2020 Wilderness Travel Catalog of Adventures

Chile from Top to Bottom THE ATACAMA DESERT, CHILOÉ ISLAND, AND PATAGONIA

From the high and wild Atacama Desert to the temperate rainforests of Chiloé Island and soaring peaks of Paine National Park, our north-to-south journey explores a dazzling array of Chilean landscapes and cultures. We’ll hike the epic realm of the Atacama, with its cardon cactus and flamingo-thronged lakes, and on Chiloé Island, follow lush coastal trails to a Magellanic penguin colony. In Patagonia, at the bottom tip of Chile, we’ll hit the trail surrounded by the mountain majesty of Paine

National Park, home to the twisted granite spires and horns of the Paine Massif. Throughout the journey, we’ll sample Chile’s best wines, meet local artisans, and discover the wonders of this wildly diverse country. Days 1-3 Atacama Desert / San Pedro de Atacama From the centuries-old town of San Pedro de Atacama, our hikes in the moonscapes of the Atacama Desert bring us through the Valle de la Luna, where we’ll watch an unforgettable sunset in this realm of bizarre rock formations and pink-streaked mountains. One evening, we enjoy dinner hosted by a local Atacama family. We head up to Puritama Hot Springs and across the vast Salar de Atacama, the largest salt flat in Chile, where crystal-blue lagoons attract three different species of flamingo. The stargazing here is extraordinary! Days 4-6 Puerto Varas / Volcán Osorno / Chiloé Island Chile’s volcano-dotted Lake District is dramatic. Snow-capped Volcán Osorno (8,701') rises like an apparition above Lake Llanquihue, and we’ll hike through an ancient Valdivian temperate forest.

CHRIS MATTISON

A ferry brings us to mystical Chiloé Island, famous for myths and legends rooted in the traditions of the native Mapuche people. Here we enjoy great birding (including two species of penguin), explore wild beaches and temperate rainforests, see the unique World Heritage-listed wooden churches, and savor a traditional curanto feast, slow-roasted in an earthen pit. Days 7-11 Patagonia / Paine National Park The striking granite towers of the Paine Massif are the icon of Paine National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of stone carved by ice. We’ve selected perfect hikes to show you the park’s beauty, including one to Mirador Condor to see soaring condors and stunning views over Lago Pehoe and the Paine massif, and to lovely Laguna Azul, which has one of the best views of Paine’s sheer towers. Depart on Day 11 via Punta Arenas.

HIGHLIGHTS • Explore the wild landscapes of the Atacama Desert • Discover fascinating Chiloé Island, with its temperate rainforests and Mapuche culture • Hike beautiful trails in Paine National Park for views of the famed granite towers • Enjoy dinner with a local family, savor Chilean feasts including a traditional Patagonian asado DETAILS • 11-day trip begins in San Pedro de Atacama and ends in Punta Arenas • 10 nights hotels and lodges • All meals included except 2 dinners

Experience the great deserts of Chile’s north, Chiloé Island, and world-renowned Paine National Park—all on one trip! PHOTO: MIKE CRANE

DATES Feb 16-26, 2020 Mar 23-Apr 2 Nov 24-Dec 4

Feb 14-24, 2021

Mar 15-25

TRIP COST FALL 2019 / SPRING 2020

$7695 (13-15 members) $8095 (10-12 members) $8595 (6-9 members) Single supplement: $1495 Internal airfare: $700 (subject to change) TRIP LEVEL 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 hiking days on moderate to steep trails, 2-4 hours a day, altitudes in the Atacama between 8,000-13,100 feet

ALEX ROBINSON

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LATINAMERICA@WILDERNESSTRAVEL.COM