Day 1 Walking Tour Santiago de Chile
After landing at Santiago airport and clearing customs, you’ll be met by a Cascada representative and driven to your hotel in a private hotel transfer. After checking in, you’ll have time to relax before being picked up for a City Walking Tour.
The tour begins with us driving downtown to famous landmarks including the central fish market and Plaza de Armas, Santiago’s main square and kilometer zero (the point from which all distances in the country are measured). We visit the ‘Alameda’, the city center’s main street, via busy pedestrian walkway Paseo Ahumada, famous for its crowds, shops, and diversity of people. After visiting Chile's presidential palace La Moneda, a symbol of Chile’s political past and its famously turbulent history, we climb Cerro Santa Lucía, where Santiago was founded in 1541 by Pedro Valdivia. We finish our tour by relaxing in a coffee stop and visiting the bohemian Lastarria neighborhood, lined with cafés, restaurants, small theaters, bookstores and boutique shops.
Overnight Cumbres de Lastarria 4*, Santiago
Day 2 – 8 Portillo Ski Week
We get up early to start our skiing adventure. The transfer will pick us up at about 11 am and we’ll start driving towards the Andes Cordillera. Once we leave behind the city streets we’ll follow a beautiful winding road up to the ski center. Along the way, you’ll be amazed by the breathtaking views of the Andes’ white peaks hugging crystal clear blue skies. There are immense snow-topped mountains as far as our eyes can see!
With good road conditions, we’ll arrive at Portillo Ski Center at around 14 pm. Here’s where things get exciting: We’ll organize our ski equipment, receive an introduction to the ski center and check the map showing the slopes. Now, we’re ready to start our 6 day skiing adventure!
Ski lessons can be arranged if you’re feeling a little rusty or are skiing for the first time.
During those 6 days all meals are included and you’ll have unlimited access to all the facilities that this beautiful ski resort has to offer - think sauna, jacuzzi, gym, yoga, pool, and of course, skiing facilities!
Day 9 Wine tour at Errazuriz winery & Valparaíso
You will be picked up from Portillo Ski Resort in the morning to begin the journey into the beautiful Errazuriz Winery at the Aconcagua Valley. Here, we’ll taste the winery’s renowned wines and have lunch. After the visit you’ll continue on to Valparaiso.
Overnight Zero Hotel Boutique 4*, Valparaiso
Day 10 Valparaíso Half Day Tour and Lunch at Matetic Winery
In this enigmatic port-side city, we’ll take straight to the hills and climb Cerro Florida to admire the views and visit Pablo Neruda’s house La Sebastiana. After wandering through his zany home we continue on to Cerro Concepción and Cerro Alegre, where the views provide never-ending points of interest, from the ocean horizon to the fantastically steep winding streets, lined with small and colorful houses. We make our way back down the hill using one of Valparaíso’s iconic elevators. At the bottom, it’s just a short walk to the main square, Sotomayor.
After, we continue on to Matetic Winery where we’ll have lunch and enjoy a wine tour and tasting. At Matetic Winery, the wine-making process will be revealed to you as your guides describe the creation, bottling and storage of their wine. You’ll be shown Matetic’s wine cellars - with a view of their organic vineyards - and at the end of the tour we’ll taste two wines from the winery’s Corralillo premium line: a wonderful Sauvignon Blanc, followed by an exquisite Syrah. Now, happy and contented after our tasting and tour, we’ll make our way back to Santiago.
Overnight Cumbres de Lastarria 4*, Santiago
Day 11 Transfer Out
You will be picked up from you hotel and transfer to Santiago Airport.
