Project Chile: POST TOUR Observatories Extension

Day 1 (04 October 2024) - End of main tour and fly to La Serena

At the end of the Easter Island tour, join a flight to La Serena for a three-night stay. La Serena is the capital of the Coquimbo region on Chile’s coast. The city is known for its long beaches, like El Faro with its landmark Faro Monumental lighthouse, and its colonial and neo-colonial architecture.
 

Day 2 - Visit to La Silla Observatory

Today visit La Silla Observatory located on the outskirts of the Chilean Atacama Desert at an altitude of 2400 metres. La Silla has three telescopes built and operated by the European Southern Observatory. Several other telescopes are located at the site and are partly maintained by ESO. Return to La Serena for overnight.
 

Day 3 - Visit to Cerro Pachón Observatories

Today we visit a selection of observatories around Cerro Pachón. Cerro Pachón is a mountain located close to Chilean city of Vicuña and the location is exceedingly dry, making it suitable for infrared observations. Return for our last night in La Serena.
 

Day 4 - Fly to Santiago and transfer to Viña del Mar

Today join a return flight to Santiago and then transfer to the coastal resort city of Viña del Mar. Viña del Mar is known for its gardens, beaches, and high-rise buildings. Quinta Vergara Park is home to the Quinta Vergara Amphitheatre, the early-20th-century Vergara Palace and the Artequin Museum, which displays copies of major artworks.
 

Day 5 - Valparaíso and Viña del Mar sightseeing

Today join a full day of sightseeing in Viña del Mar and the nearby picturesque town of Valparaíso. Valparaíso is known for its steep funiculars and colourful, clifftop homes. La Sebastiana, the quirky former residence of Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, is now a museum with far-reaching Pacific views. During the 19th century, an influx of European immigrants left their mark on the city’s architecture and cultural institutions, many of which congregate around downtown’s Plaza Sotomayor. Return to Santiago at the end of the day for your last overnight.
 

Day 6 (09 October 2024) - Join your return flight or perhaps extend your stay

Today is the last day of the tour. Join your return flight unless you have chosen to extend your stay.
 

WHAT'S INCLUDED IN MY TOUR?

Tour Price GB£2,080 / US$2,595 per person*

*Please note these costings are based on June 2021 prices and are subject to change. Tours are costed on a USD rate of 1.25.

 

• The price is for the tour from hotel check-in on Day 1 to your hotel check-out on Day 6.

• Bed and breakfast accommodation is provided in hotels throughout the tour and all transfers, transportation, flights, and local excursions as outlined in the itinerary (if applicable) are included. Other meals are not included, and some excursions are offered on an optional basis closer to the tour departure date (the word 'optional' is used to describe these).

• Accommodation is provided in twin or double bed hotel rooms with a private bathroom. We are usually able to arrange shared accommodation with a person of the same gender - this is known as 'twin share' accommodation.

• A limited number of rooms for sole occupancy are available at a single room supplement of GB£525 / US$650.

• Flight packages from London and the US will be offered by our flight partner approximately 11 months in advance of the tour departure (when all fares and schedules are available) or you can arrange your own International flights if you prefer.

• Current return air fares from London to Santiago (return) are between about GB£860 and GB£1,500 and from the US about US$750 to US$1,850 (depending on the departure point within the US).

• Airport transfers and assistance are included on arrival and departure days if you take advantage of the International flight package offered by our flight partner. If you choose to arrange your own International flights, then the meet point is the hotel on Day 1 and the tour ends at the hotel on the final day.

• You will find further details about what to expect on the Project Argentina/Chile FAQ page here.