The next morning, we’d suggest a drive to the Piedras Rojas: a vast, otherworldly place. Reaching over 4,200 meters above sea level to admire it, you\u2019ll notice the deep red colour of the rocky landscape, contrasted against the turquoise-tinted surface of the Aguas Calientes salt flat. As far as electrifying views go, this is right up there. Returning in the mid-afternoon, a relaxing drink beside the warmth of the hotel\u2019s fire pit never goes amiss.<\/p>\n

BENEATH SUBLIME, ETHEREAL SKIES<\/h2>\n

After a morning spent at leisure, we\u2019d recommend heading out with your guide for an invigorating trek along the Vilama River. Descend the Guati\u0301n canyon through deep ravines and undulating hills, surrounded by flora \u2013 where enormous hundred-year-old cardones (a cactus species) extend from the earth, many reaching over five meters in height.<\/p>\n

Come night-time, we\u2019ll arrange for an astronomer to join you for an evening of stargazing from a nearby observatory. The absence of moisture in the atmosphere means the Atacama\u2019s skies are some of the clearest in the world. Whether through the lens of a telescope or from simply gazing upward \u2013 there\u2019s no better place on Earth to witness the Milky Way.<\/p>\n

You can, of course, spend your final morning at your own pace. But one of our favorite ways to bid farewell to Chile is to saddle up, and head out on horseback. Riding at a gentle pace through the different \u2018ayllus\u2019 (native towns) of San Pedro de Atacama, watch the rusty brown hues of the desertscape blur into deep oranges and vibrant reds. As breathtaking as when you first laid eyes on it. But you\u2019ll be back, no doubt, before too long. We always are. Time and time again.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Of the landscapes that mark his homeland, Pablo Neruda wrote that \u201che who does not know the Chilean forests, does not know the planet\u201d. It\u2019s an astute observation, we think \u2013 but it\u2019s only after spending time in the rugged wilds of Chile that it rings quite so true. That\u2019s where this trip comes in. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":101077,"featured_media":273619,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1456],"tags":[],"country":["Chile","Latin America"],"class_list":["post-278564","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized-us","country-chile","country-latin-america","type-experience","feeling-challenged","feeling-contentment","feeling-freedom"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nInto the Chilean wilds: an adventure through Patagonia, Santiago and the Atacama Desert | Black Tomato<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"An invigorating adventure to and through the heart of Chilean Patagonia, Santiago and the vast expanse of the Atacama Desert.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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