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 19^th and early 20^th 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

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 19^th 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

Day 4 – Tuesday: From Wine Country to Patagonia

This morning you will be transferred back to Santiago in time to board your flight to Puerto Montt. Upon arrival, you will be met at El Tepual 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 embark upon an unforgettable excursion to the Vicente Perez Rosales National Park where you will have outstanding views of the Osorno Volcano, River Petrohue, and Lake Todos Los Santos. This activity is perfect for photography buffs and lovers of the outdoors. Our guides will share a wealth of information about the history, flora, fauna and geography of the area.

At the conclusion of this incredible tour, 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 Airport (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

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

This tour begins on Saturdays during the months of October thru April.

 

Price per Person (US$): $6,875.00
*based on a minimum of 2 travelers

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

 

Price Does Not Include:

• International or domestic flights
• Optional gratuities for drivers and guides
• Meals or activities not listed in itinerary
• Travel insurance
• Items of personal nature

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. Embodies the consistently excellent service and 5-star amenities for which the Ritz is famous around the world.

 

 

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.

 

Cumbres Patagónicas:

 

 

Lodge La Estrella, Valle California: