Wine & Wonders of Argentina & Chile Tour, Women Travel

10 DAY WINE & WONDERS OF ARGENTINA & CHILE ITINERARY:

Day 1 Saturday Depart USA
Board your international flight to Argentina.

Day 2 Sunday - L
Arrive in Buenos Aires, transfer to the hotel and check in to your day's room. This afternoon, meet the group and enjoy a Welcome Lunch at El Mirasol del Puerto. Afterwards, we'll embark on a walking tour of the city, through the bustling banking and business center of town, to the Plaza de Mayo with its historic Government House (Casa Rosada), Cabildo (Town Hall), and Cathedral. Next, we'll take a ride in one of the most antique subway trains in South America, before a walk through the narrow streets of the San Telmo neighborhood. Then we'll visit "El Zanjon de Granados," descending from a beautifully restored 1830s house into other architectural elements such as a long walled and 19th century cistern. Afterwards, we'll enjoy a drink at the famous Café Tortoni, one of the oldest cafeterias in Buenos Aires. We'll return to the hotel via the colorful Boca District, where local artists gather on Sundays.

Day 3 Monday - B, D Belle Epoque Tour/Tango Lesson/Tango Show
After breakfast, enjoy a tour of the Belle Epoque neighborhood. Today's tour is an ideal opportunity to absorb the atmosphere and life-style of the city's traditional upper class. From 1871, the northern suburbs of Belle Epoque became the main residence for wealthy families, which gave the area a noticeably European aura. Along grand, tree-lined boulevards, we'll see Beaux Arts palaces (a visit will be arranged to one of them) parks, and renowned monuments from of the early 20th century, including the impressive Recoleta Cemetery, with its ornate marble crypts and Evita's tomb. We'll have a quick stop at La Biela Café before visiting the landmark Malba Museum. The tour then continues for a drive around the Palermo district, where we will view the unique architectural parks, gardens, mansions, and embassies which give the neighborhood its moniker. The afternoon holds a very special surprise: a Tango Lesson at the famed Mansion Dandi Royal. Here, in the company of some of the most accomplished maestros in Buenos Aires, we will enjoy a guided lesson in a typical tango dancing ballroom. This evening, enjoy a true Argentine experience with a Tango show and dinner at the famous Restaurant Esquina de Carlos Gardel.

Day 4 Tuesday - B, L Evita Museum/Palermo City Tour
This morning, visit the Evita Museum, with exhibits detailing the life and accomplishments of Argentina's former First Lady. Following the visit, we'll have lunch in Palermo before joining a walking tour of the area. Enjoy time to shop before returning to the hotel. Balance of the day at leisure.

Day 5 Wednesday - B, D To Mendoza/City Tour
This morning, transfer to the airport for our flight to Mendoza. Upon arrival we'll enjoy a half day tour of Mendoza, considered one of the most charming cities in the country, home to beautiful parks, wide shaded sidewalks, and a friendly atmosphere. The tour takes us through the old and modern quarters of the city, visiting the Main Square and Civic area, the residential neighborhoods, the Parque Gral San Martin, the Monument to the Andean Army, and El Challao at the foot of the Andes. Afterwards continue to the hotel for your check in. Dinner at the hotel this evening.

Day 6 Thursday - B, L Winery Tour/Cooking Class
This morning, depart for a full day tour of local Argentine wineries. Of the many wineries for which Argentina is famous, we'll visit first the Bodegas Lopez winery, with a history dating back over 100 years. Here we will enjoy a wine tasting and the opportunity to purchase some of Bodegas' featured blends. Afterwards, we continue to Zuccardi Winery for a late morning cooking class. Good cooking gets on well with good wine, and here chefs will teach us how to use regional products to prepare high-quality dishes. Following the class, a three-course lunch will be served with paired wines, followed by a tour of the vineyards and cellars. Return to Mendoza this afternoon.

Day 7 Friday - B, L, D To Santiago/Andes Crossing
This morning, we depart Mendoza by bus and travel along the scenic Pan-American Highway for Cacheuta. We then continue our ascent past Potrerillos and Uspallata, crossing the historic bridge across the Rio Picheuta, and entering the heart of the Andes Range where lunch will be provided at Puente del Inca. After a short visit to Los Potrerillos Ski Centre, we'll have the opportunity of viewing Aconcagua, the highest peak in South America. After completing Chilean border formalities, we'll pass the ski center of Portillo and the Green lagoon en route to Santiago, Chile. Upon arrival, we'll transfer to the hotel and enjoy dinner at the Gernika Restaurant, one of the leading eateries in Santiago's El Bosque district.

Day 8 Saturday - B Panoramic City Tour/La Chascona
Our first morning in Santiago begins with a panoramic tour of the city that includes the neoclassical Moneda Palace, current seat of the Chilean Government, the Plaza de Armas with its cathedral, the Natural History Museum, and the Central Post Office. We then continue to view the Parque Forestal, modeled on the famed Champs Elysee in Paris, France, as well as the Museum of Fine Arts, and Santa Lucia Hill where the city was founded in 1541. Next, we'll take a short walk to visit “El Patio de Bellavista," where new gastronomic and cultural attractions mix old condominiums of the 1990s with industrial sheds. We then visit La Chascona, the former residence turned museum of the famous Spanish poet, Pablo Neruda. The house was designed by Neruda himself and was dubbed the "Woman with the Tousled Hair" after Matilde Urratia, the poet's third wife. We'll tour the museum and step into the extraordinary mind of the poet, whose eclectic designs earned him the label "organic architect." Winding garden paths, stairwells, and bridges lead to the house and its library, a bedroom tower, and a secret passageway. Scattered throughout are collections of butterflies, seashells, wineglasses, and other odd objects that inspired Neruda's tumultuous life and romantic poetry. Following our visit, we'll then head back in the hotel's direction with a stop for shopping at the Parque Arauco, one of the largest shopping malls in the area.

Day 9 Sunday - B, L, D Concha y Toro/Maipo Canyon/Farewell Dinner
This morning, depart Santiago for a full day tour of the Concha y Toro winery in MaipoValley, one of Chile’s most prosperous wine regions. Founded in 1883, Concha y Toro is today the largest wine exporter in Chile. Our guided tour of the winery includes a comprehensive visit to the extensive landscaped gardens, the plantations (some of which were planted personally by the vineyard's founder, Don Melchor de Concha y Toro), and the modern plant and old cellars. A tasting and a souvenir glass are also included. Afterwards, our tour continues to Maipo Canyon, from where we will enjoy spectacular views of the Andes Mountains. We'll conclude the tour with a typical lunch at Casa Bosque before returning to Santiago in the afternoon. This evening, we'll celebrate our final night abroad at a farewell event at Camino Real restaurant, offering a wonderful panoramic view of Santiago by night. Enjoy a cocktail at the restaurant's terrace, followed by a typical Chilean folkloric performance, before dinner is served.

Day 10 Monday - B Return Home
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before transferring to the airport for your return flight home.

Back to Gutsy Women Travel - Menu Page