Travel Impressions Vacation Packages

HALF DAY CITY TOUR SANTIAGO DOMINICOS WITH MUSEUM & SAN CRISTOBAL HILL Duration: 5 hours

Santiago, Chile is a city of contrasts with remains of its Colonial past to the ultramodern, high rise buildings of the financial center. Chile's capital city will surprise you. This tour offers you the possibility to see this eclectic mix for yourself. The tour begins by heading south through the downtown area, passing the Club Hipico, a beautiful horseracing track in the older residential area of the city. You then proceed alongside the Parque O'Higgins and the Cousino Palace, built between 1870 and 1878 for the wealthy Cousiño family.

From here you head along the famous Alameda, Santiago's colorful main avenue, to the heart of the city, seeing the Chilean University, San Francisco Church and the Santa Lucia Hill, site of Santiago's foundation in 1541. Then you will visit the Plaza de Armas and the cathedral. Just around the corner, you will visit the Pre-Colombian Art Museum, one of the most complete collections of ceramics, ancient textiles and relics of American culture (Mondays closed). Very nearby is the famous Central Market, which is the main market for fish and seafood, an interesting building, dating back to the end of the 19th century. It is a metal construction, built in London and brought by ship to Chile. Afterwards, you continue the tour by crossing the Mapocho River to reach the bohemian Bellavista district on the way to the San Cristobal Hill. From one of the hill's view points, you will have the finest views of Santiago and the Andes Mountains.

To round off the tour, you will pass through the modern residential areas of the city with their daring architecture and, finally, the bustling Providencia shopping zone. Afterwards, visit the beautiful handicraft market, El Pueblo de Los Dominicos, which is built like a small village with lots of handicraft shops. You'll find artisans working in copper, wool, ceramics, lapis lazuli and other indigenous materials. Enjoy a stroll around this handicraft village.

Pick Up: 9:00am or 2:00am
Operates: Museum closed Mondays.
Note: The road access to the San Cristobal hill will be closed for large buses (42-44 seats). In this case you will drive up and down via a funicular.

HALF DAY TOUR SANTIAGODuration: 4 hours

Santiago, Chile is a city of contrasts with remains of its colonial past to the ultramodern, high rise buildings of the financial center. Chile's capital city will surprise you. This tour offers you the possibility to see this eclectic mix for yourself.

The tour begins by heading south through the downtown area, passing the Club Hipico, a beautiful horseracing track in the older residential area of the city. You then proceed alongside the Parque O'Higgins and the Cousino Palace, built between 1870 and 1878 for the wealthy Cousino family.

From here you head along the famous Alameda, Santiago's colorful main avenue, to the heart of the city, seeing the Chilean University, San Francisco Church and the Santa Lucia Hill, site of Santiago's foundation in 1541. Then you will visit the Plaza de Armas and the cathedral. Just around the corner, you will visit the Pre-Colombian Art Museum, one of the most complete collections of ceramics, ancient textiles and relics of American culture (Mondays closed). Very nearby is the famous Central Market, which is the main market for fish and seafood, an interesting building, dating back to the end of the 19th century. It is a metal construction, built in London and brought by ship to Chile. Afterwards, you continue the tour by crossing the Mapocho River to reach the bohemian Bellavista district on the way to the San Cristobal Hill. From one of the hill's view points, you will have the finest views of Santiago and the Andes Mountains.

To round off the tour, you will pass through the modern residential areas of the city with their daring architecture and, finally, the bustling Providencia shopping zone.

Pick Up: 9:00am or 2:00am
Operates: Museum closed on Mondays.
Note: The road access to the San Cristobal hill will be closed for large buses (42-44 seats). In this case you will drive up and down via a funicular.

VINYA SANTA RITA WITH LUNCH Duration: 5-6 hours

Some visionaries, among them Don Domingo Fernandez, a distinguished politician, founded Vina Santa Rita in 1880 and promoted the introduction of the finest French vine stocks. Following the advice of expert French penologists, he began producing wines with techniques and with results far superior to those traditionally achieved.

Chile was not affected by the devestating phylloxera plague that affected vineyards in Europe. On the contrary, it provided an ideal environment for foreign grapes, especially those of Cabernet Sauvignon stock. Chilean soil is probably the best place in the world to grow Cabernets. The new Chilean wine began to appear on European markets in 1877, winning important awards and the praise and recognition of wine experts.

During those years, Chilean wines became well known and Vina Santa Rita established itself as a modern wine producing enterprise. At the same time, it became known as an important cultural, political and spiritual center. The imposing manor house and its splendid park still retain echoes of many magnificent receptions, memories of important visitors, and many of the themes, which inspired prominent Chilean artists of the time. These were also the days of Don Vicente Garcia-Huidobro, the second owner of the vineyard, son-in-law of the founder, and whose Spanish title of nobility is still kept on the labels of Santa Rita wines in memory of his work and remarkable achievements. In 1980, a group of prestigious entrepreneurs, acquired 50% of Vina Santa Rita, buying the remaining 50% eight years later. During the visit you will get to know the wine cellars, the beautiful park and learn more about the wine making process. Two different wines will be served. Afterwards, you will enjoy a nice lunch at the restaurant of the winery "La Casona de Dona Paula".

Operates: Monday through Friday
Pick Up: 9:00am

CITY TOUR SANTIAGO & VALPARAISO Y VINYA DEL MARDuration: 14 hours

Santiago, Chile is a city of contrasts with remains of its colonial past to the ultramodern, high rise buildings of the financial center. Chile's capital city will surprise you. This tour offers you the possibility to see this eclectic mix for yourself.

The tour begins by heading south through the downtown area, passing the Club Hipico, a beautiful horseracing track in the older residential area of the city. You then proceed alongside the Parque O'Higgins and the Cousino Palace, built between 1870 and 1878 for the wealthy Cousino family.

From here you head along the famous Alameda, Santiago's colorful main avenue, to the heart of the city, seeing the Chilean University, San Francisco Church and the Santa Lucia Hill, site of Santiago's foundation in 1541. Then you will visit the Plaza de Armas and the cathedral. Just around the corner, you will visit the Pre-Colombian Art Museum, one of the most complete collections of ceramics, ancient textiles and relics of American culture (closed Mondays). Very nearby is the famous Central Market, which is the main market for fish and seafood, an interesting building, dating back to the end of the 19th century. It is a metal construction, built in London and brought by ship to Chile. Afterwards, you continue the tour by crossing the Mapocho River to reach the bohemian Bellavista district on the way to the San Cristobal Hill. From one of the hill's view points, you will have the finest views of Santiago and the Andes Mountains.

To round off the tour, you will pass through the modern residential areas of the city with their daring architecture and, finally, the bustling Providencia shopping zone. The road access to the San Cristobal hill will be closed for large busses (42/44 seats). In this case, you will drive up and down by funicular.

After the City Tour you will drive to Valparaiso and Vina del Mar. You'll leave Santiago in a western direction. Arriving in Valparaiso, you pass by the main square where you can view the monument honoring the naval battle fought in 1879. Driving towards the southern side of the city and seeing the old funiculars you will drive up a hillside for a spectacular view of the bay seeing Valparaiso's downtown district and its adjoining hills. Then proceed to the lower level of the city through the commercial heart of the port, where you'll take the coastal highway that links Valparaiso with the resort city of Vina del Mar.

Driving to the famous beaches of Salinas, Renaca, Los Lilenes and Concon, you'll have the opportunity to see Vina's flower clock and the casino and then pass through a scenery of rocks where the sea on windy days and high tides crashes fiercely against the coast. Reaching the Concon beach, you can admire various fish stands displaying a great variety of seafood. Summer homes and restaurants are spread out along the coast. Afterwards, visit the main square Plaza Vergara and the shopping avenue before returning to Santiago.

Operates: Monday through Friday
Pick Up: 8:00am or 9:00am

FULL DAY ISLA NEGRA & LITORAL CENTAL & CASA NERUDADuration: 10 hours

Today you are going to participate in a full day trip to the cities of Valparaiso and Vina del Mar. You leave Santiago in a western direction, taking the "Ruta del Sol". On the way, you will stop in the little village Pomaire. Along a beautiful coastal road surrounded by summer resorts you reach the seaside village of Isla Negra. This small town is a real place of pilgrimage in literature. Pablo Neruda's (1904-1973) house is located here. The Nobel Prize winner's bizarre collection of treasures from his numerous voyages can be visited. In the garden, Neruda and his last wife were buried. On the way back you will drive along the cost enjoying beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean.

Operates: Daily
Pick Up: 8:00am

FULL DAY WINERIES (CONCHA Y TORO & SANTA RITA) Duration: 9 hours

The tour takes off from Santiago towards the south, driving through plains of the Maipo Valley, which collects the river's torrents that come down from the high Andes, bringing melted rich snow of oxygen and minerals that generously irrigate the vines planted along its banks.

Vina Concha y Toro
In 1883, Marques de Casa Concha in the Spanish Court decided to exploit the winemaking potential of the Maipo Valley just as the industry in Chile became fashionable. Don Melchor Concha y Toro brought in French vine stock from Bordeaux and contracted an eminent French enologist to prepare his first vines. Vina Concha y Toro rose from this entrepreneurial action at a time of keen interest in national wine production. Today it is one of the largest exporters of wines in Chile and has obtained countless prizes of quality both in Chile and abroad. The company has always been a leader in adopting new techniques, updating its equipment and facilities for vilifications processing, storage and bottling. During a walk through the beautiful park you will get to know the old Casona (from outside), the vineyards and then discover the "Devil's legend" in the old & dark bodegas. Three different wines will be tasted.

Vina Santa Rita
Some visionaries, among them Don Domingo Fernandez, a distinguished politician, founded Vina Santa Rita in 1880 and promoted the introduction of some of the finest French vine stocks. Following the advice of expert French penologists, he began producing wines with techniques and with results far superior to those traditionally achieved. Chilean wines became well known and Vina Santa Rita established itself as a modern wine producing enterprise. At the same time, it became known as an important cultural, political and spiritual center. The imposing manor house and its splendid park still retain echoes of many magnificent receptions, memories of important visitors, and many of the themes, which inspired prominent Chilean artists of the time. These were also the days of Don Vicente Garcia-Huidobro, the second owner of the vineyard, son-in-law of the founder, and whose Spanish title of nobility is still kept on the labels of Santa Rita wines in memory of his work and remarkable achievements. In 1980, a group of prestigious entrepreneurs, acquired 50% of Vina Santa Rita, buying the remaining 50% eight years later. During the visit you will get to know the wine cellars, the beautiful park and learn more about the wine making process. Two different wines will be served.

Operates: Monday to Friday only.
Pick Up: 9:00am