Program
DAY 1: FLIGHT TO ARRIVAL SANTIAGO DE CHILE – CHILE (D)
Today you will take your flight with Air France – KLM via Paris or Amsterdam to the largest city in Chile, Santiago de Chile or any other airline you prefer. After arrival, you will be transferred from the airport to your hotel. After check-in at your hotel, you will be expected in one of the most beautiful rooftop bars in the city overlooking the Andes. Your evening continues with a dinner in a wine restaurant.
Overnight.
DAY 2 – SANTIAGO DE CHILE (B)
After breakfast this morning you will discover the Chilean capital of Santiago, a metropolis and at the same time a charming city at the foot of the Andes. Although Santiago has become a modern and vibrant city over the years, some neighbourhoods have retained their romantic charm and atmosphere. You will discover the central Plaza de Armas, the colourful streets of the Bellavista district, the Santa Lucia hill and more. You will learn about the turbulent and fascinating Chilean history.
The rest of the day is at your own discretion.
Overnight.
DAY 3 – SANTIAGO DE CHILE (B, L)
After a light breakfast, your English-speaking guide will pick you up from your hotel for a food tour of Santiago. The day starts with the Vega Central, a covered market built in 1910 full of fresh produce from all over the country. Here you can taste the famous “sopaipilla”, a pancake made from pumpkin.
Then on the other side of the Mapocho River you will visit the Central Market, built in 1872, and famous for its fresh fish and seafood. At the corner of the central market you will find Santiago’s oldest empanadas shop. Here you can taste a delicious empanada of meat or cheese. Afterwards, make your way to the gastronomic district of Lastarria, where you will be offered a pisco tasting in the famous Chipe Libre. The excursion ends at the top of San Cristobal Hill, where you can taste the famous “moté con huesillo” while admiring the panoramic views of the city and the Andes.
After this food tour, the rest of the day is at your own leisure.
Overnight.
DAY 4 – SANTIAGO DE CHILE – CASABLANCA WINE VALLEY (B, D)
After breakfast, your guide will pick you up from your hotel and travel to the Casablanca valley. This region is known for its grape varieties such as Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, but even more recently for its Pinot Noir.
Along the way you will visit a first organic and biodynamic vineyard that is part of the revival of the Chilean vineyard. After visiting the winery, you will then enjoy four premium wines paired with a selection of chocolates or cheeses, as well as the iconic wine called Gê.
Then you will continue to the second winery where you will have a private visit to the vineyard, you will also visit the production areas where they make balsamic and artisan fruit liqueurs, and the wine cellar. Then you will be offered a wine tasting with the RE Pinotel, RE Chardonnoir, RE Cabergnan. You get some bread, olives, and the locally made olive oil and wine balsamic. After this you will continue to a third winery where you will be offered a delicious dinner in their restaurant with a bottle of wine.
Overnight in a wine hotel. You will stay in this hotel for two nights.
DAY 5 – THE WINE VALLEYS (B, L, D)
After breakfast and some free time to enjoy the beautiful surroundings, you will visit the winery that belongs to your wine hotel where you will also be offered a wine tasting. This winery is distinguished by its quality Syrah wines. You will taste 4 wines from the Equilibrio Ultra-Premium line. Your guide will then pick you up from your hotel late in the morning to drive to the second winery of the day.
This small winery is owned by a French-Chilean family. After a first welcome drink, visit the estate, discover its history and how it once started. Then you will have a guided visit of the wine cellar with the winemaker, followed by the wine tasting. After this there will be a lunch (starter and main course) together with different wines including from the Expresion line, 3 wines from the Grand Vin line and a wine from the Tanagra line.
Overnight in a wine hotel.
DAY 6 – THE WINE VALLEYS – VALPARAISO (B)
After breakfast, your driver will pick you up from your hotel in the Casablanca wine valley and take you to Valparaíso. Here you will meet Chilean chef Mauricio and take you to discover the famous fish market of Valparaiso. Then you go to his house for a cooking workshop. Here you will learn how to make the Chilean version of the traditional Ceviche recipe. Ceviches are typical dishes from Peru and Chile made with raw fish.
After the ceviche cooking class, you will also have a Pisco tasting and Pisco Sour class. Then you can fully enjoy your freshly prepared ceviche and homemade Pisco Sour on the terrace of Mauricio overlooking the bay of Valparaiso.
Overnight.
DAY 7 – VALPARAISO – ISLA NEGRA – VISITING WINE HOUSES AND WINE TASTING – SANTA CRUZ (B)
After breakfast, your guide will take you to Isla Negra, the most beautiful home of the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, now a museum. Then you travel further south over the green and rolling wine valleys between the mountains and the ocean. After arrival at the first winery, you will be offered a private tour and wine tasting. This area, the San Antonio Valley, is distinguished by its unique location near the ocean and the fact that in 2000 the founder was the first woman on the South American continent to be recognized as an oenologist and own her own vineyard. Despite the early difficulties due to its proximity to the coast, the estate has been awarded many times since its inception. The winery still has its family atmosphere and you are warmly welcomed. You will visit the casona, the bodega and the vineyards, followed by a wine tasting of 3 exceptional wines, two white and one red.
After this, you will visit a second winery run by Brazilian oenologists who settled in the heart of the Casablanca Valley several years ago. They share their passion for wine with you, gastronomy and their project recognized by Chilean wine professionals as well as international wine professionals. The visit begins with the discovery of the vineyard and the different grape varieties offered there. You will then visit the different parts of the winery. After that you will be offered a wine tasting. You will taste a Malbec wine that has been voted the best Chilean wine in 2016.
Overnight.
DAY 8 – SANTA CRUZ – COLCHAGUA VALLEY – SANTA CRUZ (B)
After breakfast, your driver will pick you up from your hotel to take you to the selected wineries in the Colchagua Valley. These beautiful wineries that you will discover today specialize in red wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenere Malbec and Syrah. On the way you can also visit the Colchagua Museum.
Optional: Get in the carriage and enjoy a great experience. Take a tour of the winery’s history. Learn about winemaking processes and taste wines straight from the stainless-steel tanks at the Visitor Centre, voted the best wine tourism centre in the world in 2018! At the end of the tour, enjoy four types of wine during a wine tasting in which you will also learn basic concepts of professional wine tasting.
After this you will travel to a second winery founded by a French family, known for the production of spirits and liqueurs, especially Cognac since the 1880s and a Chilean family in 1994. They produce a beautiful wine range in a “design” setting in the in the middle of the Colchagua Valley. Here you will get a guided tour with a group, followed by a wine tasting. Guided tour available at 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 4:00 PM, and 5:30 PM
At the end of the afternoon, your driver will bring you back to your hotel.
Overnight.
DAY 9 – SANTA CRUZ – SANTIAGO DE CHILE (B)
After breakfast, your driver will pick you up from the hotel in Santa Cruz to take you to Santiago airport. From Santiago Airport, it’s time to say goodbye to Chile, head full of incredible memories and beautiful landscapes.
… Or you can choose to extend your trip to one of the other beautiful wine regions of Chile to the south or why not combine it with the wine regions of Argentina. If you want more of a cultural extension, Easter Island is certainly one of the possibilities.
DAY 10 – ARRIVAL AT HOME
After a long flight, you come back home full of memories, the taste of those delicious wines still with you and beautiful photos.
