La Serena
Description
Pricing
Itinerary
Sub Trips
Hotels
The icon of La Serena is the monumental lighthouse located at one end of the coastal road running along the region’s extensive beaches. In La Serena you will be able to explore La Recova, the local market where you will be able to find fresh produce, including seafood, and handicrafts. Nearby areas of interest include the Elqui Valley with picturesque villages and pisco vineyards, traditional Chilean liquor. The region is one of the best in the world for star gazing and is home to many observatories, such as Mamalluca.
You may choose between 3, 4, and 5 star hotels in La Serena.
Day 1
La Serena
Flight from Santiago to La Serena. Reception at the airport and transfer to your hotel. Afternoon city tour of La Serena and Coquimbo. This tour reveals the neo-colonial Spanish architecture of La Serena, with its 29 churches, a romantic avenue of Italian-style statues, and historic mansions from the 18th century. Discover the cultures of the Molle, Animas, and Diaguitas Indians in the archaeological museum, hunt for gifts and treasures in La Recova market and drive along the coastal road from the lighthouse monument of El Faro to Coquimbo, an important port of the region. Finally, visit the bay of La Herradura and the legendary Bay of Guayacán, where the pirate Francis Drake disembarked in 1578. Museums closed on Mondays. Return to your hotel.
Day 2
Full day excursion to the Elqui Valley
According to its inhabitants, the Elqui Valley is a great center for special energy and many alternative communities can be found in the valley. We will also visit the town of Vicuńa, birthplace of Gabriela Mistral, one of Chile’s Nobel Prize winning poets. The day includes a visit to a local pisco distillery, where the national drink is made and bottled. Continue on to Monte Grande to visit the tomb of Gabriela Mistral and a museum dedicated to her, housed in the school she once attended. Lunch included.
Day 3
Day at leisure to enjoy the town and beaches of La Serena, or choose from one of our optional excursions.
In the evening we will visit the Mamalluca Observatory, located in the Vicuńa Valley. Here, a domed observatory and an electronic twelve inch telescope will permit you to view the night skies of the southern hemisphere. A talk will be given about the stars and planets which can be seen from Mamalluca.
Day 4
Transfer to the airport for the flight back to Santiago.
4 days , from £1208
| Occupancy Type |
3-Star |
4-Star |
5-Star |
| Double | £1208 | £1242 | £1414 |
| Single | £1894 | £1967 | £2376 |
Prices shown above are per person, in Sterling (Ł).