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13 days · Argentina, Chile

Argentina, Atacama Desert & Chile Delights (2026)

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  • The Valle de la Luna in the Atacama Desert, Chile

    The Valle de la Luna in the Atacama Desert, Chile

  • Caminito in La Boca, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Caminito in La Boca, Buenos Aires, Argentina

  • A vineyard in Mendoza, Argentina

    A vineyard in Mendoza, Argentina

  • The church of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

    The church of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

  • The Plaza de Armas in Santiago, Chile

    The Plaza de Armas in Santiago, Chile

  • The switchbacks of the Los Caracoles pass, between Argentina and Chile

    The switchbacks of the Los Caracoles pass, between Argentina and Chile

  • The San Cristóbal cable car in Santiago, Chile

    The San Cristóbal cable car in Santiago, Chile

  • Buenos Aires, Argentina, at night

    Buenos Aires, Argentina, at night

  • Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires, Argentina

  • The art museum in Tigre, Argentina

    The art museum in Tigre, Argentina

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Thirteen days across Argentina and Chile, from Buenos Aires and Mendoza to Santiago and the Atacama Desert.

Duration
13 Days / 12 Nights
Route
Buenos Aires → Santiago de Chile
2 countries on this tour
  1. Argentina
  2. Chile
Activity level
Moderate (3 of 5)
City walking tours in Buenos Aires, Mendoza and Santiago, a long coach crossing of the Andes, three internal flights and two nights in the Atacama desert
Accommodation
3- and 4-star hotels in Buenos Aires, Tigre, Mendoza, San Pedro de Atacama and Santiago, 12 nights in total
Meals
12 breakfasts and 5 dinners
Group
Group tour, up to 41
Guide
Tour leader throughout, plus a local guide in Buenos Aires
Transport
Air-conditioned coach, Plane
Best time to go
Runs in October and November: spring in Argentina and Chile, mild in Buenos Aires and Mendoza, with hot days and cold nights in the Atacama desert

Tour overview

Thirteen days of adventure in Argentina, the Atacama Desert and Chile. There are tours of two capitals, Buenos Aires in Argentina and Santiago in Chile, with Tigre, the “Venice of Argentina”, in between, as well as Mendoza, capital of Malbec wine. The route follows the Carretera de los Caracoles, a scenic road, and spends two nights in the Atacama desert.

Highlights

  • Welcome dinner in Buenos Aires
  • A city tour of Buenos Aires with a local guide
  • Tigre, a city on the Tigre River Delta
  • Mountain scenery in Mendoza
  • The journey from Mendoza to Santiago and its views
  • A guided tour of Santiago, the capital of Chile
  • Two nights in the Atacama desert
  • San Pedro de Atacama, a quaint town
Show all 9 highlights
  • Farewell dinner in Santiago

Route and hotels

Where the tour goes and where you sleep, night by night.

Map of the route, with each hotel stay numbered in order: 1 Buenos Aires, 2 Tigre, 3 Mendoza, 4 Santiago, 5 San Pedro de Atacama, 6 Santiago.
Hotel stays, in orderOn the wayBy roadFlightAbout 910 km by roadMap data: © OpenStreetMap contributors; OpenMapTiles, OpenFreeMap; terrain Mapzen; roads OSRM

  1. Buenos Aires

    3 nights · Days 1–3

    Hotel Bisonte Libertad

  2. Tigre

    1 night · Day 4

    Wyndham Nordelta

  3. Mendoza

    2 nights · Days 5–6

    Raices Aconcagua Hotel

  4. Santiago

    2 nights · Days 7–8

    Olá Hotel

  5. Calama

    Day 9 · on the way

  6. San Pedro de Atacama

    2 nights · Days 9–10

    Hotel Diego de Almagro San Pedro De Atacama

  7. Calama

    Day 11 · on the way

  8. Santiago

    2 nights · Days 11–12

    Olá Hotel

Day-by-day itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Start of tour in Buenos Aires

    Dinner included
    Buenos Aires, Argentina, at night

    Bienvenidos a Buenos Aires. This evening, you meet your tour leader and the rest of the group at the hotel. After going over the itinerary, the group heads out for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant and a first taste of Argentinian cuisine: empanadas and the beef Argentina is famous for around the world, with vegetarian options too, while you get to know each other.

    Included

    • Welcome dinner with a taste of Argentinian empanadas and beef
    Overnight
    Buenos Aires
    Hotel
    Hotel Bisonte Libertad
  2. Day 2

    Buenos Aires

    Breakfast included
    Caminito in La Boca, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    This morning, a local guide leads a driving and walking tour, taking in top sights such as the Plaza Del Mayo, the Metropolitan Cathedral, Casa Rosada, Recoleta Cemetery and El Caminito. The evening is free. The optional Tango Dinner & Show excursion pairs an authentic meal with a show spotlighting Argentina’s best-known dance style.

    Included

    • Guided city tour of Buenos Aires: Plaza de Mayo, the Metropolitan Cathedral, Casa Rosada and Recoleta Cemetery

    Optional extras

    Overnight
    Buenos Aires
    Hotel
    Hotel Bisonte Libertad
  3. Day 3

    Buenos Aires: Free Day

    Breakfast and dinner included

    This free day in Buenos Aires is yours to spend as you choose, or you can add another country to the list on the optional excursion today to Colonia del Sacramento, among the oldest settlements in Uruguay. The day trip includes a return ferry crossing, an orientation tour, lunch, and entry to the 19th-century lighthouse, which has panoramic views. Dinner is included later.

    Included

    • Free day in Buenos Aires to explore independently

    Optional extras

    Overnight
    Buenos Aires
    Hotel
    Hotel Bisonte Libertad
  4. Day 4

    Buenos Aires – Tigre

    Breakfast included

    This morning, the tour leaves Buenos Aires behind for the quaint riverside city of Tigre, known as the “Venice of Argentina”. Tigre sits on the Tigre River Delta, with plenty of riverside sights and activities. On arrival, there is an orientation tour, and later an optional boat tour out on the river.

    Included

    • Orientation tour of Tigre on the Tigre River Delta
    • Free time at the Puerto Frutos market

    Optional extras

    Travel
    Buenos Aires → Tigre by coach
    Overnight
    Tigre
    Hotel
    Wyndham Nordelta
  5. Day 5

    Tigre – Flight to Mendoza

    Breakfast included

    After breakfast, an included flight from the airport carries the tour onward to Mendoza. On arrival in the afternoon, an orientation tour takes in Plaza Independencia, the city’s main square, full of bright greenery, with the Aconcagua mountain visible in the distance. Beyond that, the day is yours to explore on your own.

    Included

    • Orientation tour of Mendoza: Plaza Independencia and views of the Aconcagua mountain
    Travel
    Tigre → Mendoza by plane
    Overnight
    Mendoza
    Hotel
    Raices Aconcagua Hotel
  6. Day 6

    Mendoza: Free Day

    Breakfast included

    Mendoza is known for its Argentine wine and its mountain scenery, and today is free to enjoy both. The optional half-day Mendoza Wine Experience, in the morning or afternoon, brings a local wine tasting, paired with a tour of two notable wineries. Some of Argentina’s most prized wines are there to taste, among them the famous Malbec.

    Included

    • Free day in Mendoza to explore independently

    Optional extras

    Overnight
    Mendoza
    Hotel
    Raices Aconcagua Hotel
  7. Day 7

    Mendoza – Santiago

    Breakfast and dinner included
    The switchbacks of the Los Caracoles pass, between Argentina and Chile

    This morning the journey to Chile begins, crossing the Andes on the legendary Carretera de los Caracoles aboard a comfortable bus fitted with “bus beds”. This feat of engineering is named for the way the road spirals and doubles back in hairpin turns, like a snail’s shell. On arrival in Santiago, a hearty buffet dinner awaits at the hotel.

    Included

    • Scenic crossing of the Andes on the Caracoles pass, in a coach fitted with reclining “bus beds”
    • Buffet dinner at the hotel on arrival in Santiago
    Travel
    Mendoza → Santiago by coach, over the Andes on the Carretera de los Caracoles
    Overnight
    Santiago
    Hotel
    Olá Hotel
  8. Day 8

    Santiago: Free Day

    Breakfast included
    The San Cristóbal cable car in Santiago, Chile

    A guided tour of Chile’s capital fills this morning, with a visit to the historic Plaza de Armas and a funicular ride up San Cristóbal Hill for sweeping views over the city, then a stop at the La Chascona museum, once the home of Pablo Neruda. After that, the day is free, and tonight’s optional excursion offers a tasting journey through Chilean wine.

    Included

    • Guided city tour of Santiago: Plaza de Armas and the San Cristóbal funicular
    • Visit La Chascona, Pablo Neruda’s former home

    Optional extras

    Overnight
    Santiago
    Hotel
    Olá Hotel
  9. Day 9

    Santiago – Flight to Calama – San Pedro de Atacama

    Breakfast and dinner included
    The church of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

    This morning, there is a flight from the airport to Calama, followed by the journey onward to San Pedro de Atacama. This town, high on a plateau in the Andes mountains, is home to otherworldly natural wonders and ancient archaeological sites. There is time to admire the adobe buildings and stroll the lively Caracoles Street. Tonight’s dinner is a family-style meal at a local restaurant.

    Included

    • Explore San Pedro de Atacama: the Plaza de Armas, the adobe Iglesia de San Pedro and Caracoles Street
    • Family-style dinner at a local restaurant
    Travel
    Santiago → San Pedro de Atacama by plane and coach, via Calama
    Overnight
    San Pedro de Atacama
    Hotel
    Hotel Diego de Almagro San Pedro De Atacama
  10. Day 10

    San Pedro de Atacama: Free Day

    Breakfast included
    The Valle de la Luna in the Atacama Desert, Chile

    The day in the Atacama desert is free. An optional excursion takes in Laguna Cejar, a crystal clear lake that is Atacama’s own Dead Sea. Tonight, another optional excursion goes to Valle de la Luna, a valley named for its lunar-like landscape, with saline rocks shaped over time by wind and rain.

    Included

    • Free day in San Pedro de Atacama

    Optional extras

    Overnight
    San Pedro de Atacama
    Hotel
    Hotel Diego de Almagro San Pedro De Atacama
  11. Day 11

    San Pedro de Atacama – Calama – Flight to Santiago

    Breakfast included

    After breakfast, the group heads to Calama airport for the journey back to the Chilean capital, arriving in Santiago this afternoon. Once settled in at the hotel, the evening offers a chance to recharge after several adventure-packed days, or you could instead sample Santiago’s nightlife, choosing from the city’s many fine restaurants for dinner, or dancing until late at a local club.

    Included

    • Free evening in Santiago after returning from the Atacama desert
    Travel
    San Pedro de Atacama → Santiago by coach and plane, via Calama
    Overnight
    Santiago
    Hotel
    Olá Hotel
  12. Day 12

    Santiago: Free Day

    Breakfast and dinner included

    There are more top sights to see in Santiago today, or you can join the optional Valparaiso Half Day Trip instead. This colourful port city, listed by UNESCO, is known for bohemian hillside neighbourhoods that have long inspired artists and poets. The trip visits the hilltop La Sebastiana museum, once home to Pablo Neruda. To close the day, the tour returns to Santiago for a farewell dinner together.

    Included

    • Farewell dinner with the group in Santiago

    Optional extras

    Overnight
    Santiago
    Hotel
    Olá Hotel
  13. Day 13

    End of tour in Santiago

    Breakfast included

    After 13 days of adventures in Argentina and guided tours in Chile, this journey through some of South America’s best-known sights ends this morning. The group shares a last breakfast, with a chance to swap contact details with your new travel friends.

Dates & prices

Sold out. Every date below is full. Leave your details and we will tell you if seats come back or new dates are out.

  • Tue 24 Nov – Sun 6 Dec 2026

    Sold out

What’s included

Included

  • 12 nights in mostly 3-star and 4-star hotels, in twin rooms with a private bathroom
  • A room to yourself for a single supplement, subject to availability
  • 12 breakfasts and 5 dinners, with a vegetarian option at every meal on request
  • A modern coach with air conditioning
  • 3 internal flights: Tigre to Mendoza, Santiago to Calama and Calama back to Santiago
  • A comfortable, scenic bus ride through the Carretera de los Caracoles
  • Guided from start to finish

Not included

  • Flights to the start of the tour and home from the end: we can book them from Dubai
  • Travel insurance: take out a policy that suits your trip

Optional extras

Excursions and upgrades you can add to the tour. Prices are per person.

  • Tango Show & Dinner

    Day 2    AED 445per person

    Watch a tango show while you dine in Buenos Aires, spanning traditional street tango, the Milonga and modern interpretations, with a full dinner included. US$120, booked with your tour leader on the day.

    See day 2 in the itinerary

  • Colonia del Sacramento Day Trip

    Day 3    AED 775per person

    Cross the Río de la Plata by ferry to reach Colonia del Sacramento, a UNESCO World Heritage town in Uruguay, with an orientation tour of the historic quarter and its 19th-century lighthouse. US$210, booked with your tour leader on the day.

    See day 3 in the itinerary

  • Tigre River Cruise

    Day 4    AED 295per person

    Cruise the Tigre Delta’s five main rivers over two hours, with an audio guide covering the history and wildlife of the Luján, Carapachay, Angostura, Sarmiento and Espera rivers. US$80, booked with your tour leader on the day.

    See day 4 in the itinerary

  • Mendoza Wine Experience: Half Day

    Day 6    AED 335per person

    Visit two Mendoza wineries, morning or afternoon, to see how Argentine wine is made from grape to bottle, with guided tastings of Malbec and other local varieties led by a sommelier. US$90, booked with your tour leader on the day.

    See day 6 in the itinerary

  • Chile Heritage Wine Pairing

    Day 8    AED 295per person

    Taste three Chilean wines at a local wine bar, each paired with a snack, with a sommelier explaining Chile’s winemaking history as you go. US$80, booked with your tour leader on the day.

    See day 8 in the itinerary

  • Laguna Cejar

    Day 10    AED 445per person

    Swim in Laguna Cejar, a salt lake within the Atacama Desert, with a salt concentration similar to the Dead Sea, so you float with little effort. US$120, booked with your tour leader on the day.

    See day 10 in the itinerary

  • Valle de La Luna

    Day 10    AED 405per person

    Join a guided sunset tour of Valle de la Luna, a desert valley of saline rock formations shaped by wind and rain over thousands of years. US$110, booked with your tour leader on the day.

    See day 10 in the itinerary

  • Valparaíso Half-Day Trip

    Day 12    AED 735per person

    Visit the harbour town of Valparaíso with a local guide: street art and historic sites, a stop at La Sebastiana, Pablo Neruda’s former house, a wine tasting and snacks, with return transport from the hotel. US$200, booked with your tour leader on the day.

    See day 12 in the itinerary

To add an extra, mention it in your booking notes, and we confirm it with your seats before you pay. Some are booked with your tour leader on the day instead: their description says so.

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Good to know

Practical details to read before you travel.

  • Passport & visas

    Entry rules for Argentina and Chile, and for Uruguay if you add the optional day trip, depend on the passport you travel on. Our visa team checks your passport against each country’s requirements and handles the application for you if one is needed.

    Tell us your nationality when you book so we can confirm what, if anything, you need to arrange.

  • Flights and timings

    Flights to Buenos Aires and home from Santiago aren’t included. Three internal flights are included: Tigre to Mendoza, then Santiago to Calama, and Calama back to Santiago.

    Your tour starts at 6pm on day 1 at the hotel in Buenos Aires, where you meet your tour leader before the welcome dinner. The tour ends after breakfast at the hotel in Santiago on day 13.

    Our team can book your flights from Dubai to match.

  • Meals and dietary needs

    12 breakfasts and 5 dinners are included, on days 1, 3, 7, 9 and 12. Lunch is on you most days.

    Tell us about any dietary needs, halal included, when you book, and we pass them on before the tour.

  • Money

    Argentina’s currency is the Argentine peso and Chile’s is the Chilean peso; Uruguay uses its own peso if you add the optional day trip. Cards are widely accepted in Buenos Aires and Santiago, but carry cash for Mendoza, Tigre and San Pedro de Atacama.

    Optional extras booked on tour are paid to your tour leader in cash or by card, in the currency shown.

  • Weather and packing

    Buenos Aires, Tigre, Mendoza and Santiago are generally mild in October and November, the start of the Southern Hemisphere spring, so layers work well. The Andes crossing can be cold, and San Pedro de Atacama sits high in the desert, with hot days and cold nights.

    Pack a warm layer for evenings and the Andes crossing, comfortable walking shoes, and sun protection for the Atacama’s strong daytime sun.

  • The Atacama desert

    San Pedro de Atacama sits high in the Andean desert. Take your first day there a little slowly and drink plenty of water, especially if you add one of the optional desert excursions.

    The town itself is small and low-rise, built mostly of adobe, with its main sights and restaurants within easy walking distance of each other.

Plan your trip

Our Dubai team arranges what goes around the tour, so it is booked in one place.

  • Visas

    Our visa team in Dubai applies for UAE residents once the tour is booked. For Argentina and Chile, ask them what your passport needs.

    Ask our visa team

  • Flights

    Flights are not included. We can book them with the tour: Dubai to Buenos Aires, and home from Santiago de Chile.

    Ask about flights

  • Pay in instalments

    Split the cost with Tabby or Tamara, or over 3 to 12 months on a UAE bank credit card for bookings from AED 1,000.

    How instalments work

Sold out: get notified

Every date of this tour is sold out. Leave your details and we will tell you if seats come back or new dates are out.

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Questions about this tour

  • What will my days look like?

    Days are full. Most start with breakfast, then the main sights with a local guide or your tour leader. Afternoons often leave free time to wander, stop for a coffee or join an optional extra. Expect a fair amount of walking: some days mean two or three hours on your feet, so bring comfortable shoes.

  • Who will I be travelling with?

    Travellers from all over the world, of different ages and backgrounds, who share a wish to see more. Up to 41 people share this tour, and most know each other’s names within a few days.

  • What are the hotels like?

    Mostly 3 and 4 star, all clean, comfortable and well located, with private en-suite bathrooms. They are chosen so you sleep well and are ready for the next day. The destinations come first, but the hotels are never an afterthought.

  • How active is this tour?

    You carry your own luggage, sometimes up hotel stairs. Some walking tours run for up to three hours, and a few sites have plenty of steps. The itinerary and the activity level at the top of this page show whether the pace suits you.

  • How do optional extras work?

    Optional extras run in the tour’s free time, and your tour leader tells you what is on offer as the tour goes. The ones on this tour are booked with your tour leader on the day, and the Optional extras section shows each one with its price.

  • Will I have time to explore on my own?

    Yes. The itinerary builds in free time to wander at your own pace, and your tour leader can point you to the places that suit you, so you are never left to work it all out alone.

  • What support do I have while I’m on tour?

    Your tour leader travels with you from start to finish. They know the places most visitors miss, can suggest a restaurant before you ask, and deal with whatever crops up on the way. Transport and hotels are all arranged for you.

    There is also an emergency number staffed 24 hours a day, and our team in Dubai is there to help.

  • How do I book Argentina, Atacama Desert & Chile Delights (2026)?

    Press Book now, choose a date, your travellers and rooms, and give your name, email and mobile. We hold your seats and email your booking reference straight away; you then add each traveller as their passport shows on your booking page. Our Dubai team confirms the seats with the tour operator, then emails you a secure payment link. Nothing is charged when you book.

  • When do I pay?

    Once the tour operator confirms your seats. We email you a secure payment link for the total in AED, and your booking is complete when it is paid. To pay in instalments, say so in your booking notes.

  • Is the price per person?

    Yes. Prices are per person sharing a double or twin room. Travelling alone? A single room costs the supplement shown next to each date.

  • Are flights included?

    Only when the tour lists them under what is included. We can book flights from the UAE to the start city and home from the end city with your tour.

  • Do I need a visa?

    That depends on your passport and the countries on the route. Our visa team arranges Schengen and other visas for UAE residents, and can apply for yours once the tour is booked.

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