Discover Chile: Self-Launched Atacama, Lake District & Patagonia
13 days · Chile
Exodus charges £4,500
No-markup version: ~£1,855 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, backpacker-friendly version of Exodus's 13-day "Discover Chile" tour — the same sweep from Santiago down to Patagonian Torres del Paine, back up through the German-influenced Lake District, then north to the otherworldly Atacama Desert. Instead of a guided group with private minibuses and internal flights on a set schedule, you'll piece it together with Chile's excellent long-distance buses (the famous overnight cama seats), budget domestic flights where they beat the bus, and self-bookable day tours from GetYourGuide/Viator and local operators on the ground in Puerto Natales and San Pedro de Atacama. Accommodation is swapped for hostels and simple guesthouses of comparable quality. Costs are approximate per-person estimates in GBP for a budget-to-midrange solo traveller, based on current backpacker rates; internal flight costs vary a lot with how far ahead you book.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Santiago
Santiago
Land at Santiago's Arturo Merino Benítez airport and take the CentroPuerto or TurBus airport bus (~£2) or an official taxi (~£15-20) into the centre. Check into a hostel in the Bellavista or Lastarria neighbourhood — both are walkable, safe and lively in the evening. Spend the afternoon getting your bearings around Plaza de Armas and the Mercado Central, then eat your first completo (Chilean hot dog) or a plate of pastel de choclo for dinner.
🚌Airport bus (CentroPuerto/TurBus) ~£2 or taxi ~£15-20
🛏Hostel in Bellavista/Lastarria (e.g. Hostal Providencia or similar) — dorm bed £12-18/night, private room £30-40
- →Airport bus or taxi to centre
- →Self-wander Plaza de Armas & Mercado Central
- →Evening food crawl in Bellavista
Santiago city tour & Maipo Valley winery
Santiago
Do the Santiago highlights at your own pace: walk the historic centre (La Moneda palace, Cathedral, Plaza de Armas, Casa Colorada) and ride the funicular up Cerro San Cristóbal for city views (~£3). In the afternoon, take the Metro to the Maipo Valley side of town and book a Viña Santa Rita winery tour directly or via GetYourGuide — the classic tour with 3 wine tastings runs about £25-35. Alternatively many hostels run cheap shared shuttles to Concha y Toro. Back in town, catch the sunset from Cerro Santa Lucía.
🚌Metro & local buses; Metro single fare ~£0.75, day pass ~£2
🛏Hostel in Bellavista/Lastarria
- →Self-guided historic centre walk
- →Cerro San Cristóbal funicular (~£3)
- →Santa Rita or Concha y Toro winery tour with tastings (book direct/GetYourGuide, ~£25-35)
Fly Santiago → Puerto Natales
Puerto Natales
Fly south to Puerto Natales, gateway to Patagonia (LATAM/Sky Airline, direct or via Punta Arenas — book 6-8 weeks ahead for the best fares, £60-130 one way; carry-on only to avoid baggage fees). The town itself is small and walkable, full of gear shops, cosy cafés and tour agencies. Grab an orientation wander along the waterfront and the main drag, stock up on trekking snacks, and book your Torres del Paine day trips for the next days (you can also pre-book these via GetYourGuide/Viator or direct with local operators like Howlanders, Chile Tour, or Base Camp).
🚌Domestic flight Santiago→Puerto Natales or Punta Arenas (£60-130); airport transfer taxi ~£5
🛏Guesthouse/hostel in Puerto Natales (e.g. Hostal El Patio or similar) — dorm £10-16, private £25-35
- →Internal flight to Puerto Natales
- →Orientation walk of the town
- →Book Torres del Paine day tours with local agencies
Torres del Paine — eastern highlights
Torres del Paine National Park
Join a shared full-day Torres del Paine excursion from Puerto Natales (many operators, £45-70 incl. park entry if bundled; otherwise park entry is ~£28 for foreigners, valid several days — check current pricing as it changed recently). You'll visit Laguna Azul for one of the best views of the Towers, the Rio Paine waterfall and Laguna Amarga. The day is a mix of driving and short walks. If you'd rather stay inside the park overnight, book a bed at Refugio/Cabañas Pehoé or similar, though these fill up fast — reserve well ahead.
🚌Shared tour minibus from Puerto Natales (included in tour) ~2h each way
🛏Refugio/Cabañas Pehoé area inside the park (£30-55) OR return to Puerto Natales guesthouse (£25-35)
- →Shared full-day Torres del Paine tour (Laguna Azul, Rio Paine waterfall, Laguna Amarga)
- →Guanaco and condor spotting
- →Park entrance fee (~£28, multi-day)
Torres del Paine — classic Base of the Towers area walk
Torres del Paine National Park
Another day inside the park. Many self-launchers do the classic Base of the Towers day hike (around 18km, 8-9h round trip — demanding but spectacular) or a gentler walk along the shores of Lake Nordenskjöld to the Cuernos viewpoint with a stop at the Salto Grande waterfall. Either join a guided shared tour (~£45-60) or, if you're confident, use the park's public catamaran across Lake Pehoé and self-navigate the marked trails (catamaran ~£14-18 one way). The afternoon/evening is free to relax — hot springs at nearby Termas are an optional extra.
🚌Shared tour minibus and/or park catamaran
🛏Refugio/Cabañas Pehoé area OR Puerto Natales guesthouse
- →Base of the Towers hike OR Nordenskjöld/Cuernos viewpoint walk
- →Salto Grande waterfall
- →Optional Pehoé Lake catamaran crossing (~£15)
Grey Glacier navigation & Milodón Cave
Torres del Paine / Puerto Natales
Head to the western side of the park for the star activity: the Grey Glacier boat navigation (3h cruise past icebergs to the face of Grey Glacier — the largest in the park). Book direct with Grey III / Hotel Lago Grey or via a local agency, £55-80 including the walk through lenga forest to the boat landing. On the way back to Puerto Natales, stop at the Milodón Cave Natural Monument (entry ~£6) — a huge cave where the remains of a prehistoric giant sloth were found. Arrive back in Puerto Natales early evening.
🚌Shared tour transfer; ~2h drive each way
🛏Guesthouse/hostel in Puerto Natales
- →Grey Glacier boat navigation (~£55-80)
- →Lenga forest walk to boat landing
- →Milodón Cave Natural Monument (~£6)
Fly Puerto Natales/Punta Arenas → Puerto Montt & on to Puerto Varas
Puerto Varas
A long travel day. Fly north to Puerto Montt in the Lake District (often via Santiago or direct depending on the season; £70-140). From Puerto Montt airport it's a 30-minute shared shuttle or local bus to Puerto Varas on the shore of Lago Llanquihue (£3-6). The 'City of Roses' is compact and German-influenced, with a pretty lakeside promenade and views of Osorno volcano. Grab dinner in town and enjoy the change of scenery.
🚌Flight (£70-140) + shared shuttle/bus (£3-6)
🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Puerto Varas (e.g. Compass del Sur or similar) — dorm £12-18, private £30-45
- →Internal flight to Puerto Montt
- →Shuttle/bus to Puerto Varas
- →Evening lakeside walk & dinner
Lake District — Petrohué, Lago Todos los Santos & Osorno
Puerto Varas / Lake District
Do the classic Lake District circuit. Take a local bus or shared tour towards Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park (entry ~£5). Stop at the Saltos de Petrohué waterfalls where lava flows sculpted the river, then board a boat cruise on Lago Todos los Santos (£25-35) with Osorno volcano looming behind. Afterwards hike ~2km on the lower lava fields of Osorno (weather permitting) and visit the green Laguna Verde. Many travellers book a full-day 'Petrohué & Osorno' tour via GetYourGuide/Viator (~£40-60) or join a local agency in Puerto Varas; the public bus + self-arranged boat is cheaper if you're confident.
🚌Tour minibus or local bus to Petrohué; return same day
🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Puerto Varas
- →Saltos de Petrohué waterfalls (~£5 park entry)
- →Lago Todos los Santos boat cruise (~£25-35)
- →Osorno lava-field walk & Laguna Verde
Fly north to Calama & to San Pedro de Atacama — Valley of the Moon at sunset
San Pedro de Atacama
Fly Puerto Montt → Santiago → Calama (two flights, £90-160 total; or an epic 4-day bus journey if you're on a serious budget). From Calama airport, shared transfers to San Pedro de Atacama take ~1h (£8-12) — cheaper than taxis. Check into a hostel in town, then head out for the Valley of the Moon (Valle de la Luna) at sunset, when the lunar rock formations glow orange against the Licancabur volcano. Entry ~£7 plus a shared tour £18-25, or a local bus/mini-shuttle. Sunsets here are legendary, so don't skip it.
🚌Two flights (£90-160) + shared transfer Calama→San Pedro (£8-12)
🛏Hostel in San Pedro de Atacama (e.g. Hostal Katarpe or similar) — dorm £12-18, private £30-45
- →Flights to Calama
- →Shared transfer to San Pedro
- →Valley of the Moon sunset tour (~£18-25 + entry)
Altiplano Lagoons & Salar de Atacama / flamingos
San Pedro de Atacama
Join a shared full-day tour to the Altiplano Lagoons (Lagunas Miscanti & Miñiques, ~4,350m) via the stone village of Socaire, then descend to the vast Salar de Atacama salt flat and the Chaxa Lagoon flamingo reserve. Book this direct with a San Pedro operator or via GetYourGuide/Viator (~£30-45 + ~£10 in reserve entries). Take it easy with the altitude: drink water, avoid heavy meals, and don't rush the climbs. The silence and the deep blue lagoons ringed in white salt crust are unforgettable.
🚌Shared tour minibus from San Pedro
🛏Hostel in San Pedro de Atacama
- →Lagunas Miscanti & Miñiques day tour
- →Socaire village
- →Salar de Atacama & Chaxa Lagoon flamingos (~£10 reserve entries)
El Tatio geysers at sunrise (& optional stargazing)
San Pedro de Atacama
Set a very early alarm — El Tatio geysers are best at sunrise when the steam columns catch the light, and the altitudinous field sits above 4,300m (dress in layers, it's freezing at dawn). Tours leave San Pedro around 4am (£25-35 + ~£10 entry) and include small breakfasts from some operators and can be combined with a stop at the Machuca village on the way back. Spend the afternoon recovering, then book an optional night-time astronomy tour in the Atacama (the world's clearest skies — ~£25-40 with a local observatory guide).
🚌Shared tour minibus from San Pedro; very early start
🛏Hostel in San Pedro de Atacama
- →El Tatio geysers sunrise tour (~£25-35 + entry)
- →Machuca village stop
- →Optional Atacama night-sky astronomy tour (~£25-40)
Fly back to Santiago
Santiago
Transfer to Calama (~£8-12 shared) and fly back to Santiago (£45-90). Drop your bags at your hostel, then spend the last afternoon ticking off anything you missed — the Museo de la Memoria, Bellavista street art, or a relaxed market lunch. Treat yourself to a final Chilean dinner: seafood at Mercado Central or a curry chicken at a picada, washed down with a carmenère.
🚌Shared transfer to Calama airport + domestic flight (£45-90)
🛏Hostel in Bellavista/Lastarria
- →Flight Calama→Santiago
- →Free afternoon (Museo de la Memoria, Bellavista street art)
- →Final Santiago dinner
Trip ends in Santiago
Santiago
Check out and head to the airport for your onward flight home or to your next stop. If you have time, a last wander around Barrio Lastarria for coffee and souvenirs is a lovely way to sign off. Remember to confirm any remaining departure tax or airline fees and leave buffer time for the airport transfer.
🚌Airport bus (~£2) or taxi (~£15-20)
🛏N/A — onward travel
- →Departure transfer
- →Optional last-minute souvenir shopping in Lastarria
Self-launched vs. Exodus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exodus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,855 | £4,500 |
| Duration | 13 days | 13 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,645 per person (59%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Exodus-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,855
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Discover Chile: Self-Launched Atacama, Lake District & Patagonia cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,855 per person for 13 days in Chile. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Exodus?+
Yes — Exodus charges around £4,500 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,855 — a saving of roughly £2,645 (59%) per person.
How long is the Chile trip?+
This itinerary runs 13 days, covering 13 day-by-day stops through Chile.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, hiking trip through Chile, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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