- Country/State Chile
- Region South America
explora is devoted to a new way of travel that broadens the way we perceive ourselves. It is about living in the moment, creating unforgettable experiences, and exploring specific South American landscapes and their extreme differences. Discover Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, with its famous monolithic statues, the moai.
Programmes:
explora offers different types of programmes:
explora ATACAMA:
3 or 4 nights (there is no fixed schedule for arrivals).
explora PATAGONIA:
4 or 8 nights (arrival days change monthly).
explora RAPA NUI:
3, 4, 5 or 7 nights (trip duration subject to flight availability throughout the year).
Rates
explora ATACAMA:
From USD 1,920 per person (3 nights).
Includes:
• Transfer between Calama Airport and explora Atacama.
• Accommodation.
• Full board: 3 meals per day, including house wine, drinks and soft drinks.
• Daily explorations into Atacama's natural environment with bilingual guides.
explora PATAGONIA:
From USD 2,660 per person.
Includes:
• Transfer between Punta Arenas Airport and explora Patagonia.
• Accommodation.
• Full board: 3 meals per day, including house wine, drinks and soft drinks.
• Daily explorations with bilingual guides in the area of Parque Nacional Torres del Paine.
explora RAPA NUI:
From USD 2,280 per person.
Includes:
• Transfer between Easter Island airport and explora RAPA NUI.
• Accommodation.
• Full board. 3 meals per day, including house wine, drinks and soft drinks. Open bar.
• Daily explorations in groups of up to 8 people with bilingual guides and equipment.
Location
explora ATACAMA:
The Hotel de Larache is located on the outskirts of San Pedro, an historical village in an oasis in northern Chile's Atacama Desert.
explora PATAGONIA:
Situated in the heart of Chilean Patagonia, 250 miles (400 km) north of Punta Arenas, lies the Hotel Salto Chico, in the middle of the Torres del Paine National Park, within the magnificent Paine mountains.
explora RAPA NUI:
Easter Island is located 3,700 km from the central coast of Chile. The closest inhabited island is Pitcairn, 1,900 km to the northwest. Rapa Nui has a surface of only 166 square kilometers and is shaped like a triangle. The Posada de Mike Rapu is located 6 km from the only city on the island, Hanga Roa. It enjoys magnificent ocean views.
Accommodation
explora ATACAMA:
50 luxury rooms of 33 to 50sqm including 4 suites(335 to 538 sq. ft.), Jacuzzi and sitting area. Each recently refurbished room has marvellous wood and tile interiors with fabulous linens, custom-designed furnishings and spectacular views.
explora PATAGONIA:
The hotel has 50 rooms:
• 6 Suites Exploradores, 39 sqm (396 sq.ft.), with Jacuzzi and view of Macizo del Paine.
• 37 Cordillera Paine, 26 sqm (264 sq.ft.), with Jacuzzi and view of Macizo del Paine.
• 7 Salto Chico Rooms, 26 sqm (264 sq.ft.), with view of Salto Chico waterfalls.
explora RAPA NUI:
The hotel has 30 rooms:
• 4 Raa Suites (468 sq.ft.)
• 26 Varúa Rooms (341 sq.ft.),
all with sitting area, hydro massage bath and ocean view.
Explorations
explora ATACAMA:
explora Atacama has designed a complete programme of explorations aimed at experiencing the desert and its various cultures. Guests can choose from 8 to 10 different alternatives each day which have been classified according to duration and difficulty. The explorations are conceived for leisure travellers who do not require any special training or specific skills (except when climbing the peaks). Guests can explore by bike or foot, by van or on horseback, and are accompanied by bilingual guides. Each evening the guides meet in the lobby of the hotel to discuss the next day's activities. Explorations take place in groups of 10 people maximum.
explora Patagonia has designed a comprehensive programme to enhance in-depth exploration of Torres del Paine National Park. Each day guests can choose from 5 different alternatives out of
a total of 21, which have been classified according to duration and difficulty. The explorations are conceived for leisure travellers and do not require any special training or specific skills (except when climbing the peaks). Guests can explore by bike or foot, by van or on horseback, and are accompanied by bilingual guides with whom guests can explore the wonders of Patagonia. Explorations take place in groups of 10 people maximum.
explora RAPA NUI:
Visitors to Explora en Rapa Nui may participate in one of diverse explorations organized according to group size and guest preference. Every day, guests can choose between easy and more difficult walks that, one by one, unveil the secrets and beauty of the island. These walks are combined with picnics on rocky outcrops or along the shore, always in mesmerizing sites. Each day, guests may choose between 5 or more different explorations that are selected according to climatic conditions, guests' preferences, length and difficulty. The maximum group size is 8 people, along with a bilingual guide who brings along all necessary equipment.
Activities
explora ATACAMA:
Hiking, horseback riding, bicycling, climbing (hills and volcanoes).
explora PATAGONIA:
Hiking, horseback riding, canoeing, expeditions.
explora RAPA NUI:
Hiking, bicycling, diving, expeditions.
Best time to travel
explora ATACAMA:
Year round. The climate is excellent throughout the year, with more than 90% of fine days.
explora PATAGONIA:
Year round. The park has its own microclimates, but the general climate in the region is mild, with pleasant temperatures during the summer and winter. There is snowfall during the winter, but it is usually light and seldom affects excursions.
explora RAPA NUI:
Year round. The average temperature is 21° C (70° F), with highs of 28° C (82° F) during the summer and 17° C (63° F) to 21° C (70° F) during the winter. May is the wettest month, although it can rain any time of the year.
Getting there
explora ATACAMA:
Take an international flight to Santiago, Chile, then a 2 1/2 hour flight to Calama. Explora meets and transfers guests to Hotel Larache in a one-hour van ride.
explora PATAGONIA:
Take an international flight to Santiago, Chile, then a 4 hour flight to Punta Arenas. There an Explora representative meets guests and a five-hour van ride transfers them to Hotel Salto Chico. The first 2 1/2 hours and 250 km are on a paved road from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales where there is a short break for a quick snack. The journey continues for 2 1/2 hours and 150 km are on a dirt road from Puerto Natales to the park.
explora RAPA NUI:
Take an international flight to Santiago, Chile, then a 5 hour flight to Easter Island. Another route would be via Tahiti, from where you also fly 5 hours to Easter Island. Explora staff will greet and transfer guests to explora Rapa Nui.
