Ultimate Epicurean Journey - 15 Days Buenos Aires to Santiago

ITINERARY:    

Day 1 Arrive in Buenos Aires. You will be met at the airport and escorted to your  hotel your local guide

Day 2: City tour with a visit to Teatro Colón.

This tour portrays the many faces of Buenos Aires:
we will visit the symbol of our city, the Obelisk, squares such as Plaza de Mayo, Plaza San Martin and Plaza Alvear; Avenida De Mayo, Corrientes and 9 de
Julio among other avenues; La Boca and San Telmo, historic neighborhoods, the magnificent Palermo and Recoleta areas and modern neighborhoods like Puerto
Madero; Lezama Park and Tres de Febrero (Palermo) and the commercial and financial areas of the city. Teatro Colón (guided tour included) which, in terms of its architecture and design, as well as its excellent acoustics, is considered one of world’s best

Day 3: Argentine-style barbeque at a colonial estancia on
the pampas. 

Inspired by the renowned Argentine gaucho – the
iconic cowboy rider of the Pampas, today’s excursion starts with a private transfer to the colonial town of San Antonio de Areco, 113km from Buenos Aires. Here, you'll visit a beautiful silverwork collection. You'll explore
the Ricardo Güiraldes museum, a converted ranch housing an imitation pulpería - a local store where gauchos used to gather, and display knives, books,
paintings, clothes and utensils. From here, you'll visit the Molina Campos museum, which preserves original work from Florencio Molina Campos (1891-1959), the artist who best depicted the gaucho way of life. 

Finally, on to the peaceful and graceful La Bamba,
a top-notch, exclusive estancia, where you can relax by the pool, glimpse at rural country life, venture off horse riding, enjoy a trek and spot the various local birds. You'll enjoy welcome drinks and regional snacks, followed by a
delicious asado (a traditional Argentine barbeque) lunch.

Day 4: Transfer to airport and fly to Iguazú Falls.
Excursion to the Brazilian side of the falls. We will visit the waterfalls and overfly them by helicopter.The Argentinean side has the scenery and the Brazilian side has the privileged seats.No doubt, the panoramic view from the Brazilian side is excellent. From Parque Nacional do Iguaçú viewpoints and footbridges you will have a view of almost all the falls. Besides that, an awesome close-up to the Garganta del Diablo (The Devil's Throat).

Day 5: Argentine side of the falls. We will visit the waterfalls and go drafting on semi-rigid boats.Impressive, challenging, majestic, beautiful, there is no word able to describe accurately this unique show of Nature, considered one of the seven natural wonders of the world. The Iguazú Waterfalls will invite us to have an adventure tourism expedition. By combining a 4x4 journey through the jungle and drafting, we will get as close as possible to the waterfalls. Feel the "roaring" of the falls a few feet away from us, getting soaked and going through the rainbows spread on the falls mouth, a unique experience you have to live to understand it.

Days 6-8: Fly to Salta, stay at a working estancia. Optional activities at your countryside lodge.

Sala is renowned for its colonial architecture,
friendly population and elegant claret-red ponchos. It lies in the arid eastern foothills of the Andes, the only Argentine region where vestiges of indian heritage are still visible.

Spend a few days on the Estancia el Bordo de las
Lanzas, a beautiful colonial residence decorated with elaborate religious paintings and woodcarvings dating back to the 17th century. It’s in the fertile Siancas Valley, 61km east of the city. The estate is an extensive working ranch with sugar cane and tobacco plantations. Cattle and horses are also raised here. There are lovely gardens and a swimming pool.

Days 9: Fly to Mendoza and drive to luxury vineyard.

Fly to Mendoza in Argentina’s wine country in the
shadow of the eastern flank of the Andes, and continue to Cavas Wine Lodge. The celebrated vineyards in this region provide the perfect place to enjoy fine
vintages and a superb gastronomic experience. Cavas Wine Lodge is situated amid vineyards 30km from the city. The design of the main house remains faithful to
Spanish colonial traditions. Its wine cellar is stacked with dozens of Argentina's most notable labels and the kitchen uses locally produced olive oils, herbs and spices. Along with the outdoor sports facilities there's a small spa offering wine therapy treatments. The latest beauty trend: wine baths

Originating in France, so called ‘vinotherapy’ is
growing in popularity and is now available at luxury wineries in Latin America. Supporters say the new craze can help boost circulation, reduce wrinkles, shift
cellulite and even provide a facelift. All thanks to the naturally invigorating qualities of grapeseed oil. ‘Polyphenols’ extracted from grape seeds are a
powerful antioxidant, which when absorbed into the skin can help defend against reactive molecules that can lead to premature aging.

Days 10-11: Activities at the winery, with food and wine.

At leisure at Cavas Wine Lodge. The property is
ideally situated as a base to visit some of the regions finest private wineries including Catena Zapata, Chandon, Achaval Ferrer, and Fabre Montmayou. Your stay includes visits to different wineries each day and offers a unique,
gourmet experience which, besides wine-tasting opportunities, allows you the flexibility to dine out at well-regarded local restaurants. You can also take
advantage of one of the outdoor sports on offer which include biking, trekking, horse riding and golf followed by a massage courtesy of the lodge, the ideal pre- dinner aperitif.

Day 12: Fly to Santiago, Chile and continue to the port of
Valparaiso on the Pacific coast.

Modern Valparaiso, Chile's principal port is in effect two towns. The cramped lower part, with narrow streets facing the bay, acts as the business centre. Above, covering the hills, there is an agglomeration of fine mansions, tattered and multicoloured houses and shacks reached by a combination of steps, funicular railways and winding lanes. Galleried walkways or miradores provide panoramic views of the city.

Day 13: Walking tour of Valparaiso.

You’ll have a guided walking tour of the city.
Start off down close to the busy quay where you’ll taste the salt in the wind blowing over the many containers, fishing and leisure craft. The strategically located port was of pivotal importance to international trade in the 19th
Century and many imposing, Victorian-style public buildings glower over dark, cramped streets.

Day 14: Transfer to Matetic, a vineyard just 90mins’ drive
away from Valparaiso heading back towards Santiago. This young vineyard is situated in the Antonio Valley, where a refreshing microclimate supports the cultivation of Pinot Noir and Shiraz grapes. This huge estate has a very peaceful, rural setting amid rolling hills covered in Mediterranean chaparral forest. It's a state-of-the-art design winery, ultra modern in appearance, established only in 1999 and in 10 years has already won awards for the quality of its wine and its biodynamic practices. You spend your last night here: facilities include a restaurant specialising in Chilean cuisine with menus prepared to complement the vineyard's excellent wines, a spacious living room, pool table and bar. A tour of the winery and wine tasting is included.

 Day 15: Transfer to airport.