This trip begins and ends at Santiago de Chile (SCL).

Some time between October and April is the time to catch all three areas at their best. Santiago should also be warm and inviting. If you want to time your visit to coincide with the grape harvest, you should aim for March or early April.

The focus of this tripis undoubtedly on exactly that. If you are doing this trip it is because you have a curiosity about the human side of Chile. From the very first day, you will be interacting with our partners on the ground who will help introduce you to both Chile and Chileans.

This is conceived of as a cultural exploration trip with some activities woven in. Our assumption is that you will want to take self-guided walks along the way. As such, it really is up to you exactly how much you do or don't do.

You will be very comfortable but always with an eye on character and style. Overall, expect 4* type levels of comfort. We avoid chain hotels in favour of owner-hosted properties which get you closer to the places you are visiting.

Please get in touch for full details of the hotels.

Generally speaking, very easy and low-stress. All of the roads you are likely to encounter are paved and in a reasonable state of repair. Driving in Chile is recognisably rules-based, so overflowing chicken trucks really aren't a thing here.

You probably wouldn't enjoy driving in Valparaiso, which is why we have you stay nearby and suggest taking a taxi in for a day trip.

While this is a holiday dedicated to your spending time experiencing Chile, it does involve a good amount of driving. The total driving distance from top to bottom of this trip is just over 900km, that's before you account for any day trips or detours.

You stay two or three nights in each of your destinations before moving on. Most distances are between 150-250km so you can expect to be driving for three to four hours every second or third day. Estimated driving times and distances are noted at the end of each day of the itinerary.

Navigation is fairly simple, you are primarily travelling on the Pan American highway north - Ruta 5 as it's known. The rule of thumb is simple, if you hit the ocean, you've gone too far left and if you hit the Andes, you've strayed too far right.

In addition, you will want to also use a navigation app such as Waze or Google Maps. You can pre-load drives onto this with wi-fi, it then switches to using your phone's 'always on' GPS rather than expensive data whilst on the move.

We always include a mid-sized vehicle which is comfortable for long distances, usually all-wheel drive. The four-wheel drive is rarely necessary but it does make for a more sure-footed driving experience. Engines tend to be of a generous size, no whirring and whining along.

You have the benefit of our extended Pura Aventura family as you travel. Primarily your hosts and guides can help with local advice. We are also always here to help with anything that can't be swiftly fixed locally, including a 24-hour emergency phone contact.

No, typically your hosts will speak good English but you should not expect locals to speak any English. You will be very well served to have at least a few words of Spanish under your belt, or tongue, before you go.

We have selected what we believe are the highlights of this part of Chile but appreciate that you might want a shorter or longer trip so we are always happy to discuss ways to perfect your holiday.