Day 1 - Santiago
Reception at airport and transfer to Santiago. City Tour around Santiago, starting at the Cerro Santa Lucia (Santa Lucia Hill), where the city was founded in 1541 and San Cristobal Hill. Afterwards visit to the Government Palace "La Moneda", and Plaza de Armas, where we will see important national monuments such as the Catedral (Cathedral), Correo Central (Main Post Office), and the Municipalidad de Santiago (City Hall). Finally, after crossing the Mapocho River, and passing through different residential districts with an overview of the city, return to the hotel in Santiago.
Overnight.
(No Meals)
Day 2 - Santiago / Valparaiso or Vina del Mar
Breakfast. This full day tour starts from the hotel. Half way to Valparaiso, we can observe the variety of scenery and vegetation in the Curacavi and Casablanca valleys, as well as the Coastal mountain range. Arriving to Valparaiso, the main commercial port of Chile, we will see clusters of houses built along the hills. On one of the hills is "La Sebastiana", the former home of the Nobel Prize winning poet, Pablo Neruda, and which houses a wide collection of his brick a brac. We will pass the National Congress building and then drive along Pedro Montt Avenue, from where we can see the Italian Park, Victoria Square and the Cathedral. On the Brasil Avenue we will see the British Arch, the Regional Government Building and the statue to Lord Cochrane. After, we will pass through the Chinese Quarter, the monument to the heroes of Iquique, Prat Quay, the historic elevators of the Port of Valparaiso, the former Customs House and the El Membrillo cove. We will visit the Playa Ancha Hill, the Municipal Stadium and the Navy School. We will then take the coastal road to Vina del Mar, which is also known as "The Garden City". Places of interest are the Floral Clock, the Abarca Cove, the Arab Union Club, Wulff Castle, the Marga-Marga estuary, the Municipal Casino, Peru Avenue, Acapulco beach and Vergara Quay. Our trip continues along the coast passing the beaches of The Marines, as well as Las Salinas, Renaca and Cochoa beaches and up to the sea-wolf viewing point. We will then stop for lunch. We will then return to the center of Vina del Mar, from where we get right into downtown Vina del Mar, where we will find the Francisco Vergara Square, the Municipal Theatre and Sucre Square. At the agreed time transfer to Valparaiso Terminal Port for check in and embark your cruise.
(Breakfast, Lunch)