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Visit selected vineyards
of Chile’s famous wine country and sample the rich rural
culture, food and traditional art of the former Spanish colonial
domains. Explore the Maule, Curico, Colchagua
Maipo & Casablanca Valleys. Tour the cities of Santiago Valparaiso
& Viña del Mar.
7
days/6 nights Sample itinerary.
The Spanish settled Chile’s fertile Central
Valley more than 400 years ago, bringing with them a rich tradition
of culture, agronomy and the arts. Blessed with incredibly fertile
land and a warm Mediterranean climate, the area became home to
Chile’s most prominent families and skilled artisans. Irrigated
by hundreds of rivers born high in the Andes, the valley flourishes
with quality Chilean wines and a wide variety of cultivated flowers,
fruits, and vegetables.
You will embark on a unique and exciting journey
through Chile's Central Valley by visiting several of the best
boutique wineries and vineyards in the region. The production
process from harvesting the grapes through to labeling the bottles
will be explained. There will be ample opportunity to sample distinguished
wines, savor traditional cuisine, and observe artisans crafting
fine objects d’art. While traveling through Chile's most
colorful villages and cities, you will enjoy learning firsthand
about Chilean culture and history by visiting museums, open-air
markets and significant archeological and Historical sites.
Our expert host and guides will accompany you
through central Chile in comfortable new vehicles. You will stay
in choice hotels and exclusive Vineyards guest houses while sampling
the best of Chile’s traditional cuisine, wines and warm
hospitality.
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Day 1. Guided tour of
Chile 's capital Santiago. Overnight at our selected hotel in
Santiago. Upon arrival to Santiago’s airport (usually
AM) and right after leaving the baggage claim area, you will meet
your driver. He will take you to your hotel to check in. Later
your guide will meet you at the lobby for a tour of Santiago.
Our tour begins along the main avenues of the Civic Center and
the seat of government, the neoclassical “La Moneda”
Palace, built during the XVIII century. We will stop at
the Pre-Columbian Museum to see exhibits of more than 1,500 pieces
of ceramics, textiles, and other examples of the various cultures
that inhabited the American mainland through the ages. Then
we will visit the “Plaza de Armas”, Santiago’s
main square, a picturesque square surrounded by the 18th century
“Catedral Metropolitana”, the National Historical
Museum, and the central post office. Leaving downtown, we
will drive towards the “Parque Forestal”, which leads
to the Fine Arts Museum, and Bellavista, the artsy bohemian center
of Santiago. At this point we will stop for lunch In one of Bellavista´s
great restaurants.
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Later we will continue on to the Central Market, a colorful conglomeration
of fish and seafood, fruits, vegetables, and flowers housed in
an exquisite 19th century wrought-iron building. We will finally
visit the “Puebilto de los Dominicos” , a conglomeration
of artists and artisans stores and workshops where you can observe
and buy a variety of typical Chilean artistic expressions. We
go back to your hotel to rest. Later if you wish you can enjoy
a great dinner at “Mira Olas” ,one of the city’s
best restaurants specializing in fish and seafood. Ask the reception
desk for a reservation and a taxi cab.
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Day 2. Visit two prominent
vineyards at the Curico and Maule valleys. Overnight at a vineyard's
exquisite guest house. After breakfast at you hotel,
you will be met by you guide and driver. We will drive will travel
South approx 3 hours South through the Pan – American highway.
On our way, we are going to appreciate wonderful views of Chile’s
wine country, continuing south all the way to the Maule Valley.
After approximately 2 and a half hours drive, we will stop in
the Curicó Valley, here we will visit the Miguel Torres
cellars. This Vineyard is very important in Chilean Viticulture.
Miguel Torres a Spanish wine producer, one of the largest in the
world, and is considered to have founded modern Chilean viticulture.
In 1979 Miguel Torres found the ideal place to make wines in the
Central Valley of Chile.
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After a tour of the vineyard, we will enjoy an
excellent lunch at the vineyard's restaurant. Outstanding service
and food have given this restaurant its high reputation.
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We will continue South towards the Maule Valley,
this valley does not have an equal in the superior quality
of its soil for the production of excellent wines, resulting from
a combination of both fertility and a perfect climate, in the
form of just the right amount of sunshine. Here we will stay at
a charming vineyard’s guest house. Located at a short
distance from the city of Talca, this vineyard produces premium
& ultra premium red wines. Some of which have been awarded
with medals in Europe, North America and Chile. In its unique
“Guest House” visitors are initiated into the knowledge
of wine culture in addition to enjoying the natural beauty of
the surroundings. After settling in at the vineyard's lodgings,
we will meet the vineyard guide and go on a tour to the vineyards
and cellars or enjoy a walk or bike ride along trails that will
take us through the vineyard. Later the group will enjoy wine
tasting session followed by a delicious dinner. (B,
D)
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Day 3: Visit a Maule valley vineyard,
Olive oil tour, lunch at the vineyard's guest house, visit Chile’s
most complete old Haciendas. After our breakfast we will
visit Casa Donoso vineyard founded in 1989. After visiting several
wine producing regions the owners found that the Maule Valley
offered the best potential. Their objective was to anchor the
wine in its natural and cultural environment looking for a vineyard
which could be a “Domaine”, in a way similar to the
Bordeaux region in France. The beautiful and historical mansion
which crowned one of the properties was ideal. A group of friends
and wine enthusiasts from Tahiti decided to buy the property,
known at that time as “Fundo La Oriental”. the vineyards,
more than a century old where originally owned by Lucía
Donoso Gatica. The estate is about 123 hectares ( 270 acres) ,
of which 86 are planted with varieties of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay,
Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenere
grapes. The vineyard originally produced a promising volume of
wine and today after a great deal dedication and hard work it
is one of the Maule valleys top producers of fine reserve wines.
After this visit, we will drive back to the guest house where
we will participate in an interesting olive oil tasting session.
Here we will learn about the process to make Olive oils and the
different quality grades such as extra virgin Olive oil.
Later we will enjoy lunch accompanied by great local wines.
After lunch, we will drive north approx 1,5 hours we will
arrive at the City of Santa Cruz . This region is both the heart
of Chile's wine country and also the heart of the traditional
"Huaso" (Chilean cowboy). Here Chile has its deepest
roots and it is where the earliest settlers started their families
during the late 1500's at a time when agriculture was the main
economical activity of the Spanish colony.
Once in Santa Cruz, at the heart of Chile's most famous wine producing
regions, your guide will assist you in checking into a beautiful
and comfortable Hotel.
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After getting settled we will visit one of Chile's most complete
and old Haciendas located 30 minutes from the hotel. Here we will
have the opportunity to see the way of life and culture of a prominent
Chilean family that used the house from 1828 to 1972. The house
is furnished with most of the original items belonging to the
family during this period, and it is a time capsule allowing us
to travel back in time… a very powerful and illustrative
experience.
We will come back to the hotel to relax or we
can arrange walks around town. In the evening, we will enjoy one
of the best and most complete selections of Chilean wines and
a delicious menu based on typical Chilean cuisine at the hotel’s
restaurant.
(B, L)
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Day 4: Visit local artisans at their
workshops, a Colchagua valley vineyard & the Santa Cruz anthropological
and historical museum. Today after our breakfast, we
will visit the best and most famous local artisan’s right
at their workplace. Just a 20 minute drive from our hotel, we
will be shown first hand where the artisans get their raw material
and how they transform it into beautiful works of art using methods
that have been past down from generation to generation. Next,
we will meet up with an expert guide who is extremely knowledgeable
in the local vineyards and its wines; he will escort us through
visits to one of the most representative vineyards of this region,
Montes: If you feel like your are up to something more active,
here your guide schedule walk along the Botanical path at the
Montes vineyard. You will leave the world behind and experience
a unique and unforgettable walk through vegetation that is typical
of Central Chile on a nature path complete with panoramic vistas.
The Botanical Path that borders the plantations on the north following
the side of Divisadero Hill (1,000 meters above sea level) until
you reach the Maule oak forest, which presents a broad range of
herbaceous species. The Apalta Valley below is located in the
Mediterranean region of central Chile which, along with four other
areas in the world, occupies only 5% of the Earth’s surface
but is home to 20% of all vegetable species. A total of 23% of
Chile’s bio diversity is unique to the Mediterranean region.
After this, we will enjoy a delicious and lunch
at a typical restaurant located at the heart of Santa Cruz.
Next, we will visit the local Museum located
which is one of the best anthropological and historical museums
in South America. You will learn about the pre-Columbian inhabitants
of Chile and South America, the first European settlers and their
way of life, as well as many other interesting details that will
help us to better appreciate this region. Santa Cruz is the heart
of Chile's wine country and the traditional "huaso"
country, (Chilean cowboy). We will go back to the hotel
to freshen up or maybe a short rest. Later we will enjoy selected
Chilean wines and an extraordinary dinner. (B)
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Day 5. Guided visit
of the Santa Rita Vineyard at the famous Maipo Valley while staying
at their exclusive Country Inn. Walk through the vineyard's
magnificent 40-hectare park created in 1882. After breakfast
we will drive approximately 2 hours north towards the famous Maipo
Valley. This Valley is considered to produce the finest red wines
of Chile, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon. This is the zone in
Chile that initiated the grand history of Chilean wine production,
marked by the planting of the first and the finest French varieties
by the Pioneer Silvestre Ochagavia, around 1840.
Here we will visit the Santa Rita Vineyard we
will check in at their exclusive Hotel Casa Real. Since 1996,
the old master house belonging to Mr. Domingo Fernández
Concha has been remodeled into the beautiful Viña Santa
Rita's Casa Real Hotel. The large house, which shows, a Pompeian
style, has 16 cozy rooms. Antique and modern features are in combined
harmony to create this unique hotel. Tear lamps, heaters, pictures,
tapestry and armoires are combined in a contemporary decoration
yet not abandoning a classic style. Another exceptional find on
the property is the Neo-Gothic chapel, built in 1885 by the French
architect Teodoro Burchard located adjacent to the old master
house. Its presence is due to extreme care and a trip made
by one of the restorers of the Vatican's Sistine Chapel from Florence,
Italy, to restore it. This resulted in ensuring future appreciation
of this historical site for years to come. After settling
in, we will have a delicious and elegant lunch at the Santa Rita
vineyard. The combination of service and food result in a delectable
meal. An extra bonus is that we are lunching in a national historical
monument where Bernardo O’Higgins, the general who achieved
independence for Chile, and 120 soldiers once took shelter after
fighting the Spanish crown forces.
After lunch we can take a walk in the vineyard's
magnificent 40-hectare park created in 1882 by Guillermo Renner,
a French landscape designer. Hundred year-old trees of the most
diverse varieties - like Chestnut, Cedar, Olive, Almond, Orange
and Lemon - in addition to the largest bougainvillea of America
- dress and perfume this impressive park. Innumerable statues,
some of them of a mythological origin and others representing
the four seasons, accompany the visitor, showing beauty in every
corner of this huge and inspiring garden. The park is permanently
being maintained and cared for by 15 full time gardeners.
Following this walk we will have guided tour
of the vineyard and cellars. This vineyard was founded in 1880
by Mr. Domingo Fernandez Concha, while assisted by prominent French
consultants. Santa Rita currently plays a leading role in the
Chilean wine industry, combining modern technology, a large installed
capacity for aging wine and the expertise mastered through many
years of wine making. Later we will enjoy dinner at vineyard’s
restaurant. (B)
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Day 6: Wine tasting
session at the Casablanca valley. Visit the beautiful coastal
city of Valparaiso while staying at our selected boutique
Hotel with exceptional views of the Ocean and Port. We
will continue out trip traveling for approx. 2 hours towards the
coast we will pass through Santiago and continue west. Our journey
will take us through the Casablanca valley where, time permitting,
we will stop for wine tasting session in order to sample the unique
Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir wines of this valley. We will drive
approx. 40 minutes towards the coast arriving to the beautiful
city of Valparaiso. A city declared cultural monument of humanity
by UNESCO. Valparaiso is also the main commercial port of Chile.
We will check in at a local Boutique Hotel located in one of the
main tourists’ walks of Valparaíso where you have
an exceptional view of the port. This Boutique Hotel is situated
in an important area which has been declared Historical Patrimony.
The hotel invites you to submerge into a history that brings alive
the architecture, design and art of times with clear European
influences. The house faces the Pacific Ocean, bringing an impressive
view that can be enjoyed with the morning light, with the colors
of dawn or the gleaming magic of the night. You can see the ships
that arrive and depart. It is the eternal welcome and farewell
of the port that can be appreciated from the magical simplicity
of this traditional house. It is a space that opens its doors
to travelers that are always willing to discover the other side
of adventure. After settling in and relaxing, we will follow our
guide along a walk through the most interesting and colorful corners
of this charming city. Stopping at several points of interest
like; the historic monument to the heroes of Iquique, Prat Quay,
we will ride the historic and unique elevators of Valparaiso and
visit several buildings which are national monuments. Along the
way we can also visit several galleries, souvenir stores or enjoy
a good cup of coffee. The many corners and amazing vistas and
unique perspectives that you will encounter around each corner
will a great opportunity for you to take wonderful photographs.
We end our walk at the hotel where you can relax and enjoy the
great vistas of the city and bay below. You can also join the
rest of the gusts at the “honesty bar” for cocktails.
Later we will walk to a local restaurant to enjoy dinner with
a beautiful view of the Valparaiso bay (B)
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Day 7th: Visit several interesting corners
of Valparaiso and the beautiful city of Viña del Mar. Drive
back to Santiago. Today we will spend the day visiting
several interesting corners of Valparaiso and the nearby city
of Viña del Mar. Later we will take the coastal road to
Viña del Mar, which is also known as "The Garden city",
here we are going to visit the Floral Clock and the Vergara peer,
the municipal Casino and the famous Peru Avenue. Our trip continues
along the coast we you are going to observe the beauty of this
unique place. Next, we will then return to the center of Viña
del Mar, will find the Francisco Vergara square, the Municipal
Theatre and Sucre Square. We will enjoy lunch overlooking the
deep blue Pacific Ocean, Next it is time for the 1 1/2 hour drive
back to Santiago’s Airport on time for your connecting flight
Home or to your next destination. (B)
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