Fly into Santiago and transfer to the beautifully restored Aubrey Hotel. Immerse yourself in Chilean culture with a visit to the Chilean National Museum of Fine Arts. In the evening discover Santiago’s alternative scene and get amongst the buzz and creativity of the bohemian Bellavista neighborhood. Dine in hip new restaurants and shop amongst the country’s most cutting edge boutiques and avant-garde galleries.
Journey into the stunning wastelands of the Atacama Desert. Blocked from moisture on both sides by the Andes Mountains and Chilean Coastal range, parts of the Atacama are arguably some of the driest places on earth. The outlandish geography of volcanoes, salt flats and land speckled with minerals create stunning, unforgettable romantic landscapes.
Your immaculate hotel in the small desert town of San Pedro, offers the perfect balance of luxury and relaxation. The magical surroundings will inevitably entice you to leave the tranquility of your hotel to explore the unique environment. Perhaps you could saddle up and enjoy a dreamy horseback ride amongst spectacular desert scenery. Take in the surreal beauty of the Salt Mountain Range, Death Valley and watch the sun seemingly bleed over Moon Valley and the Andes mountain range.
If wildlife is your thing, we can arrange for an expert to teach you about the unique desert wildlife, including the famous salt pan Flamingos and how they have adapted to desert life. Travel to the Tatio Geisers, and let us prepare breakfast for you, boiling an egg in the simmering pools while you marvel at 40 ft steam columns. What better way to finish your day than by stargazing beside an open fire, dining on sumptuous cuisine and sipping wonderful Chilean wine.
Continue your journey to the avant-garde Matetic Vineyards for a wonderful stay in a century-old estancia. La Casona Vina Matetic’s multi-million dollar, gravity-flow winery which is sunken into a sloping hill, and it is one of the most architecturally avant-garde wineries in Chile.
Explore the beautiful valley on foot, horseback, or bicycle, or visit the family cheese operation (the Matetics make a scrumptious sheep’s-milk cheese). Cap the afternoon off with a private tour of the winery and learn what it tastes to make some of the best wines in South America.
10 days, internal flights, B&B, chauffeur-driven vehicle, private guides, and activities. From £4,050 (roughly $6,015, depending on exchange rates) www.brownandhudson.com
