9-Night South America Itinerary

One mountain range. Two countries. Three remarkably different landscapes.

The Andean Crossing follows the spine of the Andes through Chile and Argentina, beginning among the salt flats and high-altitude lagoons of the Atacama Desert before traveling south to the glaciers and granite peaks of Patagonia, then north again to the vineyards of Mendoza.

Across nine nights, stay at Awasi Atacama, Awasi Patagonia and Awasi Mendoza, with an overnight connection in Santiago between destinations. Each place reveals a different expression of the Andes, from desert terrain shaped by minerals and volcanic forces to ancient ice fields and rows of Malbec vines.

At every Awasi lodge, a private guide and dedicated 4WD allow the journey to remain personal. Days are shaped around your interests, pace and the conditions of the landscape rather than a fixed group schedule.

Begin in northern Chile.

Fly from Santiago to Calama, where your Awasi guide meets you for the private transfer to San Pedro de Atacama. The landscape changes almost immediately, opening into the immense plains, distant volcanoes and sculpted formations of one of the driest regions on Earth.

Your introduction begins at the Cordillera de la Sal, where wind and time have carved ancient seabed sediment into ridges whose salt content gives the landscape its pale, almost lunar appearance.

The following day, climb higher into the Andes toward the Lagunas Altiplánicas, a series of lagoons more than 4,000 metres above sea level where flamingos can be seen against an expansive mountain backdrop. Continue toward Piedras Rojas, where iron-rich rock formations create deep shades of red against the surrounding lagoon and desert.

Another day brings you to Cejar Lagoon, where high salt concentrations make floating effortless, before exploring the Ayllus surrounding San Pedro. These historic farming communities continue to draw water through irrigation canals with roots stretching back to pre-Inca times.

Before leaving Atacama, discover Rainbow Valley, where deposits of copper, iron and sulfur have painted bands of color across the hillsides.

Then return to Santiago for an overnight stay before continuing south.

The final chapter of the Andean Crossing slows the pace.

Travel north to Mendoza, where the Andes remain a constant presence but vineyards now stretch across the foreground.

Spend a full day discovering the wines of Luján de Cuyo, one of Argentina’s most celebrated wine regions and a historic home of Malbec. Private tastings introduce the character of the region before the evening turns toward another Argentine tradition with a tango performance.

The following day is experienced on two wheels.

Set out along Camino de las Carreras, following quiet backroads framed by vineyards, poplars and the acequias that have carried water through Mendoza for centuries. With the Andes rising beyond the vines, the ride offers a final perspective on the mountain range that has connected every stage of the journey.

From the driest desert to ancient ice and, finally, the vineyard: nine nights, with the Andes always within sight.

The landscapes may change, but the way you travel remains distinctly Awasi.

At each lodge, your villa is paired with a private guide and dedicated 4WD vehicle. There are no fixed group departures to follow. Excursions can be adjusted according to the weather, arrival and departure times, activity level and whatever captures your curiosity along the way.

Santiago acts as the connection between each region, with one overnight stay included within the nine-night itinerary.

The result is a Chile and Argentina itinerary that feels expansive without being overwhelming: three destinations connected by a single mountain range, experienced entirely at your own pace.