A luxury escape to the very best of Chilean wine country and Southern Patagonia! Stay in the 5-star Vik Guest House in the Cachapoal Valley and the magnificent The Singular Patagonia, a stunning property that truly embodies the essence of Tierra del Fuego.
Santiago’s Cathedral in the Plaza de Armas
Day 1: Santiago
Welcome to Chile! Your Santiago Adventures representative will meet you at theArturoMerinoBenitezInternationalAirportto begin your adventure. You will be transported to your hotel, where you will have time to settle in and relax before setting out on a guided tour of the city.
Chosen by the New York Times as 2011’s #1 destination to visit, Santiago is a dynamic and contemporary metropolis located in the heart of Chile’s fertile central valley. Chile’s capital is a vibrant city full of character, with a thriving arts culture, trendy restaurant scene, and lively nightlife. Old-world colonial mansions and the eclectic neighborhoods of Lastarria and Bellavista transition seamlessly to the skyscrapers and modern structures of Las Condes, Vitacura, and Providencia.
Today, you will set out to visit Santiago’s most important cultural and historic sites, including the downtown area surrounding the Plaza de Armas and the La Moneda Presidential Palace. you will pass through the Mercado Central, one of Chile’s largest fresh seafood markets and stroll by the many bustling stalls to see the tremendous variety available from Chile’s bountiful sea. You will also visit some of the lesser known barrios of Santiago including República and Concha y Toro, where you will have time to walk around and admire the varied styles of architecture which date back to the 19th and early 20th centuries. Continuing through the cobblestoned Lastarria neighborhood, you will walk through the Parque Forestal and pass by the Bellas Artes Museum. For a panoramic vista, we will visit the top of Cerro San Cristobal Hill, 984 feet above the city.
During the tour, you will visit one of Santiago’s most famous museums, La Chascona, former home to beloved poet and Nobel Laureate Pablo Neruda. The whimsical residence the poet shared with his third wife provides a snapshot into the life and mind of Neruda, filled with art, eccentric collections, and even his Nobel Prize.
Meals Included: N/A
Day 2: The Heartland of Chilean Wine Country – Colchagua & Cachapoal Valleys
Directly from the mighty Andes Mountain range flow the pure and mineral-rich waters that nourish the world-class vineyards in the Rapel Valley. This important valley is comprised of the Cachapoal and Colchagua Valleys, two of Chile’s most renowned wine regions.
Departing from Santiago mid-morning, your premium wine tour begins with a visit to Casa Silva, the oldest winery in the Colchagua Valley, which was founded by Emilio Bouchon in 1892. Casa Silva is known for its award winning Carménère, made from Chile’s signature grape. Your tour will include a visit to the historic winery and a tasting of their reserve wines followed by lunch.
In the afternoon, you’ll arrive to VIK Winery in the Cachapoal Valley, currently one of the most important wine projects in the world. With major foreign investment and innovative vineyard techniques, VIK will attempt nothing short of making Chile’s first 100-point wine. On a plot of4,300 hectares – where modernity and the latest technology are fused with the oldest oenological traditions – an elite team of winemakers is working diligently to produce Chile’s top vintage.
Along with the vineyards, the VIK team has built the “perfect four room cottage.” Perched atop a hill in the middle of the property, the guest house provides an unbeatable 360-degree view.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Grapes at Viña Vik
Day 3: Chilean Wine Country – Premium Wines of Colchagua
Buenos días! This morning, you will enjoy a fresh country breakfast before continuing on our wine valley exploration. Driving deeper into the Colchagua Valley you will arrive to the Apalta region, where several of Chile’s top wineries are located.
Your first visit is to Montes Winery, founded in 1988 by esteemed Chilean winemaker Aurelio Montes and three business partners with years of experience in oenology. Over the past two decades, Viña Montes has played a key role in reviving the Chilean wine industry and launching it to the level of international acclaim it enjoys today. At Montes, you will enjoy a tour and tasting of their outstanding wines.
Only ten minutes away is your next stop, at Casa Lapostolle, which was established in 1994 by Alexandra Marnier-Lapostolle (of the Grand Marnier family). Since its outstanding debut 1997 vintage, Casa Lapostolle’s Clos Apalta has helped to put Chile on the map as a key producer of premier red wines. With hand-destemming techniques and an innovative gravity-flow winery design, it’s no surprise that in 2008 Clos Apalta earned 96 points and “Wine of the Year” title in Wine Spectator. Lunch will be at the winery overlooking the valley. In the afternoon, you drive back to the VIK Guest House where you will spend the night.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: From Wine Country to Patagonia
This morning you will be transferred back to Santiago in time to board your flight to Patagonia. Upon arrival, you will be met at the airport and driven you to your hotel in Puerto Natales (3 hrs approx), where you will check into your accommodations at The Singular Patagonia.
An amazing 5-star facility constructed at the site of an important early 20th-century refrigeration plant – designated a National Historic Landmark by the Chilean government – The Singular Patagonia is deeply connected to the historic, cultural, natural, and social environment of Patagonia. All rooms enjoy unobstructed views to Patagonian fjords across Last Hope Sound. The hotel includes a full spa, top-notch restaurant (including more Vik wines for you to enjoy), extensive catalog of excursions, and private dock to ensure that clients’ Patagonian experience will be memorable in every aspect.
The Singular Patagonia Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Days 5 – 7: Activities in Patagonia
During your stay at The Singular, you will have the opportunity to chat with hotel guides each day and choose from a selection of activities suited to every interest and activity level. We highly recommend an excursion to the Base of Las Torres – the iconic spires in Torres del Paine National Park – a kayak activity on the Golondrinas River, and a visit to the prehistoric Cueva del Milodon.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: From Puerto Natales – Punta Arenas / Flight to Santiago
Transfer will return you to the Punta Arenas airport in time for your departing flight.
Meals Included: Breakfast
The massive Cuernos del Paine
This program is available during the months of November thru March.
Price per Person (US$): $4,977
*based on a minimum of 2 travelers
*Price valid through August 31st, 2013. Please inquire for new prices.
Viña Vik’s outstanding vintage
Price Includes:
Note: Flights are not included in the package price, though we are happy to help you arrange them upon request.
Ritz Carlton Santiago
Ritz Carlton: Situated in the prestigious Las Condes neighborhood of El Golf, location is a big advantage for the Ritz. Not surprisingly, luxury and service are top notch. The hotel has 205 lavish rooms, excellent restaurants, and a rooftop pool and spa which sits under a spectacular glass cupola and offers unbeatable views of the Andes and of the city. Embodies the consistently excellent service and 5-star amenities for which the Ritz is famous around the world.
Vik Guest House
Vik Guest House: Along with the vineyards, VIK’s team has built the “perfect four room cottage”. Sitting atop a hill in the middle of the property, it provides luxury accommodations and a 360-degree view only made better by the cozy common area with its fireplace and delicious dinner offered to guests.
The Singular Patagonia
The Singular Patagonia: An amazing 5-star facility constructed at the site of an important early 20th-century refrigeration plant, designated a National Historic Landmark by the government of Chile, The Singular Patagonia is deeply connected to the historical, cultural, natural, and social environment of Patagonia. The hotel includes 54 rooms and 3 suites all with unobstructed views to Patagonian fjords across Last Hope Sound. All-inclusive facilities, including a full spa, and extensive menu of excursions and private dock ensures that clients’ experience in Patagonia will be memorable in every aspect.
