Chile and the Lake District - 14 days

tourhub | On The Go Tours | Chile and the Lake District - 14 days | 1152/CLD | Map

260 Views

14 Days From

~~$4735~~

$4510

Chile and the Lake District - 14 days

14 Days Starting in Santiago, Chile and ending in Puerto Montt, Chile

Visiting: Santiago, Colchagua Valley, Chillán, Pucón, Huilo Huilo, Huilo Huilo Reserve, Puerto Varas, Puerto Montt

Tour operator:

On The Go Tours

Tour code:

1152/CLD

Guide Type:

Partially Guided

Physical rating:

Medium

Age range:

Tour operated in:

English

From: $4735 $4510 (USD) Travel Club discount: -$225

NB: Prices correct on 18-Jan-2025 but subject to change.

Tour Overview

Embark on a captivating 14-day journey through Chile's stunning landscapes and vibrant culture with the "Chile and the Lake District" tour. Begin your adventure in Santiago, exploring its colonial architecture and vibrant neighborhoods, before indulging in wine-tasting in the renowned Colchagua Valley. Discover the bustling handicrafts market in Chillán and marvel at the Mexican murals. In Pucón, delve into the Lake District's natural wonders, including the majestic Villarrica Volcano. Experience the lush Huilo Huilo Reserve with its diverse ecosystems and outdoor activities. Conclude your journey in Puerto Varas, with its breathtaking views of Lake Llanquihue and the Osorno volcano. This small group tour offers a perfect blend of cultural exploration and natural beauty, with comfortable accommodations and the freedom of a rental car to explore at your own pace. Enjoy 13 breakfasts and 2 dinners, along with airport transfers, making this an unforgettable Chilean adventure.

Highlights

Santiago – Join a half day city tour of colonial architecture and traditional neighbourhoods
Colchagua Valley – Go wine-tasting in Chile’s finest wine-making region
Chillán – Wander around vast handicrafts market and fascinating Mexican murals
Pucón – Explore the Lake District and the incredible Villarrica Volcano
Huilo Huilo Reserve – Explore this lush, native forest with plenty of outdoor activities available
Puerto Varas – Enjoy the location along Lake Llanquihue’s southern shore with excellent access to the Osorno volcano and Pertohué waterfalls

Itinerary

tourhub | On The Go Tours | Chile and the Lake District - 14 days | 1152/CLD | Route Map

Not what you're looking for?

People that have booked this tour have also searched for the following:

Adventure tours in Chile Adventure tours Tours in Chile Wine Tasting tours Hiking tours Wildlife tours Walking tours Mountain Biking tours

Expand All

Day 1: Santiago

Location: Santiago

Accommodation Name: hotel

Bienviendos a Chile! Once you’ve arrived in Santiago you’ll be met and transferred to your hotel. Spend the remainder of the day at leisure.

Day 2: Santiago City Tour

Location: Santiago

Accommodation Name: hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

Encircled by snow-capped Andean peaks, the city of Santiago enjoys a particularly spectacular setting. This morning join a scheduled city tour taking in the Metropolitan Cathedral, the La Moneda Presidential Palace and the Plaza de Armas where artists randomly appear to make theatrical performances. Jump on the metro for a short ride to the magnificent Santa Lucia park and its unique castle. Continue to the Lastarria neighbourhood to marvel at the neoclassical architecture and make the most of the many restaurants, coffee shops and green parks.

In the afternoon head 35 minutes out of town to the Cousiño Macul Vineyard on a scheduled tour. Producing high quality wines in exclusive amounts, this vineyard is an excellent introduction to the wine production process and how technology is used alongside artisan traditions.

Day 3-4: Colchagua Valley

Location: Colchagua Valley

Accommodation Name: hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

Santiago – Santa Cruz. After breakfast collect your rental car and drive to Santa Cruz in the Colchagua Valley. Known as the Valle de Colchagua in Spanish, the valley sits in the centre of one of Chile’s finest wine-making districts and is home to many of the country’s world-class wines. Spend the next two days independently touring the wineries in the valley, sampling as much wine as you can handle. It’s also worth checking out the Museo de Colchagua, boasting a well-designed and diverse collection of exhibits housed in a grand colonial hacienda.

Day 5: Chillan

Location: Chillán

Accommodation Name: hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

Santa Cruz – Chillán. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast in your hotel before following Route 5 to the lively city of Chillán. Upon arrival and hotel check in why not spend the remainder of your day exploring the vast handicrafts market of Feria de Chillán? Filling the Plaza de la Merced and offering everything from fresh produce to knitwear and leather goods, this daily market is a souvenir hunter’s paradise. Wandering around the city will also reveal a fascinating collection of Mexican murals.

Day 6-8: Villarrica And The Lake District

Location: Pucón

Accommodation Name: hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

Chillán – Pucón. Stretching from Temuco in the north and Puerto Montt in the south, Chile’s Lake District is spattered with dozens of crystal clear lakes, snow-capped mountains and dense forest. After a morning’s drive you reach Pucón, your base for the next three nights and the ideal place from which to explore the region’s natural gems. The outdoor activities on offer here are staggering – raft the Río Trancura rapids, hike in the secluded wooded corners of Parque Nacional Huerquehue, fish in the pristine rivers or rest your bones in the local thermal spas.

No trip to the region would be complete without visiting Parque Nacional Villarrica and its centrepiece, the smouldering Volcán Villarrica. Lined by lush forest and sharply ascending into a black waste of lava, the volcano is a dominating sight and it’s possible to hike to the gaseous crater with a local tour guide. The national park is also home to two other volcanoes, spectacular waterfalls and remote hiking trails.

Day 9-10: Huilo Huilo

Location: Huilo Huilo

Accommodation Name: rainforest lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Pucón – Huilo Huilo Reserve. A short drive this morning brings you to the gorgeous Huilo Huilo Reserve. Nestled in 100,000 hectares of lush, native forest, the private reserve supports a diverse range of ecosystems rich in endemic species. In the distance the unspoiled white tip of Volcán Choshuenco looms large. Spend the next two days partaking in the many activities offered by your rainforest lodge. Trek along scenic walking trails, explore the reserve on horseback, take a jeep expedition to one of the beautiful lagoons, walk the rainforest canopy, mountain-bike, kayak, try your hand at fly fishing or simply relax in one of the natural thermal baths.

Day 11: Puerto Varas

Location: Puerto Varas

Accommodation Name: hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

Huilo Huilo Reserve – Puerto Varas. Departing your rainforest lodge this morning drive further south to the elegant little town of Puerto Varas. Serving as an introduction to Patagonia, Puerto Varas has a wealth of tourist facilities and with wide streets, green parks and stunning views of the Osorno and Calbuco, it’s the ideal spot to base yourself. Food in this region is excellent so make sure you finish your day with a hearty meal at a restaurant in town.

Day 12-13: Lake Llanquihue And Around

Location: Puerto Varas

Accommodation Name: Overnight: Puerto Varas

Meals Included: Breakfast

With Puerto Varas as your base, spend the next two days independently exploring the surrounding area. Surrounded by gently rolling pastures with the perfectly symmetrical Volcán Osorno as its backdrop, Lake Llanquihue could easily swallow a day of your holiday. Visit the little villages that dot the pastures looking for stalls selling German pastries and smoked trout or head to the black-sand beaches of Frutillar Bajo, a popular holiday resort with several traditional wooden structures. You could also venture further afield to the Saltos de Petrohué, a series of steaming rapids created by a hard layer of lava eroded into small channels that connect with the stunning Lago Todos los Santos.

Day 14: Puerto Montt

Location: Puerto Montt

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today marks the end of your Chilean adventure. After breakfast and hotel check out, drive to airport in Puerto Montt to return your hire car and connect with your onward departure flight.

What's Included

Accommodation
Standard (superior and deluxe available on request)
STANDARD accommodation

13 nights STANDARD accommodation is included, with options to upgrade to SUPERIOR or DELUXE available upon request.
Meals

13 breakfasts and 2 dinners are included.
Airport transfers

Airport arrival and departure transfer on day 1 and day 14 are included.
City and wine tour in Santiago

A city and wine tour in Santiago on a shared basis is included, with private touring available for a supplement.
Car hire/rental

12 days car hire
ental is included, based upon a compact vehicle with unlimited kilometers, CDW insurance, and roadside emergency assistance.

What's Not Included

International flights and visas

International flights and visas are not included.
Tipping

Tipping is not included and is an entirely personal gesture.

Age Policy

Not recommended for under 5yrs.

Mode of Transport

The tour includes airport transfers on day 1 and day 14, and 12 days of car hire with a compact vehicle, offering unlimited kilometers, CDW insurance, and roadside emergency assistance.

Accommodation

Enjoy 13 nights of STANDARD accommodation with options to upgrade to SUPERIOR or DELUXE upon request. Accommodation ratings are available in the Trip Notes for further details.

Check out our Q&As

What kind of activities can I expect in the Huilo Huilo Reserve?

In the Huilo Huilo Reserve, you can partake in various activities such as trekking along scenic walking trails, exploring the reserve on horseback, taking a jeep expedition to one of the beautiful lagoons, walking the rainforest canopy, mountain biking, kayaking, trying your hand at fly fishing, or simply relaxing in one of the natural thermal baths.
What is the highlight of the visit to Parque Nacional Villarrica?

The highlight of visiting Parque Nacional Villarrica is the opportunity to see the smouldering Volcán Villarrica, which is a dominating sight. It is possible to hike to the gaseous crater with a local tour guide. The park also features two other volcanoes, spectacular waterfalls, and remote hiking trails.
What can I do in Puerto Varas?

In Puerto Varas, you can enjoy the stunning views of the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes, explore the town's wide streets and green parks, and indulge in the excellent local cuisine. It serves as a great base to explore the surrounding areas, including Lake Llanquihue and the Saltos de Petrohué.
What is included in the car hire for the tour?

The car hire for the tour includes a compact vehicle such as a Hyundai Accent Sedan or VW Golf Sedan, with unlimited kilometers, CDW insurance with a USD $500 deductible, and roadside emergency assistance.
What kind of accommodation is provided during the tour?

The tour provides 13 nights of standard accommodation, with options to upgrade to superior or deluxe accommodations upon request.

What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

Ensuring our footprint is light and that the benefits of travelling reach the local communities you visit is paramount to us. We’re proud to say that when travelling with us, the large majority of your holiday funds remain within the countries you visit, supporting local economies at a grass roots level.
How long has the tour company been trading?

Since 1998
Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?

With English-speaking tours, it's not a huge surprise that most on our travellers are from English-speaking countries or have English as their second language. Our group tours cater for everyone from 18 years old to 70+
Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

Yes

Reviews of this operator

Nicola Hodgkinson (Google Reviewer)

Recently returned from Greece, a...

07-May-2024

Recently returned from Greece, a 5 day tour with OTG. Unfortunately, I had a negative experience on day 2 where I needed local support to get me out of a tricky situation. Thank you to Alexandra Z from Hetco Tours in Athens for helping me continue on with the trip, to the Hotel Zafolia staffing team and to Danielle and team here in the UK for supporting me with the aftermath. Your kindness will not be forgotten and I will pay it forward. I've now booked 3 trips with yourselves and will continue to go back. Thank you all. Honestly, I am SO grateful. Blessings to you all. Nicola

Calvin

Wonderful experience

05-Jan-2023

Jamal is our tour guide. Right from the start, he created a group chat in whatsapp and if any issues to make sure we contact him. He was on the ball with every issue thrown at him. Luggage being left behind, stragglers wondered off in a different path, hotel room etc. He explains the various site along our route to give us a better understanding of the local cultures. We had a great time, thanks to Jamal.

Trustpilot

Norma Sullivan

Land of the Northern Lights 5 day tour of Iceland

10-Sep-2021

The Land of Northern Lights tour was a triumph! My tour of Southern Iceland was absolutely wonderful. The venues chosen, the timing allotted at each venue and the variety of things to experience was nearly perfect. Our guide, "Thor", was smart, amusing, full of history and anecdotal stories as well as being incredibly hospitable and helpful. This small group experience was my first, but not my last thanks to On the Go.

Trawls (Google Reviewer)

On The Go Tours Sri...

05-Feb-2024

On The Go Tours Sri Lanka was an incredible experience that was made even better by our tour guide Akthar. He was incredibly knowledgeable about his country and he loved sharing it with us. The tour covers a wide range of activities so you can truly experience what Sri Lanka is all about. The beautiful 4-5 star hotels at the end of every day was an absolute bonus. Thanks for a great trip OTGT I’m sure this won’t be my last

Xtreme Floor Care (Google Reviewer)

Traveled through Egypt with On...

30-Nov-2023

Traveled through Egypt with On the Go Tours, professional service, very informative and helpful tour guides. The choice of hotels was excellent... Definitely recommend this company

Gavin Harrigan

King Tutankhamun 10 day tour of Egypt

16-Sep-2021

I have just returned from my tour with On The Go and it was an amazing trip! From arriving at the airport and meeting the OTG representative, everything was well organised and hassle free. Our tour guide was Amir. He is awesome!! From the beginning he was so friendly and enthusiastic about showing us around Egypt, giving us loads of information at each place and time to explore ourselves. Learnt so much from him about this fascinating place, and he was always happy to answer more questions. The trip itself was amazing. There's lots of travelling on this trip, but it's really not too bad, and the sights you see when you get to where you are going are worth it. I'm not a big fan of boats, but the Felluca ride across the Nile was pretty fun too. On the first day I also did the optional tour of Cairo with Ahmed Helal - another excellent guide from OTG. It's worth doing this add on as you don't spend much time in Cairo, and you go to three very different places. I'm so glad that I decided to do this trip. It was just ace. If you're thinking about it too, you should probably just book it. And hopefully you get Amir as your guide.

Joyce Heitler (Google Reviewer)

I would give this tour...

09-May-2024

I would give this tour group no stars if possible. The tour was not guaranteed but they did not inform me when I booked and they did not have enough people. Way after I booked they said I needed a doctors letter because I was over 70. Also way after booking I was informed I needed travel insurance. They knew my age when I booked. They would not refund my tour even though it was 4 months away.

Simla Patel (Google Reviewer)

This company doesn’t deserve even...

26-Nov-2024

This company doesn’t deserve even 1 star. I would not recommend this company. There are hidden fees which means the cost of the holiday ends up being very expensive. We recently came back from our trip to China where it is not customary to tip in restaurants & hotel staff. Yet we had to make a payment upfront in cash to to the guide for more than £100. The hotel service was appalling. Just think £100 from each person. The trip was suppose to be a Tour yet we had to pay for all entrance fees. We complained about the poor condition of the hotels but no one responded to our emails to date. The after sales service is non existent. Do not use this company. Far far too expensive for what you get. Not competitive at all. They messed up our booking; repeatedly asked for the same information. We spent so much time correcting their errors. Very difficult to get hold of anyone because they all work in S Africa or New Zealand. Absolute nightmare

Sarah Paterson (Google Reviewer)

Terrible tour of India. For...

27-Dec-2023

Terrible tour of India. For some reason On the Go hadn't realised that my room mate had booked her own room for the first night of tour. So the hotel in Delhi had tried to put me in her room after midnight, by wheeling in an extra bed. She went Crazy!! I then had to sit in hotel reception for hours. While the tour guide said he couldn't find me a room. Throughout the tour the guide consistently ask me and my room mate for money for my room, causing more friction between us. Don't book with this company had the worst experience ever. Go with Intrepid or G Adventure

brandy hoffman (Google Reviewer)

I had used them once...

09-Aug-2023

I had used them once before and loved them. I decided to try them again for a Baltic tour not knowing that they put me on another Tour group- Baltic vision. Loved that tour but was not impressed they marked up the cost for me over 100%. I understand taking some for yourself because of paperwork, but over double the cost everyone else paid on the tour. Just double check before you book with them that you’re not over paying.

1 Select your preferred date

Jan
2025 Feb
2025 Mar
2025 Apr
2025 May
2025 Jun
2025 Jul
2025 Aug
2025 Sep
2025 Oct
2025 Nov
2025 Dec
2025

Tuesday - Monday

Jan 21, 2025 - Feb 03, 2025

~~$4735~~ $4510 (USD)