DESTINATIONS CHILE LATIN AMERICA RIGHT:


&Beyond Vira Vira


FAR RIGHT: Tierra Chiloé


BELOW: Aisén


ASK THE EXPERT


Laura Rendell- Dunn, destination specialist, Journey Latin America “For clients in search of pristine wilderness, crowd-free areas of staggering natural beauty are opening up to tourism, with much-improved transport and accommodation. The opening of Tierra Chiloé has meant this small archipelago now features on many first-class itineraries, and we’re seeing a new generation of boutique hotels opening up in traditional island houses, such as Sizigia on Castro. For visitors who want to see the wilds of Patagonia in style, the new Futangue Hotel & Spa is set on a private reserve on the shores of Lago Ranco, with jaw-dropping views over Puyehue National Park.”


deer, or visit Magellanic and Humboldt penguin colonies. Ride a horse across deserted beaches, dip into some of the 70 Unesco World Heritage-listed wooden churches, and discover villages of colourful wooden stilt houses. Tierra Chiloé is a head-turning boutique hotel with a contemporary take on Chiloé’s stilt-and-shingle houses. Overlooking a bird-filled bay, the interiors echo its colours and crafts, with hand-loomed rugs, cowhide cushions and honey-coloured wood. The chef is equally inspired by the island’s bountiful produce, serving up a gourmet take on local dishes. Like its sister hotels in Atacama and


Patagonia, Tierra offers excursions that get guests off the beaten track, meeting the friendly locals while hiking, biking, kayaking and sailing. Rates start at $1,173 inclusive of excursions, meals, drinks and transfers.


w AISEN Dubbed Patagonia’s final frontier, Aisén lies between the Lake District to the


Aisén, dubbed Patagonia’s final frontier, is a place of granite massifs, vast glaciers, temperate rainforest and Alpine lakes


north and Patagonia’s flagship national park, Torres del Paine, to the south. Chile’s least-populated region is untamed and still largely undiscovered. It’s a place of granite massifs, vast glaciers, temperate rainforest and Alpine lakes, and its abundant flora and fauna includes the Andean condor, the elusive puma and guanacos. Now it’s becoming more accessible, with flights to Balmaceda (just over two hours from Santiago) and ferries from Puerto Montt. And for the ultimate Chilean road trip, visitors can self-drive along the scenic Carretera Austral or Southern Highway, which


stretches for around 770 miles from Puerto Montt to Villa O’Higgins. Around five hours south of


Balmaceda is Chile Chico and Lago General Carrera, South America’s second-biggest lake, where more lodges and hotels are springing up to suit all budgets, offering hiking, fishing and glacier treks amid spectacular scenery. Another four hours south is


Patagonia Park, a biodiversity hotspot tucked between two national reserves. Conservación Patagónica bought up vast ranches and began an enormous rewilding and habitat restoration project. Now the park has a network of world-class hiking trails along with simple campsites and the luxurious Lodge at Valle Chacabuco (doubles from $500 B&B). Book it: Journey Latin America offers an eight-night, bespoke tour of Chile from £4,791, including flights from Heathrow, full-board accommodation in first-class hotels such as Tierra Chiloé and &Beyond Vira Vira, transport and guided excursions. journeylatinamerica.co.uk


68 travelweekly.co.uk 7 February 2019


PHOTOS: CONSERVACION PATAGONICA/LINDE WAIDHOFER; JORGE BUSTOS; SHUTTERSTOCK


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