This tour will show you Santiago’s historic downtown and beyond. You will be picked up by one of our expert guides in a private vehicle and explore the downtown area as well as Santiago’s diverse neighborhoods.
We start by visiting Bluestone, where you will be welcomed with a sampling of Chile’s national drink, pisco sour. Here you can browse jewelry and crafts made from Chile’s national stone, lapis lazuli, prized since antiquity for its intense blue color and found primarily only in Afghanistan and Chile. Here you will also find items made from Chile’s national mineral, copper.
Afterwards, we will drive through the colorful neighborhood of Bellavista before arriving in the historic city center where you will pass by Florestal Park, the Museum of Fine Arts, Plaza de Armas (Santiago’s main square), the Cathedral, City Hall, Historic Post Office, Old Congress Building, La Moneda Palace (The Government House), National Theater, and Santa Lucía Hill. Originally named Cerro Huelén by the Mapuche Indians, Santa Lucía Hill is where Pedro de Valdivia founded the city in 1541. We will also pass through the vibrant bohemian neighborhood of Lastarria before leaving the downtown area.
We will then drive to the eastern side of the city to the Las Condes neighborhood, the financial heart of Santiago, known for its modern buildings and impressive glass skyscrapers, passing by Costanera Center, South America’s tallest office building. You will see why this area is known as “Sanhattan” – Santiago’s Manhattan – among the locals.
We will stop at the upscale Alonso de Cordoba District in the Vitacura neighborhood and visit KUNA, where you will discover the highest quality alpaca and vicuña garments. Vicuña wool is considered the softest, finest, and most luxurious natural fiber in the world, often referred to as the “Gold of the Andes.” Chile is home to all four of the South American camelids: llamas, alpacas, guanacos and vicuñas.
After exploring Santiago, you will journey inland to the Casablanca Valley where we will stop at Casas del Bosque Vineyard for a tour and wine tasting. Today, Casas del Bosque is one of the most important wineries in Chile.
In 1993, a family of Italian descendants established the winery. The large old pine and olive trees, and small white houses of adobe, define the name “Casas del Bosque” (Houses of the Forest).
Currently, the vineyard has 580 acres of planted vines, exclusively dedicated to the production of cool-climate varieties of wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir and Syrah. One of Casas del Bosque’s biggest strengths is its soil. In the hills, red clay composites of volcanic origin sit on top of decomposed granite layers formed 110 million years ago beneath the Pacific Ocean. This soil gives their wines the unique characteristic sea salt flavor. Casas del Bosque has gained great prestige over the years and in 2010 became the Best Vineyard to Visit in Chile!
Afterwards, there will be time for lunch, if desired, at the vineyard’s restaurant Tanino. Click here for the restaurant’s menu. Otherwise, you will return to the cruise terminal in Valparaiso.
Please note:
(1) The order of sites visited may vary depending on your pick up location.
(2) As with any major city, there may be heavy traffic in some sectors. Your driver will do his or her best to avoid highly-congested areas, but in order to see the city’s major landmarks in the downtown area inevitably you may run into traffic. We appreciate your patience and understanding, as traffic is completely beyond our control.
(3) Although this is a private tour with your own vehicle and guide, there may be other visitors at the vineyard joining you on the winery tour and tasting, which is beyond our control.