12 days · Argentina, Chile
Argentina, Atacama Desert & Chile Delights (2027 & Beyond)
From AED 9,053per person, twin share
Experience the highlights of Argentina, the Atacama Desert & Chile over 12 incredible days! Explore Buenos Aires, Santiago, & more.
- Duration
- 12 Days / 11 Nights
- Route
- Buenos Aires → Santiago de Chile
- Countries
- Argentina and 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, Mendoza, San Pedro de Atacama and Santiago, 11 nights in total
- Meals
- 11 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 across autumn, winter and spring (April, June, October, November): cool in Buenos Aires and Santiago, hot days and cold nights in the Atacama
Tour overview
This 12-day Argentina, Atacama Desert & Chile Delights tour is jam-packed with adventure. Tour Buenos Aires, Argentina’s capital, and Santiago, Chile’s capital. Explore Mendoza, the Malbec wine capital. Travel along the scenic Carretera de los Caracoles and spend two nights in the otherworldly Atacama Desert, spanning 1,000 kilometers from the Andes to the Pacific.
Highlights
- Enjoy a welcome dinner in Buenos Aires
- Embark on a Buenos Aires city tour
- Soak up the mountain scenery in Mendoza
- Journey from Mendoza to Santiago with breathtaking views
- Discover Santiago, capital of Chile, on a guided tour
- Spend two nights in the Atacama Desert
- Explore the quaint town of San Pedro de Atacama
- Tuck into a traditional Atacameño family-style dinner
Show all 9 highlightsShow fewer highlights
- Enjoy a farewell dinner in Santiago
Route and hotels
Where the tour goes and where you sleep, night by night.
Buenos Aires
3 nights · Days 1–3
Hotel Bisonte Libertad
Mendoza
2 nights · Days 4–5
Raices Aconcagua Hotel
Santiago
2 nights · Days 6–7
Olá Hotel
Calama
Day 8 · on the way
San Pedro de Atacama
2 nights · Days 8–9
Hotel Diego de Almagro San Pedro De Atacama
Calama
Day 10 · on the way
Santiago
2 nights · Days 10–11
Olá Hotel
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
Start of tour in Buenos Aires
Meals included: Dinner
Bienvenidos a Buenos Aires! Meet up with your tour leader and fellow travellers at the hotel this evening. After an itinerary overview, head to a local restaurant for a welcome dinner. Get your first taste of Argentinian cuisine including irresistible empanadas and the country’s world-famous beef (vegetarian dishes are available) while getting to know the rest of the group.
Included
- Welcome dinner with a taste of Argentinian empanadas and beef
- Overnight
- Buenos Aires
- Hotel
- Hotel Bisonte Libertad
- Meals
- Dinner
Day 2
Buenos Aires
Meals included: Breakfast
This morning, join a local guide on a driving and walking tour. Discover the city’s top sights including the Plaza Del Mayo, the Metropolitan Cathedral, Casa Rosada, Recoleta Cemetery and El Caminito. This evening is free. Tonight’s Tango Dinner & Show excursion is highly recommended for an authentic meal along with a dazzling showcase of Argentina’s most famous dance form!
Included
- Guided city tour of Buenos Aires: Plaza de Mayo, the Metropolitan Cathedral, Casa Rosada and Recoleta Cemetery
Optional extras
- Tango Show & Dinner · AED 445 per person
- Overnight
- Buenos Aires
- Hotel
- Hotel Bisonte Libertad
- Meals
- Breakfast
Day 3
Buenos Aires: Free Day
Meals included: BreakfastDinnerExplore Buenos Aires on your own today! Or, opt for a trip to Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with lunch included. Alternatively, discover El Tigre, a maze of waterways, with an optional river cruise. Experience the town’s water-based lifestyle, visit the Art Museum and the famous Mercado de Frutos. Tonight, enjoy an included dinner.
Included
- Free day in Buenos Aires to explore independently
Optional extras
- Colonia del Sacramento Day Trip · AED 775 per person
- El Tigre Day Trip · AED 225 per person
- Overnight
- Buenos Aires
- Hotel
- Hotel Bisonte Libertad
- Meals
- Breakfast and dinner
Day 4
Buenos Aires – Flight to Mendoza
Meals included: BreakfastAfter breakfast, the tour makes its way to the airport for an included flight to Mendoza. Arrive in the afternoon and embark on an orientation tour. Visit the beautiful Plaza Independencia, the city’s main square, which bursts with bright greenery and admire the Aconcagua mountain in the distance. The rest of the day is free to explore on your own.
Included
- Orientation tour of Mendoza: Plaza Independencia and views of the Aconcagua mountain
- Travel
- Buenos Aires → Mendoza by plane
- Overnight
- Mendoza
- Hotel
- Raices Aconcagua Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
Day 5
Mendoza: Free Day
Meals included: BreakfastTake the opportunity this morning to taste the world-class Argentine wine and spectacular mountain scenery that Mendoza is known for! Indulge in a local wine tasting and a tour of two notable wineries with the morning or afternoon half-day Mendoza Wine Experience. Delight in tasting some of Argentina’s most prized wines, including the famous Malbec. ¡Salud!
Included
- Free day in Mendoza to explore independently
Optional extras
- Mendoza Wine Experience: Half Day · AED 335 per person
- Overnight
- Mendoza
- Hotel
- Raices Aconcagua Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
Day 6
Mendoza – Santiago
Meals included: BreakfastDinner
This morning, embark on the journey of a lifetime towards Chile! Travel through the Andes, along the legendary Carretera de los Caracoles in a comfortable bus equipped with “bus beds”. This engineering marvel gets its name from the road’s dramatic spirals and hairpin turns, resembling a snail’s shell. Arrive in Santiago and enjoy a hearty buffet dinner 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
- Meals
- Breakfast and dinner
Day 7
Santiago: Free Day
Meals included: Breakfast
Discover Chile’s capital city on an insightful guided tour this morning. Visit the historic Plaza de Armas and ride the funicular to take in sweeping city views from San Cristóbal Hill. Finally, enter the La Chascona museum, formerly Pablo Neruda’s home. The rest of the day is free. Join tonight’s optional excursion for 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
- Chile Heritage Wine Pairing · AED 295 per person
- Overnight
- Santiago
- Hotel
- Olá Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
Day 8
Santiago – Flight to Calama – San Pedro de Atacama
Meals included: BreakfastDinner
Head to the airport this morning and board a flight to Calama. Upon arrival, travel to San Pedro de Atacama. Located on a high plateau in the Andes Mountains, this town is home to otherworldly nature and ancient archaeological sites. Admire the adobe architecture and wander along the lively Caracoles Street. Tonight, enjoy a traditional family-style dinner at a local restaurant.
Included
- Explore San Pedro de Atacama: the Plaza de Armas, the adobe Iglesia de San Pedro and Caracoles Street
- Traditional Atacameño 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
- Meals
- Breakfast and dinner
Day 9
San Pedro de Atacama: Free Day
Meals included: Breakfast
Enjoy a free day in the Atacama Desert! Visit Laguna Cejar, a crystal-clear lake and Atacama’s very own Dead Sea, on an optional excursion! Another bucket-list sight awaits on tonight’s excursion to Valle de la Luna. This spellbinding valley gets its name from the lunar-like landscape with saline rocks formed over time from wind and rain.
Included
- Free day in San Pedro de Atacama
Optional extras
- Laguna Cejar · AED 445 per person
- Valle de La Luna · AED 405 per person
- Overnight
- San Pedro de Atacama
- Hotel
- Hotel Diego de Almagro San Pedro De Atacama
- Meals
- Breakfast
Day 10
San Pedro de Atacama – Calama – Flight to Santiago
Meals included: BreakfastHead to the Calama airport after breakfast and arrive back in the Chilean capital this afternoon. After checking into the hotel, take this evening to rest up after a busy few days of adventures. Alternatively, enjoy the Santiago nightlife. Grab dinner at one of the city’s many excellent restaurants or dance the night away at a nightclub.
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
- Meals
- Breakfast
Day 11
Santiago: Free Day
Meals included: BreakfastDinnerExplore more top sights in Santiago today or to join the Valparaiso Half Day Trip. This colourful, UNESCO-listed port city is known for its bohemian hillside neighbourhoods which have inspired many artists and poets. Here, visit the hilltop La Sebastiana museum which was previously a house owned by Pablo Neruda. After, head back to Santiago for a farewell dinner.
Included
- Farewell dinner with the group in Santiago
Optional extras
- Valparaíso Half-Day Trip · AED 735 per person
- Overnight
- Santiago
- Hotel
- Olá Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast and dinner
Day 12
End of tour in Santiago
Meals included: BreakfastAfter 12 days of Argentina adventures and Chile guided tours, this life-enriching journey through some of South America’s most spectacular sights comes to an end this morning. Enjoy one last breakfast with the group and don’t forget to swap contact details with your newfound travel friends!
- Meals
- Breakfast
Dates & prices
Prices per person, sharing a double or twin room. A single room costs the supplement shown.
FromTue 13 Apr 2027ToSat 24 Apr 2027
Available
AED 9,053
Single room supplement +AED 4,059 single
FromTue 15 Jun 2027ToSat 26 Jun 2027
Sold out
AED 9,053
Single room supplement +AED 4,059 single
Full
FromTue 12 Oct 2027ToSat 23 Oct 2027
Available
AED 9,053
Single room supplement +AED 4,059 single
FromTue 16 Nov 2027ToSat 27 Nov 2027
Available
AED 9,053
Single room supplement +AED 4,059 single
What’s included
Included
- 11 nights hotel accommodation in twin rooms with private bathrooms. The majority of our accommodations are of a 3- and 4-star standard, offering excellent value, comfort and convenience
- Single travellers have the option to pay a single supplement to ensure a private room (subject to availability)
- 11 Breakfasts, 5 Dinners *Vegetarian options available for all meals on request
- Modern air conditioned coach
- 3 Internal flights from Buenos Aires to Mendoza, Santiago to Calama and Calama to Santiago
- Scenic, comfortable bus journey through the dramatic Carretera de los Caracoles
- Fully-guided tour
Not included
- Flights: Arrange your own flights for the start and end of the tour
- Travel insurance: Purchase a suitable policy that meets your needs
Optional extras
Excursions and upgrades you can add to the tour. Prices are per person.
Tango Show & Dinner
Watch a tango show while you dine in Buenos Aires, from traditional street tango to the Milonga and modern interpretations, with a full dinner included. US$120, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 445 per person
Colonia del Sacramento Day Trip
Cross the Río de la Plata by ferry to Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay, a UNESCO World Heritage town, with an orientation tour of the historic quarter and its 19th-century lighthouse. US$210, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 775 per person
El Tigre Day Trip
Cruise the waterways of El Tigre by boat, with stops at the Art Museum on the Luján River and the Mercado de Frutos riverside market, plus return transport and a guide. US$60, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 225 per person
Mendoza Wine Experience: Half Day
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.
AED 335 per person
Chile Heritage Wine Pairing
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.
AED 295 per person
Laguna Cejar
Swim in Laguna Cejar, a salt lake in 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.
AED 445 per person
Valle de La Luna
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.
AED 405 per person
Valparaíso Half-Day Trip
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.
AED 735 per person
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: Buenos Aires to Mendoza, 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 12.
Our team can book your flights from Dubai to match.
Meals and dietary needs
11 breakfasts and 5 dinners are included, on days 1, 3, 6, 8 and 11. 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 and San Pedro de Atacama.
Optional experiences booked on tour are paid to your tour leader in cash or by card, in the currency shown.
Weather and packing
This tour runs in April, June, October and November, so you could meet autumn, winter or spring in Buenos Aires, Mendoza and Santiago: pack layers, including a warm one for evenings and the Andes crossing. San Pedro de Atacama sits high in the desert, with hot days and cold nights whatever the season.
Comfortable walking shoes and sun protection for the Atacama’s strong daytime sun are worth packing too.
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.
Flights
Flights are not included. We can book them with the tour: Dubai to Buenos Aires, and home from Santiago de Chile. Tick “Flights” when you book and we quote them with your confirmation.
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.
Book this tour
Book online in a few minutes. Your seats are held as soon as you book, and you pay once we have confirmed them.
- Choose your date, travellers and roomsPrices are per person, and the total updates as you choose.
- Name each traveller as in their passportYour seats are held and your booking reference is emailed straight away.
- Pay by secure link once confirmedOur Dubai team confirms the seats with the tour operator, then emails your payment link. Nothing is charged when you book.
Questions before you book? Our support team is on WhatsApp +971 58 582 4488.
Questions about this tour
What will my days actually look like?
Full days, zero filler. Most mornings start with breakfast before heading out to the main sights with your Tour Leader or a local guide. Afternoons often include free time to wander, find a coffee or join an Optional Experience. Expect a good amount of walking too. On some days, you could spend two to three hours on your feet. Comfortable shoes are your best friend.
Who will I be travelling with?
People from all over the world. Different ages, different backgrounds, same instinct to see more. Groups have on average between 35-45 travellers. By day three, you’ll already know everyone's name.
What are the hotels like?
Clean, comfortable and well located. Mostly 3 to 4 star, with private en-suite bathrooms. They're chosen so you can sleep well and feel ready for the next day. They're not the centrepiece. The destinations are. But they're never an afterthought.
How active is this tour?
All travellers carry their own bags, including up hotel stairs where needed. Walking tours can last up to three hours, and some sites involve a fair number of steps. Read through the itinerary to decide if the pace is right for you.
How do Optional Experiences work?
Optional Experiences happen during your tour's free-time slots, and your Tour Leader will tell you about what's on offer during the tour. Most can be booked on the day, but some are pre-sold and must be purchased before your tour begins, so it's worth checking the tour page beforehand to see what's available and get in touch with our team to book anything in advance.
Will I have time to explore on my own?
Yes. Free time is built into the itinerary, giving you space to wander and explore at your own pace. Your Tour Leader can point you towards the places worth your time, so you're never left completely to figure it out yourself.
What support do I have while I'm on tour?
Your Tour Leader is there to look after you during your tour. They know the places most people walk straight past, they'll have a restaurant recommendation ready before you've asked, and they'll sort anything that comes up along the way. All transport and accommodation are arranged for you.
You'll also have a 24-hour emergency contact number and the Holidayys team in Dubai.
How do I book Argentina, Atacama Desert & Chile Delights (2027 & Beyond)?
Press Book now, choose a date and your rooms, and enter each traveller as their passport shows. We hold your seats and email your booking reference straight away. 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.
Payment plans
Pay over time, at 0% interest
Every booking qualifies, from holidays and tours to visas. Pay later with a credit card instalment plan or a buy-now-pay-later account; some banks charge a one-time processing fee.
- Credit card plans from AED 1,000
- Tabby and Tamara, no minimum
- Terms from 3 to 12 months
Find your bank’s plan
Credit cards, from AED 1,000
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