13-Nights Art, Wine, and Salt: Exploring Chile & Bolivia and all in Between President’s Pick — CALL

Big Five Tours & Expeditions

OFFER ID 1597732

Valparaíso, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is known as the “Jewel of the Pacific” and is one of Chile’s most romantic cities, with its vibrant culture, iconic landmarks, and bohemian vibes. Explore colorful alleyways and graffiti scenes firsthand, learn about street art history, and even create your own graffiti masterpiece. Visit local restaurants and taste all there is to offer. This city is a little slice of utopia for foodies.
Ignite your pallet while visiting one of Chile’s best-known regions for premium-quality red varieties. Praise for its full-bodied Cabernet, Carménère, Syrah, and Malbec and home to the ‘Huaso’ (Chilean cowboys), one of Chile’s most famous wine valleys: the Colchagua Valley. Named “World’s Best Wine Region 2005” by Wine Enthusiast, its wines consistently rank high on the world’s lists of leading wines.
Experience the essence of Atacama’s enchanting landscape with your private guide and 4×4 vehicle at Awasi. This series of excursions is designed to allow you to enjoy the magic of Atacama’s geography, the silence of its landscape, and the warmth of its people. Picture each evening adorned with exquisite dining under the Chilean stars, promising a truly unforgettable visit.
Imagine crossing the border into Bolivia like never before on an unforgettable trip from Hito Cajón, where stunning scenery dominated by the Licancabur Volcano leads to The Green Lagoon. Envision zooming around in your 4×4; this excursion steals the show as an absolute highlight. Staying overnight in a unique little hotel constructed of Volcanic Stone, the Ojo De Perdiz, which sits on the edge of the Siloli Desert, with one of the most epic landscapes in South America, is a truly charming experience.
Saving the best for last and venturing on this isolated journey across the Uyuni Salt Flats and the deserts of Southern Bolivia is often phrased as an Adventure of a lifetime! Taking you on one of the hundreds of routes across the salt flats, visiting Chantani Museum and Coquesa Mummies, dating back to 1200BC, exploring Colorful lagoons Isla del Pescado for giant cacti and flamingos to Tunupa Volcano, Wine tasting and sundowns, immersing in local culture, and so much more all waiting to be experienced and remembered for a lifetime.

13 nights | Call for pricing

Featured Destinations

Siloli Desert

La Paz, Bolivia

Uyuni Salt Flats

San Pedro de Atacama

Colchagua

Santiago (Valparaiso)

Santiago, with over four million people, is the fifth-largest city in South America. Standing in a wide plain 1,800 feet above sea level, Santiago boasts a beautiful setting. Snow-capped peaks of the Andes chain provide a dramatic backdrop. Tastefully laid-out public gardens contribute to the beauty of the city. However, Santiago also suffers from horrendous traffic and a high percentage of pollution. The heart of Santiago is the Plaza de Armas, flanked by the cathedral, the archbishop’s palace, the National History Museum and fine arcaded buildings lined with shops. The two-mile-long Avenida O’Higgins is the major thoroughfare, commonly known as the Alameda. There is a splendid view over the city from San Cristobal Hill, crowned by the statue of the Virgin Mary.

Excursions

Valparaiso: Encounter with the Art - 4 hours

HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS EXCURSION

La Sebastiana – Pablo Neruda Museum
A local artist’s studio

DESCRIPTION

Picturesque Valparaiso was one of the first Chilean cities founded by the Spanish in 1536.

A thriving port for centuries, modern Valparaiso remains Chile’s primary outlet to the sea. In 1906, a vicious earthquake struck the city, toppling hundreds of the city's priceless monuments. This earthquake, however, would be a portent of things to come: The truly fatal blow to Valparaiso would come 8 years later. In 1914, the first international ship crossed the Panama Canal. The golden age of Valparaiso had come to an end. After years of gloom and decay, the historic port and university town is now living something of a revival. The Chilean government has pledged both economic and structural support to the city, and private entities are implementing projects that seek to trigger an urban renaissance in Valparaiso as a world heritage city and Chile's cultural capital. Among the priorities are culture, heritage preservation, and economic development via tourism. This effort culminated in UNESCO naming Valparaiso’s Historic Quarter a World Heritage Site in 2003.

Immigrants from all over the world have chosen to stay and leave their mark on this peculiar city.
Since over 450 years, this strategic port in the western coast of the South American continent has been the subject of interest for many renamed visitor. First visited by Drake and later on by Dutch pirates, left in ruins by Spanish cannons’ fire and reconstructed many times after numerous earthquakes, Valparaíso is a handmade city, a result of human intervention and an example of urban resilience.

During your 4-hour tour you will have the chance to see Valparaíso distinctively spontaneous hill neighbourhoods and their vernacular architecture, including more than a dozen ascensores (funicular cable cars) that connect the port with its surrounding heights. This is a great city to explore on foot so that you can grasp its beauty.

One of the highlights of the tour will surely be Chilean Nobel Prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda’s Valparaiso residence, “La Sebastiana”. The house is full to the brim with the eccentric genius’ keepsakes from his many trips abroad, as well as an extensive library.

Also during your visit you will get the opportunity to visit the studio/gallery of a local artist who will be pleased to meet you and sharing with you his passion for art and his life experience in this bohemian city in front of the Pacific Ocean, a constant source of inspiration for many other artists

OBSERVATIONS

Includes the services of an English-speaking guide.
Bottled mineral water included.
Entrance fee to the museums are included.
Museums are closed on Mondays.

*Travellers will be transferred from the pier to the excursion sites by car

Valparaiso - Wines of the Casablanca Valley

HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS EXCURSION

Tour and Tasting at two emblematic vineyards of the Casablanca valley

DESCRIPTION

This morning you will be welcomed at the Valparaíso pier by your guide who will escort you on your private tour to the Casablanca valley.

The Casablanca Valley is a sub-region of the Aconcagua Valley, but its vineyards – first planted in the early 1980s – have earned worldwide recognition in a relatively short space of time. The warm, temperate climate of the area is greatly influenced by the coastal sea breezes, which in combination with a perfect terroir in a valley situated on the coastal plane, with distant hills and slopes rising no more than 400 meters above sea level provide ideal conditions for certain varieties of grape. It is not unlike Santa Barbara and portions of Sonoma, and fittingly, the grapes that have done best over the past half-decade or so have been Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. While the area is best known for its crisp white wines, in particular Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, varieties such as Gewürtztraminer and certain lighter reds such as Pinot Noir are fast becoming the varieties du jour.

The first visit will be made at the Casas del Bosque vineyard where the visit will commence with a tour of the winery and cellars. Continue with a tasting focussing on their superb, award-winning red and white wines including their award-winning Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2004. A selection of dried fruits and cheeses will be served to accompany the wines during the tastings.

Then continue to the Matetic winery.

The new Matetic vineyard, designed by the Viña Matetic team in cooperation with architect Lawrence Odfjell, is a state-of-the-art winemaking facility, constructed so as to complement its glorious setting. In other words, harmony has been reached between the winery´s organic agricultural practices and the natural landscape of the valley.

Upon arrival to the vineyard you will be greeted and invited to listen to a brief introductory speech about the vineyard history and the different phases of wine production while appreciating stunning views of the vineyards and the beautiful Rosario Valley. Then you will proceed to the tasting room where you will sample the high quality Matetic wines.

Lunch today will be served at excellent Matetic Winery’s restaurant.

Notes:

Includes the services of an English-speaking guide.
Bottled mineral water available in the vehicle

*Travelers will be transferred from the pier to the excursion sites by car

Santiago

Vacation Details

Valid Date Ranges

12/24/2024 - 12/31/2025

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* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.

Prices Start At

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Length

13 Nights

Air City

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Vacation Rating

Luxury

Remarks

All fares are quoted in US Dollars.

OFFER ID

1597732

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