2024 Minnetonka Chile Program

Dear Families, Friends, and Travelers – Welcome to the 2024 Minnetonka Chile Program! To learn the basics about this once in a lifetime opportunity, you'll begin by using the Pre-Enrollment page, the purpose of which is to share exciting highlights and important info that participants will want to know before signing up. If you enroll, you'll begin using the Post-Enrollment page  which offers a greater level of detail.  Please be sure to review the information thoroughly and get excited for Chile!
Travel Dates: June 10, 2024 - June 29, 2024
Group Organizer(s):
WTT Contact:
Program Tuition: $2,150 USD
Airfare not included in program tuition
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

due today

Payment Plan

Pay a $500 deposit at the time of enrollment and establish an interest-free monthly payment plan. If you enroll today, your estimated* monthly payments would be:

$75.00

per month

* This is an approximate price. Your exact total will be confirmed when your enrollment is processed.

All prices in United States Dollars.

Chile Cultural Journey

Nestled between the majestic Andes mountains to the east and over 2500 miles of Pacific coastline to 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 vibrating capital city. Come see for yourself all that Chile has to offer!

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 teaches that we must be 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. 

DayLocationActivityLodging
June 10USA to Santiago, ChileDepart Minneapolis for Santiago, Chile Airplane
June 11SantiagoArrive, 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 12SantiagoAfter 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 13Santiago - ValparaisoToday 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 14-25Santiago - ConcepciónThis morning the group will catch their domestic flight and travel down to Concepción to meet their Chilean host families. Concepcion Host Families
June 26Concepción - 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 27SantiagoToday 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 28Santiago - USAToday 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 29USAArrive homeYour 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.

Below are the accommodations we anticipate using on your program, subject to availability. 
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 FUNDING & PAYMENT
EASY FUNDING & PAYMENT
24/7 GLOBAL EMERGENCY LINE
24/7 GLOBAL EMERGENCY LINE
HIGHLY VETTED PARTNERS
HIGHLY VETTED PARTNERS
EXPERT LEADERSHIP
EXPERT LEADERSHIP
PRIVATE GROUP GUARANTEE
PRIVATE GROUP GUARANTEE
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM SUPPORT
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM SUPPORT
DEDICATION TO CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
DEDICATION TO CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICING
ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICING

Communication was excellent! We had absolutely all the info we needed from the moment we signed up. LOVED the blog with photos. The prep and follow up activities on culture shock, re-entry, etc. were fantastic!!! Thank you!!!

Erika
Parent of John, traveler on Peru Service Adventure

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.

 

Resource center

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.

Learn More

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