Argentina & Chile: two countries, two cultures, two major wine-producing nations, and a shared natural border: the majestic Andes Mountains!
You’ll begin this 13-day tour in Argentina’s vibrant capital: Buenos Aires! You’ll then head to Mendoza, the land of Malbec. You’ll meet the region’s independent winemakers, as well as the Catena Zapata and Casa Enemigo Vigil estates, both of which have earned 100 points from wine critic Robert Parker. After crossing the Andes Mountains, you’ll arrive in Chile, where you’ll meet several winemakers. In this land of Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Carmenere, you’ll also savor the flavors of Pisco Sour in the bohemian city of Valparaiso!
Meet and greet at Buenos Aires International Airport (EZE) and transfer to the hotel by private vehicle.
Tour conducted by a French-speaking guide.
Tour of Buenos Aires (half-day).
You’ll drive down 9 de Julio Avenue, the widest avenue in the world, dominated by the Obelisk, the symbol of Buenos Aires. You’ll pass the Teatro Colón and then arrive at the famous central square, Plaza de Mayo, home to buildings such as the Casa Rosada (Government House), the Cabildo, and the Cathedral.
You’ll end your day in the picturesque neighborhood of La Boca, a gathering place for painters, tango dancers, and singers.
Return to your hotel after the tour
A French-speaking guide will accompany you throughout your tour.
Overnight stay at the Tango de Mayo Hotel in a standard room.
Included: arrival transfer, arrival transfer with an English-speaking guide, (private) tour, English-speaking guide, room & breakfast.
Tour of Buenos Aires (half-day).
Your day begins with a tour of the Recoleta neighborhood, known for its many colonial-style houses, many of which were once the homes of historical figures.
Next, a visit to the Recoleta Cemetery, where many celebrities, writers, and politicians are buried.
Continue your tour through the Palermo neighborhood and take a stroll through Tres de Febrero Park.
Return to your hotel after the tour.
A French-speaking guide will accompany you throughout your tour.
Private tango lesson in a dance studio with Carolina.
Carolina is a French-speaking tango instructor; she’ll be happy to teach you the basics of tango and share some stories about tango culture in Buenos Aires.
Milonga Evening: Step into the world of tango dancers as you walk through the doors of one of the capital’s most beautiful milongas. Accompanied by Carolina, you’ll learn about the history of tango and the unique customs of the Argentine milonga.
Transportation included.
Overnight stay at the Tango de Mayo Hotel in a standard room.
Included: (private) tour, English-speaking guide, private transportation, admission fees, room & breakfast.
Departure from your hotel and transfer by private vehicle from Buenos Aires to AEP National Airport.
Transfer provided by an English-speaking guide.
Domestic flight from Buenos Aires* to Mendoza.
*Domestic or international airport, depending on schedules and availability.
Private transfer from Mendoza Airport to your hotel.
Cooking classes
How about making some famous Argentine empanadas and enjoying some Argentine beef at sunset amidst the vineyards?
In the early evening, you’ll head out in small groups (maximum 8 people) to Finca Adalgisa, where Chef Cristina Brino will be waiting for you. After a stroll through the Finca’s vineyards, you’ll put on your apron to start preparing a traditional Argentine meal: Mendoza-style empanadas, beef with chimichurri sauce, and more. Chef Cristina creates one-of-a-kind dishes using fresh, local ingredients. It’s a fun, friendly experience that will introduce you to Argentine traditions and share some interesting stories about the ingredients.
Dinner on the finca's terrace.
Return to the hotel in the evening.
Overnight stay at Posada Verde Oliva in a standard room.
Included: departure transfer, departure transfer with an English-speaking guide, airport taxes, domestic flight, arrival transfer, cooking class, transfers, dinner, room & breakfast.
You’ll head to Luján de Cuyo on a semi-private tour (maximum 10 people), accompanied by an English-speaking wine expert, to meet four independent winemakers. Each winery is unique, but all the winemakers work with passion, following the purest traditions, to craft exceptional wines.
The first winery you’ll visit is the Carinae boutique winery, run by Brigitte and Philippe, a French couple. They’ll welcome you to their lovely vineyard, featuring a Syrah pergola and olive trees. Excellent age-worthy wines in the Bordeaux style, yet with the distinctive character of our Mendoza terroir.
Next, you’ll visit the winery of Carmelo Patti, Mendoza’s famous “garage winemaker”! Carmelo welcomes you to his rustic winery, where he crafts exceptional Malbecs, Cabernet Sauvignons, and his incredible “Gran Assemblage.” No frills—just outstanding wines crafted by a true independent winemaker.
Our third stop is at the Pulmary winery, one of the first certified organic wineries. You’ll be welcomed by the owner, Diana, or her son, Ramiro, an independent winemaker who also brews excellent organic craft beers.
A gourmet picnic will be served to you in the famous Altavista winery. The Altavista building is a historic structure built in 1899, fully restored in 2003, and equipped with all the latest winemaking technology. The underground cellars house Alta Vista’s French oak barrels. The winery is situated on a five-hectare estate, featuring more than 50 century-old olive trees, and is considered one of Mendoza’s historic sites.
Return to Mendoza in the late afternoon.
Overnight stay at Posada Verde Oliva in a standard room.
Included: picnic basket, admission to the sites listed in the itinerary, tour (group tour), English-speaking guide, wine tasting, bed and breakfast.
You’ll head to Luján de Cuyo on a semi-private tour (maximum 10 people), accompanied by an English-speaking guide specializing in wine, to visit the Catena Zapata, Alejandro Vigil, and Casa El Enemigo wineries.
The day begins with a top-notch tasting at the famous Catena Zapata winery. Who hasn’t heard of Catena Zapata? The three key milestones in the Catena family’s winemaking history have not only transformed the family winery but also the Argentine wine industry over the past 50 years. The story of Catena is the story of Argentine wine!
You’ll take your time enjoying these magical places; start with a barrel tasting followed by an explanation of the secrets of pruning in the vineyard, and finish with a guided “Art of Malbec” tasting, featuring the estate’s finest wines: Adrianna Vineyard Malbec, Nicasia Vineyard Malbec, Malbec Argentino, and Nicolas Catena Zapata.
You will then head to Casa Vigil, home to Alejandro Vigil, the famous and renowned winemaker from Catena Zapata. He decided to open his own independent winery and restaurant, immersed in the family atmosphere of his own home. After a brief tour of his gardens (called Le Ciel) and the winery (L’Enfer), you’ll enjoy a gourmet menu paired with the winery’s finest wines, the Gran Enemigos (including the famous Cabernet Franc Gualtallary, rated 100 points by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate!). An unforgettable experience!
Return to Mendoza in the late afternoon.
Overnight stay at Posada Verde Oliva in a standard room.
Included: admission to the sites listed in the itinerary, guided tour (group tour), English-speaking guide, lunch, wine tasting, bed and breakfast
This morning, you’ll set off in a small group of Spanish and English speakers to visit Daniel, a true gaucho.
You’ll start by experiencing the authentic Argentine mate ritual and enjoying delicious sopaipillas (fried pastries) with Daniel’s family. Once the horses are saddled, you’ll set off on a 2-hour horseback ride through the Andes Mountains.
You stop for an asado at an altitude of nearly 3,000 meters, enjoying an incredible view of the Andes and Lake Potrerillos.
You’ll continue the hike for two hours before returning to the estancia. The scenery is breathtaking. Nature is in full bloom, and you’ll spot guanacos and condors, among other wildlife.
Back to Mendoza, arriving around 6:00 p.m.
Overnight stay at Posada Verde Oliva in a standard room.
Included: coffee break, guided tour (group tour), horseback riding, lunch, room & breakfast.
Transfer to the bus terminal by private vehicle.
Departure by sleeper bus at 7:30 AM bound for Santiago, Chile. Estimated arrival at 2:30 PM. You will travel in Cama Ejecutivo class, which includes food and beverage service (including wine), heating and air conditioning, seats that recline 150 degrees, and a TV screen.
Note: Travel time: 7 hours.
Note 2: The times listed are approximate and subject to availability.
Your driver will take you from the Santiago bus terminal to the hotel.
Overnight stay at the Eco Hotel Carmenere ***.
Included: departure transfer, bus ticket, arrival transfer, room & breakfast
Today you’re off for a day of exploring Santiago’s street food scene. The day begins at the Vega Central, a market hall built in 1910, where you’ll sample the famous “sopaipilla,” a fried flatbread made from squash.
Across the Mapocho River, visit the Central Market, a building dating back to 1872, known for its fresh fish and seafood, as well as its seafood restaurants.
Just around the corner from the Central Market is Santiago’s oldest empanada shop. Sample traditional empanadas (stuffed pastries) filled with meat or cheese.
Head to the culinary district of Lastarria, where a pisco tasting awaits you at Chipe Libre. The tour ends at the top of San Cristóbal Hill, where you’ll sample the famous “moté con huesillo” while taking in the panoramic views of the city and the Andes.
Overnight stay at the Eco Hotel Carmenere ***.
Included: admission to the sites listed in the itinerary, French-speaking guide, lunch (excluding drinks), aperitif, private transportation, room & breakfast.
Your driver will pick you up at your hotel, and you’ll set off for the Casablanca Valley. Wine tourism enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike flock to this region, which is famous for its Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc grapes—and, more recently, for its Pinot Noir.
Along the way, you'll visit the vineyards:
Bodega Ré –
Guided tour and tasting of three wines from the small family-run Bodega Ré vineyard. The tasting is accompanied by cheese and olive oil. Explore the liqueur and balsamic vinegar cellar.
Matetic –
Discover one of the valley’s most iconic biodynamic vineyards. Founded in the 1980s by a family of Croatian origin, Matetic was one of the first to plant Shiraz grapes in Chile. After a tour of the estate and the winery, you’ll taste four premium wines from the EQ range, paired with fresh bread and organic olive oil.
Lunch at the on-site restaurant, including an appetizer, main course, dessert, and wine.
Note: Tour at 11 a.m.
After exploring Chilean wine, you’ll leave the Casablanca Valley and head to the famous, colorful, and bohemian city of Valparaíso.
Overnight stay at the Fauna Hotel ***, standard room.
Included: private transportation, group tour, local guide, wine tasting, private tour, lunch, room & breakfast
Guided tour of Valparaíso, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its historic neighborhoods. With its many hills topped with picturesque homes and warehouses, its narrow, steep streets, its funiculars, and its street performers, the city has a very distinctive character and atmosphere.
You’ll explore the city’s most iconic neighborhoods, from the Caleta Portales fishing port to the famous Alegre and Concepción hills, and, if you’d like, the house-museum of the poet Pablo Neruda, La Sebastiana.
Tour on foot and by public transportation.
La Sebastiana is closed on Mondays.
At the end of the day, you’re invited to Mauricio’s home—a Chilean chef—to learn how to make the famous Pisco Sour.
As you sample different types of pisco and mix your very first pisco sour, Mauricio will tell you more about the history of this iconic drink. You’ll take this opportunity to admire the beautiful city of Valparaíso from the terrace while snacking on some local delicacies… with your pisco sour in hand.
Mauricio will then drive you back to your hotel.
Overnight stay at the Fauna Hotel ***, standard room.
Included: admission to the sites listed in the itinerary, (private) tour, English-speaking guide, cooking class, aperitif, room & breakfast.
Drive to the Pacific coast and Isla Negra, a charming bay lined with maritime pines, to visit one of the homes of Pablo Neruda, poet and inveterate epicurean.
The day continues through the region’s wine-growing valleys, nestled between the mountain range and the ocean.
Allow about 3 hours for the trip between Isla Negra and Santa Cruz. Note: Isla Negra is closed on Mondays.
Along the way, you'll come across the Casa Marin estate.
This winery, known as San Antonio, stands out for its unique location near the ocean and the fact that its founder, María Luz Marin, became the first woman on the South American continent to be both an oenologist and a vineyard owner in 2000. Despite the challenges of setting up operations due to its proximity to the coast, the winery has won numerous awards since its inception. It remains a very family-run business, and you will receive a warm welcome.
A tour of the main house, the winery, and the vineyards, followed by a tasting of three wines from the estate—two whites and one red.
At the end of the day, you’ll arrive at your hotel in the Colchagua Valley near Santa Cruz.
Overnight stay at the Terra Viña *** Hotel in a standard room
Included: admission to the sites listed in the itinerary, French-speaking guide, private transportation, private tour, wine tasting, room & breakfast
Another day exploring the Colchagua Valley and its surroundings. Your driver will take you to the vineyards according to your itinerary.
Then head to the Montgras vineyard in the Colchagua Valley. After touring the estate, you’ll take part in a unique workshop: making your own Chilean wine. On the agenda: blending, bottling, corking, and labeling…
Tour of the Clos Lapostolle estate
The estate is owned by Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle, the great-granddaughter of the founder of Grand Marnier. The tour begins at the observation deck, perched high above the vineyards, offering a breathtaking view. You will then visit the gravity-fed cellar, with its remarkable architecture, before tasting three of the estate’s wines.
Group tour followed by a wine tasting at the Clos Lapostolle vineyard.
Return to Santiago in the late afternoon.
Overnight stay at the Eco Hotel Carmenere ***.
Included: private transportation, admission to the sites listed in the itinerary, equipment rental, local guide, beverages, room & breakfast
Accompanied by your private guide, you’ll set off on a half-day tour to explore the Chilean capital, a metropolis nestled at the foot of the Andes with unparalleled charm. Although Santiago has evolved over the years into a modern and vibrant city, certain neighborhoods have retained all their romantic charm.
From the central Plaza de Armas to the colorful streets of the Bellavista neighborhood, via the lush Santa Lucia Hill, you’ll learn more about Chile’s tumultuous and fascinating history as you explore.
Your driver will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the Santiago airport.
It’s time to say goodbye to Chile, with unforgettable memories and breathtaking landscapes filling my mind… and my camera!
End of service.
Included: admission to the sites listed in the itinerary, French-speaking guide, private transportation.
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