Experience Chile’s privileged terroir at the country’s top vineyards, then travel south to the magnificent Patagonia Sur Reserves, a stunning property which embodies the essence of the Chilean Patagonia.
Evening view of Santiago
Day 1 – Saturday: Santiago
Welcome to Chile! Your Santiago Adventures representative will meet you at the Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport to 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 at 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 in a captivating fusion of tradition and modernity.
Today, we will set out to visit Santiago’s most important historical sites, including the downtown area surrounding the Plaza de Armas and the La Moneda Presidential Palace. We 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. We 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, we 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 mistress (later 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
Viña Vik – currently one of the most important wine projects in the world
Day 2- Sunday: 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, we’ll arrive to VIK Winery in the Cachapoal Valley. This winery is 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
Day 3 – Monday: 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 we will arrive to the Apalta region, where several of Chile’s top wineries are located.
Our first visit is to Neyen de Apalta, founded on the original site of one of the country’s pioneering wineries dating to the 19th century. Neyen focuses its production on one Bordeaux-style blend from its 115 year-old Carménère vines, and the winery is the perfect mix of tradition and modernity.
Only ten minutes away is our 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 Clos winery overlooking the Colchagua Valley.
In the afternoon, we drive back to the VIK Guest House where you will spend the night.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The Petrohue Waterfalls
Day 4 – Tuesday: From Wine Country to Patagonia
This morning you will travel to Santiago in time to board your flight to Puerto Montt. Upon arrival, you will be met at the airport and driven you to your hotel in Puerto Varas (30 min approx). In the afternoon, your guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel to set off to explore Puerto Varas. We will see the beautiful flora and fauna of the area on an easy walking tour of Lahuen Nadi, a national forest, followed by a visit to the Felmer Museum, home to a unique collection of antiques from the first people to settle in the area.
After seeing the city, we’ll return to your hotel in Puerto Varas.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 5 – Wednesday: Journey to Patagonia Sur Reserves
Your driver will meet you in the lobby of your hotel this morning to drive back to Puerto Montt Aerodrome (30 minutes), where Patagonia Sur representatives will meet you for your 1 hour charter flight to Palena and journey to Valle California. Upon landing, you will be greeted by the Patagonia Sur team, who will drive you to the reserve’s Valle California property (30 minutes approx). Spend the afternoon hiking or relaxing in the riverside hot tub.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hiking in Valle California, Patagonia Sur Reserves
Day 6 – Thursday: Activities in Valle California
The day is yours to seize! All activities are led by professional, bilingual guides and cater to all levels of expertise. Programs and excursions are highly customizable and always subject to weather or other natural conditions to ensure the safety of all guests. Each evening the head guide will meet with guests to review excursion options for the following day.
To begin your first full day in Valle California, we suggest the beautiful walk through El Tigre Trail, where you will visit the different types of forests within the valley. After lunch in the Quincho, you can saddle up for a horseback ride to El Tronador (Thunder Hill) to discover why the hill got its name. A delicious and hearty dinner in the Quincho will be the perfect finish to an adventure-filled day.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 – Friday: Activities in Valle California
Today, set out on a full-day hike to Laguna Caiquén, a pristine Andean lake bordered by an impressive old-growth Lenga forest (a native species of deciduous beech tree). Keep an eye out to spot the mighty Andean Condor! Upon arrival at the lake, our chef will surprise you with a special private lunch outdoors in this breathtaking setting. In the evening, relax with an inviting family-style dinner at the Quincho, where you can share stories of the day’s adventures.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 – Saturday: From Valle California to Puerto Montt / Santiago
After a hearty breakfast, you’ll have time for one final activity such as a hike along a trail lining the Argentine border or fishing. Around midday, you will be transported to the airstrip for your flight back to Puerto Montt and subsequent connection to Santiago’s airport.
Meals Included: Breakfast
* We recommend adding a night in Santiago before continuing on with your travels as the flights from Patagonia are subject to change due to weather, and arrival times cannot be guaranteed
Barrel room at Vik Winery
This tour begins on Saturdays during the months of October thru April.
Price per Person (US$): $7,275.00
*based on a minimum of 2 travelers
Kayaking on Lake Espolon, Valle California
Price Includes:
- All ground transportation
- Professional, bilingual guide
- Seven (7) nights lodging in double occupancy with breakfast
- Meals as listed in itinerary
- Four (4) winery visits and tastings as listed in itinerary
- All activities/excursions while at Patagonia Sur Nature Reserve
- Santiago City Tour + relevant entrance fees
- Excursion to Vicente Perez Rosales National Park near Puerto Varas
- Map of Chilean wine regions
- Bottled mineral water
Ritz Carlton Santiago: 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.
Hotel Ritz Carlton Santiago (photo credit: Hotel Ritz Carlton)
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.
Vik Guest House
Cumbres Patagónicas: With spectacular views to the Osorno Volcano and Lake Llanquihue from each of its 92 rooms, Cumbres Patagónicas pairs breathtaking scenery with outstanding service and world class cuisine. It’s warm, comfortable design reflects the local style of Puerto Varas and this region of Chile’s Patagonia
Hotel Cumbres Patagonicas
Patagonia Sur Reserves: In a pristine section of Chile’s northern Patagonia, filled with millennial forests, crystalline lakes, glaciers, rivers, waterfalls, and mountains, Patagonia Sur Reserves welcomes guests with the ultimate in luxury and outdoor adventure. With top-notch personalized service, first-class cuisine, and extraordinary wilderness, this is one of the most spectacular places on Earth. A trip to Patagonia Sur Reserves is more than just a fabulous and memorable vacation. Patagonia Sur’s comprehensive commitment to conservation and sustainable tourism is evident from start to finish.
Patagonia Sur Reserves