Wilderness Travel 2018 Catalog of Adventures

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

HIGHLIGHTS • Explore the wild landscapes of the Atacama Desert • Enjoy fascinating Chiloé Island, with its lush rainforests and ancient culture— voted Best Place to Visit by Travel + Leisure • Experience the best trails in Paine National Park, with hikes to the foot of Paine Grande and into the Valle Frances • Discover Chilean culture, enjoy dinner with a local family, savor Chilean feasts including a traditional Patagonia asado DETAILS • 12-day trip begins in San Pedro de Atacama and ends in Punta Arenas • 11 nights hotels and lodges • All meals included

We bring you to Patagonia’s Paine National Park, mystical Chiloé Island, and the immense Atacama Desert on this great Chile adventure.

From the stunning Atacama, the driest desert in the world, to mystical Chiloé Island and the soaring granite towers of Paine National Park, our north-to-south journey brings you to the most fascinating landscapes, habitats, and cultures in Chile. We’ll hike the high desert landscapes of the Atacama, with its hot springs, sparkling salt flats, and turquoise lagoons, discover the deep temperate rainforests and wild Pacific beaches of the Chiloé archipelago, and in Patagonia, we explore famed Paine National Park for breathtaking hikes in a granite and glacier wonderland. Along the way, we’ll taste the cuisines and wines of each region, meet artisans, share a meal with a local family, and discover the cultural heart of Chile. moonscapes of the Atacama Desert bring us through the Valle de la Luna, with an unforgettable sunset in this realm of strange rock formations and pink-streaked mountains. We head up to the Puritama mineral spring, with time for a soak, and across the vast Salar de Atacama, where crystalline blue lagoons attract three different species of flamingos. One evening, we enjoy dinner hosted by an Atacama family. Days 1-3 Atacama Desert / San Pedro de Atacama Our hikes in the spellbinding

DATES Dec 3-14, 2017 Mar 5-16, 2018

Nov 26-Dec 10* Mar 4-15, 2019

*Special Event, see page 16

TRIP COST FALL 2017 / SPRING 2018 $6995 (10-15 members) $7495 (7-9 members) Single supplement: $1125 Internal airfare: $580 (subject to change) TRIP LEVEL 1 2 3 + 4 5 6 7 10 hiking days on moderate to steep trails, 2-7 hours a day, altitudes in the Atacama between 8,000-13,100 feet

Days 4-7 Puerto Varas / Volcán Osorno / Chiloé Island Chile’s Lake District is renowned for its lush farmlands, lakes, and snow-capped volcanoes. We hike to a magnificent lookout point on snow-capped Volcán Osorno (8,701'), with its perfect symmetrical cone. Heading to Chiloé Island, we discover a culture with myths and legends rooted in the traditions of the native Mapuche people. Here we enjoy great birding (including two species of penguins), hike on golden beaches and in rainforests, learn about the blend of indigenous and European culture, and savor a curanto, Chile’s traditional feast slow-roasted in an earthen pit. Days 8-12 Patagonia / Paine National Park The striking granite towers of the Paine Massif are the icon of Paine National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of dazzling peaks, glaciers, rivers, and lakes. Our hiking adventures bring us into the classic Valle Frances, one of the most beautiful natural settings on the planet, for amazing views of Nordenskjold Lake and the Paine glaciers, and through the native forests of the Ascencio Valley right to the foot of these near-vertical monoliths. Depart on Day 12 via Punta Arenas.

HARRY LICHTMAN

FOR MORE DETAILS ON OUR LATIN AMERICA TRIPS, VISIT WWW.WILDERNESSTRAVEL.COM/TRIPS/LATIN-AMERICA 125