The key moments
This trip to Chile will allow you a total immersion in the Chilean way of life!
After visiting Valparaíso and Santiago, you go to Quinquen.
Quinquen valley is located at the southern mountains, close to Lonquimay. Quinquen Pehuenche community invites you to know more about their culture and to live like them in this pristine mountain valley, surrounded by thousand-year-old Araucaria forests, volcanos and Galletué and Icalma lakes.
- Private driver and English-speaking guide
- Visit of the city of Santiago
- La Matriz Valparaiso, UNESCO World Heritage
- Quiquen valley
- Traditions and ancestral know-how mapuche
Detailed itinerary
Day 1 – Vegas Hotel
Overnight at the Vegas Hotel, or in an establishment of equal category depending on availability.
Included: room and breakfast
Day 2 – The Matriz Valparaiso – Visit of Valparaiso
Today, early in the morning, you will take public transport to the bus station, then a bus to Valparaiso (2 hours), the second largest city in Chile.
Valparaiso, a UNESCO World Heritage Site – a city on the edge of a cliff. Our local guide will be waiting for you to visit the oldest part of the city with a local poet. Interesting characters and a magnificent view of the colorful hills await you.
You will begin the journey in the founding sector of Valparaiso, visiting the oldest temple of the city, the church of La Matriz. We will then move on to the « Social Dining Room 421« , where we will learn about the social work done by neighbors and volunteers in support of homeless brothers.
Then we will climb the stairs of the hill of Santo Domingo, which preserves innumerable secrets of architecture and heritage and which is the first inhabited of the city. You will arrive at « La Chinita », who will welcome you to her home for lunch and discuss pleasant life in the neighborhood of Buenos Aires.
We will go to downtown Valparaiso through the heritage area of the hill. In the company of the local guide, we will continue our walk by enjoying the street art that highlights Valparaiso as a bohemian city and cultural center of the country. Subsequently, a visit to the museum of the house of Pablo Neruda, La Sebastiana, is organized (depends on the day).
Included: transport, English-speaking guide, local guide, lunch, room and breakfast
Day 3: Santiago City Tour – Bus
The tour begins in the traditional centre of Santiago, walking among heritage buildings such as La Moneda, Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral, etc. Afterwards, we will go to the emblematic Gabriela Mistral Cultural Center, passing through Cerro Santa Lucía with the best views of Santiago, Barrio Lastarria, Parque Forestal and the Museo de Bellas Artes. This neighbourhood, full of art, shops and alternative cafes, has the most beautiful architectures in the city.
Finally, the Barrio Bellas Artes is connected to Cerro San Cristóbal and the Museo Casa la Chascona* by the poet Pablo Neruda.
Afterwards, you are already in Barrio Bellavista, a very known bohemian neighbourhood in Santiago, so you are in the best place to eat typically Chilean food or try pisco or wine.
Duration: 4 hours
* The guide leaves the passengers at the Chascona Museum and does not accompany them, because there is an audio guide. Entrance fees not included ($7.000 CLP). Not opened on Mondays.
Bus in a confortable reclinable flat seat from Santiago to Lonquimay (12 hours).
Included: excursion , English-speaking guide, bus ticket, transport
Day 4: Transfer from Lonquimay to Quinquen – Kelu Trufken
Private transfer from Lonquimay bus station to the Pehuenche community of Quinquen (1 hour).
With Alex, our local guide, we will go into the mountains and ancient forests of the community, listening to stories of Pehuenche people and their relationship with nature.
Duration: 2:30 hours / 2 hours walk, Difficulty: Medium
Try a delicious typical lunch made by the community.
On our way back, we will enjoy an unforgettable conversation with one of the Elders of the community, while we drink a hot mate.
Before going to rest, enjoy a dinner with the company of the local family where you will staying. You will sleep in a home stay among the community.
Included: transport, excursion, local guide, English-speaking guide, lunch, dinner, bedroom and breakfast
Day 5: Mountain life – Los Condores Trail
We will wake up early to do farm work: feed animals, collect chicken eggs and walk around learning about the typical Pehuenche livelihood.
Watching the landscape conformed by Galletué Lake and Batea Mahuida Volcano is a real spectacle. With our local guide, we will hike through this light trail and enjoy the wonderful views and stories about the area.
Duration: 2:30 hours / 2 hours walk, Difficulty: Medium
Included: English-speaking guide, excursion, local guide, transport, lunch, dinner, bedroom and breakfast
Day 6: Ad Mahuida Trail – Weaving and Spinning Workshop
This trail has been specially prepared to see the forest and the spiritual beings that dwell in these mountains. Araucaria, lenga and ñirre trees will accompany us through this beautiful hike.
Duration: 2:30 hours / 2 hours walk, Difficulty: Medium
Try a delicious typical lunch made by the community.
We will participate in a wool spinning and weaving workshop guided by a woman of the community. The wool here is completely natural and they try to use only natural fibres for dyeing.
Included: english speaking guide , transport , excursion , local guide , lunch , dinner , bedroom and breakfast
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Day 7: Lifkan Mahuida Trail – Transfer from Quinquen to Lonquimay – Bus
As a grand finale, we will traverse through this trail that will take us through Lenga trees forests and we will get a unique view of the Quinquén Valley.
Duration: 2:30 hours / 2 hours walk, Difficulty: Medium
Try a delicious typical lunch made by the community. Private transfer from Quinquen to Lonquimay bus station (1 hour) and from there the bus in a confortable reclinable flat seat from Lonquimay to Santiago (12 hours).
Included: English-speaking guide, transport, excursion, local guide, lunch, bus ticket
Day 8 – Vegas Hotel
Overnight at the Vegas Hotel, or in a hotel of equal category depending on availability.
Included: room and breakfast
Budget
Our travel programs are given as an example, to inspire you and give you ideas.
Then we create with you together the trip of your dreams. Depending on the duration of your trip, we advise you on the sites to visit, you choose your accommodation, the means of transport and if you want a guide who accompanies you during your discovery of Chile.
Contact us by email at info@phimavoyages.com or by our contact form. We get back to you within 24 hours.
This program includes
- English-speaking guide and local guide as indicated
- Private transfers
- Entrances for excursions as indicated
- Accommodation in 3-star hotels in a double room or a bed and breakfast, including breakfast
- Meal as indicated
- Personalized assistance during the trip 24 hours a day
- A donation to the WINTA (Global Alliance for Indigenous Tourism) organization, with which we have a strategic alliance of collaboration to strengthen the global tourism network.
This program does not include
- Food not specified in your program
- Alcoholic beverages
- Expenses for souvenir purchases
