2024 Minnetonka Chile Program
| Travel Dates: | June 10, 2024 - June 29, 2024 |
| Group Organizer(s): |
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| WTT Contact: |
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| Program Tuition: |
$2,150 USD
Airfare not included in program tuition
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| Confirmed Airfare: | $1,599 |
Tuition Calculator
There are two options for payment, including an interest-free monthly installment plan. Follow whichever option works best for your family. If we are within 90 days of travel, only the pay in full option is possible.
Program Tuition: $2,150
Pay in Full
$2,150.00
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All prices in United States Dollars.
Chile Cultural Journey
Buffered between the majestic Andes mountains on the east and over 2500 miles of Pacific coastline on the west, the wild geography unique to the Republic of Chile will leave its visitors breathless. The country famously hosts some of the most pristine natural settings in the planet- from the arid Atacama desert in the north to the rugged, glacial Patagonia in the south- but is also home to other vibrant urban environments as well. There is no shortage of rich cultural experiences in Valparaíso, the colorful cliffside hometown of Pablo Neruda; or in the dynamic metropolis of Santiago, Chile’s capital city home to over 7 million people; or when staying with host families in more off-the-beaten-path destinations like Concepción. Come see for yourself all that Chile has to offer!
Cultural Journeys
Cultural Journeys allow travelers to gain insights into the heritage, history and modern realities of their destination by offering a broad diversity of experience. We rely on the expertise of our local staff to plan itineraries which not only explore the prominent sites but also make time for the lesser-known local gems and are intentional about regular interaction with local people.
Program Highlights
Check out some of the featured experiences of your program!
Take a deep dive into Chilean culture by living with a host family in Concepción
Improve your Spanish with language classes led by native speakers
Explore Santiago, one of the most dynamic cities in all of Latin America
Journey through the mountains of Chillán with spectacular views
Practice your Spanish language skills with locals
Indulge in amazing food such as the "completo," Chile's own take on the hot dog
The Itinerary
We do everything possible to abide by itineraries as originally planned, but decades of experience teachers that we must flexible in our planning. Changes to a trip’s schedule are uncommon, but Walking Tree reserves the right to make adjustments to programming in the best interest of the group.
| Day | Location | Activity | Lodging |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 10 | USA to Santiago, Chile | Depart Minneapolis for Santiago, Chile | Airplane |
| June 11 | Santiago | Arrive, meet your program leader, and head to the hotel for breakfast. Then, we explore! Today we'll visit Santiago’s most bustling highlights which include Mercado Urbano Tobalaba, Parque Forestal, tour of the museum created from Poet Pablo Neruda’s city apartment - La Chascona. We will explore our neighborhood as we walk to dinner at a local restaurant. | Hotel Olá Santiago Providencia |
| June 12 | Santiago | After having breakfast and spending the morning organizing, students will take a trip to the Museo de la Memoria, the human rights museum inaugurated in 2010 to educate the public and honor the victims of human rights violations in Chile between 1970-1990. After, one last lunch will be organized at Peluqueria Francesa, a historical barbershop constructed in 1868 that has now been renovated into a beautiful eatery in the old neighborhood Barrio Patrimonial Yungay. | Hotel Olá Santiago Providencia |
| June 13 | Santiago - Valparaiso | Today is the last full day of the trip, but there is still more to see! An epic adventure awaits in the port city of Valparaiso, only an hour and a half journey from Santiago. In this coastal and colorful town students will explore the UNESCO protected hillsides of Cerro Alegre, taste local seafood, learn about the street art movement of Chile, and visit La Sebastiana, Poet Pablo Neruda’s beach home. After dinner, students will return back to Santiago. | Hotel Olá Santiago Providencia |
| June 14-25 | Santiago - Concepción | This morning the group will catch their domestic flight and travel down to Concepción to meet their Chilean host families. | Concepcion Host Families |
| June 26 | Concepción - Santiago | In the afternoon students will arrive back to Santiago and have time to relax before riding up the 62 story elevator of the tallest building in South America, Sky Costanera Tower. Here they can sit or walk around the glass-encased rooftop admiring the pink sunset over the towering Andes Mountains and city skyline. | Hotel Olá Santiago Providencia |
| June 27 | Santiago | Today we delve into some of Chile's history with visits to Cerro Santa Lucia, Barrio Lastarria, Palacio La Moneda, La Plaza de Armas, and El Catedral. We will then head to Barrio Lastarria, where we will enjoy a delicious lunch. In the afternoon, we will have time to visit some bookstores and artisanal in small groups. In the evening, we will enjoy the views of Santiago at night and visit the financial district “san-hattan.” Tonight, we will have our final celebratory dinner in Chile and head back to the hotel to prepare for our last day in Chile. | Hotel Olá Santiago Providencia |
| June 28 | Santiago - USA | Today will be our last day in Chile. After breakfast, we will finish packing our bags and check out from our hotel. We will then complete our end of program activities. We will continue exploring Santiago taking a leisurely hike up Cerro San Cristobal for a last 360 degree city view. On the way down, we will take a gondola. After lunch, we will have one a final stroll through out neighborhood Providencia and do some last minute souvenir shopping before picking up our bags and head to the airport in the evening to catch our international flight home. | Airplane |
| June 29 | USA | Arrive home | Your own bed! |
Accommodations
In order to provide a safe and memorable experience, we follow strict guidelines when choosing group accommodations. Walking Tree partners with hotels and guest houses which are centrally located, locally operated, clean and safe. We inspect each partner hotel to ensure they meet these standards.
Hotel Olá Santiago Providencia
Located in Santiago, 700 metres from Costanera Center, Ola Santiago Providencia provides accommodation in private rooms with AC in-suite bathroom equipped with toiletries. This hotel also offers a shared lounge, 24-hour front desk, an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness centre and a garden. A buffet, continental or American breakfast can be enjoyed at the property.
Homestay
This will be the best part of your trip! Staying with a host family immerses you in the language and culture of the destination, and can lead to deep and lasting relationships with your hosts. Initially intimidating but ultimately unforgettable, there’s no better way to begin to truly understand the place you’re visiting.
Safety and Support
EASY FUNDRAISING & PAYMENT
24/7 GLOBAL EMERGENCY LINE
HIGHLY VETTED PARTNERS
EXPERT LEADERSHIP
PRIVATE GROUP GUARANTEE
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM SUPPORT
DEDICATION TO CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICING
My daughter’s experience in Morocco was extraordinary!! I really enjoyed seeing the pictures and hearing the stories about her adventures, but what brought me the most joy was the relationships she formed with the chaperones from her school and with Stafford and Said (Walking Tree’s Moroccan Country Directors and Program Leaders). She spoke of their characters and spirits which let me know these wonderful people went over and beyond the basics of the program. I am forever grateful for the love and care all four of you gave to her.
Beddar
Parent of Jadah, traveler on Morocco Cultural Journey
Your Adventure Includes
Estimated Airfare
In order to give our travelers the best possible price, we break out airfare from the Program Tuition. We will still handle all booking and ticketing via our flight partner who has access to special fares not available to the general public. Once confirmed, you will be invoiced for the flight roughly 75 days prior to travel.
Program Tuition Excludes: Travel insurance, baggage fees, passport/visa fees, laundry, souvenirs, and activities not listed on itinerary.
Need to Raise Money? We Have You Covered.
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Learn more here.
Resource Center
Why should high school students travel abroad? What happens if a participant gets sick? How quickly do we need to enroll? We’re sure you have plenty of questions and we’ve got you covered! Visit our Resource Center to discover the answers to your most pressing questions and contact us anytime with additional questions.