2024 Minnetonka Chile Program
| Travel Dates: | June 8, 2024 - June 27, 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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| Estimated Airfare: | $1,600 |
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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 run safe, engaging, and immersive programs for our travelers, but given the unpredictable nature of international travel we must remain flexible in our planning. Changes to a schedule are uncommon but if inclement weather pushes us off course or an unexpected opportunity arises which travelers are excited about, we reserve the right to adjust programming in the best interest of the group.
| Day | Location | Activity | Lodging |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 8 | USA to Santiago, Chile | Depart Minneapolis for Santiago, Chile | Airplane |
| June 9 | Santiago - Concepción | The group is scheduled to arrive early this morning. After time for breakfast, we connect to our domestic flight and travel down to Concepción to meet our Chilean hosts. | Concepcion Host Families |
| June 10- 21 | Concepción | Concepción programming | Concepcion Host Families |
| June 22 | Concepción to 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 Neruda Express |
| June 23 | Santiago | Today’s schedule will be an active experience, visiting Santiago’s most bustling highlights which include La Vega Mercado Central, Parque Forestal, a tour of the museum created from Poet Pablo Neruda’s city apartment- La Chascona, and a leisurely hike up Cerro San Cristobal for a 360 degree city view. | Hotel Neruda Express |
| June 24 | 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 Neruda Express |
| June 25 | 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 and Cerro Concepción, 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 Neruda Express |
| June 26 | 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'll have a bit of free time this afternoon before heading to the airport for our flight home. | Airplane |
| June 27 | USA | Arrive home | Your own bed! |
Accommodations
In order to provide a safe and memorable experience, we follow strict guidelines when choosing program accommodations. Walking Tree partners with locally-operated, three-star equivalent hotels and guest houses which are centrally located, clean and safe.
Hotel Neruda Express
Hotel Neruda Express is a comfortable three-star hotel located in El Golf neighborhood, a modern business area with a variety of wonderful restaurants nearby. All rooms come equipped with A/C and Wi-Fi access to keep everyone feeling comfortable and connected. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender and availability.
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
This being my first experience with an international trip for my child I have nothing to compare it to. However I feel Walking Tree did an excellent job from conception to completion with informing me on costs, what to expect, safety concerns, and sharing the experience through their blog. While I was worried about how safe my child would be on a trip… on the other side of the world, she told me that she felt safer than school safe.
Stephanie
Parent of Brigid, traveler on Japan 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: Premiere Travel insurance, baggage fees, airline minor fees, passport/visa fees, laundry, souvenirs, and activities not listed on itinerary.
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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.