The Vineyards of the High Desert
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Highlights:
For those with limited time, this suggested program permits a stay in the high desert starting with a desert exploration complete with your private guide and vehicle.
Each evening, return to enjoy 'Relais et Chateaux' quality dining. After your stay, transfer to the high desert of Argentina with a night in Salta followed by a stay at a vineyard wine resort. A perfect combination of adventure and indulgence with custom touches added by you.
For those with limited time, this suggested program permits a stay in the high desert starting with a desert exploration complete with your private guide and vehicle.
Each evening, return to enjoy 'Relais et Chateaux' quality dining. After your stay, transfer to the high desert of Argentina with a night in Salta followed by a stay at a vineyard wine resort. A perfect combination of adventure and indulgence with custom touches added by you.
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Explore: Vineyards of the High Desert
Customizable Itinerary - 11 Days (from $5,726 / person)
Day 1: Depart USA
In the evening you board your overnight flight to Santiago and the beginning of your private tour of Chile and Argentina.
Day 2: Welcome to Santiago
You arrive in Santiago and are met by one of our drivers who will take you to your boutique hotel where the rest of the day is at leisure. Santiago reminds many people of California since it has mountains surrounding the city and the Pacific Ocean is a short drive away so you can ski and surf in the same day ( if you really wanted to). It also has extensive vineyards within driving distance.
Day 3: An Introduction to Santiago
Today, your guide is going to give you an overview of the city from its historical sites to the “of the moment” neighborhoods. Start on the main street, Alameda Bernardo O’Higgins who led the independence movement from Spain. Plaza de Armas dates back to Spanish times and is anchored by the Metropolitan Cathedral. You will visit museums focused on pre-Columbian artifacts and artworks while the Bellas Artes Museum offers more contemporary works. You will have lunch at Restaurant Giratorio which offers dramatic views of the mountains and even all the way to the sea. Your afternoon starts with a visit to La Chascona, former home of Nobel Laureate Pablo Neruda. You visit the cultural and artistic neighborhood of Bellavista before taking a cable car to the top of San Cristobal Hill. Your final visit will be to the Providencia neighborhood with its top restaurants, elegant shops and modern high-rise buildings.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 4: Santiago to San Pedro de Atacama
After a leisurely breakfast you have some free time for exploring on your own. In the early afternoon you will be transferred to the airport for a flight to the Altiplano, the Chilean High Desert. You will be met at the airport and delivered to your elegant adventure lodge close to the town of San Pedro de Atacama. When you say desert to some people, they think sand and hot. In some places that may be true but the high altitude of the Atacama keeps temperatures bearable and, as you will find out, there is a lot more than sand. You will have time for a swim followed by cocktails around an open fire and gourmet dining under the stars.
Breakfast and Dinner
Days 5 & 6: Exploring the High Desert with a private guide
You have two days to explore the Altiplano. To make it easier you will have your own guide and 4WD vehicle assigned to you so you can either choose one of the suggested tours or work with your guide the night before to lay out the next day’s custom schedule. While you have the vehicle you are free to request hikes in the mountains. You can do two half day explorations in which case you will return for lunch or a full day where a gourmet picnic will be provided. The desert offers a variety of terrains from the green of the oasis through the brown of the mountains to the white of the salt flats. On the way back to the lodge there is an area called Termas de Puritama which is a great place to go after your explorations. Made up of eight interconnected pools of crystal clear water fed by springs and offering 89.6 degree water it will loosen any aches.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: The Drive to Salta
Today you will be heading to Argentina to reach the wine area of Cafayate. To break up the journey you will stay overnight in the charming Argentinian city of Salta and a hotel located in the centre of town. There are many restaurants for you to choose from.
Breakfast
Day 8: A Drive through the Shell’s Gorge (Quebrada de las Conchas)
In the morning your driver will be waiting to take you to Cafayate the Argentinian wine Centre of the north. To reach there you will be taking a 39 mile through the red rock canyons and descending into the Colchaqui Valley where you reach your elegant resort nestled in its own vineyard.
Breakfast
Day 9: Ruinas de Quilmes and the Bodegas of El Esteco and El Porvenir
After breakfast you guide will take you to Ruinas de Quilmes, the site of ancient ruins from pre-Colombian times which the dry desert air has preserved better than some other climates. You will then get a tour of the vineyards of Bodega El Porvenir. This will be followed by lunch along with some of their excellent wine. After lunch you have the chance to walk it off by torturing the vineyards of Bodega El Esteco plus a sampling of some of their vintages.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 10: Return to USA
You have some free time in the morning and then you will be transferred back to Salta airport for a connecting flight back to the USA.
Breakfast
Day 11: Arrival in USA
You arrive back in the USA in the morning.
In the evening you board your overnight flight to Santiago and the beginning of your private tour of Chile and Argentina.
Day 2: Welcome to Santiago
You arrive in Santiago and are met by one of our drivers who will take you to your boutique hotel where the rest of the day is at leisure. Santiago reminds many people of California since it has mountains surrounding the city and the Pacific Ocean is a short drive away so you can ski and surf in the same day ( if you really wanted to). It also has extensive vineyards within driving distance.
Day 3: An Introduction to Santiago
Today, your guide is going to give you an overview of the city from its historical sites to the “of the moment” neighborhoods. Start on the main street, Alameda Bernardo O’Higgins who led the independence movement from Spain. Plaza de Armas dates back to Spanish times and is anchored by the Metropolitan Cathedral. You will visit museums focused on pre-Columbian artifacts and artworks while the Bellas Artes Museum offers more contemporary works. You will have lunch at Restaurant Giratorio which offers dramatic views of the mountains and even all the way to the sea. Your afternoon starts with a visit to La Chascona, former home of Nobel Laureate Pablo Neruda. You visit the cultural and artistic neighborhood of Bellavista before taking a cable car to the top of San Cristobal Hill. Your final visit will be to the Providencia neighborhood with its top restaurants, elegant shops and modern high-rise buildings.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 4: Santiago to San Pedro de Atacama
After a leisurely breakfast you have some free time for exploring on your own. In the early afternoon you will be transferred to the airport for a flight to the Altiplano, the Chilean High Desert. You will be met at the airport and delivered to your elegant adventure lodge close to the town of San Pedro de Atacama. When you say desert to some people, they think sand and hot. In some places that may be true but the high altitude of the Atacama keeps temperatures bearable and, as you will find out, there is a lot more than sand. You will have time for a swim followed by cocktails around an open fire and gourmet dining under the stars.
Breakfast and Dinner
Days 5 & 6: Exploring the High Desert with a private guide
You have two days to explore the Altiplano. To make it easier you will have your own guide and 4WD vehicle assigned to you so you can either choose one of the suggested tours or work with your guide the night before to lay out the next day’s custom schedule. While you have the vehicle you are free to request hikes in the mountains. You can do two half day explorations in which case you will return for lunch or a full day where a gourmet picnic will be provided. The desert offers a variety of terrains from the green of the oasis through the brown of the mountains to the white of the salt flats. On the way back to the lodge there is an area called Termas de Puritama which is a great place to go after your explorations. Made up of eight interconnected pools of crystal clear water fed by springs and offering 89.6 degree water it will loosen any aches.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: The Drive to Salta
Today you will be heading to Argentina to reach the wine area of Cafayate. To break up the journey you will stay overnight in the charming Argentinian city of Salta and a hotel located in the centre of town. There are many restaurants for you to choose from.
Breakfast
Day 8: A Drive through the Shell’s Gorge (Quebrada de las Conchas)
In the morning your driver will be waiting to take you to Cafayate the Argentinian wine Centre of the north. To reach there you will be taking a 39 mile through the red rock canyons and descending into the Colchaqui Valley where you reach your elegant resort nestled in its own vineyard.
Breakfast
Day 9: Ruinas de Quilmes and the Bodegas of El Esteco and El Porvenir
After breakfast you guide will take you to Ruinas de Quilmes, the site of ancient ruins from pre-Colombian times which the dry desert air has preserved better than some other climates. You will then get a tour of the vineyards of Bodega El Porvenir. This will be followed by lunch along with some of their excellent wine. After lunch you have the chance to walk it off by torturing the vineyards of Bodega El Esteco plus a sampling of some of their vintages.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 10: Return to USA
You have some free time in the morning and then you will be transferred back to Salta airport for a connecting flight back to the USA.
Breakfast
Day 11: Arrival in USA
You arrive back in the USA in the morning.
