Santiago is the capital of Chile with a historic and well preserved downtown. Cathedrals and Art Deco mansions punctuate an otherwise modern skyline. The country is one of the fastest growing and most developed in South America. Start with a private city tour of the top sights. Cross the main avenues of the city center and visit La Moneda Palace, the home of Chilean presidents until 1958. Continue to the downtown Main Square, the Cathedral Metropolitana of the XVIII century, Forestal Park, museums, and towards Bellavista, the Bohemian Quarter of Santiago. Enjoy a great panoramic city tour at San Cristóbal Hill - a beautiful public park dominated by the monumental sculpture of Virgin Mary (36 meter high). On your second day, travel 140 kilometres west of Santiago to explore Viña del Mar and Valparaiso. Viña del Mar is known as the 'Garden City,' is one of Chile's premier beach resorts, with excellent hotels and shopping and festivals. Valparaiso, a world heritage site and immortalized in the words of Pablo Neruda, is one of Chile's most charismatic ports, with its charming funiculars and colorful hillside houses. On your last day, head out of town to sample the surrounding vineyards and taste world renown Chilean wines.

Santiago is the capital of Chile, and its largest city. Two decades of uninterrupted economic growth have transformed Santiago into one of Latin America's most modern metropolitan areas, with extensive suburban development, dozens of shopping malls, and impressive high-rise architecture. Santiago has an excellently preserved city square that is very pleasant for a leisurely walk. It also boasts numerous museums, parks, churches and fine restaurants for dining. For a taste of world renown Chilean wines, visit some of the nearby vineyards for day excursions.

Upon arrival you will be met by our local representative who will help you locating your vehicle.

Enjoy a private airport transfer in Santiago with a private guide and driver.

Lastarria Boutique Hotel is situated in an area brimming with history and surrounded by the best museums, galleries, trendy shops, antique stores, cinemas, theatres and innovative restaurants, this boutique Hotel offers guests the chance to discover the tremendous diversity of the city on their doorstep. Lastarria Boutique Hotel is the newest offering for guests seeking premium accommodation in Santiago de Chile. Its principal characteristics are the refined architecture with which this historic house was originally built, its garden with an outdoor swimming pool, spacious bedrooms and the private areas that help make you feel so at home. Lastarria Boutique Hotel is committed to offering a personalized and friendly service that ensures their guests experience an unforgettable stay within the utmost comfort.

Overnight at Las Tarria Boutique Hotel .

Enjoy a private half day panoramic city tour with your own private vehicle, professional driver and English speaking Guide taking in the main avenues of the city’s civic center as well as the main sites of interest. Visit La Moneda Palace, the current seat of the government formerly the home of Chilean presidents until 1958. Then continue along the streets of the downtown area to the Main Square surrounded by the Cathedral Metropolitana of the XVIII century, the National Historical Museum, and the Central Post Office. Visit the Forestal Park passing in front of the Fine Arts Museum towards Bellavista, the bohemian quarter of Santiago. Continue to San Cristóbal Hill, a beautiful public park dominated by the monumental sculpture of Virgin Mary (36 meter high). From this site, enjoy a panoramic view of the city before continuing toward the modern residential neighborhoods of Pedro de Valdivia Norte, Las Condes, and Vitacura. At the end of the tour you will be dropped back at your hotel allowing you some time for some independent exploring or some relaxation time at your hotel. San Cristobal hill fee included.

In the year 1973, inflation and controversial shortage of basic consumer goods had reached worrying levels. The right wing opposition accused Salvador Allende of acting beyond the laws and Constitution. This critical situation brought to an end all attempts of mediation between the political representation and the elected government, having as an unfortunate outcome the military coup d´état on fateful September 11, 1973. The bombing of the Presidential Palace “La Moneda” and President Salvador Allende’s alleged “suicide” during the attack, were images that travelled the world; theses will be the symbols of the brutal end of the Allende Government in Chile. What followed was 21 years of military dictatorship under General Agusto Pinochet. During that period, the National Congress remained closed, thousands of citizens exiled and various individual liberty rights suppressed. The intelligence agencies of the regime (DINA and CNI) persecuted all those who had in some way supported the Popular Unity; it was years of dreadful Human-Rights violations, rendered by numerous tortures, executions and the forced disappearances of Chilean citizens. During that period, the “Vicariate of Solidarity” was born in order to support and provide legal and social assistance to the many victims of the regime. Today, many of the detention centers used by the military dictatorship, such as “Villa Grimaldi” and “London N°38”have become Memorial sites with the objective of having a place of remembrance of this dreadful period as a reminder to never again violate Human Rights as it was done during the time of the dictatorship. On this tour, you will be guided with remarkable historic reference visiting these and other relevant landmarks like the “Presidential Palace” and its vestiges of the bombing, the past “National Congress”, the “Villa Grimaldi” and its Memorial of the politically executed, the headquarters of the “Vicariate of Solidarity”, amongst others, all directly related with this crucial period of Chile´s turbulent past.

Overnight at Las Tarria Boutique Hotel .

Pablo Neruda, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971, is known for his poems, his collections of bric a brac from his journeys and his eclectic houses. The tour begins heading towards Isla Negra, where his house has been turned into a museum and library, stuffed with his manuscripts, collections of bottles, ships prows, shells and other items he collected during his life. Following lunch, return to Viña del Mar and stop at the other house in the port of Valparaíso for a visit to La Sebastiana, on Cerro Bellavista with an amazing view across the bay.

Overnight at Las Tarria Boutique Hotel .

Casablanca is a transversal valley approximately 24 kilometres long that extends from the Zapata Tunnel to the Shrine of Lo Vásquez and covers a total of 22.000 hectares. Flanked by mountains, Route 68 runs through the middle of the valley like a backbone and connects Santiago with the port of Valparaiso. The Casablanca Valley forms part of the Coastel Range, a mountainous chain formed 180 million years ago. Today the valley hosts more than 5.000 hectares (11.120 acres) of plantations, which count with the highest technology used today including Frost control towers, Certified drop watering and keen managing of the vineyard that guaranty first quality grapes. This way, the valley of Casablanca has positioned itself as the best valley in Chile as well as abroad , for white wines, in particular Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, and within the red wines with the Pinot Noir. On this day you will visit 2 premium vineyards with wine tasting included.

Overnight at Las Tarria Boutique Hotel .

Enjoy a private airport transfer in Santiago with a private guide and driver.

Kensington Tours donates a portion of proceeds to our charitable initiative www.kensingtoncares.com which supports education-based initiatives in disadvantaged communities.

Depart from International Airport. End of itinerary.

Overnight at Depart (Int`l Airport) (standard).