Upon arrival at Santiago, Chile’s capital International Airport, your driver will meet and transfer you to your hotel.

Balance of your day at leisure.

Overnight: The Singular Santiago, Lastarria Hotel
Meal Plan: B

Today you will commence a unique exploration of Santiago. You will be met in the hotel lobby by your Host and Chilean Chef, and lead to your waiting vehicle for the short drive to a typical street market, passing en route some of the city’s most iconic areas such as Bellavista, El Bosque or Borderío. Upon arrival to the market you will stroll past the colorful stalls, getting to know the wide variety of fruits and vegetables available. From here, continue to your Host and Chilean Chef’s  home where lunch will be prepared.

Upon arrival you will be served an aperitif (such as the emblematic pisco sour) along with some appetizers, and you will be invited to join in the kitchen where you can roll up your sleeves and take part in the preparation of today’s menu that will be a tasting menu of different traditional Chilean dishes and accompanied by some excellent Chilean wines.

Following lunch, you will then explore Chile’s capital city, a sophisticated, sprawling metropolis wedged between the Andes and Coastal Ranges. Highlights will include the Palacio de La Moneda Presidential Palace, the Plaza de Armas, the city’s most famous square surrounded by some beautiful buildings including the impressive Cathedral and Central Post Office. Continue to San Cristobal Hill for a panoramic view of the city and the omnipresent Andes, before heading uptown to continue to the Pueblo de Los Dominicos Handicrafts Market. This charming shopping area resembles a colonial village, and the quality products on offer range from hand knit sweaters to lapis lazuli to art and even pet animals.

The evening will be at leisure.

Overnight: The Singular Santiago, Lastarria Hotel
Meal Plan: B, L

Head about 45 miles north of Santiago and you’ll arrive at the Aconcagua Valley, not far from Valparaiso. This wine producing region is set in a rugged landscape of varied textures, with arid cracked soils back-dropped by towering mountains. The climate here is very much seasonal, with cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers. The valley is known for its excellent Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot wines.

Today’s exploration is the Aconcagua Valley. The stunning peak of Mount Aconcagua – at 22,800 feet, it is the highest peak in the Americas – actually lies across the border in Argentina, but is visible from the valley that shares its name. The valley is one of Chile’s emerging wine-producing areas.

Your first visit today will be to the famous Errazuriz Winery, in the picturesque village of Panquehue. This was once the largest wine producer in the world, which now vies for the title of Chile’s most beautiful winery. Viña Errazuriz has been producing grapes of the highest quality since 1870 by Don Maximiano Errazuriz who recognised that cool, rainy winters, hot, dry summers and moist Pacific Ocean breezes provided ideal conditions for growing grapes.

The Errázuriz philosophy is best expressed by Don Maximiano who said, “From the best land, the best wine”. The tour begins among the garden’s fountains and fragrant sweet peas, and climbs through the vineyards for an expansive view of the property. The finale: a wine tasting of Errázuriz’s selection of Sangioveses, Pinots, and Shirazes, complemented by locally made bread and cheese. Afterward, linger on the patio over a delicious country lunch.

A mere 200 metres separates Errazuriz from Von Siebenthal, a boutique winery that produces only four wines. For over two decades, Mauro von Siebenthal, a Swiss lawyer and wine aficionado, had a dream. In 1998, with the financial support of four friends, Viña von Siebenthal finally became a reality. Viña von Siebenthal’s harmonious philosophy helps create extremely elegant wines that eloquently express the extraordinary characteristics of the Valle de Aconcagua terroir. So good are Von Siebenthal’s wines that one won a silver medal and three were awarded golds at the Brussels Wine Expo in 2004. Their premium Montelig won best red wine in the world at the Expo. Von Siebenthal is a no-fuss winery. There is no fancy visitor’s centre or souvenir shop, just superb service and great wines.

Overnight: The Singular Santiago, Lastarria Hotel
Meal Plan: B, L

Full Day at leisure until your evening transfer to the airport for your evening flight to the USA.

Meal Plan: B

OPTIONAL
You may want to take advantage of an optional excursion to the beautiful coastal region west of Santiago. Drive through the undulating hills of Chile’s wine country to the historic port of Valparaiso, and continue along the coast to nearby Viña del Mar. This chic seaside resort with palm tree-lined avenues and lovely villas truly deserves the sobriquet “Pearl of the Pacific.”