Chile: Art, Atacama, and Islands

Glossy skyscrapers and Andean peaks greet you as you fly into Santiago, the first stop on your family trip to Chile. Once in the care of your guide, stretch your legs on an afternoon city walking tour. Awaken the senses in the bustling Mercado Central, explore art-filled alleys in Barrio Lastarria, and embrace the view from the summit of Cerro Santa Lucia. Then, wind down at the chic Le Rêve Boutique Hotel in Providencia.

A morning flight lands you on Easter Island, where you’ll spend the next few days fully immersing yourself in local lore, culture, and wild landscapes. Each day promises new wonders: breezy hikes to ancient archeological sites, snorkeling in sea caves, bike and horseback rides over volcanic landscapes, visits to the quarries that created the Rapa Nui Moai, or simply admiring the sunset from Tahai beach. In between, luxuriate in island-sourced meals and wellness experiences at Nayara Hangaroa. 

Jet back to the mainland, where a relaxed evening at the Holiday Inn Santiago Airport, set just steps from the terminal, awaits. You’re off again the next morning, so take some time to rest, or head into the city for some solo exploring.

Touch down in the Atacama, a Martian expanse of crunchy salt flats, lunar valleys, and red-rock canyons. With several days of exploration ahead, choose from a range of activities: misty mornings at the El Tatio Geysers, scaling otherworldly trails in Valle de La Luna, and seeking Rainbow Valley’s hidden petroglyphs. Each evening, take in the crystal-clear night skies – with the option for expert-led stargazing sessions – before retiring to Tierra Atacama’s plush rooms. 

Trade the Atacama’s natural colors for the manmade art of Valparaiso, Chile’s free-spirited city by the sea. A quick flight to Santiago and drive through wine country brings you to this artsy hub, where funicular elevators creak up and down steep hills. On a Valparaiso street art tour, your guide whisks you through a maze of stairs and alleys past murals, stencils, and paintings. A restorative evening admiring the view from the hillside Casa Higueras wraps up the day.

A scenic drive past fields of vines and rolling hills takes you back to Santiago for your departure flight. Nearly two weeks has flown past in a flurry of wild landscapes, captivating cultural encounters, and shared family moments in some of Chile’s most inspiring places. What’s next? Either home to fondly remember the trip, or on to the next adventure.