My 40th in Chile
September 30 to October 6, 2027
Four nights in the Atacama Desert. Easter Island is an optional add-on through October 10.
Please reply by Tuesday, December 1, 2026.
The invitation
I'm turning 40 next October, and I'd love to celebrate with you in Chile. I wanted to make this a trip of a lifetime with my closest friends (and Mom!).
The plan is four nights in the Atacama Desert, with my birthday dinner on our last night there.
We'll have time to explore, relax, and be together. Your days are yours to plan: head out on an adventure, take a long lunch, spend an afternoon doing very little. We'll meet at meals to hear what everyone's been up to.
After Atacama, the trip is yours: fly home, come with me to Easter Island for three more nights, or stay on in South America and keep going on your own. Bring your partner or a friend if you'd like. I know this is a big commitment of time and money, and I understand if you can't make it.
Please let me know by Tuesday, December 1, 2026, if you're coming. I'll use the confirmed headcount to negotiate group pricing and follow up with final rates, deposit information, and payment terms.
I'd love to have you there.
Atacama
Atacama Desert
Atacama is in northern Chile, near the Andes. It's a landscape of sand dunes, salt flats, volcanic peaks, and lagoons where flamingos feed. At night, the dark skies make it one of the world's great places for stargazing.
We'll stay at Nayara Alto Atacama, tucked into a valley outside San Pedro de Atacama. The hotel's guides can help you choose outings based on what interests you and how active you feel.
Where we stay
Birthday dinner. A day early.
Dinner together at Nayara on Monday, October 4, our last night in Atacama. The next morning, everyone flies to Santiago.
Optional add-on
Rapa Nui
Easter Island
For anyone who wants to carry on: after a night in Santiago, I'm heading to Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, for three nights. This volcanic island in the Pacific has its own Polynesian culture and history, and it will feel completely different from the desert.
The moai are the island's famous stone statues. Visiting the quarry where they were carved and seeing them standing beside the ocean is a big part of coming here. Local guides will help explain their history and significance.
Where we stay
The plan
Itinerary
Main trip, September 30 to October 6, 2027
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Thursday, September 30
Fly from the U.S. Overnight travel toward Chile.
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Friday, October 1
Arrive in Atacama via Santiago and Calama. Transfer to Nayara, settle in, and get together for dinner.
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October 2 and 3
Atacama. Choose a guided outing, time at the hotel, or both.
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Monday, October 4
Final full day in Atacama. My birthday dinner, a day early.
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Tuesday, October 5
My 40th! Fly from Calama to Santiago. Connect home overnight, or stay the night in Santiago if you're going on to Easter Island.
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Wednesday, October 6
Target arrival back in the U.S.
Optional add-on: Easter Island, October 5 to 10
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Tuesday, October 5
Night in Santiago at the Mandarin Oriental or the Ritz-Carlton (to be decided).
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Wednesday, October 6
Fly from Santiago to Rapa Nui. Transfer to Nayara Hangaroa and settle in.
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Thursday, October 7
Rapa Nui. Guided visits, walks, beach time, or a quieter day.
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Friday, October 8
Another day to spend as you wish, followed by our final dinner together.
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Saturday, October 9
Depart Rapa Nui via Santiago.
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Sunday, October 10
Target arrival back in the U.S., depending on flights.
Flights are not yet confirmed.
What you'll actually do
Your days, your pace.
Choose from the hotels' guided outings, with time at the hotel whenever you like. The durations and difficulty ratings below come from their excursion guides.
Take it easy.
Sunsets, beach time, stargazing, and the moai.
Atacama
- Valley of the Moon at sunsetHalf day, easy. Aperitif included.
- Andean astronomyOne hour at the hotel's own observatory.
Easter Island
- Tarai Moai3 hours, low. The Rano Raraku quarry and the 15 moai at Tongariki.
- The beach3 hours, low. Anakena, a towel, the water.
More outings in this effort level
Atacama
- The salt flat and ToconaoHalf day, easy. Flamingos at sunset, aperitif included.
- The Salt LakesHalf day, easy. Ojos del Salar and Tebinquiche lagoon at sunset.
- The hotel itselfPool, Puri spa, bikes into San Pedro, scheduled shuttles.
Easter Island
- He Rongo o te Manu3 hours, low. Rano Kau crater, the Orongo village, Vinapu.
- Mana Tupuna3 hours, low. Anakena beach, Ovahe, Te Pito Kura.
- Tahai at sunset, Tongariki at sunrise2 hours each, low. Coffee at Tongariki sunrise.
A proper outing.
A full day out or a longer walk.
Atacama
- Andean LagoonsFull day, medium, lunch included. Miscanti and Miñiques at 4,120 m, after two days at altitude.
- Rainbow ValleyFull day, easy, 4 km on foot. Hierbas Buenas and the colored hills.
Easter Island
- Rano Kau rim trail3 hours, medium. Up through eucalyptus to the crater edge.
- Vaiteka3 hours, medium. Puna Pau, Ahu Akivi, a short cave walk.
More outings in this effort level
Atacama
- Tatio GeysersFull day, medium, lunch included. Pre-dawn, 4,321 m, after two days at altitude.
- Rock ArtHalf day, easy, 3 km with a climb to the petroglyphs.
Easter Island
- The caves3 hours, medium. Ana Kakenga to Banana Cave on foot.
- Boat ride3 hours, low. Open sea, snorkeling when conditions allow.
Properly active.
For the people who packed trail shoes on purpose.
Atacama
- The ColoradosHalf day, medium. A 6.3 km hike along the cliffs and down through Mars Valley.
- Devil's Throat by bikeHalf day, medium. 18 km through the Catarpe gorges.
Easter Island
- Terevaka summit3 hours, medium high. The island's high point, 360 degrees of ocean.
- The north coast6 hours on foot, high. Ahu Akivi to Anakena past sites only reachable by foot or horse. Counts as two outings.
More outings in this effort level
Atacama
- Cactus HikeHalf day, rated high. 4 km past seven-metre cacti at Guatín.
- Jauna TrekFull day, medium. 8 km at 4,500 m, after two days at altitude.
Easter Island
- Poike volcano4 hours, medium high. Trek to Vai a Heva and the Virgins' Cave.
- Mountain bike to the cavesCoast roads to caves and platforms vehicles can't reach.
Altitude details. On the island, carving and cooking classes, stargazing, and horseback rides are extras.
Your cost
Estimate your cost
Pick where you're joining and how you're sleeping. Everything in the pink panel is per person, in U.S. dollars.
The calculator includes your flight estimate. With Easter Island, it also includes the Santiago room; meals, drinks and extras there are separate.
At the Nayara hotels
- Accommodation for the selected stay.
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
- The included open-bar selection.
- Daily minibar replenishment.
- Airport transfers between the destination airport and hotel.
- Guided excursions from the included program.
- Admission tickets for included excursions.
Atacama also includes astronomy, the Puritama Hot Springs excursion, pool and spa-facility access, bicycles for visiting town, and scheduled town transfers.
Other costs
- Travel insurance.
- Transportation to and from the guest's home airport.
- Additional hotel nights outside the listed stays.
- Gratuities.
- Premium drinks outside the included selection.
- Massages and spa treatments.
- Laundry and personal purchases.
- Optional activities outside the included excursion program.
- Room service at Atacama.
- With the Easter Island add-on, meals, drinks, and extras in Santiago on October 5. The room is in the estimate at $360 per night, split by occupancy.
Questions
A few practical details.
Should I book flights now?
I'll confirm the hotels before we book flights.
How do I get there?
Fly to Santiago, then two hours on to Calama. The hotel picks you up. From New York it's one overnight flight plus the hop.
Do I need a visa?
U.S. passports enter Chile without a visa for up to 90 days.
How cold is it?
Atacama in October: warm days around 22°C (72°F), nights near freezing. Easter Island: around 20°C (68°F), with wind and the odd shower.
What about altitude?
San Pedro sits at about 2,400 m (7,900 ft). The Andean Lagoons and Tatio Geysers are above 4,000 m. The hotel guide specifies two days of acclimatization for these outings.
What do I pack?
Layers, a warm jacket for desert nights, a hat, sunscreen, walking or hiking shoes, a water bottle, and a swimsuit. Bring a raincoat for Easter Island.
Phones and money?
Chile uses the peso. Cards work at both hotels. Check your mobile plan for roaming in Chile. Signal on Easter Island is patchy.
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