VINEYARDS DUO Highlighting the wineries and vineyards of Chile and Argentina

Locally Hosted Independent Private Tour Suggested Departure Day: Wednesday

ITINERARY (Subject to change without notice):

Wednesday - Day 1 - Depart USA: Depart Miami, New York or Los Angeles on overnight flight.

Thursday - Day 2 - Arrive Santiago: Morning arrival in Santiago and transfer to the Ritz Carlton for two night stay. Afternoon visit to the main points of interest in Santiago, including the old residential area of the city, Club Hipico race track, Cousino Palace, along fashionable Alameda by the Union Club to Santa Lucia Hill and continue up San Cristobal Hill for a bird's-eye vista of the city and nearby Andes. Visit the Pre-Columbian Museum and then stop at the Wine House for a complete introduction to the wines of Chile and some wine-tasting.

Friday  - Day 3 - Santiago: Today you will explore the vineyards of the Casablanca and Rosario valleys, located between Santiago and the Pacific coast. Visit Matetic Vineyard, a new state-of-the-art vineyard, and the Casas del Bosque Vineyard, conceived in 1993 to be a family boutique winery exclusively oriented to produce high quality wines, today over the 80% of their production is exported. Lunch included en route. (B/L)

Saturday - Day 4 - Santiago - Colchagua Valley: Morning drive south towards the Colchagua Valley to San Fernando, a scenic drive of around an hour and a half. In San Fernando board the Wine Train for a historic rail trip through the valley to Santa Cruz, with wine tasting on board. At Santa Cruz, visit the Colchagua Museum and drive to the nearby Vina Casa Silva for lunch and visit to the winery. Then transfer to your accommodations at either Vina Casa Silva Hotel or Vina La Playa Winery & Hotel, for a two night stay. (B/L)

Sunday - Day 5 - Colchagua Valley: Spend the day visiting vineyards along the Boutique Wine Route. Some of the options include Casa Lapostolle, Vina Viu Manent and Vina Montes, with lunch en route. Specific vineyards to be visited will be advised once the visits are confirmed with the vineyards. (B/L)

Monday - Day 6 - Colchagua Valley - Alto Jahuel: Morning drive to Vina Bisquert with a wine making history dating back some 150 years. The grape stock is cabernet sauvignon and merlot in the reds and sauvignon blanc, chardonnay and Semillon in the whites, with wines averaging 12 years of age. After your visit to Vina Bisquert, drive north towards Santiago, to Alto Jahuel and Santa Rita vineyards, located in the Maipo Valley, renown as one of the finest viticultural areas in the world.  Enjoy lunch at the popular Dona Paula's on the vineyard grounds, visit the vineyard and then return drive back to Santiago for overnight at the Ritz Carlton. (B/L)

Tuesday - Day 7 - Santiago - Mendoza - Uco Valley: Morning transfer to the airport in Santiago for short flight over the snow-capped Andes to Mendoza, in the heart of Argentina's main wine producing area. Upon arrival, meeting and head south towards the Uco Valley.  En route visit one of the vineyards of the area and have lunch before continuing to your hotel for overnight the Postales del Plata Uco Valley. (B/L)

Wednesday - Day 8 - Uco Valley - Mendoza: Visit to nearby Bodega Salentein and then begin driving back to Mendoza with lunch and a visit to another vineyard en route. Late afternoon arrival at the charming Cavas Wine Lodge for three night stay. (B/L)

Thursday - Day 9 - Mendoza: Spend the day visiting vineyards in the area with lunch at one of the vineyards.  Specific vineyard visits will be advised once the visit is confirmed. Argentina has more than 2000 wineries, many of them in the valleys around Mendoza. Visits may be made to vineyards in Maipu, Lujan de Cuyo and Godoy Cruz. Possible vineyards include Bodegas Lopez - Maipu, Bodega La Rural - Maipu
and Familia Zuccardi - Maipu. (B/L)

Friday - Day 10 - Mendoza: Yet another day to explore the vineyards of the area. Some possibilities are  Bodega Luigi Bosca - Vistalba Valley, and Bodega Norton - Lujan . (B/L)

Saturday - Day 11 - Mendoza - Buenos Aires: Transfer to the airport for late morning flight to Buenos Aires. Upon arrival, meeting and transfer to the new Park Hyatt Palacio Duhau in the heart of fashionable Recoleta.  Balance of the afternoon at leisure. This evening you will enjoy the Rojo Tango Experience - dinner and a cabaret style tango presentation full of passion, music and dancing. (B/DS)

Sunday - Day 12 - Buenos Aires: Morning city tour of Buenos Aires, often called "The Paris of South America". Drive down the widest boulevard on earth, 9 de Julio, past the Obelisk commemorating 400 years of history, past the Colon Opera House and many other places of interest in this sophisticated European style city. Afternoon at leisure to explore at your own pace.  There is an outdoor antique flea market in historic San Telmo and a street artisan fair in fashionable Recoleta. Afternoon at leisure to explore at your own pace.  This is a great day to be "out and about" - visit historic San Telmo with outdoor antique flea market and the street fairs of Recoleta. (B)

Monday - Day 13 - Buenos Aires: Morning drive out into the pampas to the town of San Antonio de Areco, to visit the Gaucho Museum and the silver museum and then continue on to the Estancia El Ombu for a traditional "asado" lunch and time to explore the estancia. (B/L)

Tuesday - Day 14 - Depart Buenos Aires: Day is at leisure. Do your last minute shopping for leather, explore the art galleries and museums or just relax. Your room is paid for late check-out so no need to hurry through the day. Evening transfer to the airport for your overnight flight back to the USA. (B)

Wednesday - Day 15 - Arrive USA: Morning arrival in the US and make connections to your home city.

RATES and DETAILS: