Chile

The Torres del Paine National Park, itself, is the natural habitat for 133 types of birds, among them condors, ñandúes, flamingos, bandurrias, black neck swans, eagles, loicas and cachañas.

25 mammals species can also be found, some in numbers and visible at short range, such as guanacos and foxes; others in danger of extinction and visible only in certain areas such as the huemul and the puma.

The Torres del Paine National Park is the natural habitat of the puma of the species Concolor Pearsoni, a solitary and territorial cat. Its excellent sense of smell and night vision allows it to hunt a large variety of prey: rodents, rabbits, guanacos, pudu, and huemules. Like all of its kind, it is a skilled climber and can reach high speed in a short distance.

Generally they inhabit mountainous areas, but in winter (May-August) heavy snows drive them down into the valleys, producing the many sightings. The puma is currently considered a threatened species and as such, is protected by law. In Torres del Paine, the population density of the puma has grown in the last two decades and is one of the highest in the country, reaching 12 pumas per 100 km2.

Around 2,500 plant species exist, from very simple forms (algaes, lichens, mosses and mushrooms) to leafy trees (lenga, coihue, alerce and ñirre), with intermediary forms such as ferns, grasses and bushes. From the plains to the leafy forests of the mountains, the flora is intense and varied with many endemic species.

Connecting to Punta Arenas by way of Santiago, Chile: Upon arrival to Santiago de Chile’s International Airport, you must connect to the city of Punta Arenas, approximately three and a half hours away. From Punta Arenas Airport, you will be driven to explora Patagonia by a member of our team, approximately 4 and half hours away and according to a pre-set schedule, with a stop to rest and have lunch.

Temperatures in the Torres del Paine National Park are constantly changing. We can experience all 4 seasons in one day.

There are two main, distinctive climates, which dominate the area. To the west of the Andes, a cold mountain climate predominates (humid), while to the east lays a cold grassland climate (dry).

There are medium intensity winds of around 20 km/h – which can produce gusts of up to 110 km/h–, constantly changing the weather within the park.

In just minutes, the strong winds can darken the sky or disperse the storm clouds, making your Patagonia travel a true adventure.

The presence of birds and marine wildlife has always been superior to that of landborne mammals. Distinguishing birds include the Tiuque, a falcon introduced from South America, the Perdiz Chilena, an introduced South American partridge, the Gorrión, the Makohe, and two migratory species of Tropic bird.

The marine wildlife is made up of 150 species belonging to more than 60 different families. One in four species is visible only in this corner of Planet Earth.

As a product of the introduction of invasive species and overexploitation, tree and shrub species became extinct or were reduced to almost zero. Such was the case of the Toromiro, Rapa Nui Palm, Sandalwood, and the Toi.

The Cattail, a stemmed plant of American origin that grows along the ponds in the basins of the extinct volcanoes, has succeeded in surviving since a few thousand years ago and is utilized in many of the island’s garments.

How to arrive

From Santiago, Chile, you must take a connection flight to Isla de Pascua (Rapa Nui) with a 5-hour duration. From Mata Veri airport, our staff will transport you by van to explora Rapa Nui, a journey of only 15 minutes.

From Tahiti (Papeete), you must take a connection flight to Isla de Pascua (Rapa Nui) with a 5-hour duration. From Mata Veri airport, our staff will transport you by van to explora Rapa Nui, a journey of only 15 minutes.

Check-in and check-out

Check-in: We recommend arriving at the hotel by midday to take a half-day exploration during the afternoon.

Check-out: This day is intended to be an exploration day. When leaving in the morning for a half-day exploration, travelers need to check-out and explora will take care of their luggage. Check-out must be before noon.

This festival is the most representative of the Rapa Nui culture. During 10 days in February, the inhabitants and travelers that visit the island are divided into competing teams. The team with the highest score after a collection of competitions is the winner, and their candidate is declared Queen of Tapati.

There are competitions such as the Vaka Tuai, in which each team must make a traditional Polynesian canoe out of cattails, and navigate with their candidate for a queen, dressed in ancestral fashion; the Takona, in which the participants paint their bodies with natural pigments and then describe the meaning of their paintings in front of the community; the Tau’a or triathalon; and the Haka Pei, in which the competitors are launched down a hill on toboggans fashioned from banana tree trunks, reaching speeds of 80km/h.

In Atacama, life can be found in even the most unlikely places, such as in the Altiplano lakes, some of which are 10 times saltier than the sea and have little oxygen. A hostile place for most aquatic species, here, the Artemia salina (a species of brine shrimp) thrives. This primitive, 1-cm-long micro invertebrate represents an extraordinary example of adaptation to extreme environmental conditions.

The crustacean’s predator is the flamingo, a wading bird that congregates in large flocks in the shallow Andean lagoons. Flamingos, which average 1 meter (3.28 feet) in height, are easily recognized by their mostly pale-pink plumage and their graceful flight.

The mountain peaks are the home of the condor, the most awe-inspiring bird of the Andes. Other birds native to Atacama are the Andean Tinamou (Nothoprocta pentlandii) and the ñandú (Darwin’s rhea, or Rhea pennata).

Among the area’s larger mammals are 4 members of the Camelidae family: the llama, alpaca, guanaco, and vicuña – all native to the Andes. Smaller mammals include the Andean fox (Lycalopex culpaeus) and rodents, such as the vizcacha and the chinchilla – both of the Chinchillidae family.

Llareta (Laretia acaulis): Extraordinary Adaptation to High Altitude

How to get here

After arriving in Santiago, Chile’s capital city (SCL), you need to take a 2-hour connecting flight to the city of Calama.

At Calama Airport (CJC), a member of our team wll pick you up and drive you to explora Atacama, approximately one-hour away.

Check-in and check-out

Check-in: We recommend arriving at the hotel by midday to take a half-day exploration during the afternoon and start the acclimatization process.

Check-out: We want you to be able to maximize your exploration on this day too. If you leave the hotel in the morning for a half-day exploration, you have to check out before leaving and we will arrange for the safe storage of your luggage. Check-out is by 10:00.

San Pedro de Atacama and its surrounding area have a very dry and mild climate year round. The village gradually grew up around an oasis, and is situated on a high plateau, 2,443 meters (8,015 feet) above sea level, and located just 100 kilometers (62 miles) from Calama, a major city served by El Loa International Airport, or “Calama Airport” (CJC).

During winter (June – September), the average daytime temperature ranges from 9º C (48º F) to 24º C (75º F) – inviting you to soak up the sun in the lodge’s relaxing lounge chairs, on the terraces or in the glassed corridors. During summer (December – March), daytime temperatures fluctuate between 13º C (55º F; early morning) and 25º C (77º F; evening), with a maximum of approximately 32º C (90º F) – a period of the year calling for an afternoon siesta before joining one of the evening explorations.

Ninety percent of the days are clear and sunny.  However, between mid-December and the beginning of March, occasional rains and snow in higher areas result in what is called the Altiplano Winter. During these months and due to unstable weather conditions in the area, some of our explorations could be subject to changes or even canceled in order to protect our travelers’ safety.