Stepping into Chile’s History: 10-Day Chilean Excursion

Moon Valley in Chile's Atacama Desert

What to expect on this itinerary

On this historically based 10-day adventure through Chile, you will uncover much of the history of this cultural wonderland. From the enigmatic stone statues of Easter Island to the colorful streets of Valparaiso, Chile is known as a country that is steeped in history and culture. Gaze up at the night sky with endless stars in the Atacama Desert, admire panoramic views of Santiago and the gorgeous Andes Mountains, and trek through Easter Island’s volcanic hills.

Countries Visited

Chile

Places Visited

Easter Island, San Pedro de Atacama, Santiago, Valparaíso

Suggested Duration

10 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Easter Island – Enjoy a Cultural Performance

You will arrive at the airport on Easter Island, where you will be met by your private driver and transferred to your luxurious accommodation in the heart of Hanga Roa. Upon your arrival, you will have time to settle in to your elegant suite and freshen up before exploring the town and Anakena Beach on your own. In the evening, you will meet your personal guide in the hotel lobby to begin your first cultural exploration of your vacation. Your first evening on Easter Island will begin with a cultural performance of traditional Rapa Nui song and dance that will be accompanied by a gourmet meal of local delicacies and Chilean wine.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Tour
Dinner
Day 2

Easter Island – Sunrise at Ahu Tongariki

Day 3

Easter Island – Snorkeling and Diving

Day 4

Easter Island – Private Island Tour

Day 5

San Pedro de Atacama – Moon Valley

Day 6

San Pedro de Atacama – Desert Sandboarding

Day 7

Santiago – Cultural Show with Dinner

Day 8

Santiago – One of Santiago’s Most Illustrious Museums

Day 9

Santiago – Valparaiso and Maipo Valley

Day 10

Santiago – Departure

Trip Highlights

  • Uncover the cultural history of the ancient Rapa Nui civilization with a live performance and gourmet meal
  • Marvel at the mysterious Moai statues of Easter Island as you watch the sunrise at Ahu Tongariki
  • Delight in a phenomenal trek through Easter Island’s volcanic hills and admire panoramic views over the island
  • Relax under a sky full of endless stars on a private stargazing tour in the Atacama Desert
  • Immerse yourself in the unique landscape of the Atacama Desert’s Moon Valley on an enthralling excursion
  • Explore Santiago’s historical sites and neighborhoods before visiting the infamous home of Pablo Neruda
  • Discover the fascinating history of South America’s many civilizations at one of Santiago’s top museums
  • Witness the charming street art of Valparaiso and sample the Maipo Valley’s finest vintages

Detailed Description

Imagine gazing out over the Pacific Ocean at sunset as you indulge in a Chilean meal on Easter Island. You will travel backward through time as you delight in a private tour of Santiago’s Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art before sipping on Chile’s highest quality wines and strolling through the colorful streets of Valparaiso, which are steeped in cultural street art. On this historically based, 10-day tour of Chile, you will immerse yourself in the ancient history and culture of this fascinating country.

Your adventure will begin on the enigmatic Easter Island, which is located off of Chile’s western coast in the heart of the South Pacific Ocean. Here, you will traverse the entirety of the island, uncover its hidden treasures, and explore the ancient culture that characterizes it. By visiting the Ahu Tongariki, you will have the wonderful opportunity to experience the world-famous ancient Moai statues at sunrise. Afterward, you will delight in a cultural performance of traditional Rapa Nui music and dance that will be accompanied by a delicious meal.

From Easter Island, you will fly back to Chile’s mainland, and you will arrive in the splendid Atacama Desert. Here, you will explore the desert’s most unique sites, such as the Valle de la Luna, where you will watch the sunset. In the evening, you will delight in a private stargazing tour that will allow you to discover the local myths of the desert sky constellations. Finally, you will arrive in Santiago, which is the stunning capital of Chile. Here, you will experience the modern-day culture of the country and its intriguing history as you traverse Santiago on a private city tour. From Santiago, you will enjoy an excursion to Valparaiso and the luscious Maipo Valley. On your historically based, 10-day tour of Chile, you will experience much of the best of this eclectic country while also uncovering its deep history.

Starting Price

$4,100 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

The starting price is based on travel during the low season for a minimum of two travelers staying in shared 3-star accommodations. Please inquire for a custom trip quote based on your travel preferences and travel dates.

4.8

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 34 reviews

Chile Travel Review: Easter Island, History, Culture, 19-Day Trip

The Zicasso travel agent and his team of experts worked with me to craft a memorable trip throughout continental Chile and Easter Island. My husband and I were able to enjoy our vacation knowing that all the details – local guides, accommodations, entry tickets, domestic flights, etc – were handled. This was our third international excursion through Zicasso and its travel partners, and we will definitely use Zicasso in the future.

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Chile Trip Review: Atacama Desert, San Pedro, Puerto Natales, Torres del Paine National Park, 9 Nights
"My trip was everything we wished for. Zicasso’s tour operators mapped out a wonderful itinerary, with tours that were interesting and scenic."

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Chile Vacation Review: Santiago, Patagonia, W Trek, Atacama Desert, 12-Day Tour

Overall, everything was great. We had wonderful tour guides who were knowledgeable and helpful. There was a nationwide power outage while we were in Santiago, which was a little scary, but our tour guide was very helpful with this. 

I think my one complaint (which is probably more something we should've taken into consideration while reviewing the itinerary) was that the agenda was pretty jam-packed, leaving little time for rest, especially after the W trek, which was amazing, but tiring. I think I would've had a little more downtime after that. Otherwise, everything was fabulous. We appreciate it!

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Chile Vacation Review: Rapa Nui, Torres del Paine, Millahue Valley, Wine Tasting, 12-Night Trip

We had a great time on our trip to Chile. The itinerary the Zicasso trip planner suggested was wonderful. We especially enjoyed staying at the lodges in Rapa Nui and Torres del Paine. The level of service and all of their guides were great.

All of the arrangements the trip planner made for us were on time, dependable, efficient, and enjoyable. Everything went as planned.

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Chile, Argentina Travel Review: Winery, 14-Day Trip

This was our first organized trip through an agency in decades. We found it a nice way to personalize and structure our two-week trip to a new continent. All of the people we were in contact with were courteous and well-informed, and transported us safely to our destinations.

Overall, we felt the services in Chile were more organized and informative than in Argentina. Communications were also better, with more heads-up and outreach. Tours were paced well and we loved the personalized, individual touches.

Our only disappointment came at the end, when no driver arrived to take us to the Buenos Aires airport. We had to call an Uber and Zicasso's tour agency did reimburse us.

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Chile Travel Review: Santiago, Patagonia, Valparaiso, Street Art, Hiking, Local Cuisine, 8 Days

Zicasso's travel agency did a great job listening to us and planning a custom trip! We had excellent guides everywhere we visited and I really felt like we had a curated trip that met our particular tastes. They even gave us information for self-guided tours and restaurants for the days in Santiago when we didn't want a guide. Highly recommended!

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

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