Rapa Nui (Easter Island) and Chilean Wine Route (Colchagua Valley) Grand Trip!

7 nights/8 days

Explore Chile Tours takes you to discover Easter Island known locally as “Rapa Nui”. Easter island is filled with myths and legends that will captivate your attention as you discover this beautiful island. The island is home to the famous Moai statures which are large statures made of rocks that to this date is unknown how they were made and transported. Are you passionate about wine, nature and great cuisine? If so, the Colchagua Valley in Chile is a region you must visit. An ideal place to enjoy delicious wine and food in the heart of central Chile. In Colchagua you will find the best wine route in the country. During your trip you will explore many different landscapes, beautiful nature, local cuisines, and culture.

Day 1

Arrival to Santiago (Optional Andes Mountains Tour) and travel to Rapa Nui (Eastern Island)

Transfer from Airpot to Hotel

Half day – AKIVI (Duration 3 hrs.)

We will drive to restored Ahu Akivi with 7 Moais, built in the middle of the island. The legend tells us that these statues are representing the 7 explorers who were sent to Rapa Nui by the king Hotu Matua. Proceed to the unrestored Ahu Hanga Poukura. Then visit the topknot-quarry Puna Pau with its red scoria stone, where all the Pukaos were made. Back to hotel. If passengers did not book Citytur, we also visit the ceremonial site of Tahai with 3 Ahus and restored statues, remains of boathouses, a boatramp and other features. Here we see the only statue with eyes re-inserted

Full day (Duration 7 hours)

During our full day tour we will drive to the southcoast coast and visit representative examples of not restored platform, Ahus Vaihu in the bay of Hanga Te’e, where we also visit the reconstruction of a former village. Then we visit Akahanga, where supposedly the famous king Hotu Matua was buried. Proceed to Rano Raraku, quarry of almost 900 stone statues, 397 of them still lying or standing at the slopes of the extinct volcano with crater lake. Then visit Ahu Tongariki (restored with 15 Moais), most recent and biggest restauration on the island. For lunch we stop at a little restaurant with view at Rano Raraku. Afterwards drive to the eastcoast and visit Ahu Te Pito Kura and the “Navel of the World”. Last but not least visit the beach of Anakena with its restored Ahus Nau Nau and Ature Huke. There you will have the opportunity to enjoy the warm Pacific Ocean before returning back to the hotel.

Half day Orongo (Duration 3 hrs)

We will visit the extinct volcano Rano Kau, appreciate on the way a view over the whole island and see its distinct geological features, proceed to an outlook at the crater lake. Afterwards drive to the ceremonial village of Orongo, where the birdman competition took place and you can see the spectacular petroglyphs related to this culture, enjoy the breathtaking view towards the 3 islets Motu Nui, Motu Iti and Motu Kao Kao opposite the coast. Drive down again to Ahu Vinapu (not restored) and for some still proof of the influence of pre-inca arquitects in Easter Island culture. Last stop is the fishermen’s harbour Hanga Piko, where we visit the restored Ahu Riata. Back to hotel.

10:30: Premium Wine Tours – Viña Montes

Walk through our beautiful vineyards, with a great view of the Valley. Tour of our mystical winery where Premium and Ultra-Premium wines are vinified: Montes Alpha M, Montes Folly, Purple Angel and Montes Alpha. Visit our Barrel Room, where our best wines rest and mature accompanied by Gregorian Songs. You can also go to the wine and souvenir shop, where you will find all the Montes wine lines at special prices.

12:00: Lunch in Fuegos de Apalta (3 course with wine pairing is included in this tour)

You will have lunch surrounded by vines in a wonderful setting at Viña Montes. The kitchen is run by one of the most famous chefs in Argentina (Francis Mallmann), winner of important international awards, author of books, and protagonist of one of the best episodes of the series “Chef’s Table” on Netflix. The stars of the menu are the meat, fish and vegetables, cooked on different types of fires in the dome, located in the center of the restaurant, where you can see how the ingredients of the dishes that make up the menu are roasted, smoked and baked. All this with a privileged view of the vineyard!

16:30: Clos Apalta tour and wine tasting (Tour Anthology)

Winner of the Most Extraordinary Winery award, Clos Apalta winery has built a seven-story underground complex into the slopes of its land. The winery of this vineyard is unique and was designed by the renowned Chilean architect Roberto Benavente Riquelme. “Understatedly functional, yet aesthetically and conceptually grand, the dazzling beauty of the winery is not visible to the naked eye above ground, but buried, it retains an awe-inspiring mystery.”

18:00: Rest in the Hotel Santa Cruz Plaza

7:30: Breakfast (included in hotel)

8:30: Leave Hotel Santa Cruz Plaza to Viña Vik

10:00: Tour and Wine Tasting Viña Vik (Tour Premium includes a glass of Milla Cala, La Piu Belle wines plus three varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere and Syrah)

A tour of our winery that stands out for its unique and unprecedented design, which is, at the same time avant-garde, highly sustainable, technologically creative and with a striking visual display that promises to redefine the wine experience, through its three tastings.

12:30: Lunch in Pavilion (Restaurant within the Viña Vik vineyard) (3-course pairing menu + a glass of La Piu Belle Rosé and one of VIK A)

15:30: Return to Hotel Vitacura Palace in Santiago

Day 8

Andes Mountain Tour

Day 9

Drop off to airport