Chile self-drive holidays

Environment

We will be staying in boutique accommodations, meaning that historic buildings are not destroyed to make way for modern builds, but are instead restored to their former glory. Staying in boutique hotels not only preserves the culture of different periods of a country’s history, but also reduced the environmental impact of building a completely new building. On this tour in particular, we will be staying at Casa Real Hotel in Santiago, a beautifully restored colonial building from 1885. Also, we will be staying at Boutique Hotel Sutherland House in Valparaiso. This is of particular importance to preserve as the hotel is within a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We are promoting the natural beauty and ancient heritage of Chile through not only visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Valparaíso, but also visiting the Humbolt Penguin National Reserve on Damas Island and the Flamingo National Reserve in San Pedro Atacama. UNESCO Sites are chosen by the UNESCO committee and must "bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to civilisation", "an important interchange of human values" or be outstanding examples of major stages of Earth's history or ecological and biological processes in evolution. Visiting such sites helps sustain the traditions and natural ecosystems of Chile.

We attempt to reduce plastic bottle use wherever possible by promoting use of reusable and filtered water bottles. Our partnership with Water-To-Go provides a discount on filtered water bottles to our clients. We do not provide water from plastic bottles to our clients in country but always ensure there is regular access to drinking water on our tours.

Community

On day 2 you will visit the artisan village of Toconao. Apart from agriculture, artisan work is the biggest source of work in the village. The village is known for its traditional volcanic stone artisans who make amazing crafts from the volcanic stone quarry. The oasis town of Toconao can benefit from tourism in the area through the selling of crafts, maintaining the traditional techniques used there and the culture surrounding it.

On day 8, you will be exploring a winery in Alto Jahuel and sampling the local product, with a chance to buy some produce as a gift or souvenir. Elqui Valley is known for its pisco grapes, used to make Chile’s National Drink. On Day 6, you will tour a grape distillery and learn the process of making pisco.

The best way to share stories and meet new people is over a plate of great food and a drink in hand. Supporting the local food and drink industry in Chile not only maintains the cultural identity of the country but connects cultures through the most ancient of pastimes, eating and drinking!

Responsible travel and sustainable tourism are fundamental ideas that we have been committed to since our conception. It is part of our core sets of beliefs that these words are not simply scattered nonchalantly into our literature and on our website but moreover that they are central to each and every trip. Our adventures are therefore carefully curated celebrating all that is local from the people, to the culture. We believe that a successful trip delivers a unique and authentic journey for our clients, but furthermore benefits the people whose land we have the privilege of encountering.