Day 1,
Depart US Gateway cities for flight to Santiago.
Day 2,
Early morning arrival in Santiago and transfer to our four star hotel (pool, restaurant and bar). The hotel is located in Providencia, an elegant residential and commercial district of Santiago, featuring tree lined streets, early 20th century French architecture, exquisite restaurants and delightful shops. In the afternoon we enjoy a guided city tour and visit to a special showing of fine Chilean craftsmanship in silver, copper, wood, ceramics and precious stones. Our welcome dinner features famous Chilean cuisine and the national drink, Pisco Sour. Overnight Santiago
Day 3,
Buffet breakfast in hotel. Our walking tour of the Cerro San Cristobal gardens is led by a Chilean ornamental horticulture expert. This introduction to Chilean flora includes information on Chile’s ornamental horticultural industry, government controls, import restrictions and potential exports. Our group lunch is at the hotel giving an opportunity to take a dip in the pool or freshen up in our room. Our guided tour of the beautifully preserved Palacio Cousiño includes the interior built to impress visiting European dignitaries, and the elegant gardens. In the evening, the soft aroma of semi-tropical flowers surrounds us as we stroll our hotel neighborhood, sip pisco sours and sample international cuisine at our group dinner. Overnight Santiago
Day 4,
Buffet breakfast in hotel. At our meeting with the garden and landscape society of Santiago we learn how they are trying to improve plant quality and landscape design. From Santiago we head west through the Lo Prado tunnel and enter the Curacaví valley. Here we stop for lunch at Los Hornitos. Don’t let the thatched roof and sand floor fool you. The country cooking here is something to write home about! In the next valley, Casablanca, we pass through miles of newly planted grapes. During our stop at Villard winery we see why this valley has become famous for its white wines. The sparkling blue Pacific spreads out before us as we drop from the hills to the Garden City, and the Riviera of Chile, Viña del Mar. Our hotel is on Chile’s most famous beach, Acapulco, and just a step from all the best restaurants and the casino. Overnight Viña del Mar
Day 5,
Buffet breakfast in hotel. The Aconcagua valley, north of Viña del Mar is an ideal microclimate for citrus, avocado and flower production. Our day in this picturesque valley includes visits to greenhouses and nurseries where we see large scale flower and ornamental plant production. Also included are visits to recently landscaped country properties. Our interviews with owners and managers is lively and informative. In the National Park Campana we hike up the mountain to see a forest of native Chilean palms and a grand view of the valley. Overnight Viña del Mar
Day 6,
Breakfast in hotel. Our comprehensive tour of Valparaiso and Viña del Mar includes the Pablo Neruda museum, the most famous public buildings, the port and the Quinta Vergara. Touted as the most beautiful park in Chile, the Quinta Vergara was created in the 1840s. Plants were brought from all over the world to thrive in this Mediterranean climate. Following our group lunch at the hotel, there is abundant time to explore the many beaches, fishing villages, shopping centers, museums, local parks, and summer holiday neighborhoods. During our group dinner we watch the red sun slide into the Western ocean. Overnight Viña del Mar
