| DAY 1: ARRIVE SANTIAGO Upon arrival in Santiago, you will be taken to the Ritz Carlton Hotel for three nights. One of South America's most sophisticated cities, Santiago is experiencing a period of dramatic economic prosperity. With soaring skyscrapers and expanding neighborhoods, it is the center of Chilean business and social life. Santiago has almost 6 million inhabitants and the entire country of Chile has just over 15 million, meaning that nearly half of Chile's residents live in Santiago. With a backdrop of the beautiful snowcapped Andes cordillera, Santiaguinos can hit the ski slopes in under an hour and, in the other direction, the beautiful beaches of the Pacific coast are only an hour and a half's drive. This afternoon you will begin your private city tour of Santiago. Visit Casa de Cousino to catch a glimpse of the Chile's colonial past and then visit the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art to examine some indigenous artifacts. Next is La Moneda, the seat of the Chilean government and the location of the famous coup of September 11, 1973, when General Pinochet took power. Make a stop at El Centro with its lively shops, comfortable park benches, street vendors, and the magnificent Cathedral. Finish the tour by taking the cable car up San Cristobal Hill. Atop the hill you will be afforded the magnificent panoramic view of Santiago spread along the base of the Andes.*Please note that all US citizens must pay a US$100 reciprocity fee upon arrival in Chile. DAY 2: VIÑA DEL MAR & VALPARAISO EXCURSION Today you will enjoy a full day excursion to Viña del Mar and Valparaiso. Travel by car for approximately 1.5 hours to Viña del Mar, one of Chile's most popular beach destinations. Tour the city's lovely beaches and resorts. Visit the Fonck Museum, which has an original Moai brought over from Easter Island. In the afternoon you will tour the unique port city of Valparaiso. Valparaiso is Chile's most historically rich port and it has a style all its own – houses are built on the steep hills that surround the downtown area and look out to sea. Probably the most popular coastal destination in Chile, Valparaiso was declared UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002. Take a cable car to the top of one of the cerros for a spectacular view of the port and bay area. See the house of Nobel Prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda (1904-1973) before returning to Santiago. (B) DAY 3: WINELANDS EXCURSION Today you will travel to the Maipu Canyon for a visit to the fertile Maipo River Valley. Here the excellent soil quality and the stable climatic conditions combine to form an ideal area for wine-producing vineyards. Visit the vineyard of Concha Y Toro, one of Chile's premiere producers of wine. Take a tour of the grounds to see the vineyards, distilling apparatus, and cellars. Your guide will give you a detailed description of the wine making and bottling processes. Enjoy two wine tastings while you learn how to judge a good wine. Next you will be taken to the Santa Rita winery, another of Chile's top wine producers, for a lunch during which you will have the opportunity to savor the exquisite Santa Rita wines. Tour the facilities and see the vineyards and the cellars of Santa Rita. Return to Santiago this afternoon. (B,L) DAY 4: POMAIRE & PABLO NERUDA MUSEUM EXCURSION Today you will continue your touring of the central valley around Santiago. Start the day with a visit to Isla Negra, a small summer resort famous for having once been the home of Pablo Neruda. Examine Neruda's collection of figureheads, bottles, and marine shells. Neruda is buried in front of the sea here, in accordance with his wishes. From Pomaire, pass through several summer resorts, such as El Tabo, Las Cruces and San Sebastian, before arriving at the village of Pomaire, located in a small valley surrounded by hills. Pomaire is known for its beautiful homemade handicrafts, including clay pottery and figures. Walk around and enjoy this delightful village, where you will have the opportunity to purchase some authentic Chilean handicrafts. (B) DAY 5: SANTIAGO – MENDOZA (ARGENTINA) This morning you will travel by private car to Mendoza, Argentina, a scenic journey that takes approximately 7 hours. Travel across the Andes Cordillera, passing through some of the most beautiful mountain scenery in the world. Sediments and mineral deposits create extraordinary colors in the rocks. Stop at Horcones Lagoon, where you will have a spectacular panoramic view of the Andes and Mount Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Southern Hemisphere. Pass through customs and immigration before arriving at the beautiful sloping landscape that leads down the eastern side of the Andes. Upon arrival to Mendoza, you will be transferred to the Park Hyatt Mendoza for two nights. This evening will be spent at leisure – we recommend that you try some of the famous Argentine bife de chorizo. (B) DAY 6: MENDOZA, ARGENTINA The city of Mendoza is one of the most attractive cities in Argentina, with wide tree-lined avenues, large squares, inviting parks, and an irrigation system dating back to the Incas. Mendoza is the seat of the wine-producing region of Argentina; over 75% of the country's wine is produced here and much is exported around the world. This morning, take a city tour, starting with a visit to the Main Square and civic area. Next stop by the Parque General San Martin (San Martin Park), an then on to the Monumento to the Ejercito de los Andes (Monument to the Andean Army) before finishing at El Challao, located at the base of the cordillera. The afternoon portion of the tour will include some of the local wineries in Los Caminos del Vino, such as Maipu and Lujan, where you will see the distilleries and try some of the excellent wines. (B) DAY 7: MENDOZA, ARGENTINA – SANTIAGO, CHILE This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back to Santiago. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to the Ritz Carlton Hotel for a single night. Spend the afternoon at leisure to enjoy the city at your own pace. (B) DAY 8: SANTIAGO – EASTER ISLAND This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Easter Island. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to the Casas Rapa Nui, your home for the next three nights. Located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and home to a culture whose origins are still unknown, Easter Island is a place of great mystery and attraction. With a pleasant year-round climate, travelers can walk along the Easter Island coastline and enjoy the easy-going culture of the local inhabitants, known as Rapa Nui. Visit the numerous "ahus" (platforms) where the gigantic "moai" sculptures are found – historians debate these giant statues' origins to this day. (B) DAY 9: EASTER ISLAND Today enjoy a full day tour of Easter Island. Begin your touring with a visit to the ancient ruins of Vaihu, before continuing on to Ahu Akahanga, a large ahu with four fallen statues. Legend holds that the tomb of the first king of the island is located here. Visit the Rano Raraku quarry, an original "factory" of the moais. The gigantic statues cover the inner and outer slopes of the volcano, where one can observe the various stages of production. Next, stop by Ahu Tongariki, at the largest platform on the Island until it was destroyed by a tidal wave in 1960. It has since been reconstructed. Drive along the north coast, passing La Perouse Bay on the way to Ahu Te Pito Kura ("the world's navel"). Continue to the beautiful archaeological zone of Anakena before returning to your hotel. (B) DAY 10: EASTER ISLAND Begin a half-day of touring with a visit to Ahu Vinapu, where stone walls similar to those built by the ancient Incas stand. This resemblance to Incan architecture is used to promote the theory that the early islanders came from South America. Afterwards, take a short drive to the southernmost volcano of Easter Island, Rano Kau, where you will have a panoramic view of the island. Also found on Rano Kau is the reconstructed ancient ceremonial village of Orongo. In ancient times it was used for the traditional egg-ceremony, an annual event once used to choose the religious leader of the island. End the morning's touring with a visit to Carver's Market for a chance to see some local handiwork and crafts. This afternoon is at leisure to enjoy the island on your own or relax at the hotel. (B) DAY 11: EASTER ISLAND – DEPART SANTIAGO This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Santiago, where you will connect with your international departing flight. (B) |