Food, Wine & Culture in South America

Food, Wine & Culture

Highlights: Santiago, Wine Country, Iguazu Falls & Buenos Aires
Follow the wine route from the fantastic Carménères of Colchagua to the unique Malbecs of the Uco Valley. You’ll explore the local food markets in Santiago, revel in the smells of a Buenos Aires parilla, the sounds of Iguazu’s ceaseless falls, the sight of the sun over the Andes. It’s all here: this, and so much more.

Day 1: Arrival in Santiago
After collecting your bags a private car will meet you and drop you at the door of your elegant boutique hotel in the trendy Lastarria neighborhood. After lunch, you will be picked up for your half day tour of Santiago City. You will begin touring the main avenues in the city’s civic center. Highlights include La Moneda Palace, which was completed in 1805 (after more than 20 years of on-and-off construction). The neoclassical building was the home of Chilean presidents until 1958, and today is the seat of the government.
You will continue exploring narrow streets, eventually arriving at the Plaza de Armas, a picturesque square surrounded by the 18th-century Cathedral Metropolitana, the National Historical Museum, and the central post office. Leaving downtown Santiago, you will head toward Parque Forestal, which leads to the Fine Arts Museum, and Bellavista, the artsy, bohemian centre of Santiago. You will then ascend San Cristóbal, a beautiful public park whose peak—the perfect place for a panoramic shot of the city—is crowned with a 118-foot statue of the Virgin Mary. You will then descend and travel the other direction to the neighborhoods of Pedro de Valdivia Norte, Las Condes and Vitacura, the modern commercial districts and a great place to indulge yourselves with some shopping.

Vineyards in Mendoza, Argentina.

Day 2: Into Colchagua
Today you will go on a full day tour of winery visits at the Colchagua Valley. This is the home of Chile’s most acclaimed varietal, the Carménère, and some really nice reds as the Cabernet Sauvignon and the Syrah.
Each winery has its own history and individual charm, many of which have a long family tradition, together with the latest technology incorporated for the production of their fine wines, which you will have the chance to taste. Your guide will explain each process which finally produces magnificent wines in this highly reputed valley, finishing off with a tasting of some of those wines. You could visit Viña Montes, Viña Montgras and the Wine Museum in Santa Cruz and taste a delicious lunch at the beautiful Hotel Santa Cruz, where you will have the opportunity to try the local products.

Day 3: West to Casablanca
Today you will be picked up for your full day tour of the wine region. You will leave Santiago past the vineyards, farms, orchards and olive plantations of Curacavi and Casablanca valleys until reaching the organic vines of Viña La Emiliana. You will taste their wonderful wines, walk through their vineyards learning how the endemic fauna plays a part in the sustainability of the land’s biodiversity.
You will continue to William Cole for a taste of their award-winning wines. At the conclusion of your tour you will be dropped off at your boutique winery hotel located inside one of the valley’s top wineries.

Day 4: Casablanca
You will have a free day to enjoy your stay at your hotel. Your all-inclusive package includes a visit to the vineyard, all your meals and outdoor activities such as horse-back riding, hiking, biking or a drive across the area’s vineyards. The hotel is a typical, colonial, country home featuring seven stylish rooms. With over 100 years of history, in 2004 it was fully remodeled and beautifully decorated by the renowned designer Max Cummins. The property offers the perfect setting for a relaxing, unique holiday experience. Visit the vineyard, explore the grounds, taste the fine wines and relax in the peaceful Rosario Valley.

Day 5: to the sea, to Valparaiso
Today you will be picked up at the hotel and continue to the Pacific Coast, where you will drive along the beaches of Las Salinas and Reñaca to Viña del Mar, a town Chileans refer to as “Ciudad Jardín” due to its parks, flower beds and gardens. That said, the beach is the resort’s main draw and visitors and locals alike make use of Costanera Avenue and the oceanfront promenade in the shadows of the imposing Casino Municipal.
You will then follow España Avenue to neighboring Valparaíso, a port christened by the Spanish in 1536. You will climb up, down and around these narrow twisty streets—the city is balanced on some 40 hills—and pause at the water front to watch the ships, boats and fishermen in the bay. You will then proceed to the heart of the city, the Plaza Sotomayor, a pleasant sanctuary, opposite the Maritime Authority. Inside the plaza is the Monument a los Héroes de Iquique, a memorial for those killed during the War of the Pacific. Just beyond this is Muelle Prat, a pier with a small crafts market. You will then ride one of the city’s many elevators, an effective way of moving around this largely vertical port back in the turn of the century. Ascensor Artillería, built in 1898, is one of the oldest still in operation and offers a beautiful view of the ocean. Upon arrival to Valparaiso you will be transferred to your boutique hotel.

Day 6: Valparaiso
A Unesco World Heritage site since 2003, Valparaiso has a unique bohemian charm cemented by its steep labyrinthine roads, crumbling mansions and breathtaking scenery perfect for the photo enthusiasts. During your stay in Valpo we will leave time for you to wander around the streets of the port town, visit poet Pablo Neruda’s home or take the ascensores (funiculars) from the city center to the upper level. As some restaurants might be closed tonight due to the holiday we will look for options closer to the travel date and provide you with alternatives for dinner.

Horseback riding in the vineyards, Colchagua Valley, Chile

Day 7: Across the Andes to Mendoza
Today you will be driven to the airport for your international flight to Mendoza, Argentina.
Upon arrival in Mendoza you will be picked up at the airport and transferred to your luxury property situated in the heart of Valle de Uco, the most recently developed wine region located 70 miles south from Mendoza. The central Andes of Argentina are among the top wine destinations of the new world. Mountain activities are also at their best here, as are the highest peaks outside of the Himalayas, reaching almost 23000ft.

Day 8: Uco Valley
During your free time you will be able to use the Spa and the heated pool with gorgeous views of the Central Andes. You could also visit the nearby Kilka Art Center and the nearby wineries, where you will be able to taste some of their best wines. Another option would be to go horse-back riding at Finca San Pablo, go biking through the vineyards or visit the nearby Manzano Histórico area for adventure activities.

Day 9: Uco Winery visits
Today you will go on a full day winery tour of Uco Valley. Located at the foothills of Los Andes mountain range, Uco Valley is the region with the highest potential in Argentina’s wine industry. Your guide will pick you up at your hotel and you will head to the nearby wineries. You will visit the small boutique La Azul Winery along with Domaine Bousquet before stopping at Andeluna for lunch.
At the conclusion of your tour you will be dropped off at your luxury boutique property situated in the heart of the wine region surrounded by vineyards. The hotel features a fantastic Hamam Spa, and uses local grapes on many of their products.

Day 10: Getting close to the clouds
Today you will go on a full-day high mountain drive in search of Mount Aconcagua, the highest peak in America. On the way you will have a picnic lunch with great views of the Andes and reach the “Sentinel” where you will go on a hike at the mountain’s base camp.

Day 11: Visiting the Maipu and Lujan de Cuyo wineries
Today you will be picked up for your private tour of the local wineries, where you will meet the oenologists and have a chance to discuss the specifics of each particular varietal or blend, as well as tasting a variety of their wines. You will visit the areas of Luján de Cuyo and Maipú, learn about the original techniques used to harvest the grape and how the local aborigines turned this once deserted area into a productive oasis. You will start at Benegas followed by Achaval Ferrer and lunch at Vistalba. Finally, you will visit Domaine Saint Diego and taste their wonderful wines before heading back to the hotel.

Day 12: From the mountains to the jungle
Today you will be picked up at your hotel and transferred to the airport for your flight to Puerto Iguazu Upon arrival in Iguazú you will be transferred to your hotel, the only property located inside the National Park. You will have a room with a view of the falls.
During your free time at the hotel you will be able to enjoy the pool, walk around the gardens on your own or indulge yourselves with one of the many spa treatments available at the hotel’s Spa.

Day 13: The Falls
This morning you will be picked up at your hotel for a full day tour of the National Park. The visit will include upper and lower circuits of the jungle, and the train to the Devil’s Throat. The Great Adventure boat and Land Rover excursion will also be included.
The tour will take you right underneath the waterfall for a different view of the park. The sights are tremendous and you should be sure to bring your cameras. We suggest that you stop for a bite to eat at a restaurant within the park. You will get wet during the day’s activities; we recommend bringing a raincoat or a waterproof poncho if you need to stay dry. You will have time for lunch at one of the park’s restaurants. You will go back to your hotel at the end of the day.

Day 14: To the big city
You will enjoy the Park in the morning and after lunch head to the airport for your flight to BA, the capital of Argentina and one of the great cities of the Western Hemisphere. After collecting your bags a private car will meet you and drop you at the door of your elegant boutique hotel in the heart of the fashionable Palermo, A former industrial quarter, Palermo is now Buenos Aires’ hot spot for restaurants, coffee shops, designer’s clothes and trendy furniture. Spend some time perambulating around this trendy neighborhood, or relax at one of the local cafes before hitting one of the area’s famous dinner spots, where the beef is fresh, the wine delectable, and the atmosphere filled with the boisterous joy of life in Argentina.

Day 15: Tour of brilliant Buenos Aires
Spend your first day in Argentina getting accustomed to the multitudinous cultural offerings of this unparalleled world city, where the charismatic passion of Latin America meets the refined sophistication of the capitals of Europe, where brightly colored bodegas meet the polished granite of high-end apartments towering above wide and hurried streets, and where romance is always easy to find.
Explore the Old World trappings of Retiro and Recoleta, where the city’s Parisian past is tastefully and graciously celebrated and remembered. They harken back to the unpredictable days and fervid nights during the turn of the 20th century, when Buenos Aires experienced a population boom that brought all manners of culture to its alleyways and avenues. You’ll also get a chance to walk by some of the most important and noteworthy spots of Buenos Aires’s grand and glorious past, from the Plaza de Mayo and the nation’s political heart to the winding cobblestone paths of San Telmo, where Buenos Aires’s colonial past mixes with her thriving nightlife to produce one of the most unique neighborhoods in this fascinating metropolis. From the rich and varied past to the fast-paced, exhilarating present, Buenos Aires is truly a city that is always on the move and always ready to take you along for the ride.
This is a 2-hour tour so you’ll have time to rest up or you can explore the more of the city at your leisure.

Day 16:Learning the art of Argentine Tango
After a delicious breakfast at your hotel, head to the private studio of one of the city’s top dance instructors as you set out to learn one of the most famous partner dances in the world: the tango. Forged in the fiery world of the lower-class neighborhoods of Buenos Aires by combing European and Argentinian musical traditions, the tango has been intimately tied to the image of Argentina since at least the 1950s, when it first became an item of fierce national pride. You’ll experience the powerful and colorful history of this singular dance as your instructor fills you in on the subtle cues, the deep emotion and the irrepressible desire that fills the tango’s steps, all while preparing you for an incredible evening show in the bowels of a Buenos Aires tango club, where a delicious and authentic meal accompanies the movements of some of the finest dancers in the country.

Day 17: Heading Home
Today you leave the passionate charm and ceaseless beauty of Argentina, filled with stories and songs, the sights of the Andes, the sounds of Iguazu, the smells of Mendoza and the feelings of warmth and welcome from all over this incredible area. By the time you touch down back home, you’ll be sure to be testing your Spanish for your next trip down South America’s way.

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