Day
02 Tour of the Elqui Valley
This full
day tour of this vibrant valley last all day but leaves the
tourist feeling more energized that when he left in the
morning. The valley is tinged with an esoteric air and many
insist that it is the "energy centre" of the world .This
place is a geographic configuration which is unique in the
world. It is a narrow, but fertile strip of land where
vegetables, papayas, lucuma, chirimoya trees (custard apple),
and grapes grow alongside the hillsides, covered with cacti,
of the semi arid desert. The tour departs from the city of
La Serena along Route 41 towards Vicuna going alongside the
banks of the river Elqui which provides irrigation for this
fertile valley.
There will
be time to see the Bauer Tower (old city hall), Vicuña's
church and the main square. Leaving Vicuña behind the valley
narrows and the mountains become higher and steep sided with
the contrasting green vineyards occupying the valley floor.
Here the vines are grown for the early exportation of table
grapes from the Port of. Coquimbo. Lunch will be in a
typical restaurant and is included in the full day tour. Set
against the clear blue skies, on average there are 300 clear
days per year, there are breathtaking views of this magical
valley with its incredibly pure mountain air, close to the
mystical Cochiguaz valley. The tour begins its descent down
the valley, stopping at the tomb of Gabriela Mistral in the
village of Montegrande and a visit to the old schoolhouse
where she spent her childhood and is now a small museum. On
the return to La Serena enjoy seeing the mountains with
their ever changing colours and the abundance of fruit,
vegetables and vines grown in this unique and fertile valley,
full of sunshine and the clearest of skies. Back to hotel in
La Serena. Lodging.
Day
03 Tour of Fray Jorge National Park and the Enchanted Valley
The
fascinating full day excursion begins in the morning with a
drive along the coast of the Coquimbo Region passing by such
resorts as La Herradura, Totoralillo, Las Tacas and
Morrillos. As the Pan-American highway veers inland there is
opportunity to observe the customary thick fog that settles
above the coastal hills (known as the "camanchaca"). After
turning off the Pan-American the remaining route to Fray
Jorge National Park is 27 kilometres of country road which
is unpaved and passes wheat fields, goat herds and the
traditional goat cheese stands Fray Jorge became a National
Park in 1941, and was declared a Reserve of the Biosphere in
1977 by UNESCO. Within Fray Jorge´s 9,559 hectares the
visitor can observe the contrast between the semi arid hills
that predominate in the park and the groves of forest
similar to those that cover southern Chile.
The tour
stops at the Visitor Centre for an introduction to the Park
before climbing 560 meters to the top of the hill for a
guided forty minute walk during which the cinnamon, myrtle
and olivillo trees can been seen growing above a carpet of
ferns. This unusual abundant vegetation can grow in this
area because of the coastal clouds (or camanchaca) which
forms due to the cold moisture-laden air coming off the
ocean and condensing upon hitting the high ridge. The high
altitude vegetation takes advantage of the moisture in the
clouds, allowing a forest typical of Southern Chile to
survive in the arid north. After the tour of the cloud
forest the descent to the semi arid sector is in sharp
contrast for here can be observed the natural flora and
fauna, especially the foxes and a great variety of birds,
birdwatchers bring your binoculars ! After a box lunch in
the camping area the tour leaves the Park to continue
towards Ovalle and a visit to the Enchanted Valley.The
Enchanted Valley is located 19 kilometres southwest of
Ovalle and was once a vast amphitheatre which was once a
religious sanctuary and has become an open air museum of
scientific and cultural interest. Back to hotel in La
Serena. Lodging
Day
04
Breakfast
at Hotel and transfer to airport.
