Day 1 - Arrive Santiago

Upon arrival, you will receive an exclusive Meet & Greet inside the Arrivals Hall at Santiago Airport. The Reciprocity Fee will be pre-paid in order to save time, and you will be assisted with passport, luggage and Customs formalities. Private transfer to the Ritz-Carlton Santiago where a private check-in will be given.

The afternoon will be at leisure.

In the evening it will be time to go to the famous Los Adobes de Argomedo restaurant for a Welcome Dinner. Los Adobes de Argomedo is a traditional, downtown restaurant featuring typical Chilean dishes, along with a folklore show and a dance orchestra. The show includes the cueca, the national folk dance, as well as dances from Easter Island and other regions of the country.

Overnight: Ritz-Carlton Santiago

Meal Plan: D

Day 2 - Santiago

After breakfast it will be time for a sightseeing tour of the Chilean capital, commencing with a visit to the colonial centre, during which a surprise snack will be served in one of its most picturesque corners by a renowned local chef. It will then be time to explore the highlights of the city, including the Palacio de La Moneda, the Plaza de Armas, and the superb Chilean Museum of pre-Colombian Art in the company of the museum’s curator. With over 700 exhibits, this is one of the world’s most important collections of pre-Colombian artwork.

Lunch will be provided in the colourful Bellavista neighborhood of the city. You will be able to choose from a selection of recommended restaurants. The second part of the tour will be centred around the modern, uptown areas of the city.

Dinner this evening will be at Ponle Cacao in one of the city’s most traditional barrios. This novel restaurant is all about participation, with teams competing to make the most delicious wok-based dishes.

Overnight: Ritz-Carlton Santiago

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 3 - Santiago

After breakfast, transfer to the Haras de Pirque Vineyard for a visit to this unique winery. In 1991, after a highly successful business career in Chile's private sector, entrepreneur Eduardo Matte acquired this estate near Pirque, a prestigious winegrowing area situated in the Maipo Valley. The property - today covering 600 hectares - gently ascends the lower slopes of a spur of the Andes Mountains. Haras de Pirque's name honours the country's oldest thoroughbred breeding stud, founded in 1892, and boasts a long succession of trophies won in major horseracing events and an unrivalled leadership in all of the sport's local categories: broodmare sires, stallions and general standings. The haras is a prominent supplier for breeders and owners in South America and North America, and maintains approximately 30 racehorses in the national competition circuit. The visit will include a tasting of premium wines follow by private lunch inside the vineyard. As an additional treat, a private horserace will be staged exclusive for you while you enjoy a glass of premium wine.

Dinner will be served at the excellent Emilio Restaurant, and the Peruvian owner/chef will be on-hand to greet the group, offering a demonstration of the preparation of Chile’s national drink the Pisco Sour. A superb special menu dinner will follow, highlighting the very best of Chilean and Peruvian cuisine. As a special treat, you will receive a signed copy of Emilio’s recipe book

Overnight: Ritz-Carlton Santiago

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 4 - Santiago

After breakfast, you will journey to one of Chile’s most important wine-producing areas, the Casablanca Valley, before leaving the main highway towards the village of Isla Negra and the La Candela Inn, next door to the Neruda Foundation.

Charo Cofré and Hugo Arévalo are the current owners of La Candela. Charo, one of Chile's most famous folklore musicians, and Hugo, a documentary maker, were close friends of Pablo Neruda, and will provide a unique insight into the life and times of the great man. Chef Enrique Urra will prepare a tasting menu based on the series of "Odes" written by Neruda. Neruda, a genuine bon viveur, wrote several odes to his favourite delicacies including "Ode To Conger Chowder", "Ode To Wine", "Ode To Tomatoes", "Ode To Maize", "Ode To a Large Tuna in the Market", "Ode To a Chestnut on the Ground", "Ode To an Artichoke", "Ode To a Lemon", and "Ode To Salt". Each dish will be accompanied by premium wines from nearby wineries. Charo Cofré will entertain the group with a selection of traditional Chilean folk songs.

Continue to the Pablo Neruda Museum. This delightful place was home to the Chilean poet, and 1971 Nobel Prize winner. He came across the village in the 1940s while riding his horse and decided there and then that its idyllic setting, with a background of forest and the Pacific Ocean before him, would be the ideal spot to build a home for the love of his life, Matilda. He supervised its construction and brought in a huge array of personal objects from various parts of the world. This collection is now of immense value. After his death in 1973, Neruda was buried – at his bequest – in the garden of his house looking out on to the ocean, thus confirming his obsession with all things maritime. A private guided tour will be given in the company of the Fundación Neruda representatives. Following the tour a reading of Neruda’s work will be given by Todd Temkin, an American contemporary poet, and expert in the works of Pablo Neruda and also founder of activist group Fundación Valparaíso or Valparaíso Foundation.

At the end of this fascinating visit, continue along the coast to Algarrobo, where a delicious seafood lunch will be served at the Al Muelle restaurant.

Return to picturesque Valparaiso for a brief orientation tour. Valparaíso was one of the first Chilean cities founded by the Spanish. The city is a historic port and university town, famous for its labyrinth hills, which are covered in quaint, colourful old houses and accessible only by a steep climb or by the city’s unique system of funicular railways. After years of gloom and decay, the historic town is now experiencing something of a revival. This recent effort culminated in UNESCO naming Valparaiso’s Historic Quarter a World Heritage Site in 2003.

Return to Santiago. The rest of the evening will be at leisure.

Overnight: Ritz-Carlton Santiago

Meal Plan: B,L

Day 5 - Santiago

This morning will be set aside for meetings.

This evening, to take part in an unforgettable farewell dinner at the Camino Real Restaurant which sits atop Santiago’s San Cristobal Hill, providing a privileged view across the city.

The event will comprise:
Absolute exclusivity for the group.
A welcome drink.
A performance of traditional folklore music.
Dinner based on Chilean seafood.

After dinner, you will be invited to partake in a unique activity. The Wine Casino is a fun evening where you can test your ability to identify the colour and the country of specific glasses of wine with the added dimension of gambling chips to support your bet. This is a fun way to learn about wines, and there will be plenty of prizes for the lucky winners.

Overnight: Ritz-Carlton Santiago

Meal Plan: B,D

Day 6 - Depart Santiago

Today you can choose from a selection of half-day and full-day options. These may range from a simple shopping tour, to a magical heli-hiking experience in the Andes.

In the afternoon you will be transferred to Santiago Airport for your return flight home.

Overnight:

Meal Plan: B