Atacama to Torres del Paine: Walking & Wine

Chile’s extraordinary length gives it more diversity than most places on Earth. Almost every landscape, from desert to glacier, is represented. It is one of the best countries in the world for walking, only on foot can you truly appreciate the variety of terrain.

Our direct and personal link to Chile allows us to share this holiday, our own special take on the country's beautiful extremes. You enjoy the country's spectacular beauty whilst skirting around any crowds, travelling at a pace which allows you to really appreciate all that you see and do along the way.

You have a mix of private and shared transfers, plus all internal flights and airport transfers. You do not do any of the driving on this trip - we take care of that for you.

This is conceived of as a walking holiday which has you out in the great outdoors, with your boots on, most days. That said, as a tailor-made trip, the degree of exertion is completely up to you.

In the Atacama the walks are typically in the range of 7-14km though the full Machuca-Rio Grande route is over 20km. You will get the most out of a trip like this if you are happy walking at very least 7km per day. Remember that altitude can make walking in the Atacama more challenging.

Down in Torres del Paine, you will also be able to enjoy the park with routes of 7-14km on most days, the hike up to the towers is longer. While altitude isn't an issue in the south (you are at about sea level), the walking is demanding due to the more mountainous nature of much of the terrain.

We find the trip suits people who enjoy walking/hiking rather than trekkers. Our guests would typically be in the 50-70yr age range.

Please send an enquiry to see the specific hotels we use, but overall, expect 4* type levels of comfort. In Torres del Paine our preferred lodge is a working estancia, giving you a direct connection with traditional sheep-rearing ways of life.

Some time between October and April is the time to catch all three areas at their best. Santiago should be warm and inviting, the Atacama generally clear and dry. Patagonia is moving from late spring through summer and into early autumn so is always beautiful.

January through February is the busier period as that's when South Americans are on their summer holidays. We make sure to steer you away from crowds so the trip still works well in this period.

As the shortest days and the wildest of the weather pass, there’s a little window of stable weather in July and particularly in August when you can experience Torres del Paine at its most calm and quiet, just like our three co-founders knew it when they met there over 20 years ago. You'll need to bring lots of layers to wrap up warm, but clear and calm days can often be the order of the day down here in the austral winter. Snowfall is always a possibility too.

Not in Santiago, Patagonia or the winelands, no. Those areas are all at or near sea level.

Up in the Atacama, you are surrounded by 5,000m peaks but you are sleeping at 2,400m which is very rarely a problem. Generally the effects of altitude are felt upwards of 3,000m.

Over the course of your days in the north, your exploration takes you gradually higher and higher, as you get used to the altitude. With your own private guide, the pace is entirely flexible to suit you.

The focus of this holiday is undoubtedly the landscapes and exploring on foot, however, there is much more to Chile than just the great outdoors. We want you to leave Chile feeling like you know the country and more than anything, that means its people.

The human history of the Atacama is abundantly apparent, with ancient settlements, cave art and Inca roads. Our man in Chile is the most experienced guide in the north of the country - it's him the indigenous communities near San Pedro de Atacama called on to show them the source of their own rivers!

In the winelands and Santiago, you absolutely get a sense of the history and culture of the country. Down in Patagonia, you will be looked after by a team who are normally from across Chile rather than being local to Torres del Paine - there aren't many permanent settlements in these parts! To this day it is a place of gauchos, cowboys, who live solitary lives riding across vast estancias. And yet, hospitality runs deep and sipping mate whilst sitting round an open fire is one of the great memories of southern Chile.

The stars! The Atacama Desert is famous for having some of the least polluted skies in the world and is home to several observatories, including the European ALMA project with its enormous array of telescopes.

During your trip, we take you out into the desert for a guided evening of stargazing - assuming conditions allow. Avoiding full moon is best.

Although the skies are much more prone to clouds in Torres del Paine, the stars are still incredible.

Absolutely. We can tailor your holiday in any number of ways, and will often have to play with the running order to find space for you, or to avoid your overlapping too much with other clients.

There is also much more of Patagonia to explore, be it an expedition cruise to Cape Horn or a self drive adventure in Chile and Argentina. Let us know if you would like some ideas.