Destinations-Santiago

The tour will start in the Santiago Centre, where the main public and government buildings are located. You will visit the Presidential Palace - once the National Mint and thus called "La Moneda", the historic main square or "Plaza de Armas" and the Cathedral. Afterwards, you will head on to Santa Lucia, the hill upon which the Spanish founded Santiago in 1541. Perhaps the best view of Santiago is from the summit of the Cerro San Cristobal, where a statue of the Virgin stands. From here you will continue uptown to see some of the "Barrio Alto".

• Included: transport, professional bilingual guides, visitor tickets, and all entrance fees.
• Time: 4 hours.
• Type: this excursion can be booked as a private excursion and as a SIC service.

On this tour you will visit two or three wineries located close to Santiago in the Maipo Valley, the oldest viticultural area in Chile. The tour includes lunch at a Chilean restaurant. Viña Cousiño Macul, is one of the most traditional Chilean wineries, and is still owned after 5 generations by direct descendants of Matias Cousino. The park within the estate was created by Luis Cousino and his wife. It is not only one of the most beautiful properties in Chile, but also has the honor of being featured in distinguished European magazines. The varietal line includes Cabernet Sauvignon & Chardonnay. After the visit to this old winery the tour will continue to one of the upcoming boutique wineries called Viña Aquitania. After visiting the wineries you will stop for lunch at a typical restaurant.

• Included: transport, bilingual guide, all entrance fees.
• Time: 3-4 hours.
• Type: this excursion can be booked as a private and group excursion.

Other Wineries include:

• Viña Concha y Toro (Concha y Toro Winery ). Chile's wines have soared in international reputation and some of the country's best-known tipples are produced at the Concha y Toro Winery in the village of Pirque, southeast of Santiago. Established in 1883, Chile's largest winery is often ignored by the majority of foreign visitors to Santiago. Surrounded by seemingly endless fields of vines and blessed with spectacular views of the Andes, this is one of the most beautiful locations in the Santiago Valley. It is here that such internationally recognized brands as Casillera del Diablo and Don Melchor (both award-winners) are produced.
• The vineyards of Viña Santa Carolina have been moved outside Santiago, but the main house, casco, and the cellars or bodegas, are in the community of Macul. These are open to the public with 24 hour notice.
• Type: Viña Santa Rita, just south of Santiago, offers tours, tastings and an excellent meal at the on-site restaurant, La Casa de Doña Paula.
• Viña Undurraga, southwest of Santiago on the old road to Melipilla, opens its grounds and buildings during the week.

You will be collected from your hotel and travel in the direction of the Pacific Ocean, passing the agricultural valleys of Curacaví and Casablanca, and finally reaching Valparaíso, the main port of the country. Valparaíso's picturesque shape, enhanced by the surrounding hills that seem to dive into the ocean, remind one that this was once the most important maritime destination of the Pacific coast before the Strait of Panama was opened to navigation in 1914. You will visit the downtown area and the hilly neighborhoods for a deeper understanding of why it was the most flourishing city in the early 20th century in Chile. Traveling north along the coastline of the bay you will reach the city of Viña del Mar, the most famous and visited seaside city of the area, with its many parks of huge trees and palms that gave Viña del Mar the well deserved name of 'Garden City'. You will also visit the beaches and the Casino, and we will learn about its history. In the evening you will return to Santiago.

• Included: transport, bilingual guide, all entrance fees.
• Time: full day 8 hours.
• Type: this excursion can be booked as a private and group excursion.

You will be picked up from your hotel and then travel west to the village of Isla Negra on the coast, where you will visit the 1971 Nobel Prize winner poet's favorite house. There will be a guided tour through the museum and the surrounding areas. Afterwards you will continue to the town of Cartagena and take the Autopista del Sol highway to the artisans' village of Pomaire, where it will be possible to watch them produce the local pottery. After lunch, you will return to Santiago.

• Included: transport, bilingual guide, all entrance fees.
• Time: full day 8 hours.
• Type: this excursion can be booked as a private and group excursion.

Santiago's closest beauty spot is the Maipo Valley, which begins near Puente Alto, 25km ( 16 miles ) southeast of the city and stretches up to the high-altitude border with Argentina. The road runs alongside the Maipo River to the town of San José de Maipo, a one-time mountain backwater made prosperous by the leisure industry. Along the route are dozens of public pools, campsites and hotels, packed in summer with holidaying Santiaguinos. Spectacular Andean scenery and thermal pools await those who venture near the top of the valley. There will be time available to take walks to the mountain as well as rafting, horseback riding or simply resting under the trees by the river. You will return to Santiago in the afternoon.

• Included: transport, bilingual guide, all entrance fees.
• Time: full day 8 hours
• Type: this excursion can be booked as a private and group excursion.

El Colorado is the closest resortto Santiago, and has 19 lifts, 22 runs. Portillo is world-famous for dry powder, challenging skiing in the shadow of Mt. Aconcagua, and for being an all-season resort. Valle Nevado has 27 runs, and offers skiers a variety of gentle slopes, or long runs, or helicopter skiing. Farellones / La Parva together with El Colorado form a cluster of ski villages, where, if the snow is good, you can ski from one to another. The ski season is from July to September. One can go for various days or just a full day ski excursion, including transfers and ski rental. Please feel free to ask us for rates.