Chile | The Wonders of Chile: from Atacama to Rapa Nui with Duquesne Alumni and Friends

Depart the U.S. on an overnight flight to Santiago.

Upon arrival this morning at Santiago International Airport, meet your guide and travel to the hotel, with an early check-in for time to rest. Later this afternoon, at approximately 4:00pm, meet for a welcome briefing followed by an informal talk on Chile's past and present and then head out to get a view of the cityscape followed by dinner at a local restaurant.

Today, explore the Pacific coastal city of Valparaíso. Located about one hour and a half away from Santiago, Valparaíso is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its cobblestone streets, historic buildings, and funiculars along sloping hills. This city boasts a vibrant arts scene, and we will have the opportunity to visit the home or studio of various artists who are available to talk about their work and the life of an artist in the city. Afterward, enjoy lunch in a lovely local restaurant on the bay and return to Santiago later in the afternoon. Dinner tonight is on your own.

This morning after breakfast, travel to the airport for the flight to Calama, and then travel to San Pedro de Atacama. . Check in at the hotel and have lunch and time to relax. All rooms have views of the Atacama Desert and Licancabur Volcano. This evening, have dinner and learn about the at-your-service options for exploring Atacama at your own, individual pace. The staff will explain the many options at your disposal, both full- and half-day adventures exploring Atacama's five zones, each with its own set of unique geographic, cultural, and biospheric characteristics.

Spend the day exploring Atacama and its surrounding area, one of Chile's most enigmatic territories. The diversity of the landscape is one of the most popular attractions. A few of the experiences to choose from include riding horses through the red land plains and huge sand dunes, characteristic of one of the driest deserts in the world, visiting turquoise lagoons that are located more than 13,123 feet in the highlands (altiplano), walking through geysers, and following green riverbeds in an area where water is a limited resource. There are rides and hikes with different lengths and difficulty levels available.

Today, spend the final day of at-your-service adventures exploring Atacama. In the evening, experience why Chile is considered one of the foremost places on earth to observe space; the dryness and the remoteness of the Atacama Desert are unique in the world. Chile and, specifically, Atacama have some of the largest and most sophisticated observatories in the world. After dinner this evening, enjoy the opportunity to star gaze with some telescopes while hearing about the science behind it all, as well as the cosmovision of Atacama's indigenous people.

This morning, depart for the airport in Calama and board the flight to Santiago. Upon arrival in Santiago, detour from the city and head on a short drive south to the Maipo Valley, one of the most important wine-producing regions of Chile. Here, we will stay at the Hotel Casa Real, located on the Santa Rita Estate, formerly the summerhouse of the winery's founder. Enjoy a light lunch and a tour of the winery to learn about the property, its history, and its wine. The estate boasts beautiful gardens and is a short walk from the Museo Andino, a museum that has an extensive collection of pre-Columbian artifacts. Later, attend a talk with Ulrich Achermann, a local broadcast journalist, on Chile today, followed by dinner in the estate's dining room.

This morning, early departure for flight to Rapa Nui. Also known as Easter Island, Rapa Nui is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for the archaeological treasure of more than 1,000 Moai stone statues that were created roughly between the years 800 and 1200 by the Rapa Nui people. Rapa Nui is also one of the most remote islands on earth, located approximately 2,000 miles from the mainland. A fire swept through Rapa Nui in early October of 2022, damaging some of the Moai statues; however, many archaeological treasures were fortunately preserved. In Rapa Nui, enjoy the hospitality and extraordinary beauty of Explora Lodge. Located in a quiet and peaceful area of the island, close to the main town of Hanga Roa, Explora Lodge has stunning views of the ocean and surrounding countryside. Tonight, have dinner at the hotel.

Today, begin the exploration of Rapa Nui. Choose between a full-day tour with lunch outdoors, and the half-day options with lunch back at the lodge between experiences. Some of the highlights of this adventure include the archaeological sites of Ahu Vinapu, Orongo, the stone village and ceremonial center, and Rano Kau Volcano. These are all within a short drive from the main harbor town of Hanga Roa. Ahu Vinapu is made up of two ruined Ahus. Ahu, which means "sacred place," refers to the rectangular stone platform on which the famous Moai (enormous, 100-ton basalt statues) were often erected. Further along the coastal road towards the Rano Kau Volcano, adjacent to its crater, is the ancient ceremonial site of Orongo, where there are many petroglyphs. Another key archaeological site is Ahu Akivi, a particularly sacred place on the island and one of the most iconic; here, one can see the massive seven stone Moai (or large heads) overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Tonight is the first night of the Tapati Rapa Nui festival, the most important cultural event of the year on the island. Lively musical and dance performances take place each evening, and your driver will bring you into town for the next two evenings to experience the sights, sounds, and tastes of this exhilarating tribute to the ancestral traditions of the Rapa Nui.

Today, enjoy another full day exploring Rapa Nui and enjoying Explora Lodge's facilities and hospitality. Other highlights that could be on the program for today include Ahu Vaihu, Ahu Akahanga, Rano Raraku, Ahu Tongariki, Ahu Te Pito Kura, Anakena Beach, Ahu Nau Nau, and Ahu Ature Huki. Seventy standing sentinels, embedded up to their shoulders in grass on the south slope of the volcanic crater Rano Raraku, lead the way to the quarry or "nursery" inside of the impressive crater rim. This is where the Moai were cut from volcanic tuff, and around 150 figures remain here in all stages of completion. Here, explore the Ahu of some of the nearby Moai, and check out the holes in the crater rim that were used to maneuver the statues. A short distance away, is Anakena Beach, the legendary landing place of the island's founder Hotu Matu'a, which is excellent for swimming and relaxing.

This morning, spend time at leisure to enjoy the Explora Lodge or venture into town before heading to the airport for the flight back to Santiago. Upon arrival, travel to the hotel. Tonight, have dinner on your own. The hotel restaurant is open until midnight and room service is available 24-hours.

For the final day in Chile, journey outside of Santiago to the heart of the Aconcagua Valley. Here, visit Quintessence, one of the largest Alpaca breeding farms in the world, and witness every step in the operation of wool production. From the alpacas grazing to the fabrication of the wool, everything is done with sustainability in mind. Afterward, continue to El Escorial winery, a long-established boutique family winery, for a farewell lunch. Travel back to the hotel in Santiago, with time to rest and freshen up before heading to the airport for the flight back home.

Arrive home.