The Wild Side of Chile

Day notes

Upon arrival at Santiago’s International Airport you will be warmly welcomed by a member of the &Beyond team. They will assist you through passport control and baggage claim to your waiting vehicle, and drive you to The Singular Santiago.

The Singular Santiago is a five-star luxury hotel located in the cosy Lastarria neighbourhood in the heart of downtown Santiago. The hotel was designed specifically to fit seamlessly into this iconic neighbourhood, which epitomises the pride and creativity of the people of Santiago.

This afternoon you can discover the stark contrasts between the older, more centrally located areas and the modern uptown areas during your city tour. The tour will be conducted in chronological order, allowing you to understand the origins of the city, and the urban sprawl over the past 200 years as Santiago morphed from a small town to a great metropolis. Highlights will include Cerro Santa Lucía, where the city was founded in 1542, the Plaza de Armas, the Central Market, Estación Mapocho (a former railway station), and La Moneda, the Presidential Palace. The second half of the tour will commence with a visit to the residential areas of Providencia and Ñuñoa, and the cosmopolitan financial districts of Las Condes, before reaching La Dehesa, where the city reaches the foothills of the Andes. This area offers a superb vantage point for a panoramic view of the city.

Dinner (not included) at a restaurant of your choice

Day notes

Lose yourself in Patagonian heritage and culture on this 101,000-hectare working estancia. On the slope of the imposing Cerro Guido, are houses built by the pioneers in 1920, a place of tranquillity and calm. The elegant décor of the 12 rooms is inspired by the original English style. They include oh so comfy featherbeds, private bathroom with shower, hairdryer, biodegradable toiletries, central heating, safe, Wi-Fi connection and views overlooking the colourful gardens.

Dine on spectacular three-course meals using organic produce from the estancia’s allotments, delicious lamb cooked in the traditional style ‘al palo’, and some of the finest of Chile’s wines being served.

This vast territory located at the southern end of the planet has a fascinating culture, simple and very connected with the land and with the climate. Explore the Estancia’s greenhouses and orchards and see the wonderful abundance of greens and vegetables that are ingeniously grown in this challenging climate. Visit the stables and accompany the Gauchos in the daily care of the horses; you will be able to participate in different tasks such as brushing, saddling or feeding these magnificent animals. Just as greenhouses and livestock are part of everyday life, chickens also play an important role in self-sufficiency for life in the countryside. Free-range and organically fed hens provide delicious farm eggs every day. Discover the “chenque” or highest indigenous cemetery at the top of Cerro Guido opening a window to the Tehuelche culture. A fascinating adventure awaits you here.

What we love about Estancia Cerro Guido

• Live the daily experiences of the gauchos and country people, actively participating in their daily activities.
• Stoll around the flourishing organic garden and be part of the planting or harvesting of organic products that go directly to your table.
• Learn from the team in the conservation area, in charge of carrying out initiatives and actions that promote the conservation of wildlife, working alongside the cattle.

After breakfast, you will have a private transfer to Santiago Airport to board your 3-hour flight to Punta Arenas, the gateway to Chilean Patagonia. Upon arrival to Punta Arenas your local representative will meet you and accompany you on the 5-hour journey by road to the lodge. A snack will be provided enroute and you will stop for stunning photo opportunities, including flamboyant flamingos and other birds strutting along the Patagonian Steppes.

You will head to the awe-inspiring beauty of Patagonia. Over 500 years after the arrival of the first European seafarers in Patagonia, the words to describe it are the same: exotic, faraway, vast, infinitely beautiful, wild, and indomitable. Situated in the heart of the National Park, the Torres del Paine Mountains are one of the main attractions of the region and an icon of Chilean Patagonia. The immensity of the ice floes, the majesty of the mountains and the expanse of the lakes are a constant source of wonderment. The Torres del Paine National Park’s habitat blends together a wide array of ecosystems, making it a treasure for Chilean wildlife. 

Day notes

 You will have different activities to choose from while staying at Cerro Guido, see some of the options below:

Conservation Safari: With this activity, we invite you to participate for one day in the Cerro Guido Foundation Conservation project, you will discover the diverse characteristic fauna of Patagonia and also the strategies that Estancia Cerro Guido is developing to achieve respectful livestock farming that coexists with the native species. 

We leave by vehicle from the Cerro Guido Hotel at dawn, to accompany our professional trackers on the ground in their daily routine, we begin with the puma research work on the ranch, participating in activities such as observation with binoculars and review of camera traps. The tour includes short walks without major difficulty. Towards the end of the morning, we will discover the work of the sheep protection dogs and how they help the coexistence between conservation and human activity.

After lunch and a break, we continue in the afternoon heading to the “Casa Puma”, the operations center of the Cerro Guido Conservation Foundation. There the "trackers" await us with an exciting video presentation, and then take us to one last field trip at sunset, where we will see the research work being carried out in the Sierra del Toro.

Overland Full day Torres del Paine: This excursion will take us along the paths that run through part of the 1,814 km2 of the Torres del Paine National Park. From views of the Southern Ice Field, to the pampas and its fauna, we will explore the diverse landscapes that this biosphere reserve offers us. We leave the estancia towards Lago del Toro to approach the Torres del Paine National Park to the south, from where it is possible to have a great panoramic view of its mountains, forests, lakes and glaciers. We enter the park through the Serrano River and continue towards the Pingo River sector to take a short walk to Gray Lake. Then we continue to Lake Pehoé to have lunch and visit Salto Grande, one of the most scenic places in the park. In the afternoon we will tour the eastern sector of the park, passing by the viewpoint of Lake Nördenskjold and Lake Sarmiento, to finish at Cascada Paine and start our return to Cerro Guido from Laguna Amarga.

Horseback ride Macizo Paine viewpoint: Very pleasant and without difficulty, this horseback ride is a must for those who want to have a first experience on horseback or for riders who simply want to enjoy the privileged environment of the estancia: they will be amazed by the spectacular views of the majestic Torres del Paine, always at the view, and the Sarmiento lake of a deep blue color. It also offers a good opportunity to observe the typical fauna of Patagonia such as guanacos, ñandús, foxes, horses and / or sheep.

Historical cultural tour: Our guided tour is an invitation to discover an authentic Patagonian ranch, founded 100 years ago, with its typical architectural style, the cultural heritage of Patagonia. Touring their original helmets, such as the patronal house, the orchard and the shearing shed, they will learn about the history of the region and the work with animals, as well as the way of life of our people and the traditions that define the essence of Patagonia. .

Horseback Segunda Barranca: Saddle up at the stable and set off for an exhilarating ride up to the heights of Sierra Contreras. From there, journey to the historic Second Canyon sector, now a part of Cerro Guido. But the adventure doesn't stop there. Trot your way into a serene native Nothofagus forest, an oasis of natural beauty.
Enjoy a picnic lunch before galloping back through open pampas. Keep your eyes peeled for local wildlife, all set against the dramatic backdrop of the iconic Torres del Paine.

Day notes

Morning transfer to Punta Arenas for the flight to Santiago. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by your &Beyond host who will lead you to your accommodation in the Lastarria neighborhood.

Rest of the evening at leisure.

Day notes

After your breakfast, you will be picked up for your day tour of the Casablanca wine valley.

Casablanca is considered one of the world’s finest cold-valley wine areas, producing excellent white and red wines that have earned international prestige. This is home to Chile’s best Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and other white varieties.

Among the red varieties produced in the area, the superb Pinot Noir and Syrah (Shiraz) stand out, and have been hailed as Chile’s latest success stories. Given the rich and varied terroir and climates in the area, other varieties are popping up in Casablanca, particularly Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Along with these wines, Casablanca has successfully turned its hand to the production of sparkling wines, thanks mainly to the high quality of the aforementioned Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Your journey this morning begins with a drive through the Coastal Mountain Range, where the Casablanca Valley is found. This renowned valley has earned a worldwide reputation in Great Wine Capitals. You will stop in Casas del Bosque vineyard for a wine experience with a Private tour of the winery and a wine tasting of 5 wines (La Cantera Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay Gran Reserva, Pinot Noir Gran Reserva, Syrah Pequeñas and La Trampa – Family Reserve) accompanied by a gourmet table. After you will have a Lunch in Tanino Restaurant.

After lunch at Casas del Bosque, in due time, you will be driven back to Santiago International Airport for your international flight connection.