Iquique, Chile
Iquique enjoys a scenic locale between the Pacific Ocean and the Pampa del Tamarugal, a vast plateau within the Atacama Desert. This bustling city was once part of Peru and grew prosperous from saltpeter mining. It was ceded to Chile in 1883 after the War of the Pacific. Today, Iquique boasts many architectural treasures around its central Arturo Prat Square, from the stately Municipal Theater and the elegant Casino Español to a Gothic and Moorish-style Clock Tower. The city’s well-preserved Georgian-style homes are a picturesque legacy from the 19th-century mining boom.
Iquique enjoys a scenic locale between the Pacific Ocean and the Pampa del Tamarugal, a vast plateau within the Atacama Desert. This bustling city was once part of Peru and grew prosperous from saltpeter mining. It was ceded to Chile in 1883 after the War of the Pacific. Today, Iquique boasts many architectural treasures around its central Arturo Prat Square, from the stately Municipal Theater and the elegant Casino Español to a Gothic and Moorish-style Clock Tower. The city’s well-preserved Georgian-style homes are a picturesque legacy from the 19th-century mining boom.
Shore Excursions
Shore excursions vary by each itinerary and are subject to change.
Iquique at a Glance
Embark on a historical voyage through Iquique with a scenic drive towards Cavancha Beach and Plaza Arturo Prat.
Sample the Sights of a Historic Port City
Embark on a historical voyage through Iquique with a scenic drive towards Cavancha Beach and Plaza Arturo Prat. Uncover the history of Iquique during a guided tour by motor coach. Your first stop is the Iquique Regional Museum, where you will explore paleontology exhibits, view 7,000-year-old Chinchorro mummies and learn about life in Iquique long ago. Next, continue with a picturesque drive along the renowned Cavancha Beach, before heading to Plaza Arturo Prat, the central hub of downtown. View the architectural landmarks within the plaza, including the Municipal Theater, a Renaissance-style building and former opera theater. Venture into the Centro Español and see the expansive oil paintings that narrate scenes from Don Quixote’s life. Enjoy a traditional Chilean beverage at this historic establishment before embarking on your journey back to your ship.
Humberstone & Cerro Pintados Geoglyphs
Explore the history and heritage of the world’s driest desert, the Atacama.
Heritage of the Atacama Desert
Explore the history and heritage of the world’s driest desert, the Atacama. Take a scenic drive by motor coach across the Chilean Coastal Range and into the Pampa region of the great Atacama Desert. This desolate area became a conflict zone during the 19th century as three South American nations—Peru, Bolivia and Chile—fought over its resources. Stop in Humberstone, an abandoned mining town and a UNESCO World Heritage Site to learn about the nitrate industry and the communal Pampino culture. The dry, desert climate has preserved the ghost-like town and you will see the workers’ quarters, the factory plant and the railway. Continue to the Pampa del Tamarugal National Reserve to see the Cerro Pintados geoglyphs—monumental drawings of animals, people and geometric symbols that have been carved into the surrounding hillsides. After, return to your ship.
Machu Picchu & the Galápagos Overland
Explore the world of the Incas, from Machu Picchu to Cusco, and journey to the remote Galápagos Islands.
Lost City of the Incas and Rare Wildlife at Remote Island Outpost
Explore the world of the Incas, from Machu Picchu to Cusco, and journey to the remote Galápagos Islands. Discover the former capital of a powerful empire and enjoy two unforgettable days as you visit uninhabited isles, learn about the research of Charles Darwin and view endangered species. Please note: sites on this program are not accessible and cannot accommodate guests who rely on a walker, wheelchair or motorized scooter/wheelchair.
Day 1 - Lima, Peru
Disembark your ship in Iquique and transfer to the airport for your flight to Santiago, where you will take your connecting flight to Lima. Upon arrival in Peru’s cosmopolitan capital, transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to spend at your leisure. Your Viking Tour Director is available to help you make the most of your visit. (L)
Day 2 - Cusco, Peru
This morning, transfer to the airport for your flight to Cusco, deep in the Andes Mountains and once the capital of the mighty Incan Empire. Enjoy lunch, followed by a tour of the city’s landmarks. Cusco is home to important historic sites, including the Plaza de Armas, the main square surrounded by colonial arcades, and the imposing cathedral, built with slabs of red granite. Later, check into your hotel, where you can enjoy dinner this evening. (B, L, D)
Day 3 - Cusco, Peru
Transfer to the train station, then board a train for a panoramic journey to the famous citadel of Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located 7,972 feet above sea level, this remote mountaintop city was abandoned by the Incas during the mid-16th century, reclaimed by the jungle and stayed virtually unknown until its rediscovery in 1911. Take a guided tour around its most significant sights, then board your train and return to Cusco. (B, L, D)
Day 4 - Quito, Ecuador
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Quito via Lima. Upon arrival, check in to your hotel. Quito was one of the first cities recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Later today, you will enjoy a panoramic excursion to see its historic city center. View the Church and Convent of San Francisco, La Compañía and the stately Independence Square, flanked by the Presidential Palace and Quito Cathedral. This evening, enjoy dinner at your hotel. (B, D)
Day 5 - Galápagos Islands
After breakfast, check out of your hotel and head to the airport for your flight to Baltra Island in the Galápagos Islands. Ferry across the Itabaca Channel to Santa Cruz Island, where you will see endangered Galápagos giant tortoises in their natural habitat. Afterward, check in to your hotel. (B, L, D)
Days 6 & 7 - Galápagos Islands
Today, you will explore one of the nearby uninhabited Galápagos Islands. Board a boat with your naturalist guide, who will point out the islands’ geological formations and spectacular flora and fauna. This evening, return to your lodgings on Santa Cruz Island. (B, L, D)
*Note: Due to the carefully controlled environment of the Galápagos Islands and national park regulations, visits are subject to change without notice. Specific wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed.
Day 8 - Panama City (Fuerte Amador), Panama
After breakfast, visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, famous for its tortoise conservation and breeding programs. Then, travel to view the Twin Craters—a geologic formation caused by the collapse of surface materials into empty magma chambers. Afterward, head to the airport for your flight to Panama City, transferring via Guayaquil. Upon arrival, board your motor coach and journey to Fuerte Amador, where you will rejoin your awaiting ship. (B, L)
The following meals are included for all days as listed: B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner
Please note: Specific wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed. Sites on this program are not accessible and cannot accommodate guests who rely on a walker, wheelchair or motorized scooter/wheelchair. Once booked, the overland is non-refundable.
Single occupancy rates apply.
Mining Town, Pampino Culture & Pica Oasis
Witness the harsh environment of the Atacama Desert and learn how local communities thrived and prospered.
Explore the Atacama Desert Communities
Witness the harsh environment of the Atacama Desert and learn how local communities thrived and prospered. The dry, desert climate resulted in the preservation of nitrates, which gave the region an economic boon. Stop at the abandoned saltpeter mining town of Santa Laura and explore its ghost-like community in which time appears to have stood still. View the remnants of the industrial machinery and explore the Museum of Saltpeter to learn more about mining life in this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your guide will also introduce you to the Pampino culture as you journey across the Pampa del Tamarugal National Reserve. Next, arrive at Pica—a pretty oasis and the perfect spot to enjoy lunch and while away an afternoon, admiring its colorful painted houses, water springs and lemon groves, before returning to your awaiting ship.
Santa Laura & the Atacama Giant
Venture into the desert to explore Chile’s mining past and view the Atacama Giant, the world’s largest geoglyph.
Mining Ghost Town and the World’s Largest Geoglyph
Venture into the desert to explore Chile’s mining past and view the Atacama Giant, the world’s largest geoglyph. Leave civilization behind as you head into the seemingly endless Atacama Desert, a breathtakingly stark landscape of barren sand and rock. The area’s arid climate resulted in the preservation of nitrates, which was an economic boon to the region. Visit the mining town of Santa Laura, a center for saltpeter production before its abandonment in the late 1960s. Explore its ghost-like community that appears to have stood still in time; view the remnants of the industrial machinery and tour the Museum of Saltpeter to learn more about this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue on to Cerro Unitas, where you will marvel at the ingenuity and skill of the indigenous peoples of long ago while viewing the Atacama Giant—a massive, anthropomorphic astronomical calendar built into the hillside. Enjoy lunch in a nearby village before returning to your ship.
Huasco Salt Flat National Park
Travel into the high plains of the Andes Mountains to experience the natural beauty of the Huasco Salt Flat.
Nature Sanctuary in the High Plains of the Andes
Travel into the high plains of the Andes Mountains to experience the natural beauty of the Huasco Salt Flat. Embark on a scenic journey by motor coach into the vast Atacama Desert and begin your climb through this stark landscape of rock and sand en route to the salt flat. Along the way, stop to stretch your legs in the quaint town of Pozo Almonte; view its main square and church, then continue your journey to Huasco Salt Flat National Park. Located at more than 12,000 feet above sea level, this nature sanctuary stretches out for almost 28,000 acres. Dotted with numerous ponds and salt marshes, this high-altitude ecosystem is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. After a delicious box lunch, enjoy free time to explore your beautiful surroundings. Take a leisurely stroll around the flat, pause for photographs and learn about local life from your guide before returning to port.
