Visit Santiago, Valparaiso & the winelands in a week

Itinerary in brief:

• 3 nights Santiago
• 2 nights Santa Cruz
• 1 night Valparaiso

Day 1: Arrive in Santiago

On arrival, your guide will greet you at the airport and take you to your accommodation in central Santiago.

The rest of the day is at leisure for you to enjoy the city and to relax.

Day 2: Santiago

Today after breakfast, we’ve included a guided tour of the city. You will be picked up by your guide to join your small group and explore the historic and modern sights of Santiago.

Start your trip at the Alameda Bernardo O’Higgins, Santiago’s main avenue, visiting La Moneda, the seat of the country’s President. Following this, you’ll wander through the pedestrian streets of Huerfanos and Ahumada, where the main commercial activity of the city takes place. Afterwards you will visit the famous Plaza de Armas. This is the main square of the city and is surrounded by the Metropolitan Cathedral and other famous historical buildings. Other highlights of the tour include the Bellavista barrio, the Pueblito de los Dominicos and the Santa Lucia hill, the hill upon which the Spanish founded the city in 1541.

Day 3: Santiago

Today is a free day for you to enjoy at your own leisure. You could decide to go back and visit some of the areas you saw on your day tour or alternatively, explore further by taking the metro out to Barrio Italia, a district known for its furniture and antique shops. Or why not head to the young and vibrant barrio Brazil for its great restaurants which are ever popular with the locals?

Day 4: Santiago/Wine Valley

This morning, you’ll make a journey through one of the most important wine valleys of Chile. Located just 185km south of Santiago, this valley has become one of the most thriving in the world. Home of the ‘Huasco’ (Chilean cowboy), the people of this valley are known for keeping the old traditions that were established by the Spaniards and indigenous inhabitants during the colonial times – you’ll see this reflected in the architecture of the area.

Overnight will be near Santa Cruz.

Day 5: Wine Valley

Today you will journey along the ruta del vino (wine route). By visiting two vineyards, you sample award winning wines and you will be able to see first-hand the grape vines that produce such exquisite reds as the Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chile’s unique Carmenère.

You have included in your package entrance to the Colchagua Museum, this exhibit showcases the impressive private collection of entrepreneur and alleged arms dealer Carlos Cardoen and is the largest private museum in Chile.

The afternoon will be free for you to enjoy at leisure.   

Day 6: Wine Valley/Valparaiso

This morning after breakfast you’ll travel on to Valparaiso, a major seaport which in the last couple of decades is known best for its historic centre, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The best way to visit the city is to wander the labyrinth of cobbled alleys and colourful buildings and visit the numerous boutiques of local artists who have set up their studios away from the capital to this port city.

Day 7: Depart Valparaiso

You will be collected from your hotel this morning and transferred back to Santiago, where you can connect with your onward travel.