Chile & Argentina
The Primary Tour Itinerary Includes:
Day 1
Arrive in Santiago. Few cities in the world wake up to the view that Santiago has. The great snow-capped Andes loom over the bustling metropolis below, a city of culture, energy, and world-class cuisine. It is a mélange of people from all corners of the country – a third of Chileans call it home – where each neighborhood emanates its flavors. Santiago is the main gateway to Chile, paving the way to the lakes, mountains, vineyards, and beaches beyond. Welcome meeting and dinner at local restaurant. Cumbres Lastarria (4 nights).
Day 2
A trip to Santiago’s famous markets is a must for anyone who wants to experience the depth and variety ofChilean food and culture. Aromatic spices, ripe produce, natural meats and cheeses, Pacific seafood,breads, pastries, and other delicacies await you on this tour. We’ll travel to two of the city’s most popularmarkets: la Vega Central, and el Mercado Central. Each market has a distinct atmosphere and offers aglimpse of daily life in Santiago.After this, we’ll tour the main avenues in the city’s civic center with a stop at La Moneda. We’ll explore thenarrow streets, eventually arriving at the Plaza de Armas, a picturesque and lively square surrounded bythe 18th century Metropolitan Cathedral, the National Historical Museum, and the central post office.Later, we’ll head toward Parque Forestal, near the Fine Arts Museum, and the bohemian neighborhoods ofBellavista and Lastarria. Continue exploring other neighborhoods of Pedro de Valdivia Norte, and theelegant and exclusive neighborhoods of Las Condes and Vitacura.
Day 3
Today we head to San Antonio Valley, which is a small wine region located an hour west of Santiago. The climate is heavily influenced by the effects of the ocean. The Humbolt Current brings cool morning mists and spring frosts, and is largely responsible for making viticulture possible here, as the valley is located much closer to the Equator than any European vineyard. Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay are the main varieties grown in the San Antonio Valley. We will be invited to discover the Rosario Valley, learning about the winemaking process in Matetic Winery, the terroir, and its organic and biodynamic agriculture. Next, Casa Marin Winery visit, and lunch at Lo Abarca with wine pairing.
Day 4
Leaving the hotel in Santiago, we will drive approximately 90 minutes west toward the coast, passing through the lush agricultural valley of Curacaví and the renowned Casablanca Valley, famous for its commitment to terroir and for producing some of Chile’s best white wines and cool-climate reds. As we make our way to the coast, we’ll stop for a private tour, wine tasting and lunch at the beautiful vineyard Casas del Bosque.
Next, we’ll head to Valparaíso. A UNESCO World Heritage site for its architectural and cultural significance. We will start in the downtown sector, learning about the history of “Valpo” and its importance in South American trade and commerce. Century-old hillside ascensores (elevators) transport you up into the city’s steep hills, where a labyrinthine maze of streets reveals brightly colored buildings, bohemian cafes, elegant restaurants, and spectacular views of the harbor below. This tour will lead us through two of the most famous hills, Cerro Concepción and Cerro Alegre.
Day 5
Today we depart Santiago and head to one of Chile's most promising wine regions: Colchagua Valley. This region produces some of Chile's best red wines, primarily Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, and Syrah, thanks to a mix of favorable environment, climate, soil and skilled winemakers. Visit to Colchagua Museum. Terraviña Hotel (3 nights) Dinner at Hotel Restaurant.
Day 6
Our classic tour in Viu Manent... ride in a carriage for your visit with bilingual guides in horse-drawn carriages will take you to the vineyards, and finish with an enjoyable wine tasting in the historical visitors’ center La Llavería. Cooking class and lunch with the renowned Chilean chef Pilar Rodríguez who shares her passion for food and wine in her studio located at Viña Viu Manent.
Day 7
Free day to relax!
Day 8
A visit to the Santa Rita Winery where we will wander through old-world vines, sample full-bodied Chilean wines, and tuck into a meal at the winery’s casual restaurant. After lunch, we visit Andino Museum which sits amidst the vineyard. Next up is our flight to Mendoza Wine Country, which dominates Argentina's winemaking industry and is one of the most successful wine regions worldwide. Arrive in Mendoza and check into Hotel Club Tapiz (3 nights) Group dinner.
Day 9
Experience designed for wine lovers, touring the departments of Lujan de Cuyo and Maipu, the first areas of Malbec plantations in Mendoza. First a visit to Vistalba Winery, where we will have a Blind Tasting of its wines. Next to Lamadrid Winery to be part of a Blending Session. With the guidance and advice of the winery's experts, we will taste different varietals that will then be combined to obtain a particular blend that will be bottled and labeled to enjoy a truly exclusive wine of our own! We finish with a four-course menu paired with exquisite wines at Los Bocheros restaurant.
Day 10
Free day to relax. Cooking class and dinner at Club Tapiz Restaurant.
Day 11
Flight to Buenos Aires. Check into the Loi Suites Recoleta Hotel (4 nights)An afternoon walking tour of the surrounding area will introduce you to this grand metropolis on the banks of the River Plate. Recoleta neighborhood, one of the most fashionable and aristocratic areas of the city, which includes South America’s most opulent and extraordinary cemetery-- the Recoleta Cemetery. The Recoleta is also a cultural center harboring many art institutions and featuring 19th-century French architecture and many beautiful buildings.
Between the Italian influence on Argentine gastronomy and the sweltering summer temperatures, it's no surprise that ice cream here is a wonder to behold. We’ll make a stop at a typical heladería, for artisanal ice cream. Group dinner at a nearby restaurant.
Day 12
Buenos Aires is undoubtedly the Latin American city that best resembles the cosmopolitan and aristocratic atmosphere of the big European capitals. But beyond this Buenos Aires, there is another one, holding the small colored houses of La Boca and the popular tango that lives in San Telmo streets. This is the mixture that makes Buenos Aires an original and irresistible metropolis. This tour shows the city’s highlights, looking through its history and culture.
Day 13
Free day to explore this beautiful city on your own.
Day 14
A visit to Michelangelo for dinner & tango show: One of the newest tango places in Buenos Aires but with a long history. It’s restored building dates back to colonial times. This is one of the few buildings from this period that are still standing and has been declared a historical patrimony of the city. The show is of high quality and transports you to Buenos Aires' golden age.
Day 15
Itinerary ends, individual departures. Gracias buen viaje!
Pricing per person double occupancy: $6800
Single supplement: $2100
Flights not included
Pre Trip to Torres del Paine
Day 1
Flight: Santiago de Chile (SCL) - Puerto Natales (PNT)
Towering above the immense Patagonian steppe, the spectacular granite pillars of Torres del Paine dominate the landscape. Flanked by the summit of Paine Grande and the black sedimentary peaks of Los Cuernos, these are the famous Patagonian mountains that you see on posters everywhere. Torres del Paine National Park covers 181,000 hectares. Many hiking paths cross widely differing types of terrain, such as steppes and thick Magellanic forests, and run along lakes with huge glaciers and icebergs. Its highly developed infrastructure makes it possible to do the whole 'W' hike while sleeping in beds, eating hot meals, taking showers, and even drinking cocktails! Travel to and arrive at Hosteria Remota Hotel (3 nights).
Days 2 and 3
The excursions of Remota Patagonia Lodge are so variant and surprising like Patagonia itself. A region thatis a truly world biosphere reserve of natural and cultural beauty inside the National Park Torres del Paineas well as out there, in-between mountains and glaciers, lagoons, rivers and forests, towards livestockfarms located on immense prairies where ancestral indigenous cultures used to live.
Inside of the menu of excursions, you could find:boat rides, trails, horseback rides, mountain biking, fly-fishing with worldwide known specialists. The zones toexplore are the Torres del Paine - 8th wonder of theworld-, the fjords in the Last Hope Sound, the DoroteaMountain Chain, the Prat Mountain Chain, lakes andlagoons, the Rotundo zone, the Milodon ́s Cave,glaciers Serrano, Balmaceda and Grey, the BagualesMountain Chain, and others. To arrive to the majorityof excursions it will only take 40 minutes. Each groupleaves with a maximum of 8 people, on foot or with aSUV of the hotel with a driver and guide.
Day 4
Flight: Puerto Natales (PNT) - Santiago de Chile (SCL) Travel and arrive to hotel Cumbres Lastarria (4 nights)
Pricing for 1-4 Participants: $3,250
Pricing for 4+ Participants: $2,750
Single Supplement: $330
Flight Cost: $600
Pre Trip to Lake District
Day 1
Flight: Santiago de Chile (SCL) - Puerto Montt (PMC)
Puerto Varas is an emblematic city of Chile. The so-called Lakes and Volcanoes District, only 20 kilometersfrom Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas is magical from all points of view.The Osorno Volcano, whose summit is always covered with snow, is one of the most famous attractions.Travel to and arrive at Cumbres Puerto Varas Hotel - Balcony Room (3 nights)
Day 2
Transfer to the villages of Frutillar and Puerto Octay on thewest shore of Llanquihue Lake, where we will learn aboutthe European colonization process of the area, enjoyamazing views to the snowy caped volcanoes, visit theiconic Teatro del Lago Opera House, the German ColonialMuseum, walk through the beautiful houses and bloominggardens and have a delicious lunch 3 course menu lunchat a local restaurant.
Day 3
Today our destination will be the island of Chiloe. The journey begins with an hour drive to catch a ferry ride to the small village of Chacao. Then a drive north west to get to the waters of the Humboldt current to visit the only breeding colony of Humboldt & Magellanic penguins of the
southern hemisphere. Then we will enjoy a typical meal of the island: the Curanto. A delicious preparation cooked in a pit in the ground on hot stones. Be ready to participate in the cooking experience and to meet our lovely host, Maria Luisa. After lunch, we will drive back to Puerto Varas.
Day 4
Flight: Puerto Montt (PMC) - Santiago de Chile (SCL)
Pricing:
Pricing for 1-4 Participants: $1,500
Pricing for 4+ Participants: $1200
Single Supplement: $270
Flight Cost: $300
Post Trip to Iguazu Falls
Day 1
Flight: Buenos Aires (AEP) - Iguazú (IGR)
Travel and arrive to Panoramic Grand Hotel (2 nights).
Day 2
A guided walk through the upper falls area, 650 meters long and offers an overall panoramic view. This circuit offers views of the Dos Hermanas falls, Chico, Ramirez, Bossetti, Adán y Eva, Bernabe Mendez and the Mbigua falls. You will also appreciate the arc formed by the San Martin, Escondido, Dos Mosqueteros, Rivadavia and Tres Mostqueteros falls. Next we take the Park Train to Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s Throat). This linear catwalk has 2260 meters (round trip) and allows you to enjoy the unique awe-inspiring, Garganta del Diablo, the most impressive falls of the park. The “horseshoe-shaped” falls, with a circumference of 150 m and a height of 80 m, fill the air with mist as immense amounts of water surge over the rocks, a most unique experience. Another show is given by the “vencejos”, characteristic birds exclusive to these falls, which throw themselves on a nose dive course, parallel to the falls, as if they wanted to meld with the water. Finally, the Lower Circuit offers a more intimate experience with the landscape. On this path, the visitor will “feel” the spirit of the forest: humidity, sounds, aromas, and the penetrating mist that takes over the whole area. It is a circular path of 1700 meters that leads to 8prominent viewpoints; San Martin, Bossetti, Alvar Nuñez and the Dos Hermanas falls are some of them.
Optional add ons:
The excursion begins with a 5 km Safari through the jungle in open 4x4 vehicles which allow filming and photography of the extraordinary jungle with flora and fauna explanation stops along the way. After descending 100 meters (walking) we reach the Macuco (Argentinian side) Pier where we board a Zodiac fora wonderful 15 minute (6 kms) ride to the base of the falls. The ride is made with motor-boats that passthrough the Lower Canyon of the Iguassu River until the foot of the “Tres Mosqueteros” waterfall, with spectacular and clear views of both the Brazilian and Argentinean sides, and of the Devil’s Throat Fall. We also get very close to the waterfall of San Martin Island, the biggest one that a motor-boat can approach safely. Finally, the boat navigates back to Macuco Pier (Argentinian side) and we return with 4 x 4 truck to starting point.
Day 3
Flight: Iguazu (IGR) - Buenos Aires (AEP)
Pricing for 1-4 Participants: $1,100
Pricing for 4+ Participants: $800
Single Supplement: $210
Flight Cost: $500
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