Essential South America featuring Chile, the Mendoza Wine Region & Buenos Aires
Essential South America featuring Chile, the Mendoza Wine Region & Buenos Aires
10 Days Starting in Santiago, Chile and ending in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Visiting: Santiago, Mendoza, Buenos Aires
Tour operator:
Tour code:
16304
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Interests:
Cultural, Foodie and Wine Tours, History, Special Guest Tours
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable journey through the vibrant landscapes and cultures of Chile and Argentina with the "Essential South America" tour. Begin your adventure in Santiago, Chile's bustling capital, where you'll explore its rich history and culinary delights. In Mendoza, Argentina's renowned wine region, savor exquisite wines and learn about the traditional yerba mate tea. Experience the lively spirit of Buenos Aires, mastering the tango and delving into its diverse neighborhoods. Discover the poignant history of Argentina's military dictatorship and the efforts to reunite families. Venture into the Pampas to meet the gauchos and enjoy a traditional asado barbecue. This tour offers a perfect blend of cultural immersion, culinary experiences, and breathtaking landscapes, promising a truly enriching South American adventure.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Overnight Flight
Location: Santiago
Accommodation Name: Renaissance Santiago Hotel
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
Location: Santiago
Accommodation Name: hotel
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.
Day 3 : Santiago
Location: Santiago
Accommodation Name: Diplomatic Hotel
Meals Included: Lunch
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 a local chef, walk through the fish market, stopping along the way to learn about the local seafood and pick up some ingredients. Then join a hands-on cooking experience at the chef’s restaurant and sit down to a fresh feast for lunch. Take the rest of the day to enjoy Santiago as you please.
Day 4 : Santiago - Mendoza, Argentina
Location: Mendoza
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Lunch
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 to a vineyard, 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 wine tasting and chef-prepared lunch. Later, settle into your hotel in the city of Mendoza for an evening at leisure.*
Day 5 : Mendoza
Location: Mendoza
Accommodation Name: Palladio Hotel Buenos Aires MGallery
Enjoy a leisurely morning before continuing your taste of the region’s renowned wines with a visit to a 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. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy the laid-back city of Mendoza with its inviting restaurants and atmospheric plazas.
Day 6 : Mendoza - Buenos Aires
Location: Buenos Aires
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Dinner
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.
Day 7 : Buenos Aires
Location: Buenos Aires
Accommodation Name: hotel
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, and then take your moves to the dance floor at a local milongas social club.
Day 8 : Buenos Aires
Location: Buenos Aires
Accommodation Name: hotel
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.
Day 9 : Buenos Aires - San Antonio De Areco - Buenos Aires
Location: Buenos Aires
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
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 horse drawn carriage or 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.
Day 10 : Buenos Aires -Tour Ends
Location: Buenos Aires
Accommodation Name: hotel
Your tour comes to an end today. Transfer to the airport for your flight home later today.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Stay at the Renaissance Santiago Hotel in Chile, the Diplomatic Hotel in Santiago, and the Palladio Hotel Buenos Aires MGallery in Argentina, offering comfort and luxury throughout your journey.
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Transport
Travel between destinations with ease, including flights from Santiago to Mendoza and Mendoza to Buenos Aires, ensuring a seamless and comfortable journey across South America.
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Wine Tastings
Enjoy wine tastings at two of Mendoza’s breathtaking vineyards.
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Cooking Experience
Experience Santiago’s Central Market with a chef before preparing a seafood lunch with your finds.
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Asado Barbeque
Savor an asado barbeque on a sprawling ranch.
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Tango Lesson
Master the art of tango with a professional dancer in Buenos Aires.
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Yerba Mate Experience
Discover Argentina’s yerba mate tea, a drink steeped in tradition.
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Cultural Tours
Stroll through Buenos Aires with a local and get to know the city’s diverse flavors and flair.
What's Not Included
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Optional Excursions
Optional excursions such as the day trip to Colonia del Sacramento and the tango show and dinner are not included in the base tour price.
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Personal Expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and drinks are not included.
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included and is recommended to be purchased separately.
Experiences
In Buenos Aires, master the art of tango with a professional dancer before mingling with the locals at a social club.Discover Argentina’s yerba mate tea, a drink steeped in tradition.Learn about families tragically separated during Argentina’s military dictatorship and an organization that works to reunite them.
Options
Buenos Aires: Day Trip to Colonia del Sacramento with Farm to Table Lunch Set out on a full-day excursion to Uruguay and add one more country to your tour experience! Take an early morning ferry across the Rio de Plata from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento, one of the oldest towns in Uruguay, founded by the Portuguese in 1680. Upon arrival, set out into the countryside to visit a family-owned dairy farm where you’ll enjoy a tour and farm-to-table lunch featuring delicious cheeses. Then, return to Colonia del Sacramento to explore the city’s Historic Quarter with cobblestone streets and buildings dating back centuries with a fusion of Portuguese, Spanish and post-colonial styles. Enjoy free time to explore and shop as you like, and later, take the ferry back to Buenos Aries. Duration approximately 12 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 10 passenger(s) is required to operate this option.
This tour must be booked 60 days prior to departure. The ferry tickets require passport information to book. Our team will secure them a minimum of 45 days prior.
This tour must be booked 60 days prior to departure due to the ferry tickets.
Buenos Aires: Tango Show & Dinner Make it a night to remember in Buenos Aires when you join for a riveting evening of tango and folklore accompanied by a three-course gourmet dinner. Take your seat at the table inside a beautiful venue as artists take the stage to perform tango music and dance and folk traditions, and indulge in delicious Argentinean flavors. Duration approximately 4 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 6 passenger(s) is required to operate this option.
Must be confirmed 4 hours prior to show in order to secure transportation.
The tango show typically ends very late in the evening. Dinner starts at 8:00 pm and the show will end at approximately 11:30 pm.
Culinaries
Enjoy wine tastings at two of Mendoza’s breathtaking vineyards.Experience Santiago’s Central Market with a chef before preparing a seafood lunch with your finds.Savor an asado barbeque on a sprawling ranch.
Must See
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.
Choice Highlights
Santiago The city was founded in 1541 by Pedro de Valdivia and has been the capital of Chile since colonial times. However, history shows that nomadic hunter-gathers had previously settled there. The largest city in Chile, Santiago’s economy has been growing at a steady rate with the development of several shopping centers, suburban development, theaters, restaurants, and rising skylines, including the tallest building in Latin America, the Gran Torre Santiago.
Central Market & Cooking Class
Mendoza
Vineyard Tour & Tasting
Wine-Paired Lunch
Buenos Aires The capital and largest city in Argentina has been an autonomous district since 1880. Buenos Aires is a top tourist destination, known for its European-style architecture and rich cultural life. The city currently has the highest concentration of theaters in the world. Buenos Aires is a cosmopolitan center of the nation and offers a large cultural diversity due to the waves of immigration during the years. It is known as the land of the portenos (people of the port) — which is what the people from Buenos Aires are referred to as — and traditions, but the land is also large in industrial and commercial activities. Although Buenos Aires is a large cosmopolitan area, it also offers a very historical background, reflected in the French and Italian architecture, and numerous museums and cultural centers.
Tango Lesson
San Antonio de Areco
Draghi Silversmith Museum
Estancia Visit with Traditional Asado Lunch
Mode of Transport
Travel between destinations with ease, including flights from Santiago to Mendoza and Mendoza to Buenos Aires, ensuring a seamless and comfortable journey across South America.
Check out our Q&As
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What unique cultural experience can I expect in Buenos Aires?
In Buenos Aires, you will have the opportunity to master the art of tango with a professional dancer and then practice your moves at a local milonga social club, immersing yourself in the local culture.
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What can I learn about Argentina's history during the tour?
During the tour, you will learn about Argentina's military dictatorship and the work of the Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo, a human rights organization that helps restore the identities of children taken during the coup.
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What culinary experiences are included in the tour?
The tour includes wine tastings at Mendoza's vineyards, a seafood cooking class in Santiago's Central Market, and a traditional asado barbecue on a ranch in Argentina.
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What is the significance of yerba mate tea in Argentina?
Yerba mate tea is a traditional South American caffeinated drink that holds cultural significance in Argentina, often bringing families together for daily 'mate breaks.'
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What activities are available in San Antonio de Areco?
In San Antonio de Areco, you can explore the town's connection with gaucho culture, visit the Draghi Silversmith Museum, and experience gaucho life on a traditional estancia with a folk performance and asado lunch.
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Can I pre-purchase optional excursions/activities?
Yes, the majority of optional excursions and activities are available for advance purchase for applicable tours provided that you make your options purchase prior to 15 days of the tour departure. Collette makes it convenient to reserve presold options by visiting our website for a full listing of activities and excursions or when your reservation is made with our reservations staff. In addition, there are benefits to prepurchasing options including a price guarantee once your tour is paid in full. So, while the cost of an optional activity may change from the time you book your tour, once payment is received in full, your preselected options are guaranteed by Collette at their original price. Although you can still purchase options while on tour, reserving them ahead of time ensures you a spot in the event that the activity sells out. Collette will provide a refund if you cancel a presold option prior to tour departure. Any presold options canceled while on tour are nonrefundable.
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Can my children travel on tour?
Children over the age of 5 may travel on a Collette tour accompanied by an adult. Child land rates are valid for ages 5-12, sharing a room with two full-paying adults. Participation in any products that include Safari or Game Drive components, is limited to travelers aged 13 and up. This will include tours to Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa and India.
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What is the difference between a twin room and double room?
In certain countries, hotel rooms tend to be smaller than U.S. standard accommodations. A double room is designed to accommodate two people, but may not have two separate beds. A twin-bedded room has two separate beds of any size, and is the type most commonly utilized.
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Do you provide VISA processing for all applicable destinations?
Collette does not process VISAs. Every nation has its own specific requirements. Check the embassy or consulate website for the country you are visiting to find the forms and information you need. The process of getting a VISA can take two weeks to two months.
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Do I need a passport?
Government-issued ID is required for all air travel. A valid passport is required for all trips outside the USA. All passengers should check with the appropriate foreign consulate for entry and validity requirements. We recommend that your passport has six months validity, and at least 3 blank pages. Passports and visas are the responsibility of each client. International Borders. Any child under age 16 (traveling without a parent or legal guardian to Canada) must have written permission from a parent or legal guardian. Please be advised that if you have been convicted of an offense, or have committed a criminal act that is an offense under the laws where it occurred and would be an offense in Canada, you may be inadmissible into Canada. You will need to apply for a Minister's Permit of Approval of Rehabilitation at a Canadian Consulate. All other travelers should contact the appropriate consulate for entry requirements in other international destinations. In South Africa, children are required to have a passport as well as additional documentation to travel with you into and out of the country. Please consult the South African Embassy for the current specific requirements related to your travel dates. If travelling internationally with a child under the age of 18, please check directly with the airline for the legal documentation that is required. It is the sole responsibility of the guest to procure the proper documentation to travel and many requirements vary by airline and destination. Collette will not be responsible for costs incurred for missed flights or canceled tours where a guest fails to secure proper documentation.
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Is there a lot of walking on tour?
We pride ourselves on bringing travelers the very best experiences a destination offers. Our itineraries include many activities and may consist of walking on uneven terrain or significant walking at times. Some of the most unique sightseeing can mean accessing locations that restrict motorcoaches, especially in historic areas. Some hotels/lodges in remote locations may not have elevators. For your comfort, we recommend bringing walking shoes.
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CTS demo white label allows you to make 20 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 0 days before the start of the tour.
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CTS demo white label requires a minimum deposit of 55% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 30 days before departure.
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