Santiago sits at the foot of the Andes — a modern South American capital with the Atacama Desert to the north and Patagonia to the south, surrounded by the vineyards of the Maipo and Casablanca valleys. Chile's wine revolution (Almaviva, Seña, Montes Alpha M) and the city's rapidly maturing culinary scene position Santiago as South America's most compelling luxury destination after Buenos Aires.
Arturo Merino Benítez: Private Aviation Gateway
Santiago Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL) — 15km from Santiago city centre — handles private aviation via a dedicated general aviation terminal. Transfer to Las Condes (the city's luxury district, home to the Ritz-Carlton and W Santiago) is 20-25 minutes. Long-range private jets from Paris or New York arrive in approximately 14-16 hours direct.
The strategic position of Santiago as a hub: direct flight connections to Atacama (Calama Airport, ATM, 2 hours north), Patagonia (Punta Arenas, PUQ, 4 hours south), and Easter Island (Rapa Nui, IPC, 5 hours west in the Pacific). FFGR Jets designs Chilean circuits combining Santiago culture with Atacama astronomy (Atacama Large Millimeter Array, private observatory access), and Patagonia trekking (Torres del Paine).
Maipo Valley Wineries: Private Tasting Circuits
The Maipo Valley (30km south of Santiago) is Chile's most prestigious Cabernet Sauvignon denomination. Almaviva (Château Mouton Rothschild × Concha y Toro joint venture, by appointment only), Cousiño-Macul (oldest family winery in Chile, 1856), and Santa Rita (19th-century hacienda, private museum) offer private winery experiences in a 90-minute circuit from Santiago.
The Casablanca Valley (90km west of Santiago, coast-influenced maritime climate) produces Chile's finest white wines: Quintay and Neyen Sauvignon Blanc, Casa Marín's Pinot Gris. A full-day wine circuit combining Maipo reds and Casablanca whites can be designed as a single route. FFGR Jets coordinates private winery lunch at Almaviva (pre-arranged, exclusive tasting of vertical vintages with the winemaker) as the circuit's centrepiece.
Atacama: The Private Desert Observatory
The Atacama Desert — the driest non-polar desert on earth, 2,400m altitude, zero light pollution — offers the clearest night skies available anywhere on the planet. The San Pedro de Atacama area (reached from Santiago by private jet to Calama in 2 hours) houses multiple world-class astronomical observatories including ALMA (the world's largest radio telescope array, guided visits by appointment for UHNW groups), Paranal Observatory (home to the Very Large Telescope, private VIP access possible), and numerous private stargazing programmes.
Explora Atacama (San Pedro de Atacama, 50 suites) is the reference UHNW property — all-inclusive programme including private guided expeditions to the Salar de Atacama (flamingo colonies), Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley, salt formations), and high-altitude geysers at El Tatio (4,300m, dawn programme, FFGR Jets clients arrive by private SUV at 5am). FFGR Jets designs Santiago 2 nights + Atacama 3 nights as the definitive Chile circuit.
