South America Wine & Waterfalls: Chile, Argentina, Uruguay & Brazil
13 nights from $9,233pp
Discover the culture and landscapes of four South American countries on this 14-day luxury tour around Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil. Explore the rich wine heritage of Chile and Argentina, and taste the new generation of South American wines with luxury wine tours in Chile’s Maipo and Casablanca Valleys, Argentina’s Mendoza region, and Carmelo in Uruguay. Along the way, you’ll experience the awe-inspiring majesty of Iguazú Falls, the passion of tango, and visit the fascinating cities of Santiago, Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro.
Highlights of our South American Wine Tour
- Savour world-class Chilean wine with tours and tastings in the Maipo and Casablanca Valleys.
- Explore Argentina’s prestigious Mendoza wine region with wine tours in the historic Luján de Cuyo and innovative Uco Valley sub-regions.
- Discover bucolic landscapes, rustic wineries & unique wines on a wine tour of Uruguay’s Carmelo region.
- See the sights of Buenos Aires and experience a sultry tango show.
- Gaze in awe at the majestic Iguazú Falls.
- Visit two icons of Rio de Janeiro: Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado Mountain and Sugarloaf Mountain.
- Travel in style with upscale boutique hotels, fine dining restaurants and exceptional wines.
Day 1: Arrive in Santiago
Upon arrival at Santiago Airport, a private driver will greet you and transport you to the boutique Hotel Le Rêve. Set in a historic building in the Providencia district, this charming property is the ideal spot to refresh after your journey.
Enjoy some free time this afternoon and evening. We can arrange an optional half-day tour of this cosmopolitan city, admiring highlights such as Palacio de la Moneda, Catedral Metropolitana, Mercado Centro and Plaza de Armas. Or you can wander at leisure.
Day 2: Private Maipo Valley Wine Tour in Chile
It’s time for your first Chilean wine tour – and today is all about the reds! After breakfast at your hotel, you’ll be collected by a private driver/guide for a full-day chauffeured tour of the Maipo Valley. Located south of Santiago at the northern tip of Chile’s Central Valley, this region is often referred to as the ‘Bordeaux of South America’ because it’s home to some of the country’s most prestigious wineries.
You’ll visit two wineries to tour the vineyards and taste the superb Cabernet Sauvignon and Carménère, Chile’s signature grape, produced here. You’ll also gaze in wonder at the majestic landscapes, where rolling vineyards meet the base of the Andes, and stop for a vineyard lunch.
Day 3: Wine tours in the Casablanca Valley
Today you’ll explore a different side to Chilean wine – those refreshing and aromatic whites! After a relaxed breakfast, your private driver/guide will escort you to the Casablanca Valley, which is nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Central Valley.
The cool coastal air is perfect for white wine, with Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc the main grape varietals, though Pinot Noir thrives here too. Discover the vineyards and sample a range of wines at two notable wineries in the region and savour a vineyard lunch with a view along the way.
If you fancy an evening in Santiago, we can recommend the perfect place for a pisco sour, followed by an evening meal at a superb local restaurant.
Day 4: From Chile to Argentina
This morning, enjoy some free time to explore Santiago. You might like to ride the elevator up Cerro San Cristóbal for far-reaching views over the city to the snow-capped Andes. Perhaps you’d like to delve into Chile’s tumultuous recent history with a trip to the Memory and Human Rights Museum, which commemorates the victims of Pinochet’s military dictatorship.
In the afternoon, your driver will transport you to the airport for the short flight over the Andes to Mendoza, Argentina’s great wine capital. Here, you’ll be greeted and whisked away to your boutique hotel, Lares de Chacras, in the picturesque village of Chacras de Coria. You might like a refreshing dip in the pool before venturing out to enjoy dinner in a local restaurant.
Day 5: Wine Tours in Mendoza
Mendoza is the undisputed star of Argentine wine, so the next two days are dedicated to exploring two of its main sub-regions. First to Luján de Cuyo, Argentina’s first DOC, which specialises in Malbec but also features some unique expressions of Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Torrontés.
We can arrange winery visits based on your taste and preferences with standout options including Catena Zapata, Bodega Séptima or Susana Balbo. In addition to touring the vineyards and wineries and sampling a selection of their wines, you’ll also enjoy a delicious vineyard lunch.
Day 6: Wine Tours and Tastings in Uco Valley, Mendoza
While Luján de Cuyo features some of Mendoza’s best-known wineries, the sub-region of Uco Valley offers some of its most exciting and innovative producers. Sometimes referred to as the ‘Napa of the South’, it has seen significant regeneration over the last 20 years and now produces some of the country’s best Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, and has put a new spin on high-altitude Malbec.
As before, we can arrange the visits according to your tastes and preferences, with options including the family-run Zuccardi and Cheval des Andes, renowned for producing the ‘Grand Cru of the Andes’. As well as tours and tastings, you’ll savour a superb vineyard lunch and stop to admire some of Mendoza’s most spectacular views.
Day 7: Transfer from Argentina to Uruguay
It’s an early start this morning, so you can enjoy breakfast before your airport transfer. After a short flight to Buenos Aires, you’ll be whisked straight to the ferry terminal to cross the Rio de la Plata into Uruguay. Here, your guide will take you to the Carmelo Resort & Spa, a luxurious Asian-inspired hotel nestled among fragrant pine and eucalyptus trees on the banks of the river.
You may wish to treat yourself to a spa treatment or refreshing dip in the pool, before savouring a traditional Uruguayan asado (grill) for dinner.
Day 8: Winery tours in Carmelo
Discover the wines of Uruguay and find out why this petit South American country is making waves in the wine world on a full-day private chauffeured tour of the Carmelo wine region.
Often referred to as ‘Little Tuscany’, Carmelo is blessed with rolling countryside, a relaxed pace of life, and a number of rustic, family-run vineyards. You’ll visit two local wineries where you have the opportunity to tour the vineyards, meet the winemakers, and learn about the history of Uruguayan wine and the evolution of its signature Tannat varietal. The day includes tastings at both wineries along with a vineyard lunch.
Day 9: Return to Buenos Aires
Enjoy a leisurely morning in Carmelo before your driver takes you back to the ferry for your return journey to Buenos Aires. You’ll be met and chauffeured to Legado Mítico, an elegant boutique hotel in the heart of the Palermo Viejo quarter with themed rooms celebrating Argentine icons.
Relax and unwind before heading out for an evening in the city – we can recommend a superb steak restaurant for dinner!
Day 10: Tour the City of Buenos Aires
Experience the passion and magic of Buenos Aires with a half day city tour. Often called the ‘Paris of South America’ thanks to its leafy boulevards and green spaces, this enigmatic city is the birthplace of tango and a cosmopolitan place with many layers to uncover.
Today’s tour can be adapted to the things you most want to see and do. Perhaps you wish to stroll around the historic centre to see the Casa Rosada (Pink Palace), Teatro Colón, Plaza de Mayo and the city’s main cathedral. Explore the many famous graves in the Recoleta Cemetery or discover the San Telmo and La Boca districts. Following your tour, you may wish to visit some of the city’s museums, such as the Museum of Latin American Art or the Fine Arts Museum.
In the evening, experience a Buenos Aires’ institution with dinner and a tango display at one of the city’s finest tango shows.
Day 11: Visit to Iguazú Falls
Today, you’ll be heading north to witness one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World, Iguazú Falls, a three-kilometre chain of waterfalls that stretch along the Argentina-Brazil border. Following your domestic flight, your private guide will take you on a tour of the Argentine side of this UNESCO-listed wonder.
You’ll visit three trails, the show-stopping Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s Throat) trail, along with the upper and lower trails, each of which offers an exhilarating experience at the edge of the thundering waters, along with magnificent views across the verdant national park.
In the afternoon, your driver will escort you across the border to the Brazilian side of the falls and your hotel for the night, Hotel das Cataratas. Located just a 30-second walk from the falls, this offers a magical opportunity to experience them without the crowds.
Day 12: Arrive in Rio de Janeiro
Make the most of your time in Iguazú with an early morning wander to see the falls at daybreak and listen to the thundering waters and tropical birdsong. You may also wish to treat yourself to a restorative spa treatment before your onward journey to Rio de Janeiro.
You’ll be chauffeured to the airport for your two-hour flight to Brazil’s former capital and most famous city. Here, you’ll be met and transferred to the PortoBay Rio de Janeiro hotel, which occupies a prime location overlooking Copacabana beach. A stroll along those famous golden sands is surely calling…
Day 13: Explore Rio de Janeiro's Iconic sights
Discover two of Rio de Janeiro’s most iconic attractions on this guided tour of Corcovado and Sugarloaf Mountain. Your private guide will first take you to the Tijuca National Park, a large, verdant rainforest that sprawls out from the heart of the city. Your destination is Corcovado, the mountain that supports the great statue of Christ the Redeemer. Considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, it offers a bird’s eye view over the city and its main beaches.
Next, ride two cable cars to the summit of Sugarloaf Mountain, a huge, dome-shaped mountain that towers over Ipanema and Copacabana beaches, the mouth of Guanabara Bay, the Tijuca rainforest, and Corcovado and Christ the Redeemer. It’s one of the best views in Brazil – or even South America.
Back at the hotel, you might like to head to the rooftop bar to toast your adventures with a caipirinha while soaking up the view.
Day 14: Final day of your South America trip
Today your South American odyssey draws to an end. Have you time for a final stroll along Copacabana beach before your transfer to the airport to catch your flight home?
Where You Could Stay in South America
Le Reve Boutique Hotel
Nestled on a quiet side street in the leafy district of Providencia, Le Rêve Boutique Hotel is an oasis of comfort and refinement.
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Lares de Chacras
Situated in the picturesque village of Chacras de Coria in the heart of Mendoza’s wine country, Lares de Chacras is a cosy and welcoming boutique hotel.
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We craft each itinerary just for you. Contact our Travel Designers to plan an unforgettable journey discovering the wines and waterfalls of South America.
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