chile easter island moais

Few landscapes in the world can offer such strikingly beautiful natural scenery as Chile. This 14-day journey will take you to the pristine Azul lakes and icy rivers of the country’s Lake District, as well as further south to Patagonia – whose stunning volcanoes and awe-inspiring glaciers have made this the “the mysterious land of fire & ice.” But by no means will we forget the historically captivating, culturally enigmatic, and scenically magical Easter Island, whose unexplainable giant Moai statues continue to evoke a sense of mystery and isolation in even the most experienced travelers. Rounding out your Chilean experience, this tour will also take you to the culturally rich capital city of Santiago de Chile and other nearby cities whose neoclassical heritage is interspersed with a refined sense of modernization.  All and all, a travel experience that you most assuredly will never forget.

Highlights

Eastern Island, Puerto Varas, Chiloe Island, Penguin Colony, Torres del Paine, Trekking Base Torres, Grey navigation.

Few landscapes in the world can offer such strikingly beautiful natural scenery as Chile. This 14-day journey will take you to the pristine Azul lakes and icy rivers of the country’s Lake District, as well as further south to Patagonia – whose stunning volcanoes and awe-inspiring glaciers have made this the “the mysterious land of fire & ice.” But by no means will we forget the historically captivating, culturally enigmatic, and scenically magical Easter Island, whose unexplainable giant Moai statues continue to evoke a sense of mystery and isolation in even the most experienced travelers. Rounding out your Chilean experience, this tour will also take you to the culturally rich capital city of Santiago de Chile and other nearby cities whose neoclassical heritage is interspersed with a refined sense of modernization.  All and all, a travel experience that you most assuredly will never forget.

Highlights

Eastern Island, Puerto Varas, Chiloe Island, Penguin Colony, Torres del Paine, Trekking Base Torres, Grey navigation.

chile easter island moais

Journey to the “End of the Earth” Itineraries

chile easter island moais

Santiago – Puerto Mont

AM: Upon your arrival in Santiago, you will be assisted at the airport for you connecting domestic flight to the city of Puerto Montt – the heart of Chile’s Lakes District. You will, in turn, be met and welcomed at the domestic airport and driven to your hotel in the town of Puerto Varas, where you will have dinner and spend the night.

AM: After breakfast at your hotel, we will begin our expedition in Vicente Perez Rosales National Park and a full day of trekking through “Desolation Pass.” Early departure from Puerto Varas, driving on the southern shore of Lake Llanquihue. Passing Ensenada and Petrohué, we’ll start our trek up the Osorno Volcano and to the La Picada area. On the way, you will have spectacular views of Todos Los Santos Lake, area volcanoes, and the vast Andean mountain range. After about a 3-hour upward walk, we’ll take some time to rest and enjoy our picnic lunch to regain our energy while enjoying the surroundings.

AM: Breakfast at hotel. Private excursion visiting the northern part of Chiloe Island and the Gulf of Ancud. We will get to know its history, customs and legends, and see one of its fortresses. After traveling across the Chacao Channel for 30 minutes – observing a great variety of birds and sea lions – we will reach the village of Chacao, visit its church and have a look at its colorful wooden houses. We will continue our journey to Caulin, a characteristic cove whose economy is based on seafood, seaweed and oysters. This is also a privileged locale because of the large number of migratory birds that come here. We will then travel to Puñihuil Bay, where a colony of Magellanic and Humboldt penguins can be seen during the summer.

AM: Breakfast at your hotel. In the morning, we will visit the Saltos de Petrohue waterfalls, and after lunch drive to the Puerto Montt airport for our flight to the Patagonian city of Punta Arenas. After being welcomed at the Punta Arenas Airport, you will be driven to your hotel in the town of Puerto Natales, where you will spend the night.

AM: Early in the morning, we will meet at the dock to board a catamaran that will take us to Mount Balmaceda, the origin of the Balmaceda and Serrano glaciers. During the 3-hour trip across the Ultima Esperanza Fjord, you can observe the historical sites, wildlife and geography that characterize Patagonia. Finally, we will arrive in Puerto Toro, in Bernado O'Higgins National Park (the biggest in the country), where we'll have our lunch. After visiting Lake Serrano, we will ride a zodiac boat up the Serrano River to Pueblo Rio Serrano. From there, a van will take us to Las Torres and drop us off at the hotel.

AM: Traveling by van through the national park, we will make stops at Nordenskjold Lake, Pehoe Lake and the Salto Grande waterfalls. In the afternoon, on board the Grey II ship, we will ride for three hours on this magic lake surrounded by icebergs. As the boat pulls right up in front of the glacier, you can stand on the deck sipping your pisco sour served with glacial ice! Transfer back to Hotel.

AM: We will begin trekking to the Ascencio Valley, where you will see the river of the same name running wildly past the Refugio Chileno lodge. After a quick stop there, we will continue through a forest of the native Lenga (Beech) trees until reaching the glacial moraine. From there, it’s a 1-hour trek to the top, where the towers seem to appear from out of nowhere! This trek is spectacular, as you get to view the three pink granite towers rising above the glacial lake that made the park famous. (7 hours round trip, 16 km trek). Return to Hotel.

AM: At 8:00 we will be picked up at your hotel and travel by van through the national park, with a stop at the Salto Grande waterfall, cross Lake Pehoe by catamaran and then trek to French Valley. This valley — the most beautiful in the park, and one of the most unique in the world — possesses an amphitheater of granite wall spires and is surrounded by hanging glaciers (you can even see and hear the ice calving off at various intervals). There are amazing views throughout this trek; and the further you hike into the valley, the better they become! On the return journey, you will notice the extraordinary turquoise color of Lake Pehoe (meaning “hidden lake” in the indigenous Tehuelche language). The trek takes 6-8 hours, depending on how far into the valley we go along the 24 km. route. We will then cross back over Lake Pehoe by catamaran to return to the hotel.

AM: In the morning, we will drive back to Punta Arenas for a noon flight to Santiago de Chile. Upon our arrival in Santiago, you will be taken to your hotel for the night.

AM: Breakfast at the hotel. Today you will enjoy a full-day tour of the coastal cities of Viña del Mar and Valparaiso, driving through the Curacavi and Casablanca valleys. In Viña del Mar, known as the “Garden City,” we will visit the Quinta Vergara Amphitheater and the ocean-side San Martin and Peru avenues. You will also be taken past a beautiful clock laid out in flowers. Continuing on to Valparaiso, you can admire the colorful traditional neighborhoods set back in the hills of this port city. We will also visit Victory Square, the Yugoslav and Atkinson corridors, and Sotomayor square, return to Santiago for the night.

AM: In the morning, you will be driven to the airport for your Easter Island flight (LA841 10:30 – 14:05). After being met and welcomed at the airport, you will be driven to your hotel. After settling in, you will be taken on a half-day tour of the sacred ceremonial sites of Ahu Akivi, Vinapu and Puna Pau, where you can witness some of the island’s perplexing Moai statues. Return to your hotel.

AM: Full-day tour of Rapa Nui National Park, visiting the Akahanga, Rano Raraku, Tongariki, Te Pito Kura and the Anakena ceremonial sites. Hotel.

AM: Half-day tour of the Orongo Tahai and Rano Kau archeological sites. Transfer to the airport at noon for your flight back to Santiago. Upon your arrival in the capital city, you will be driven to your hotel.

AM: Full-day tour of Santiago de Chile (Wine Tour or City Tour). After dinner, you will be driven to the airport for your flight home.

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What Our Travelers Say About Us

Read verified reviews from travelers who have explored South America with us on Tripadvisor. Discover why our personalized journeys earn outstanding ratings.

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Nicole C profile picture
Nicole C
24 Junio 2025
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verificada
Wonderful trip We were so taken care of by Surtrek on a recent family trip to Equador and the Galapagos (travelers ages 8-77). Our Surtrek guide Maite worked with us to design a trip that focused on the items we wanted to be sure to see, and our timeframe and budget. Local guides and the boat tour she outsourced were wonderful. We felt so comfortable every step of the way for what would have otherwise been confusing travel. We definitely would recommend this company to others!
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Journey12963557311
25 Febrero 2025
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Unforgettable sensitive experience. Excellent!!!An unforgettable journey accompanied by the cordiality and professionalism of the company.Highly recommended, willing to repeat!
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Edgardo Marcelo M profile picture
Edgardo Marcelo M
25 Febrero 2025
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Beautiful experience. Wonderful places. Very well explained by guides of admirable training. All very well. There are no details to improve. The absolute good disposition and kindness were unbeatable. Makes you want to return soon
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Elsa M profile picture
Elsa M
25 Febrero 2025
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A dream trip The views was amazing. I took a lot of photos. Never seen animals, dream landscapes, amazing sea color. Luxury hotels, in Isabela by the beach, just steps from my room!!
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Nick V profile picture
Nick V
17 Diciembre 2024
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Ultimate fun, minimized hassles, amazing tour operation and travel agency I've had several people ask me what the highlight of our Quito, Ecuador and Galapagos Islands trip was, and frankly it's hard to pinpoint anyone thing so I tend to tell them: all 8 days! Our trip started with being greeted and picked up by our amazing travel agent, Maite. She was delightful from start to finish. Easy to communicate with via email, phone, and whatsapp. Maite consistently made sure we had what we needed. Surtrek supplied our driver, Christian, and our tour guide in Quito, Juan. Christian was a great driver. He knew the roads inside and out and we always felt safe. Juan probably knows everything about Ecuador -- and interestingly also Chicago! The time in Quito was fabulous. We enjoyed seeing the sites of the city and the cloud forest nearby. We ate delicious food and really had a treat with great weather. Maite and Christian got us to the airport for our trip to Galapagos and made sure we were smoothly through security. I've never had such personal service!Our time on the Horizon was fabulous. The staff onboard were top to bottom great. From the tour coordinator to the housekeeping to the culinary to the guide and of course the folks who drove the dinghys that got us to and from every activity. The food was top knotch with a lot of variety. The activities were fun and not overly strenuous, but also not lethargic. A nice balance.I was pleasantly surprised that in November there were no bugs, so no need for bug spray. Of course plenty of need for sun screen still! But the temps were great. High 70's and low 80's Fahrenheit. We saw basically everything in the Galapagos: penguins, blue and red footed boobies, frigate birds, owl, land and marine iguanas, sea lions everywhere, and of course the giant tortoises! During snorkeling we had [small and hammerhead] sharks in the water with us, sea lions in the water, schools of brilliant fish, and 1 amazing encounter with a sea turtle only feet away from my mask. It was breathtaking. Some folks say later in the summer is the best time because the water is clearer, but in our case the water was still quite clear and the animals were much closer to the surface, so it worked great. And the crew provided us with wet suits, so that helped with buoyancy and with warmth. After Galapagos we were shocked to have Maite and Christian back with us at the airport. We expected since our planned activities with Surtrek were done that we wouldn't see them again, but no they were there to meet us again and make sure we transited to our final hotel for a few hours sleep before the final trip home. It was a very pleasant surprise, and frankly just made it so much simpler than being "on our own".The coffee, the chocolate, the hummingbird sanctuary, all the beautiful sites. Dessert all the time. Just a really great trip!I'd go back to Ecuador in a heartbeat, and Surtrek is absolutely how I'd organize my trip to make it hassle free!
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TravelerPatch
20 Noviembre 2024
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Oh, were there to be Six Stars to give! My friend and I were looking to do a boat-based Galapagos trip, as well as a few days in and around Quito. Normally, I don't much use tour companies, preferring to plan the trip mostly on my own. However, for a few reasons, and after some research, we ended up working with Maite at Surtrek to plan this trip. It was, simply, fantastic.From the start (and all the various questions over email) to the end (meeting us at the airport as we were headed back to the U.S., Surtrek (and, specially, Maite - and our guide, Juan and driver, Christian) was 100% top-notch, full recommend, no-doubt-about-it wonderful.Assuming you can book a flight to and from Quito, the rest you will not have to worry about one bit. They will work with you to tailor a trip exactly to your liking (we had a grand time doing just what we hoped to do) and, while on that trip, you'll have a blast. The enthusiasm and passion with which Juan lead the tours was unsurpassed. Christian was a great driver and, also, such fun. Maite was a true joy with which to work.I know this sounds a bit over the top, but it's also accurate. I fully recommend - trust me - you won't be disappointed.
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Laura M
9 Noviembre 2024
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Galapagos, Machu Picchu, and Easter Island! Everything about this trip was absolutely amazing. Surtrek arranged and organized everything for us - it was one of the best travel experiences we've had. We had guides and drivers who took very good care of us and made sure we got to see and do absolutely everything. I would HIGHLY recommend Surtrek for any South American travels!
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Sangeetha M
21 Octubre 2024
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Amazing honeymoon trip to the Galapagos! We loved our trip with Surtrek! We worked closely with Fernando to plan our honeymoon to the Galapagos. We didn't know exactly what we wanted to do; whether it was a cruise or a land tour. But, we knew we needed to plan it relatively soon or the opportunity would slip through the cracks as we got busy with work travel and the holiday season that was approaching. Fernando provided several options to choose from with a combination of cruise and land options; all within our budget. He provided his insight and suggestions along the way, which was much appreciated! We ultimately chose a 7-day, 6-night luxury yacht with an additional 3 nights on the island to explore by ourselves. It took a little more than a week from the time I contacted Surtrek to the time we finalized/booked the trip, There was always someone to guide us every step of the way, which was also appreciated as neither of us spoke Spanish. All the logistics worked out perfectly. 10/10 would recommend!
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Donalyn R profile picture
Donalyn R
28 Septiembre 2024
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The trip of a lifetime!! We just had the most amazing adventure and it was all thanks to Maite at Surtrek! She patiently listened and crafted the very best experience for my husband and I! We visited Mindo, Cotopaxi, Baños, the Napo Cultural Center in the Amazon, and took a cruise around the Western Galapagos islands. From start to finish, Maite was so kind, so patient, and attended to my every question and concern. This was to be a celebratory vacation for many reasons, but principally our 25th wedding anniversary. Maite shared this with some of our hosts and we experienced beautiful celebrations at the restaurants and hotels we stayed at. It was the trip of a lifetime and we were so well cared for. When I expressed concerns regarding the reported unrest in Ecuador, Maite was able to reassure me that all would be well and that we would be very safe. We always felt very secure and comfortable. The private transportation and guides, the beauty and nature we witnessed, everything was amazing!! I cannot recommend Surtrek highly enough. We came home with over 1,800 pictures! Absolutely incredible! While you may be able to find cheaper options for travel, the quality of our experience with Surtrek was absolutely worth the price. If you want a quality experience, Surtrek is a fantastic choice!
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Trail777667
21 Julio 2024
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Surtrek is Awesome When my wife & I were planning a trip to Galapagos and Peru, we contacted 3 or 4 different travel agencies. I found Surtrek to be the most helpful, knowledgeable, flexible and offered competitive pricing. I dealt directly with Ligia at Surtrek and cannot find enough words to describe the friendly and superior services she provided us. We had specific cities and sights we wanted to visit and Ligia mapped out an excellent itinerary for us, including hotels, flights, restaurants and sightseeing. We visited Quito, Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca, in addition to an 8-day luxury cruise of the Galapagos islands. All arrangements, including flights, cruise, hotels, ground transportation, sight-seeing and guides were arranged by Surtrek. We were met at each arrival city by an expert guide and driver and the guide also helped us check in for our on-going flights at the end of each city tour. The guides were very knowledgeable, experienced and friendly, treated us very well and catered to our every need. Surtrek even helped secure reservations at high end restaurants in Lima, which are difficult to get unless booked well in advance. Surtrek made us alternate arrangements when one of our flights was canceled for mechanical reasons. Our trip lasted 18 days and all arrangements were flawless.To add a personal touch, Ligia treated us to a very nice lunch on our arrival in Quito. Thank you, Ligia, for making our Ecuador/Galapagos/Peru trip such a memorable, enjoyable and stress free one. I look forward to contacting you at Surtrek for our future South America travels.

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