SANTIAGO – SIDE TRIPS

FULL DAY VINA DEL MAR AND VALPARAISO

This full day tour starts from the hotel. On the 1 ½ trip to Valparaíso, we can observe the variety of scenery and vegetation in the Curacaví and Casablanca valleys, as well as the Coastal Mountains. Arriving to Valparaíso, the main commercial port of Chile, we will see clusters of houses built along the hills. On one of the hills is La Sebastiana, the former home of the Nobel Prize winning poet , Pablo Neruda, and which houses a wide collection of his brick a brac. We will pass the National Congress building and then drive along Pedro Montt Avenue, from where we can see the Italian Park, Victoria Square and the Cathedral. On the Avenida Brasil we will see the British Arch, the Regional Government Building and the statue to Lord Cochrane. After , we will pass through the Chinese Quarter, the monument to the heroes of Iquique, Prat Quay, the historic elevators of the Port of Valparaíso, the former Customs House and the El Membrillo cove. We will then take the coastal road to Viña del Mar, which is also known as “The Garden City”. Places of interest are the Floral Clock, the Abarca Cove, the Arab Union Club, Wulff Castle, the Municipal Casino, Peru Avenue,. Our trip continues along the coast passing the beaches of The Marines, as well as Las Salinas, Reñaca and Cochoa beaches and up to the sea-wolf viewing point. We will then stop for lunch (not included). We will then return to the center of Viña del Mar, from where we get right into downtown Viña del Mar, where we will find the Francisco Vergara Square, the Municipal Theatre and Sucre Square

HALF DAY SANTIAGO CITY TOUR

Departure for a comprehensive city tour of Santiago. We will start the tour at the San Francisco Church, which was built between 1572 and 1618. Then we will continue West visiting the “Club Hípico” horse-racing course, which is considered one of the most beautiful courses in South America. We will then pass the Palacio de la Moneda, current seat of government. Then we will visit the Plaza de Armas, where we will see important National Monuments, such as the Iglesia Catedral (The Cathedral Church), Correo Central (The Main Post Office) and the Municipalidad de Santiago (The City Hall). We will continue our trip going to the Cerro Santa Lucía (the Santa Lucia Hill), where the city was founded in 1541. We will cross the Mapocho river and pass through different residential districts giving us an overview of the city. Return to the hotel in Santiago

HALF DAY CONCHA Y TORO

Half day tour starts with a visit to one of the most renowned vineyards located in Pirque, Vina Concha y Toro, southeast from Santiago, strolling through its wine cellars, with time to test one of the quality wines produced in this vineyard. Return to Santiago

HALF DAY UNDURRAGA AND COUSIñO MACUL VINEYARDS

We will depart on this tour visiting two vineyards (Undurraga and Cousiño Macul wineries) of the Maipo Valley, South of Santiago where we will discover the process of wine making and of course be invited to taste one glass of this prestigious wine. Return to Santiago