Easter Island + Patagonia

On arrival at the airport in Calama, you’ll be warmly greeted and escorted to our luxury desert lodge. The scenic journey to the Nayara Alto Atacama takes about 90 minutes and transports you from a lively Chilean town into a breathtaking wilderness of dramatic mountain ranges, hidden valleys and the bone-dry Atacama Desert. Settle in to your spacious, stylishly appointed guestroom and take in the mesmerizing views from your private terrace. This evening, you’ll sit down to a farm-to-table dinner prepared by our Lodge’s skilled chefs and accompanied by fine Chilean wines.  Meals D

Choose from a wide variety of included excursions, and tailor your exploration to your own interests and personal taste for adventure. Led by experienced naturalists or culturally-savvy guides, you’ll be joined by just a small group of other Lodge guests so as to leave no trace. Cultural excursions usually combine traveling in a comfortable van and some walking or hiking; you can meet with villagers in the High Andes, discover ancient petroglyphs that reveal the development of the region’s ancient farming communities, or explore the 2,400-year-old archaeological site at Tulor.
 
Back at our luxury lodge, you’ll enjoy delightful dining accompanied by fine house wines, spirits and beverages. This evening, you might join an Astronomical Adventure! The Atacama Desert is one of the driest places on Earth; with such low humidity, nearly cloud-free skies, and the absence of ambient light, this is one of the best places in the world for stargazing. The Nayara Alto Atacama also has the only open-air observatory in the region – with swivel chairs, a powerful telescope and an expert guide to enrich this activity. If the moon is full during your stay here, you can even join an exciting 2.5-mile night-time walk into the appropriately named Valley of Mars!  Meals B+L+D

With our luxury eco-lodge as your base, delight in another day of guided adventures and activities. Once again, you can choose from a variety of included excursions to pursue your personal interests. Guided excursions by van can take you quite far afield, if you wish… to explore a high-mountain geothermal field of bubbling mud pools, geysers and fumaroles; to learn about the geological forces that formed the ethereal landscapes of the Valley of the Moon, or to experience rural life in remote mountain villages. Longer, more challenging hikes and guided mountain biking expeditions are available for active travelers.
 
Again, fine dining back at Nayara Alto Atacama is accompanied by a selection of house wines, spirits and beverages. And in between meals and excursions, you might opt for a spa treatment, go for a swim in one of six spectacular pools, or just relax on your private terrace enjoying the captivating scenery. Meals B+L+D

After breakfast, we’ll take you back to the airport in Calama for your included flight to Santiago.  Meals B

After breakfast, bid farewell to your Patagonia lodge and set off on a scenic journey on winding roads through the Andes. Along the way, watch for glimpses of local wildlife and marvel at the breathtaking changes in the landscape. Cross the Chilean-Argentinian border before arriving in El Calafate, a charming town nestled along the shores of the magnificent Lake Argentino. Check into your hotel and unwind for a relaxing evening. Meals: B.

Your private car, driver and guide will be waiting this morning to take you on a thrilling full day excursion into Los Glaciares National Park. The scenic drive, punctuated by photo stops en route, transports you through the pristine Andean forests of Patagonia to the celebrated "Curve of Sighs”, where you’ll catch your first glimpse of the enormous Perito Moreno Glacier. This incredible moving wall of ice stretches nearly 3 miles across and soars more than 250 feet above the pristine waters of Lake Argentino! From specially constructed viewing platforms and balconies in front of Perito Moreno, you’ll have unforgettable views of the glacier’s immense face. 

If you prefer a more active excursion, embark a boat to Lake Argentino where you’ll join fellow walkers for easy explorations on foot through the lake’s Seno Mayo with Andean forests.  You’ll see the region’s flora and fauna and the Mayo and Negro Hill’s glaciers.  Your return boat ride brings you close to the glacier’s northern face, followed by disembarkation at the viewing platforms in front of the glacier. Meals B.

A full-day adventure unfolds with your transfer to the pier where you board our sightseeing vessel in the port of Punta Bandera. A 3-hour cruise takes you across the pristine waters of Lake Argentino, often strewn with icebergs, to view the immense western face of the Upsala Glacier. Make your way through the Cristina Canal and disembark at Estancia Cristina, a 54,000-acre ranch founded in 1914 by an immigrant Englishman and once home to 27,000 sheep, 30 cows and 50 horses. Surrounded by Andean peaks and glaciers on the shores of Lake Argentino, the Estancia Cristina continues to offer visitors a fascinating glimpse into Patagonia’s rich history of intrepid explorers and pioneers. During your sojourn on the Estancia, you’ll enjoy a 4WD excursion through the spectacular scenery for another view of the Upsala Glacier and the ice fields of southern Patagonia. There will also be plenty of time to just enjoy the Estancia’s setting and lunch in the lovely dining room. The Estancia’s kitchen prepares outstanding regional cuisine including Patagonian lamb. Fine Argentine wines are also available. Late in the afternoon, you’ll cruise back to Punta Bandera and transfer to your hotel.  Meals B+L.

You will be privately escorted to the airport for your onward journey.