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TOUR SUMMARY
- Duration: 21 days start Santiago and end in Buenos Aires
- Tour focus: Food, wine, culture and spectacular scenery
- Accommodation: 19 nights comfortable hotels, wineries and family run bed and breakfasts, 1 night first class lie flat bed bus
- Transport: flight, bus & mini van
- Group Size: Min 4, Max 12 + S.E.T. tour leader
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS - THE ALL NEW WINE & FOOD LOVERS:
- The bohemian port of Valparaiso and its street art
- Ride a vintage steam train with wine tasting and folklore
- Visit the Casablanca and Colchagua Valley wine regions in Chile
- Savour superb tastings at boutique wineries and prestigious labels
- Visit the Mendoza and Cafayate wine regions in Argentina
- Experience the stunning Mendoza Harvest festival and performance
- Indulge in delicious wine matching regional cuisine
- Journey through stunning red canyons and wineries in Cafayate
- See the shimmering salt flats of Northern Argentina
- Enjoy the contrast of unique Andean cultures and hospitality
- Learn the secrets of Argentine cuisine in a unique cooking class
- Feel the passion of a spectacular Buenos Aires Tango Show
ITINERARY
Day 1 - Arrive Santiago
Arrive in Santiago. Your first taste of this stunningly vibrant Latin American city begins with a short orientation meeting in the evening followed by a welcome dinner in a nearby restaurant.
Days 2 - Santa Cruz & Vintage Wine Train
Leaving Santiago early for San Fernando 140km south of Santiago, board the Vintage Wine Train, an old steam engine which was one of the last models constructed in Chile in 1913. On board you can enjoy wine tasting with great Colchaguino appetizers, accompanied by Chilean Folklore with popular songs. Later you’ll visit the museum “Museo de Colchagua” The exposition shows largely a pre Colombian art collection of Chile, Peru and Colombia as well as archaeological collections. Over nighting in a boutique vineyard on the outskirts of Santa Cruz
Day 3 -Santa Cruz & Colchagua Valley
We spend the day on the “Ruta del Vino del Valle de Colchagua” in other words, the winery route of the Colchagua valley. This is group of wineries, have banded together to offer this great little tour. We visit some of the most interesting of the wineries in the valley which may include: Vina Viu Manet, and Vina Bisquertt.
Day 4 & 5 - Santiago & Valparaiso
Returning by van to the the Chilean capital of Santiago, we stretch our legs in the afternoon taking a short walking tour of the City Center. The next day we visit Valparaiso, with over one and a half million inhabitants, is the "port of Santiago" and the most important Chilean port. An enchanting and bohemian city with funicular railways that tirelessly climb and descend the hills that command a view of the pretty harbour. You'll be amazed by the graffiti or street art of Valparaiso, which has become famous in its own right. Today our winery visit is in the Casablanca area.
Day 6 - Over the Andes to Mendoza
This morning we embark on a spectacular journey over the Andes range by bus to the Argentinean wine region of Mendoza nestled at the foot of South America’s highest mountain, Aconcagua. This balmy city has a very relaxed feel that lends itself to wandering the tree lined avenues. However, we're here at harvest festival time so the streets will filled with stalls, parades and entertainment to enjoy.
Day 7 & 8 - Mendoza
Our full day tour to Lujan de Cuyo: is the most important wine region in Mendoza. The best Malbec in Argentina is in this region, at about 20km from the city of Mendoza where you will taste exquisite wines of the region and be served a multi course wine matching lunch. Then a half day wine tour takes us around 90km south, to Valle de Uco and a start at the fantastic Salentein winery for our first tasting. After that, we travel to a variety of wineries that showcase their superb Malbec wines and indulge in a delicious lunch. Enjoy a siesta in the afternoon, then get ready for a spectacular performance in the open air amphitheater, featuring over 700 performers. You'll be treated to a picnic dinner of delicious local wine and food.
Day 9 - to Salta
Enjoy the festivities of the main Parade or Carrusel, which is a huge event and loads of fun. You'll have grapes, wine, fruit and other trinkets thrown at you from the floats. See the harvest queens of each region and watch the splendid horses and gauchos. This evening we board our first class executive bed bus to Salta. You'll experience superb service, dinner with wine, breakfast and lie flat beds. I love this trip and look forward to the relaxation on board, even though it's a long ride of around 15 hours.
Day 10 & 11 - Salta
Truly one of the most beautiful cities in northern Argentina. We stay in a quiet residential neighbourhood, so relax and enjoy the pool or visit the local craft market for great souvenirs. We'll ride the cable car up San Bernardo Hill for a spectacular view and a surprising garden at the top. An absolute "must do" while in Salta is going to a peña restaurant. Loved by locals as much as by visitors they serve up wonderful regional food and have live shows of traditional dancing. The goat stew is a must try!
Day 12 & 13 - Cafayate
As we drive south and enter the Quebrada de las Conchas, the scenery changes from vibrant green fields to cacti and dramatic bright red hills. With many stops to take in the canyon we arrive in Cafayate the wine region of Northern Argentina. Enjoy the village atmosphere and savour some superb Torrontes wine, a speciality of the region.
Day 14 to 16 - Cachi,Salt Lakes & Huamahuaca Canyon
The next few days find us off the beaten track, exploring canyons of multi coloured rocks and surreal erroded formations. We also venture to the village of Cachi for some local flavour and then high into the Andes to catch our first glimpse of shimmering salt lakes. We have to be flexible with the itinerary and the exact places visited will be determined by local conditions as we are here towards the end of the rainy season. Please be prepared for some long travelling days. However you will be amply rewarded with stunning scenery and the privilege of visiting less toursited Andean villages.
Day 17 to 19 - Buenos Aires
Journey back to Salta from Pumamarca and the Huamahuaca canyon to catch an afternoon flight to the capital Buenos Aires. We're lucky enough to enjoy a cooking class in a family home. Along with wine tasting we're also taught how to make tasty empanadas and a traditional Argentine BBQ. If time allows a market visit is also included. We'll visit the colorful La Boca district and antiques area of San Telmo. Leaving you with free time to explore. Stroll down the pedestrian avenue Florida for a bit of shopping and a relaxing wander around the shady park of San Martin, or leafy suburb of Recoleta.
Day 20 - Buenos Aires
A final day in this vibrant city takes us to the watery world of the Parana River Delta. Catch a canal boat and enjoy the riverside market. Tonight our final dinner is combined with a spectacular Tango show and celebrates the conclusion of a fabulous trip.
Day 21 - Buenos Aires
Departure Day. Free day until your flight leaves, to do some last minute shopping of great wines, leather goods and clothes.
We can also arrange for an Iguazu falls extension, please enquire.
HASTA LUEGO AMIGOS, GRACIAS Y NOS VEMOS PRONTO. Thank you friends and we’ll see you again soon.
IS THIS WINE AND FOOD LOVERS TOUR FOR YOU?
This is truly a great trip for anyone who has an amateur interest in wine, food and Latin culture. We don’t pretend to be professional wine connoisseurs, however we do aim to provide rather a unique way to travel and visit Chile and Argentina with an emphasis on the great variety of wine trails, cuisine and breath taking scenery along the way. Some long travel days are to be expected in order to experience all that this beautiful region has to offer.The northern section of the trip may need some flexibility as this will be the first time we have run it like this. We may also find that changes in airline schedules mean the trip may end up a day shorter/longer. It is South America so be prepared for changes.
Accommodation is in cosy family owned B&B’s, wineries and hotels, with private facilities and great ambiance. It’s a physically undemanding trip, however you will need to be able to manage your own bags from buses to taxis and hotels. We travel on a variety of transport from hired mini vans to public buses which are usually very comfortable. The one overnight bus is not to be feared as the beds recline 180 degrees and the service is superb. In the event that Aerolineas Argentinas start direct flights from Mendoza to Salta, we will take that option. However this is currently unavailable.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE TOUR PRICE?
- All wines tours and tastings
- 3 highlight dinners and 3 lunches with wine
- A Tango show in Buenos Aires
- Traditional night out at a Peña Restaurant in Salta
- Day trip to Valaparaiso
- Vintage Wine train ride
- Walking tour of Santiago
- Mendoza Harvest Festival evening performance
- Visit to the wine regions, salt flats and canyons of northern Argentina
- Personalized Buenos Aires city tour
- Cooking class in Buenos Aires
- All transport during the itinerary
- The cost of entry for all scheduled tours and national parks
- S.E.T tour leader throughout the tour
- All hotel accommodations* (on a twin share basis including all continental breakfasts).
* Additional accommodations can be arranged at the clients’ request
PAYING LOCALLY
Most of our journeys involve a local payment. Paying locally allows us to keep the overall cost of our tours competitive and pass the savings on to you. These funds are put towards local expenses. In some developing countries the transferring of funds is at times problematic so this is a way to help us serve you, whilst saving you money. This is especially true of Argentina since the devaluation of the peso. Payment is to be made to your leader upon arrival in cash.
All prices are approximates and subject to currency fluctuations until final payment has been made. |
