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.
I'm turning 40 next October, and I'd love to celebrate with you in Chile. Four nights in the Atacama Desert, with volcanoes, salt flats, flamingos, and some incredible night skies. Then I'm heading to Easter Island for anyone who wants to keep going.
I wanted to make this a trip of a lifetime with my closest friends (and Mom!). We'll have time to explore, relax, and be together, with my birthday dinner on our last night in Atacama.
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, you can fly home, join me on 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.
Nayara Alto Atacama
Red rock valleys, lagoons full of flamingos, volcanoes on the horizon. We'll have four nights here, staying at Nayara Alto Atacama and heading out with the hotel's guides to explore.
The hotel is tucked into a valley outside San Pedro de Atacama, in northern Chile. After dark, we can head up to its open-air observatory for stargazing.
Optional add-on
Easter Island
Nayara Hangaroa
For anyone who wants to keep going, I'm heading to Easter Island for three more nights after a night in Santiago. We'll stay at Nayara Hangaroa, right on the coast.
Rapa Nui has its own Polynesian culture and history. We can visit Rano Raraku, the quarry where most of the moai were carved, see the 15 standing beside the ocean at Tongariki, and explore the volcanic crater and ceremonial village at Rano Kau and Orongo with local guides. There's also Anakena beach, and hikes out to parts of the island you can only reach on foot or horseback.
Fly from the U.S. Overnight travel to Chile.
Arrive via Santiago and Calama. Transfer to Nayara, settle in, and get together for dinner.
Choose a guided outing, spend time at the hotel, or do a bit of both.
Our last full day in Atacama, with my birthday dinner that evening. A day early, while we're all together.
My 40th! Fly from Calama to Santiago. Connect home overnight, or stay in Santiago if you're coming to Easter Island.
Arrive back in the U.S., depending on your flights.
Stay overnight at the Mandarin Oriental or the Ritz-Carlton. Hotel to be decided.
Fly to Rapa Nui. Transfer to Nayara Hangaroa and settle in.
Head out with a guide, go for a walk, or spend some time at the beach.
Another day to explore or relax, then our final dinner together.
Fly home from Rapa Nui via Santiago.
Arrive back in the U.S., depending on your flights.
Flights are not yet confirmed.
Some of you will immediately want to know about the longest hike. Others will want to know what we can see with the least walking. I've looked into both.
There are hikes through canyons, trips out to the lagoons, hot springs, and stargazing. Pick what appeals to you each day. We'll meet back at meals.
Sunsets, beach time, stargazing, and the moai.
A full day out or a longer walk.
Longer hikes, summit climbs, and mountain biking.
Read about altitude. On Easter Island, carving and cooking classes, stargazing, and horseback rides cost extra.
Choose your trip and whether you're sharing a room. The estimate is per person, in U.S. dollars.
Your flight estimate is included in the total when entered. With Easter Island, the estimate also includes the Santiago room. Meals, drinks, and extras in Santiago are separate.
Atacama also includes astronomy, the Puritama Hot Springs excursion, pool and spa-facility access, bicycles for visiting town, and scheduled town transfers.
I'll confirm the hotels before we book flights.
Fly to Santiago, then take the two-hour flight to Calama. The hotel picks you up there. From New York, it's an overnight flight to Santiago followed by the connection to Calama.
U.S. passport holders can enter Chile without a visa for up to 90 days.
Atacama in October has warm days around 22°C (72°F), with nights near freezing. Easter Island is around 20°C (68°F), with wind and occasional rain.
San Pedro sits at about 2,400 m (7,900 ft). The Andean Lagoons, Tatio Geysers, and Jauna trek are above 4,000 m. The hotel's excursion guide specifies two days of acclimatization for these outings.
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.
Chile uses the peso. Cards work at both hotels. Check your mobile plan for roaming in Chile. Signal on Easter Island is patchy.