Chile and Argentina
Food, Wine and Culture Tour
March 18—27, 2017
March 18th:
Day 1
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SANTIAGO
Arrive Santiago
City Tour
Lunch and Wine Experience at Santa Rita Winery
Dinner at Barrica 94, Boca Nariz or similar
Overnight 4-Star Hotel such as The Singular Hotel or Luciano K
Upon arrival at the airport in Santiago we will be met by our private driver and bilingual guide and whisked
away on our tour of Santiago. (Fortunately, there is no time difference between Santiago and the East Coast,
so we arrive without the jet lag of traveling across time zones.) We will walk around the historical city centre,
taking in the highlights of the area such as Plaza de Armas, La Moneda, the Cathedral, Santa Lucia Hill, and
Cerro San Cristobal, which will give us a fascinating look inot the history and culture of this diverse city, and
spectacular views of the city.
Afterward, we will visit the beautiful and culturally rich winery, Santa Rita Vineyard, for lunch and a
winemaker experience. Lunch will be at the Dona Paula Restaurant, located at the winery. This restaurant is a
national monument in Chile, named in honour of Madame Paula Jaraquemada who owned the main house of
the Santa Rita Estate over 200 years ago. After lunch we will enjoy a tasting and charcuterie, and then check
in to our hotel and unwind before dinner.
March 19th:
Day 2
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SANTIAGO – PACIFIC COAST
Full day Wineries
Harvest Experience
Lunch at Hotel Casa Higueras
Cheese and Wine tasting at Viña Emiliana
Dinner on own
Overnight 4-Star Hotel such as The Singular Hotel or Luciano K
Today we travel west toward the Pacific Coast to reach the Casablanca Valley, famous for its excellent white
wines such as its prized Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. We will visit the Emiliana Vineyard, one of the few
estates in this region that prides itself in organic practices. After our tour and a wine tasting we will continue
our journey to the coastal city of Valparaiso, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the Pacific Ocean. This
important port city was once considered the “The Jewel of the Pacific” before the opening of the Panama
Canal. We will have time to visit the downtown area, the governmental buildings, Sotomayor Plaza, Victoria
Plaza, the town’s cathedral and the well-known harbor area. Afterward, we will head for the city’s famous
colorful hills and neighborhoods. There, high above the metropolis is a fantastic agglomeration of brightly
painted houses and panoramic views. The upper and lower parts of the city are connected with 16 funicular
railways constructed around the turn of the century when the city experienced tremendous growth. The
architecture combined with a fantastic cultural atmosphere offers one of the best urban experiences in Chile.
After our city tour we will enjoy a lovely lunch in the famed Casa Higueras Hotel. As we sample the chef’s
Chilean specialties we’ll enjoy perfect wine pairings along with sensational views of the bay and city.
After lunch, we travel to the celebrated Wine Harvest Experience at Casas Del Bosque Vineyard, where we
awill actually participate in the grape harvest. We will first visit the vineyard and then climb up to Mirador del
Tranque and for a glass of Sauvignon Blanc while enjoying the view of the city below. Next, it’s harvest time
and our turn to participate in the process of wine making. After a job well done, we will enjoy the fruits of our
labor with some Cabernet Sauvignon and a traditional empanada.
After this very full day we’ll head back to Santiago.
March 20th:
Day 3
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SANTIAGO - MENDOZA
9:35 AM Fly to Mendoza
10:35AM Arrive in Mendoza
Leisure day to enjoy the hotel and surrounding area
Dinner at Hotel
Overnight Cavas Wine Lodge or Entre Cielos
After our morning flight to Mendoza, we will experience this internationally recognized capital of Argentine
wine production, nestled in the foothills of the Andes. Vines that produce the best Malbec wines in the world
blanket these valleys famed for sunny skies and nature’s blessings. The surrounding hills are an idyllic setting
for the vineyards, and their attractions keep any nature-loving explorer very busy.
After checking into our hotel we will have the opportunity to partake in various hotel activities including
horseback riding between vineyards and through the Andes mountains, rafting, zip lining or hiking in the
mountains, if you feel more adventurous, or visiting some of the best wineries near the hotel. We will also be
able to continue experiencing these activities on the following day before our afternoon trip north.
March 21st:
MENDOZA – SALTA
Day 4
 4:35PM Fly to Salta
 6:15PM Arrive in Salta
 Dinner on own
 Overnight House of Jasmines
We arrive in the city of Salta, the heart of Salta Province, and still very much a hidden treasure of Argentina.
The charm and character of this area lies in the culture and folklore of its people, the architecture of its small
towns, the traditions and customs present in its markets, its food, its music and its religious festivities. It’s
history is a mix of Pre-Columbian civilizations – it was the southernmost outpost of the Incan Empire – and the
Spanish colonial past. In fact, the city of Salta, the gateway city to visiting this area, is the best-preserved
Spanish colonial city in Argentina. The landscapes here are breathtaking, with the Andes as background and
the desert, cactus, high altitude salt lakes, and llamas crossing the Puna adding to the spectacular views. An
incredible variety of colors, climates, and activities will leave you inspired.
March 22nd:
SALTA
Day 5
 Salta – Los Cardones National Park – Cachi – Molinos
 Lunch and Wine Tasting
 Dinner on own
 Overnight Hacienda del Molino
Scenic drive from Salta to Colome
We leave the City of Salta behind to discover the Calchaquies Valley, an unforgettable journey through a
region that was molded by a turbulent pre-Incan and colonial history, in dramatic scenery carved by the wind,
with sun-drenched towns made of adobe clay that transport us back to ancient times. We drive up the Cuesta
del Obispo, surrounded by lush vegetation and continue through Los Cardones National Park, where we will be
surrounded by giant cactus, with the snow-capped Nevado de Cachi (18,000 feet) as a background. This is a
great day for a photographic safari: We can spot vicuñas, mountain cats and falcons. We’ll visit Cachi, one of
the most beautiful colonial villages in Salta Province. We walk along its narrow cobbled streets and visit the
church and the archaeological museum.
We continue our trip to Estancia Colomé winery. It is one of the most famous wineries in the country. Estancia
Colomé is a luxury boutique winery surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty where we can feel a real
experience of one of the oldest vineyards in the country. After lunch we will visit the James Turrell Museum,
followed by a drive to Molinos, the town where we will spend the night
March 23rd:
Molinos – Quebrada de las Flechas – Cafayate
Day 6
 Lunch and Wine Tasting
 Dinner on own
 Overnight Grace Hotel
Scenic road from Molinos to Cafayate
In the morning we follow our trip down south through the “Quebrada de las Flechas”, with its rocks in unique
arrow-like formations, arriving in Cafayate, the most important town in the “Valles Calchaquies”, well known
for its wines and especially the white grape Torrontés. On the way, we will visit a vineyard for a wine tasting
and lunch. We will arrive at the beautiful Grace Hotel (photo below), a luxury boutique hotel and spa nestled
in this beautiful valley with spectacular views of the mountains and vineyards.
March 24th:
Day 7
 Full day in Cafayate
 Lunch and Wine Tasting
 Dinner on own
 Overnight Grace Hotel
Late in the morning, we visit San Pedro de Yacochuya, one of the best wineries of Cafayate. After the visit, we
will enjoy lunch at Bodega El Porvenir. After lunch we leave Cafayate, to drive through the amazing rock
formations of the "Quebrada de Cafayate" and we will take an easy hike to explore the area. This is the ideal
place to observe the sunset in Cafayate, surrounded by different gorges with amazing colors.
March 25th:
Cafayete–Quebrada de las Conchas – Buenos Aires
Day 8
 11:45AM Depart Salta
 1:49PM Arrive in Buenos Aires
 Tango Show and Dinner
 Overnight Faena Hotel
Scenic Road Cafayate to Salta (3 to 4 hours - asphalted road)
Our last day in the Calchaquies Valleys will be through the breathtaking “Quebrada de las Conchas”, a deep
valley of red canyons, characterized by intense colors and spectacular geological formations, determined by
the concentration of different minerals in the soil. During our trip, we stop at the rock formation of the
“Anfiteatro” before arriving back to Salta city for our flight to Buenos Aires.
In the early afternoon we will arrive in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina and one of the world’s great
urban experiences. It is a place of stylish people and buildings, wide boulevards and leafy parks, poignant
history, gastronomic delights, tango in the streets and extravagant arts and architecture. The city is divided
into barrios (neighbourhoods), each different yet all full of character. Buenos Aires is truly one of the great
cities of the world.
We’ll stay in the ritzy Faena Hotel, a converted warehouse in the posh neighbourhood of Puerto Madero and
which features a Philippe Starck-designed interior. It's an 8-minute walk from both the Rio de la Plata and the
Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur.
March 26th:
Day 9
 Morning Tour of Buenos Aires
 Afternoon at Leisure
 Fly Home
This morning we will explore Buenos Aires and its must-see sights during a panoramic walking tour that will
include many of the city’s famous sites, such as Plaza de Mayo, Casa Rosada, Teatro Colon, Plaza de Republica,
San Telmo, and La Boca. We’ll enjoy the rest of the day at leisure before your evening flight home.
$4,499 Per Person Based on Double Occupancy
By Check or +3%
For More Information or to Reserve Contact
Vicki Miller
Jodi Murphy
Vinocity
Cruise and Travel Partners
267-277-3160
610-399-4501
[email protected]
[email protected]
vinocityevents.com
cruiseandtravelpartners.com
What’s included?
o 8 Nights Hotel with Breakfast Daily
o Airport Transfers
o 3 Internal Flights
o All Wine Tastings and Tours
o 3 Dinners
o 5 Lunches
o Tango Show
o Private Guides
What’s Not Included?
o Roundtrip Air from the US
o Gratuities
o Anything Not Listed in the Itinerary