4-Day Ultimate Santiago Layover: From City and Coast

Upon arrival to the Santiago (SCL) airport you will be transferred to your hotel in the city (approx. 30-minute drive). Chosen by the New York Times as 2011's #1 destination to visit, Santiago is a dynamic and contemporary metropolis located in the heart of Chile's fertile central valley. Chile's capital is a vibrant city full of character, with a thriving arts culture, trendy restaurant scene, and lively nightlife. Embraced on all sides by mountains -- the mighty Andes to the east and the smaller coastal range to the west - on a clear day Santiago boasts one of the most incredible city scenes in the world. The evening is yours to explore the city. Hotel Solace is located in the heart of Providencia, which allows for easy and convenient access to an array of restaurants, bars, cafes, and the Costanera shopping center.

Meals included: n/a
Luxury Accommodations: Hotel Solace

Today your bilingual guide will lead you on a tour highlighting Santiago's most important historical sites, including the downtown area surrounding the Plaza de Armas and the La Moneda Presidential Palace. You will also pass by the Mercado Central, one of Chile's largest fresh seafood markets and stroll by the many bustling stalls to see the tremendous variety available from Chile's bountiful sea. You will visit some of the lesser-know barrios of Santiago including República and Concha y Toro, which were historically privileged neighborhoods and home to Santiago's high society. There will be time to walk around and take photos of the varied styles of architecture dating back to the 19th and early 20th century. Continuing through the cobblestoned Lastarria neighborhood, you will walk through the Parque Forestal and pass by the Bellas Artes Museum. For a panoramic vista of the city, you will visit the top of Cerro San Cristobal Hill, 984 feet above the city. During the tour, you will have the option to visit one of Santiago's most famous museums, La Chascona, former home to beloved poet and Nobel Laureate Pablo Neruda. The whimsical residence provides a snapshot in to the life and mind of Neruda, filled with art, eccentric collections, and even his Nobel Prize. Return to your hotel. The rest of the afternoon and evening are at your leisure.

Meals included: Breakfast
Luxury Accommodations: Hotel Solace

Chile's breathtaking coastline offers spectacular views of crashing waves, jagged landscapes, and smooth white sand beaches. Anchored by the affluent resort city Vina del Mar and the historic port of Valparaiso, the central coast is a popular weekend and summer getaway for Santiaguinos. Leaving the hotel in Santiago, you will be driven approximately 90 minutes west toward the coast, passing through the lush agricultural valley of Curacavi and the renowned Casablanca Valley, renowned for innovative wineries which are producing Chile's top white wines and cool-climate reds. In the late morning, you'll arrive to Valparaiso, one of the first Chilean cities founded by the Spanish. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2003 for its architectural and cultural significance, the city is also one of Chile's most interesting. You will start in the downtown sector, learning about the history of "Valpo" and its importance in South American trade and commerce. Century-old hillside ascensores (elevators) will transport you up into the city's steep hills, where a labyrinthine maze of streets reveals brightly colored buildings, bohemian cafes and elegant restaurants, and spectacular views of the harbor below. Your tour will lead you on foot through two of the most famous and eclectic neighborhoods, Cerro Concepcion and Cerro Alegre. In addition, you will visit one of Pablo Neruda's three homes-turned-museums, La Sebastiana. From here we will make our way to a restaurant, specializing in fresh seafood and local ingredients, where you will enjoy a delicious lunch nestled in the hills. In the late afternoon, you'll be transported back to your hotel in Santiago.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Luxury Accommodations: Hotel Solace

After breakfast, you will be transferred from hotel to the Santiago (SCL) airport (approx. 30-minute drive).

Meals included: Breakfast