Self drive Patagonia holiday including Mapuche culture
Description of Self drive Patagonia holiday including Mapuche culture
This 18 day tailor made, self drive Patagonia holiday comes with a car rental so that you can take off and enjoy the vast wilderness wonders at your own pace, but following our carefully crafted itinerary. This holiday will not only take you through our snow-capped volcanoes, up to exquisite, elevated lakes and Araucaria forests, and down to coastal villages but also to meet with indigenous Mapuche communities along the way.
Patagonia is the ancestral home of the indigenous Mapuche people, who have lived on this land for centuries. Land is sacred to these people, and indeed they are known as ‘people of the land’ locally because their connection with nature and the environment is innate. by spending time in Mapuche communities on this trip you will be able to learn about Patagonian culture and nature. You will even get a chance to spend a night with a local Mapuche family in their “ruka”, a traditional wooden house.
During this holiday, we highly recommend visits to four of our most magnificent national parks: Conguillio, Huerquehue, Villarrica and Chiloe with plenty of time built in for you to enjoy some outdoor exploration. In Conguilio the "Los nevados " hike with views over to Lake and Volcano Llaima is breathtaking. In Huerquehue you will be astounded by the sacred and stunning Araucarias forests, climb up Villarrica volcano and then bliss out among the marine wildlife on Chiloe Island where penguins, sea lions, Commerson’s dolphins and pelicans are just a few of the treats in store.
Please note that this is just a suggested itinerary below, and as this is a tailor made trip we are happy to adjust it to suit your interests and travel requirements. We will also provide you with our bespoke road book with all the information necessary for the smooth running of your stay, as well as a mobile phone to be in contact with us 24/7.
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5 Reviews of Self drive Patagonia holiday including Mapuche culture
Reviewed on 04 Dec 2023 by Jan Thomas
Everything! The whales, sea lions, elephant seals, penguins and other wildlife on the Valdes Peninsula. The spectacular landscapes of the glaciers and mountains of Los Glaciares and Torres del Paine National Parks. The natural beauty of peaceful Chiloe. The colourful craziness of Valparaiso's street art. And the friendly welcomes everywhere. How can you choose a favourite? Read full reviewReviewed on 24 Nov 2022 by Neill Butler
The incredible scenery of Patagonia, the immensity of the Iguazu waterfalls and waking up to an earthquake in Santiago was also pretty memorable! Read full reviewReviewed on 03 May 2019 by Daniela Bocciarelli
The trip was wonderful in all aspects, perfect in organization and unique in its kind. Read full reviewReviewed on 21 Apr 2018 by Lauren Pavitt
There were so many highlights but the two most memorable parts of the holiday were climbing the beautiful Villarrica volcano and spending 4 days in the breathtaking wilderness of the Torres del Paine National Park. Everywhere we stayed we wished we had been able to stay longer - it is such as beautiful country. Read full reviewReviewed on 14 Dec 2017 by Deborah Padovan
We really liked having the freedom to explore on our own with the comfort of having a safety net. Self guided trips are the way to go. Our agent, Federica, was the absolute best. Read full reviewResponsible Travel
Planet
This is a tailor-made, independent trip; groups are very small, normally comprised of 2 to 4 people, helping to minimise the negative environmental and social impact.This is a journey through the Chilean Patagonia. Much of the trip is spent in pristine nature, including four beautiful National parks. Our travellers are briefed by local guides as to how to minimise their impact on the environment. Advise includes staying on marked tracks, only picnicking on designated areas and disposing of all waste responsibly.
Travellers will experience the extraordinary beauty of this natural environment: millennial native rainforests, snow-capped volcanoes, waterfalls and lakes. Useful tips on how to travel responsibly, as well as information on local flora and fauna can also be found in the road book we provide to our travellers.
On this tour, we work with authentic lodging run by people aware of their environmental responsibilities. Most of the accommodation consists of traditional constructions, often built using local materials such as native woods.
On the Island of Chiloe, travellers will meet a group local fishermen who have created an association for the protection and development of their natural heritage. Aware of the negative impact of fishing on biodiversity, they are using tourism as a new source of income. Travellers will learn about local marine life including penguins, sea lions, sea otters and pelicans among other animals.
People
We want local populations to benefit from the resources generated by tourism, by putting as much as possible back into the local communities. We support local employment and communities in our choice of accommodation, tours, restaurants, etc. We always take into consideration the feedback we receive from the local population to try to improve the quality of services in the best way possible.During this trip, travellers will have a chance to familiarize with customs and traditions of Mapuche rural families. A truly authentic opportunity to participate in the ceremonial and cultural activities of these small communities, while at the same time supporting local businesses. Three nights spent at Carlos and Marta ‘s Ruka, an excellent example of Mapuche architecture, locally sourced and biodegradable.
All travellers are provided with detailed guidelines as to how to travel responsibly. We provide our travellers with a road book with useful information on local culture and customs.
We donate 3% of the total price of this trip to co-fund micro-projects implemented by local schools, associations and ONGs. These are community projects based on education and conservation activities, especially addressed to young people.
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