daphee

So we just booked flights to Chile for the month of December and I'm kind of lost and overwhelmed in terms of making an itinerary on relatively short notice.
I do know that we want to spend around 1 wk in Santiago area, incl. Valparaiso, Vina etc.
I also know that we would like to do the W trek in Torres del Paine, and it seems that with the transfers in and out that comes out to about a week as well.
My question is what we can do in the remaining two weeks- are there more things to do in Patagonia? or should we head to the lakes district?
Any recommendations would be great appreciated!!! Thanks in advance

mattkitson

If you're in those bits of Chile, you can hop over the border to Argentina really easily. If you're going to TdP then you can get over (bus/car) to El Calafate and see the glaciers on that side of the Andes.

From Santiago you can easily go to Mendoza in Argentina and that's definitely worth it, the grapes will be full on the vines by then!

HappyTrvlr

You can stay in the lake country by flying into Puerto Montt. Stay in Puerto Varas, spend a few days and then take the lake crossing to Bariloche , Argentina and explore that area as well.Th elakes crossing is through national parks and has beautiful scenery.

daphee

Thank you both for your responses!
If we were to cross to El Calafate, how much time would we need there?
Also, DH is talking about going north to San Pedro de Atacama, would that be unreasonable to add on?

Amy

San Pedro de Atacama is lovely; really beautiful places and marvelous walks. My trip report is here: http://www.fodors.com/community/sout...rip-report.cfm

The Atacama was my last part, and it was really really special to me. (Although I have to get a plug in for going to Easter Island, as well--what a fabulous place!)

daphee

Thanks Amy, I actually read through your trip report and it was a big help. Sadly no Easter Island this time, although we'll be back to the area, I'm sure.