Essential South America featuring Chile, the Mendoza Wine Region & Buenos Aires Tour with 9 Reviews by Collette Tours

10 daysDuration

Group TourJoin a group of travelers

44 peopleMaximum group size

1 - 99 yearsAge range for participants

EnglishGuide language

Moderate

Involves sustained activity requiring a reasonable level of fitness and endurance.

Starts

Santiago, Chile

Ends

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Highlights

Spend two nights in Mendoza, South America’s famous wine country.

Stroll through Buenos Aires with a local and get to know the city’s diverse flavors and flair.

Mingle with the gauchos (South American cowboys) at an estancia.

Itinerary

Experience the essence of two South American countries on a comprehensive journey from Santiago, Chile to Argentina’s wine country and vibrant Buenos Aires. Stroll through Santiago’s Central Market, picking up fresh ingredients to incorporate in a seafood lunch. Spend two nights in Mendoza, South America’s famous wine country. Discover the rhythm of Buenos Aires and learn to tango with the best. In the Pampas of Argentina, explore gaucho culture and spend a day on a traditional estancia. Encounter the history and culture of Chile and Argentina in capital cities and the sprawling countryside.

day 1 - Overnight Flight

Set out to experience the sights, flavors, and rhythms of Chile and Argentina as you explore two countries, from bustling cities to sprawling ranches, vineyards, and natural landscapes. It all begins in Chile’s cultural hub, Santiago.

day 2 - Santiago, Chile

Arrive early this morning in Santiago, the vibrant capital city of Chile nestled in a valley of the Andes Mountains. Settle in at your hotel where you’ll enjoy early access to your room to recoup after your flight. This afternoon, meet your fellow travelers and head out on a panoramic tour of Santiago, getting a look at the city’s blend of modern and colonial architecture and learning about its diverse history. Tonight, toast to the beginning of your South American adventure at a local restaurant.

Meals:Dinner

day 3 - Santiago

Follow your curiosity about Chilean history and culture to a museum because it’s your choice! Choose between the Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, dedicated to the study and display of pre-Columbian artworks and artifacts from Central and South America -OR- the Memory and Human Rights Museum, which commemorates the victims of human rights violations during the last Chilean military dictatorship. After, set out to discover market-fresh Chilean food with a visit to the Mercado Central de Santiago. Joined by an enthusiastic local, walk through the fish market, stopping along the way to learn about the local seafood and pick up a fresh catch. Then make your way to a local restaurant and watch as a chef turns your find into a delicious ceviche before sitting down for lunch. Take the rest of the day to enjoy Santiago as you please.

Meals:Breakfast & Lunch

day 4 - Santiago - Mendoza, Argentina

An early morning flight brings you to the desert region of Mendoza, known for its vineyards and Malbec wine, and the stunning views of the Andes Mountains. Upon arriving enjoy a brief orientation tour of downtown Mendoza and free time to have lunch on your own. This afternoon, travel outside the city to visit a boutique, family winery. Sample wines selected to show the richness of the terroirs and come to appreciate the unique qualities of the Luján de Cuyo wine-producing sub-region with its dry, almost desert-like climate and irrigation from the Mendoza River’s pure Andean meltwater. Later, settle into your hotel in the city of Mendoza for an evening at leisure.*

Meals:Breakfast

day 5 - Mendoza

Enjoy a leisurely morning before continuing your taste of the region's renowned wines with a visit to another vineyard. Upon arrival, a pick-me-up comes with a taste of yerba mate tea, a traditional South American caffeinated drink. As your guide demonstrates how to make a cup, learn about the cultural significance of this beverage that brings many Argentinean families together for daily “mate breaks.” Enjoy a tour of the vineyard followed by a hands-on cooking class with the winery chef. Finish off your visit with a gourmet, wine-paired lunch. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy the laid-back city of Mendoza with its inviting restaurants and atmospheric plazas.

Meals:Breakfast & Lunch

day 6 - Mendoza - Buenos Aires

Say so long to Mendoza as you fly to Buenos Aires, a city that radiates Latin-infused rhythm mixed with European heritage. Set out on a guided tour of Buenos Aires, sampling the local eats along the way and exploring the fusion of flavors that comes with the city’s Spanish, Italian, and Jewish influences. During a panoramic tour, discover the San Telmo, Puerto Madero, La Boca, and Recoleta neighborhoods. Then, settle in at your hotel in the elegant Recoleta neighborhood, full of historical and architectural charm. This evening, come together for dinner and indulge in savory Argentine flavors.

Meals:Breakfast & Dinner

day 7 - Buenos Aires

Today begins with an Impact Moment focused on the work of the Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo, a human rights organization that has helped to restore the identities of children taken during Argentina’s military coup from 1976 to 1983. Meet with someone who was personally impacted and learn about los desaparecidos (“the disappeared”) and this time in Argentina’s history. This afternoon, it’s your choice how you see more of the city. Choose between two walking tours, either exploring the captivating Recoleta Cemetery -OR- discovering the colorful murals of the Palermo neighborhood. This evening, it’s time to live like the locals! Take a lesson from a professional tango dancer, then take your moves to the dance floor at a local milongas social club.

Meals:Breakfast

day 8 - Buenos Aires

Today is yours to explore Buenos Aires as you wish, taking your time to wander through neighborhoods, savor Argentine cuisine, or maybe visit the city’s fantastic opera house. Consider a full day optional excursion to Uruguay. Take an early morning ferry across the Rio de Plata to Colonia del Sacramento.** Travel into the Uruguayan countryside to a family-run cheese farm for a tour and lunch, followed by free time to explore the city’s charming Historic Quarter before returning to Buenos Aires by ferry. Tonight, perhaps you’ll decide to join an optional tango show and dinner at a popular tango house.

Meals:Breakfast

day 9 - Buenos Aires - San Antonio de Areco - Buenos Aires

Set out into the countryside to explore Argentina’s Pampas region. In San Antonio de Areco, discover the small town’s strong connection with silversmithing and gaucho culture. A visit to Museo Draghi offers the chance to see silversmiths at work and admire a private collection of silverware. Then, it’s on to experience a true taste of gaucho life by spending the rest of the day on a traditional estancia, following a bumpy, unpaved road to the gates of the ranch’s sprawling land and inviting, rustic house. You may decide to explore the property by horseback or horse drawn carriage or perhaps head inside the main house to relax and take in views from the porch. Gather for a traditional asado lunch, with flame-cooked meats served at the table along with sides and wine. Later, sit back and enjoy a folk performance of gaucho traditions with singing, dancing, and displays of horsemanship – topping off an unforgettable encounter with this South American way of life. This evening back in Buenos Aires, gather for dinner at a local restaurant and toast to the end of a grand adventure.

Meals:Breakfast & Lunch & Dinner

day 10 - Buenos Aires - Tour Ends

Your tour comes to an end today. Transfer to the airport for your flight home later today.

Meals:Breakfast

Essential South America featuring Chile, the Mendoza Wine Region & Buenos Aires

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What's Included

Accommodation

Renaissance Santiago HotelDiplomatic HotelPalladio Hotel Buenos Aires MGallery

Meals

8 Breakfasts3 Lunchs3 Dinners

Transport

Transport Included

Guide

Guided by Tour Manager/s

What's Excluded

Customer Reviews

Read what other travelers have to say about Essential South America featuring Chile, the Mendoza Wine Region & Buenos Aires

4.8

based on 9 reviews

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