The magnificent Andes rise steeply from capital Santiago, soon reaching slopes rich in alpines and spectacular summer bulbs. This richness continue farther south with more fine passes and superb mountains. The colour is concentrated in these cooler uplands at this season and this tour takes us up to be among some dazzling and vibrant wild gardens. An active trip it is designed for those that love to combine flowers, mountains and walking.
A 14-day tour of the Andes with Chris Gardner
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Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Santiago (3 January)
Upon arrival at Santiago International Airport (SCL) we will transfer to our hotel in Guayacan.
Day 2 Lagunillas (4 January)
The cool of dawn is greeted with birdsong in this peaceful valley and a short drive will see us up at the very modest ski centre of Lagunillas and walking towards stony slopes coloured with big sprawling mats of ochre to plum-purple Argylia adscendens, Perezia carthamoides, stands of Schizanthus hookeri and ever increasing numbers of rich pink Rhodophiala rhodolirion and variable Alstroemeria pallida. Ridgetop screes have reddish Pachylaenia atriplicifolia, Cistanthe picta and pretty Cruckshanksia hymenodon (pink form). Overnight Guayacan.
Day 3 El Yeso (5 January)
In the morning (and if the road is open) we will drive up to the El Yeso barrage to where there will be plenty of Alstroemeria umbellata and Tropaeolum polyphyllum. Then after lunch we'll drive south to our next hotel, nestled in the forested foothills of Volcan Descabezado. Overnight Vilches.
Day 4 Laguna de Maule (6 January)
An excellent plant area inland from Vilches Alto, we’ll drive up to the pass to the stunning blue lake that is surrounded by dramatic volcanic landscapes. The many streams are lined with dazzling displays of coppery-orange Mimulus cupreus and Calceolaria filicaulis in a fiery duet. Open slopes have more subtle pink Oxalis adenophylla, and tufts of scarlet Loasa lateritia one of the loveliest alpines to be seen at this season. Elsewhere are cascades of Tropaeolum incisum, sulphurous Euphrasia andicola and much more the bristly snaking stems of Nassauvia. And everything with the irresistible backdrop of the lake. Parts of the surrounding landscape are equally dramatic with contorted and eroded ash towers, impressive lava flows of densely packed hexagonal columns. Overnight Vilches Alto.
Day 5 Altos de Lircay (7 January)
The chance to stretch our legs and take a hike into the woods of Altos de Lircay. The route passes through Nothofagus forest filled with countless pink Alstroemeria presliana and a good number of scarlet Rhodophiala splendens. Bushes of Fuchsia magellanica arc gracefully over streams laden with pendant flowers and the climbing stems of Mutisia decurrens hang with big tangerine flowers. After lunch we'll transfer further south to our next bases, set beneath the looming bulk of Volcan Antuco. Overnight Antucalhue.
Day 6 Laguna de Laja (8 January)
More sensational flower displays carpet parts of Volcan Antuco's austere black ash slopes. Greener slopes are illuminated with stands of golden Alstroemeria aurea and where humus has accumulated are natural gardens of pink Mutisia oligodon in tumbling masses mixed with orange-yellow Qunchimalium chilense. The landscapes are wild and spectacular from the blue Laguna de Laja to the rugged, multicoloured volcanic slopes and glacier clad peaks. a hidden waterfall has Rhodophiala araucana and is the perfect place for a picnic. Nearby shrubberies have plentiful Alstroemeria presliana, A. aurea and Mutisia decurrens. In the shade of lava flows the cliffs are peppered with beautiful mats of Ourisia microphylla. Overnight Antucalhue.
Day 7 Tolhuaca (9 January)
Beginning our return journey northwards, we visit Tolhuaca; Chile's first national park and a superb area of Araucaria and Nothofagus forests with a rich shrub and bamboo understorey including stately Blechnum magellanicum. We’ll spend the afternoon exploring the trails here hopefully finding the white-flowered orchid Chloraea longipetala, Mutisia araucana, scarlet necklaces of Tropaeolum speciosum and plentiful Mitraria coccinea. Another easy flat trail leads to a spectacular waterfall lookout. Overnight Curacautin.
Day 8 Malalcahuelo & Las Nalcas (10 January)
A dramatic and stark volcanic landscape that is home to one of the holy grails of Andean alpines; Chaetanthera villosa. But, before we reach here we will wander among some magnificent Araucaria araucana forests, including a venerable thousand-year-old specimen. With luck there will still be some Chloraea magellanica in flower too. The slopes of Volcan Lonquimay rise up beyond it is in these seemingly lifeless tracts that we will find pretty Loasa nana, Oxalis adenophylla and of course the incomparable Chaetanthera villosa. After lunch on a lava flow we'll drive through other impressive areas of huge monkey puzzles. Overnight Curacautin.
Day 9 To Curico (11 January)
Chile’s geography is always a challenge and today we need to make a lengthy journey to our final plant-rich areas. To break up our journey we’ll visit a vineyard on the way, before overnighting in Curico.
Day 10 Paso Vergara (12 January)
Much of the lowland flora will have finished flowering by now and there will be little to delay our drive up into another impressive alpine realm where abundant Zephyranthes rhodolirion mingles with Alstroemeria externes the remarkable inflated pods of Astragalus pehuelches, gaudy Schizanthus grahami and the purple balls of Calceolaria arachnoidea. Big mats of Azorella monantha are common in places and the dense buttons of Viola skottsbergiana can sometimes be found growing through them. Wonderful scenery all around. Overnight Curico.
Day 11 To Farellones (13 January)
A morning transfer takes us to the mountains above the capital. Alstroemeria revoluta will be flowering on the lower slopes as we climb to our hotel at 2500 metres, where we'll arrive in time to explore some of the ski slopes around Valle Nevado for Alstroemeria umbellata. Our hotel is beautifully positioned above the hills. Overnight near Santiago.
Day 12 La Parva (14 January)
We will spend the day walking into the slopes where various ski roads take us fairly easily uphill to where there are lots of Rhodophiala rhodolirion (white form), Loasa sigmoidea, Viola philippii, Perezia carthamoides, trailing stems of golden Tropaeolum polyphyllum and spectacular displays of Cajophora coronata each massive plants sporting many inflated white flowers. Another of the classic and outrageous summer alpine plants. We might ultimately reach nearly 3600 metres where we'll find some fascinating high altitude species such as Nototriche compacta, Loasa caespitosa, Viola atropurpurea, Nastanthus agglomeratus, Tropaeolum nubigena and the remarkable Nassauvia pinigera. Overnight near Santiago.
Day 13 To Santiago for flights (15 January)
The airport is only an hour or so away for our return flights.
TOUR DATES
3-15 January 2026 (in Chile)
TOUR COST
6600 USD (twin share)
925 USD (single supplement)
Deposit 990 USD
Included:
- Accommodation
- All food
- Ground transport
- Guide services
Not included:
- International Flights
- Visas if needed
- Travel/Medical Insurance
- Alcoholic and soft drinks
- Personal expenses
GROUP SIZE
*Minimum number of participants 5, maximum 15.
