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Explore Chile & Argentina
8 days, Santiago to Buenos Aires
Itinerary
Day 1Santiago
Arrive at any time. Your arrival transfer is included.
Santiago is Chile’s largest city and capital, with internationally recognized vineyards and Andean ski resorts very close by. Explore the many museums and parks, and visit the vibrant neighbourhood of Bellavista to see some handicrafts and trendy cafés.
There is a lot to do and see, in and around Santiago, we highly recommend booking pre-nights if you want time to explore.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Arrival Day and Welcome Meeting
The adventure begins tonight. Feel free to explore before your welcome meeting, but make sure you’re back in time to meet the group. Check for the meeting time on the welcome note at the hotel. After introductions, your CEO will review the details of your tour. Please note that normal check-in times apply at our start hotels, but you can usually store your luggage for the day if you arrive early.
Day 2Valparaíso/Santiago
Travel south to the colorful seaside town of Valparaíso, where bright houses perch on the hills overlooking the South Pacific. During the city’s golden age in the late 19th century, it served as an important stopover for ships sailing the Strait of Magellan between the Atlantic and the Pacific, and attracted waves of immigrants from across Europe and the world. Accompany a local expert on a tour of the city’s elegant historic quarter, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit the home of Pablo Neruda, the famed Chilean poet, and wander narrow lanes to view spectacular street art. Enjoy free time to explore on your own before returning to Santiago.
The historical port of Valparaíso, a UNESCO World Heritage site draws poets, painters, and artists to call it home. A well-preserved example of late 19th-century Latin American architecture, with its unique amphitheater-like layout spreading up into the hills above the port.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Pablo Neruda Experience and Talk
Experience Valparaíso with a local expert and visit La Sebastiana, one of Pablo Neruda's former homes that has since been transformed into a museum. Learn about the life of this influential Nobel Prize-winning poet, diplomat, and politician and the foundation created in Pablo Neruda's name. The foundation was set up to promote and preserve his legacy and works to support arts and literature in Chile. After, explore the streets of this colourful UNESCO-recognized port city. Walk along the seven Esquinas to witness some of Chile's most impressive street art.
Free Time
Explore the streets of this colourful port town.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 3Santiago/Mendoza
This morning, drive into the Andes and cross the border into Argentina. Wind past verdant meadows and clear lakes, and spot the distant, snowcapped summit of Mount Aconcagua—the highest mountain in both the Western and Southern Hemispheres. This afternoon, arrive in Mendoza, the heart of Argentina’s world-renowned wine country, a landscape of sun-drenched vineyards surrounded by striking grey peaks.
Head towards Argentina's wine capital, Mendoza. Wind through Andean scenery passing lakes, mountainscapes, and enjoy the iconic crossing between the two countries through the Tunel Cristo Redentor, built in 1980 to connect the two countries.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Border Crossing (Chile - Argentina)
Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 4Mendoza
Spend the morning exploring Mendoza’s wineries with a local expert who will illuminate the local history of wine production and the distinctive flavor notes of various varietals. The region’s vintners are known for successfully experimenting with the cultivation of Malbec grapes at high altitudes. Enjoy a sumptuous lunch paired with some of the finest wines in the country, followed by time to relax on your own and sample other elements of Argentine cuisine.
Home to over 1000 wineries producing nearly a billion litres of wine yearly, the majority of all the vineyards in Argentina are found in the Mendoza region. The renowned Malbec varietal is sustained by the crystalline waters of the Rio Mendoza fed by the melting snows of the Andes. Visit wineries in the region with a local wine expert to explain the unique elements of the region, the distinct flavour notes found here, and the history of wine production in this area. Later, enjoy a 5-course meal of local and international delicacies paired with some of the finest wines in the world.
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Mendoza Wine Tour and Tasting Lunch
Explore Luján de Cuyo in Mendoza, Argentina's most important wine-producing region, with a local wine expert. Visit the National Institute of Agricultural Technology to discover the scientific process that goes into producing wines. Learn to identify different varietals by the shape of their leaves and how sun exposure affects the grape. Then, travel to an experimental winery where their research educates winemakers throughout Argentina. You'll have the opportunity to sample their unique wines before continuing to another winery for a delicious lunch. Enjoy local specialities paired with wines from the region in the adobe bodega on the property.
Meals included:
Breakfast | LunchDay 5Mendoza
Enjoy a free day to explore the city of Mendoza, the regional capital perched in the Andean foothills. Stroll along the city’s historic streets—wider than any other city in Argentina due to innovative reconstruction following a devastating 19th-century earthquake. Choose to visit more nearby wineries, take a cooking class, or set out on a hike in the surrounding hills. Or opt to relax with a glass of Malbec or chilled Torrontés at a park-side café and soak up the daily rhythms of Argentine life.
The impressive snow-capped Aconcagua looms in the background of this laid-back city, drawing adventure seekers and wine enthusiasts alike. Enjoy the slow pace of this desert town with large parks, charming plazas, and lively evenings where locals mill about outside the many cafés, bars, and restaurants. Enjoy a free day to explore the city, opt to go on a hike, or visit wineries in the region.
Free Time
Explore the area on your own or take an optional activity.
Optional Activities - Day 5 HideShow
Mendoza Cooking Class and Dinner
Enjoy this culinary experience by learning to cook vegetables and different cuts of meat over the open flames. Led by an insider chef you will learn authentic techniques typical to Argentina and also regional specialties of Mendoza. Wine pairing is a must during all cooking classes where you will taste different varietals and blends from the area. The cooking class culminates in an included dinner of what is prepared.
Mendoza Wine Tour
Explore Mendoza wine country visiting three different vineyards and wineries. Enjoy a day full of tastings (try the famous Malbec!), history, and delicious food. Learn more about the culture of the region and the people who call Argentina home.
Cordón del Plata Hike
Outside of Mendoza is one of the only alpine landscapes in Argentina, with giant mountains, beautiful landscapes, and glaciers aplenty. Head to the top of Cerro Arenales 3400m (11155 ft) and Cerro Lomas Blancas at 3600m (11811 ft), giving you a great view of the Andes and varied flora and fauna along the way. Fauna can include guanacos, condors, foxes, and chinchillas.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 6Mendoza/Buenos Aires
Catch a morning flight to Buenos Aires, and then transfer to a countryside estate, known as an estancia. Enjoy a farm-to-table lunch, then spend the afternoon exploring the working ranch, learning about the popularity of polo in Argentina, and chatting with gauchos, or local cowboys. Opt to head out on a horseback ride with an expert wrangler before returning to Buenos Aires for the evening.
Visit a traditional estancia and immerse yourself in the culture of the Argentine countryside. Wander the grounds taking in the serenity of the area, learn about the gaucho culture and one of Argentina's top sport, polo. Enjoy lunch featuring seasonal fruit and vegetables grown at the estancia.
Plane
Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Estancia Visit With Lunch
Get a true taste of Argentina's countryside with a visit to a vast rural Estancia. Immerse yourself in the unique daily life of a working ranch, and top off your visit with a fresh lunch full of local specialties.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Optional Activities - Day 6 HideShow
Horseback Riding at Estancia
Saddle up and explore the estancia grounds with an experienced guide to see the local gaucho traditions at the ranch and to enjoy the scenery.
Meals included:
Breakfast | LunchDay 7Buenos Aires
Spend a full day exploring the “Paris of South America,” Argentina’s elegant capital city. Visit historic sites such as the Plaza de Mayo; the colorful, Italian-influenced La Boca neighborhood; and the spectacular Recoleta Cemetery, where Eva Perón and several past Argentine presidents have been laid to rest. Enjoy a light dinner at one of many charming sidewalk cafés or restaurants before an evening tango lesson at a popular local venue known as a milonga. Choose to stay for the nightly gathering of neighborhood students and teachers who pair up to practice their steps.
Buenos Aires is the perfect mix of European architecture and Latin American flavour. With an incredible food culture, there is a never-ending supply of culinary options, famous for steak, ice cream, empanadas, and of course wine. Whatever you do, Buenos Aires is sure to leave lasting memories.
Buenos Aires Guided City Tour
Enjoy a guided tour exploring beautiful, vibrant Buenos Aires. Be introduced to historic sites and districts, including Plaza de Mayo where Eva Peron's famed balcony presides over the square. See La Boca and San Telmo's colourful street life, painted houses, and the famed Recoleta Cemetery.
Free Time
Enjoy this vibrant city. When done exploring, settle weary feet and enjoy a drink in one of the many sidewalk cafes and restaurants. Experience the contemplative Argentine way of life. Since Buenos Aires will be your last chance to try the succulent beef, chicken, and chorizo parrilladas, dig in and enjoy!
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Local Tango Lesson
Spend the evening as a local Porteño, enjoying a night out with typical dinner in a local cafe before heading to a popular dance venue to enjoy a lesson from local dancers. Once we've practiced our new steps, it's time for Milonga, a local tradition where students and teachers of the venue show up to practice their moves. Sit back and enjoy or if you are brave, join in.
Meals included:
Breakfast | DinnerDay 8Buenos Aires
Depart at any time.
Departure Day
Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.