2025 Minnetonka Chile Exchange Program
| Travel Dates: |
June 15, 2025 -
July 3, 2025
Dates are tentative until flights are confirmed
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| Group Organizer(s): |
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| WTT Contact: |
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| Program Tuition: |
$2,190 USD
Airfare not included in program tuition
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| Estimated Airfare: | $1,750 |
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: $2,190
Pay in Full
$2,190.00
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:
$211.25
per month
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!
Challenge yourself on a ropes course and zip-line through the trees
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
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 15 | USA to Santiago, Chile | Depart Minneapolis for Santiago, Chile | Airplane |
| June 16 | 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 - and take a leisurely hike up Cerro San Cristobal for a 360 degree city view. | Hotel Neruda Express |
| June 17 | 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 18 | 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 Neruda Express |
| June 19 | Santiago - Concepción | This morning the group will catch their domestic flight and travel down to Concepción to meet their Chilean host families. Later today we head to Chillan with out hosts | Chillan Hotel |
| June 20 - 30 | Concepción | Concepción programming with sister school and families. | Concepcion Host Families |
| July 1 | 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 Neruda Express |
| July 2 | Santiago - USA | 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 |
| July 3 | 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.
MR. Hotel Providencia
MR. Hotel Providencia is a comfortable three-star hotel located in Santiago’s upscale Providencia neighborhood. All rooms come equipped with A/C, a TV. The hotel has lounge areas 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
I have been on two trips with Walking Tree and both trips have been two of the most amazing experiences of my life.
Cameron
Alumni traveler to Belize and Thailand
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.
Walking Tree Travel is proud to team up with Equal Exchange, a worker-owned cooperative that distributes organic coffee, tea, sugar, bananas, avocados, cocoa, chocolate bars, and more. There is no limit to the amount you can earn, so the sooner you can start, the better!
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.