TUE 23 OCTOBER to WED 07 NOVEMBER
Fly London to Miami for overnight 4* Hotel stay, transfer to Fort Lauderdale and embark Holland America Veendam and sail to San Blas Islands (Panama), Panama Canal (Transit), Manta (Ecuador), Trujillo (Salaverry, Peru), Callao (Lima, Peru - Overnight in Port), Callao (Lima,Peru), Coquimbo (La Serena, Chile), Valparaiso (Chile).
WED 07 VALPARAISO - SANTIAGO (-)
Arrival in Valparaiso and Transfer to the hotel in Santiago.
Explore the historic and modern sights of Santiago de Chile. We will start our trip at the Alameda Bernardo O’Higgins, Santiago’s main avenue, visiting La Moneda, the Government Palace, where your guide will explain to you the historical and actual meaning of this place. Following this we will enjoy a walk through the pedestrian streets of Huérfanos and Ahumada, where the main commercial activity of the city is concentrated. Afterwards we will visit the famous Plaza de Armas, the main square of the city, which is surrounded by the Metropolitan Cathedral and other historical buildings. We will continue by visiting the Santa Lucia hill, the hill upon which the Spanish founded Santiago in 1541. It is a lone steep rock, with many plants and an antique building rising steeply from the city below. From here you can see the Parque Forestal (park) on one side and the Mapocho River on the other. We will cross the river to visit Bellavista, the cultural and artistic neighborhood of Santiago. Finally we will visit Providencia with its top restaurants, elegant shops and modern high-rise buildings.
Afternoon at leisure.
THU 08 SANTIAGO – EASTER ISLAND (B)
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Easter Island. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel.
FRI 09 EASTER ISLAND (B)
Today we head to the lookout point at Rano Kao volcano, whose deep crater of lush vegetation contains a large fresh water lake covered with ‘totora’ reed. We will continue onto the ceremonial village of Orongo, where many high-relief carvings of frigate bird-heated men are on the rocky outcrops. Here the competitions of the ‘birdmen’ were held at the summer solstice. Next, we will proceed to Ahu Vinapu, where the interesting architectural style reminds you of the Inca’s handiwork.
In the afternoon, we will make another excursion visiting Ahu Akivi, the big platform, which is composed of 7 Moais, all of them facing the sea; the Ana Tepahu caverns and the quarry of Puna Pau, where the top part of the Moais were sculpted (named Pukao, which means ‘typical hairstyle’) and Ahu Tahai.
SAT 10 EASTER ISLAND (B,BoxL)
We drive southeast along the coastal road, with views of Poike and the whole coastline of black volcanic rock. The first stop is Vaihu where you have a look at the red-stone topknots of this ahu (altar), here moais lay face-down on the ground. On the way to our next site Ranu Raraku, we pass several moais lying on the side of the road. Ranu Raraku volcano was the quarry where all the moais were sculpted. There are still hundreds of moais at different finishing stages. Our next stop is at Ahu Tongariki where you will be impressed by this giant ahu and the 15 moais on it.
We then take a break from culture to visit Anakena, a big white sandy beach with a small grove palms.
SUN 11 EASTER ISLAND (B)
Day at leisure.
MON 12 EASTER ISLAND - SANTIAGO (B)
At proper time you will be transferred to the airport to take your return flight to Santiago. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel.
TUE 13 SANTIAGO (B)
During the morning visit of the Concha y Toro vineyard. In 1883, Don Melchor Concha y Toro, a renowned lawyer, entrepreneur and Chilean politician, took the decision to exploit the potential winemaker Maipo Valley, on moments when the wine industry was growing in Chile. He incorporated French vines, brought from the region of Bordeaux y and hired the famous French enologist Monseiur Labouchere to elaborate the first wines of his vineyard. From this was born the Concha y Toro vineyard at a moment when wine production was in the up rise. Concha y Toro opens its doors to all are interested in learning more about wine and its history in Chile. The tour begins in the “Parque Centenario”, where each visitor is handed a wine glass, which will allow him to taste the wines during the tour that includes a stroll through the “Casona de Don Melchor Concha y Toro” park, the cellars and tasting.
In the afternoon transfer to the airport for your return flight to London.
Meals as noted (B: breakfast, BoxL: Box lunch, L: lunch, D: dinner)
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