Slow Travel: Chile in-depth
22 days from £7,340 pp
Slow Travel: Chile in-depth is a 22-day tailor-made journey for travellers who’d rather stay longer and see more: four nights stargazing in the Elqui Valley, five in the Atacama Desert, then ten days at the wheel through the Lake District and Chiloé. Prices start from £7,340 per person, including flights within Chile, car hire, private guided excursions and hand-picked hotels. It’s travelling through Chile the slow way, with time to rest between the big days and get to know each place properly.
Trip Highlights
- Fall asleep under the stars in an Elqui Valley dome
- Spend five nights in the Atacama, from El Tatio’s geysers to the high-altitude lagoons
- Self-drive for ten days through the Lake District and Chiloé
- Meet Chiloé’s farming families and Mapuche-Huilliche communities
Our Expert Tip
”Fall asleep under the stars in the Elqui Valley, gazing through the open roof of your dome and savouring the total absence of light pollution”
Scarlett, Chile Expert
Slow Travel Chile Itinerary: Day by Day
Day 1-2: Santiago
Two nights at Bidasoa Hotel in leafy Vitacura ease you into Chile. On your full day, head to the coast with a private guide: ride one of Valparaíso’s old funiculars up into its maze of painted hillside lanes, then follow the shoreline to Viña del Mar for a seafood lunch.
Day 3-6: Elqui Valley
Fly north to La Serena and drive inland to the Elqui Valley, a narrow green ribbon of vineyards between bare Andean slopes, for four nights at Elqui Domos. The domes have opening roofs, so you can drift off looking at the stars (see Scarlett’s tip). On a private tour, visit pisco distilleries and taste the national spirit where it’s made, then spend an evening at the Mamalluca Observatory. The rest of your time is your own: walk, cycle or ride through the valley, or do nothing at all.
Day 7-11: Atacama
Next, travel north to Calama for five nights at Desertica Hotel in San Pedro de Atacama, with a private guide and a pace that leaves room to breathe. Drive up to the lagoons of Miscanti and Miñiques, stopping in Socaire and Toconao to see terraced fields and village traditions; try your hand at Atacameño weaving and pottery; taste wines grown in the desert; rise before dawn for the geysers of El Tatio and the tiny village of Machuca; and finish with sunset over the Moon and Mars valleys. An evening astronomy tour completes the picture.
Day 12-14: Pucón
Swap desert for forest with a flight south to Temuco, where your hire car is waiting for the next ten days, and drive to Pucón for three nights at Casa Solaria. With a car of your own, the Lake District is yours to explore: follow the lakeshore roads to Caburgua’s beaches, walk to the Ojos del Caburgua waterfalls, or spend an afternoon in the hot springs of Termas Geométricas.
Rafting, volcano hikes and Mapuche cultural visits can all be arranged locally.
Day 15-17: Chiloè
Drive south and cross the Chacao Channel by ferry to Chiloé, for three nights at Palafito 1326 in Castro. With a guide, explore the Rilán Peninsula: spend time with a family of farmers and carpenters, visit a craft workshop where a former riverside carpenter shares stories of his trade, and see the restored Church of Rilán, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The rest of the time, drive yourself to the island’s coves, wetlands and wooden churches.
Day 18-20: Puerto Varas
Take the ferry back to the mainland and drive north to Puerto Varas for three nights at Hotel Cabaña del Lago. Spend a day with a guide on the Mapuche-Huilliche route, visiting communities whose ancestors lived here long before the German settlers arrived, and use the car to explore Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, the lakeside piers of Frutillar or the road up Osorno Volcano. Want to add Torres del Paine? See our Chile Active Adventure.
Day 21-22: Santiago
Hand back the car at Puerto Montt airport and fly to Santiago for a final night. Ask us for a farewell dinner recommendation, or a guide to show you the city before your flight home.
When to Go
Best time for a slow travel Chile holiday
The best time for this trip is October to April, when the Lake District and Chiloé are greenest and warmest, with the driest weather from December to March. The Elqui Valley and the Atacama can be visited all year, with crisp, clear skies for stargazing; pack warm layers for the early start at El Tatio, where dawn temperatures are often below freezing. Ask us which month suits you best.
Includes
- All accommodation
- Excursions
- Transport
- Private guides
Excludes
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Visa cost
- Tips
Why Book With Travel Differently
Passionate and experienced
- Each member of the team has over a decade of experience in the industry
- Our 5* client reviews reflect our service & standards
- We are a fully independent & owner-run tour operator
- Our holidays include full financial protection & ATOL coverage
- We are destination experts, ensuring authentic & reliable advice
Committed and Responsible
Tailor-made and Personal
- No two trips are the same, our holidays are 100% bespoke
- We design personal, genuine cultural connections & experiences
- From planning to travel, you’ll have one dedicated point of contact
- Our support is available around the clock during your holiday
- We take care of the details, so you don’t have to
Need More Inspiration?
Want to combine multi-countries, take less flights, or include a hike in Patagonia? Thinking of a longer sabbatical holiday, or staying in some luxury yurts? It’s all possible; all our holidays are tailor-made with a focus on responsible travel. Take a look at more ideas below, and contact our experts.
