Wine and Surrounds
Best time to be there
As the climate varies hugely from north to south, different places are best at different times, although spring (September to December) is universally good. Atacama can be visited year-round, central Chile enjoys a Mediterranean climate with good weather throughout. Patagonia is best for hiking in Spring or Summer.
Fly to
LAN Chile daily via Madrid
flying time
16 hours
time difference
GMT -4 hours
Visas
Not required for UK passport holders
Health Requirements
Yellow fever certificate required if arriving from an infected area
Itineraries
Classic Chile
Highlights - Exceptional boutique wineries; Enjoying 'the great outdorrs'; Scenery of deserts and glaciers... Read more ...
to speak to a consultant
Chile's capital Santiago lies in the geographic centre of the country and is fortunate enough to be situated in one of the most fertile wine-producing regions in the world. Just a short drive south of the city is the Maipo Valley, home to some of the most well-known Chilean wines as well as lesser known boutique wineries. Further south still is the Colchagua Valley, undisputed wine centre of Chile with a terroir perfectly suited to producing full-bodies red wines. The crisp tropical fruit notes of white wines from the sauvignon grape are from the Casablanca Valley, west of the capital towards Valparaiso on the Pacific Coast, well worth stopping for a tasting enroute to this pretty historic port town.
Many of these well-established wineries have developed superb accommodation, nestled in among the vines, where you can learn more about grape cultivation while enjoying gourmet cuisine in elegant surroundings. March to May brings the ripening of the grapes and an opportunity to participate in the harvest or vendimia if you wish.
Suggested Wine and Surrounds Accommodation
Casa Lapostolle
The Casa Lapostolle residence is located on the Clos Apalta wine estate in the Colchagua Valley near Santa Cruz.
Casa Silva
The Viña Casa Silva opened this exquisite hotel and restaurant in 2005, an authentic Colchagua Valley historic house and typically Chilean in design.
La Casona at Matetic
Matetic vineyard is located in the Casablanca Valley between Santiago and the Chilean coast. This completely enclosed valley, which is 9,000 hectares in length...
to speak to a consultant
Guest Testimonial
Quite simply excellent. If I could say one thing it is that Egypt is the place to go right now, as there were virtually no tourists at some of the sights and that,I should think, is quite rare!
- JW, Gloucestershire
World Travel Awards
World Travel Awards
World's Leading Luxury Tour Operator 2011
A&K Philanthropy
A Roof for Chile
Began in the late 1990s to build dignified emergency housing for 350 families in extreme poverty, and has provided transitional houses for impoverished families across Latin America.
Latest from @AKTravel_UK: Buzzfeed rounds up 50 of the best eclipse photos from the weekend: http://t.co/BMQ0BGvV 10 hours ago