Day 1: Santiago - Portillo
Your first acquaintance with Chile will be its capital city, Santiago, with an interesting combination of past and present and a population of approximately 6 million people, nearly a third of the country’s total.

Upon arrival at the airport, you will be transferred to the heart of downtown Santiago. Your first stop will be the National History Museum, formerly the Royal Courthouse in colonial times, where you will enjoy a welcome brunch. Bernardo O’Higgins, the leader of our Independence Army, will come to life once again to greet you and share with you his experiences between 1810 and 1818, the years he fought to free Chile from Spanish rule, and explain how our independence process began and ended at this very same building. Here, you will have an exquisite welcome brunch offering you the possibility to enjoy the local fruits and products. He will also show you around the Plaza de Armas, or Main Square, surrounded by other important buildings, such as the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Main Post Office, and the City Hall.

Afterwards, you will travel northeast of Santiago to visit the Chacabuco Province, where one of the most important battles of our Independence War was fought. Bernardo O’Higgins will explain how he and a few men had to flee from Chile in 1814 towards Argentina, where he received support from General San Martín. Together they joined troops and created the Army of the Andes, which crossed over the Andes mountains to fight the Spanish soldiers at this site. Enjoy this bit of history and the breathtaking views of this countryside environment with a landscape dominated by snow-covered peaks, such as the Aconcagua, the highest one, with an altitude of approximately 6,900 m (22,800 ft).

From here, you will head on to Viña Errázuriz, a winery founded by Don Maximiano Errázuriz in 1870 in the Aconcagua Valley. This vineyard is planted with varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Syrah and this is where its finest red wines are produced: Don Maximiano Founder’s Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Merlot Reserve and Shiraz Reserve. Enjoy a cocktail at this beautiful winery and then continue your journey through the international road connecting with Argentina, driving through imposing peaks of the Andes Mountain Range until reaching Portillo Ski Resort, at an altitude of approximately 2,800 m (9,100 ft) just before the border.

Portillo is the oldest ski area in South America. By early 1930, skiing enthusiasts focused their efforts on developing the slopes around Laguna del Inca (Lake of the Inca), an area known as "Portillo," or "Little Pass." The tiny Hotel Portillo grew and developed services. In the early 1940s, a stock company known as Hoteles de Cordillera S.A sold stock to pay for the construction of a large hotel that was to be known as the "Grand Hotel Portillo." Enjoy kayaking at the lagoon or hiking on the slopes and sharing a gourmet dinner that will prove why it deserves to be recognized as having one of the best cuisines in the area. Afterwards, relax at the many comfortable halls of the hotel or at the room where you will be spending the night. (Brunch, D)

Day 2: Portillo – Malalcahuello Hot Springs
Today you will be served a hearty breakfast and transferred to the Santiago Airport to board your flight south to Temuco, the capital city of Chile’s Ninth Region. Upon arrival at the Temuco Airport, you will be met by a Mapuche woman who will share with you the history and beliefs of this important indigenous community that has lived in this area for centuries, feeding mostly on the “pehuén” nut of the “Araucaria” or Monkey Puzzle Tree. She will accompany you to the small village of Vilcún, where you will be greeted at a “ruca”, the typical housing of this community, and come better acquainted with the Mapuche culture. An international chef will offer a short cooking lesson, teaching how to include traditional ingredients when preparing international specialties. After enjoying this tasty lunch made by yourselves, you will continue your journey further inland to the Termas de Malalcahuello, a world-class hotel and spa where you can relax at the sauna, jacuzzi, or hot spring water pools, among other top-quality facilities in the midst of a dreamlike setting of snow-capped volcanoes, rivers, and the beautiful Araucaria forests. Dinner will be served at the hotel, where you will also spend the night. (B, L, D)

INCLUDED:

• Overnights in first class hotels as mentioned in the program
• Local German/english/italian/Russian/ etc speaking guide(s) for the whole trip
• Full board
• Open bar with drinks, cocktails and selected wines
• Drinks during the entire trip
• Entrance fees to mentioned places
• Required special equipment (personal trekking shoes/boots are not considered)
• Private services in fully-equipped first class buses and transportation
• Corporate gifts: hats, t-shirts, wines, DVDs, etc.
  

During the afternoon you will be transferred back to the hotel, where a thematic dinner will be offered highlighting the importance of volcanoes in this area. The atmosphere will be set through decoration and an amazing flambé desert shaped like a peak and flaming to resemble an eruption. Overnight at Termas de Malalcahuello. (B, L, D)

Day 4: Malalcahuello Hot Springs – Chiloé Island
After breakfast you will be transferred to the Temuco´s Airport to board your flight to Puerto Montt, the capital city of Chile’s Tenth Region, to continue the journey on a cruise across the Chacao Channel heading to the legendary Chiloé, an archipelago composed of one large island and several smaller ones. The “Large Island of Chiloé”, the second largest in South America, was originally inhabited by an indigenous population known as Chonos that later on mixed with the Mapuche. Spanish conquerors settled the island in 1567 and with them came the Jesuit monks who built beautiful wood-shingle churches that still survive and were declared World Heritage Site in 2000 by UNESCO.

During the navigation on a luxurious yacht, you will have a light lunch and enjoy a presentation highlighting the main features of the history and traditions of Chile and the island. While you relax in the peace and quiet of this navigation across the Chacao Channel, a “Chilota” woman will suddenly appear desperately asking for help for a Minga. It is an old tradition that when a family needs to move from one island to another, friends and neighbors help pull the house to the sea and then, since it floats because it is made of wood, it is drifted to its next destination. It is a practice that involves solidarity and group effort. After this feat, you will enjoy a wonderful “curanto” (seafood and meat stew) dinner prepared by the Chilota woman as a surprise to show her gratitude. You will spend the night at the yacht. (B, L, D)

Day 5: Pumalín National Reserve
During the night, the yacht will have sailed south to Comau Fiord, where you will visit the nearby Vodudahue River is ideal for fishing and hiking around the southern forests. At the Vodudahue Lodge you will have the chance of participating in farm activities such as planting and reaping. An international chef will also introduce you to organic farming and teach you to use these ingredients to prepare your own healthy lunch.

In the evening you will go to the Termas de Porcelana and enjoy its comfortable facilities including hot spring pools, mud baths, and massage room. A farewell dinner will be offered in a relaxing ambience with candle lights, torches, floating trays, and fireworks. Awards will be presented to some outstanding members of the group: The most active, the most creative, the most entertaining, etc. Typical Chilean souvenirs will also be distributed to all members of the group, such as bottles of wine or licor de oro, salmon or woolen items, as well as a DVD with the highlights of the trip. Overnight at the yacht. (B, L, D)

Day 6: Puerto Montt
During the night, the yacht will have sailed back to Puerto Montt, where after breakfast you will be transferred to the local airport to board the plane to Santiago and connect with your flights back home or, if you choose, you can spend an extra night visiting Chile’s capital city and its surroundings. (B)

HOTELS INCLUDED*:
(*depending on availability)

Portillo:

Gran Hotel Portillo

Portillo is unique because there is no town and only one hotel: the grand Hotel Portillo, which has 123 rooms. In this regard, the Portillo skiing and resort experience is unlike that of any other commercial ski resort. Hotel Portillo’s rooms are cozy and warm. There are a variety of room types, including: doubles, family apartments and suites. Some of the rooms have a mountain view from the valley side while the rest have a view of the lake. The lake view is especially spectacular. None of them have TV, but they do have telephones, safes, hairdryers, mini-bars, and Internet access (Portillo has Wi-Fi connection throughout the hotel as well as a modern Internet Room).

Termas de Malalcahuello:

Termas de Malalcahuello****