MJ INTERNATIONAL TOURS

This is the itinerary for our Chile and Peru Tour for which we are now booking.  The dates are October 20, 2007 – October 30, 2007.

Day 1

Departure including domestic and International Flights

Day 2 Santiago

Arrival at the International Airport of Santiago

Reception by our local tour guide and transfer to your hotel

Half-day city tour of Santiago

Santiago de Chile is a city of contrasts with remains of its
Colonial past to the ultramodern, high-rise buildings of the financial center: Chile’s capital city will surprise you.  This tour offers you the possibility to see this eclectic mix for yourself.  The tour begins by heading south through the downtown area, passing the Club Hipico, a beautiful horseracing track in the older residential area of the city.  You then proceed alongside the Parque O’Higgins and the Cousino Palace, built between 1870 and 1878 for the wealthy Cousino family.  From here, you head along the famous Alameda, Santiago’s colorful main avenue, to the heart of the city, seeing the Chilean University, San Francisco Church and the Santa Lucia Hill, site of Santiago’s foundation in 1541.  Then you will visit the Plaza de Armas and the cathedral.  Just around the corner, you will visit the Pre-Colombian Art Museum, one of the most complete collections of ceramics, ancient textiles and relics of American Culture.  Very nearby is the famous Central Market, which is the main market for fish and seafood, an interesting building, dating back to the end of the 19^th century:  It is a metal construction, built in London and brought by ship to Chile.  Afterwards, you continue the tour by crossing the Mapocho River to reach the bohemian Bellavista district on the way to the San Cristobal Hill.  From one of the hill’s viewpoints, you will have the finest views of the Santiago and the Andes Mountains.  To round off the tour, you will pass through the modern residential areas of the city with their daring architecture and, finally, the bustling Providencia shopping zone. 

Dinner at the hotel. 

Overnight at Hotel Santiago Park Plaza 4* (standard rooms) 

Day 3 Santiago 

Buffet Breakfast 

Full day excursion to Aquitania and Concha y Toro wineries

The tour takes off from Santiago toward the Andes Mountain Range.  Today you will get to know two very different wineries:  Aquitania is a modern boutique winery focused on high quality production and Concha y Toro is the biggest and most famous winery of Chile who produces a variety of quality and economic wines.  Lunch will be served at a local restaurant in the Maipo Valley. 

Vina Aquitania

Two important wine-making professionals from France, Bruno Prats and Paul Pontallier, decided to start a project in the Maipo Valley, after having visited and lived some time in Chile.  They believed to obtain a red wine of high quality, as the soil and climate conditions of this valley are very good.  In 1990, they bought land to start with the plantations of their vineyards at the foothill of the Andes Mountains.  Nowadays with 18 hectares of land and producing Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Carmenere it’s a small winery “boutique” focused on high quality wines.  Enjoy a tour getting to know their warehouse and production halls and taste one of their famous wines. 

Vina Concha Y Toro

In 1883, Marques de Casa Concha in the Spanish Court decided to exploit the winemaking potential of the Maipo Valley just as the industry in Chile became fashionable.  Don Melchor Concha y Toro brought in French vine stock form Bordeaux and contracted eminent French enologist, Monsieur de Labouchere to prepare his first vines.  Vina Concha y Toro rose from this entrepreneurial action at a time of keen interest in national wine production.  Today it is one of the largest exporters of wines in Chile and has obtained countless prizes of quality both in Chile and abroad.  The company has always been the leader in adopting new techniques, updating its equipment and facilities for vilifications processing, storing and bottling.  During a walk through the beautiful park you will get to know the old Casona (from outside), the vineyards and then discover the “Devil’s legend” in the old and dark bodegas.  Three different wines will be tasted. 

Overnight at Hotel Santiago Park Plaza. 

Day 4 Santiago 

Buffet Breakfast 

Full day excursion to Valparaiso and Vina del Mar

Today you are going to participate in a full-day trip to the cities of Valparaiso and Vina del Mar.  You’ll leave Santiago in western direction.  Arriving in Valparaiso, you pass by the main square where you can view the monument honoring the naval Battle fought in 1879.  Driving towards the southern side of the city and seeing the old funiculars you will drive up a hillside for a spectacular view of the bay seeing Valparaiso’s downtown district and its adjoining hills.  Then proceed to the lower level of the city through the commercial heart of the port, where you’ll take the coastal highway that links Valparaiso with the resort city of Vina del Mar.  Lunch will be served at a local restaurant.

Driving to the famous beaches of Salinas, Renaca, Los Lilenes and Concon, you’ll have the opportunity to see Vina’s flower clock and the Casino and then pass rough scenery of rocks where the sea on windy days and high tides crashes fiercely against the coast.  Reaching the Concon beach, you can admire various fish stands displaying a great variety of seafood.  Summer homes and restaurants are spread out along the coast.  Afterwards, visit the main square Plaza Vergara and the shopping avenue before returning to Santiago. 

Overnight at Hotel Santiago Park Plaza. 

Day 5 Santiago – Lima 

Buffet Breakfast 

Transfer from the hotel to the airport for your flight to Lima. 

Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel. 

Overnight at Hotel Sonseta Posada del Inca El Olivar.  

Day 6 Lima 

Buffet Breakfast 

Half day excursion to the colonial Lima, visiting the Cathedral, the main square, Government Palace and other interesting attractions of Lima downtown.  After you pass by several Colonial buildings, you will arrive to the modern and residential district of San Isidro where you will find numerous parks, including the Olivar San Isidro set in an olive grove.  Continue to the “garden districts” of Lima, characterized by their green areas and lively commerce.  Here are the best restaurants, hotels and entertainment centers of Lima.  While San Isidro maintains some of the solemnity of the luxurious suburb it used to be, Miraflores is the city’s modern district, brimming with shops, restaurants, cards, wide avenues and an active nightlife.  Finally visit the famous Larco Herrera Museum. 

Dinner at the restaurant Casa Moreyra (located within walking distance of the hotel) 

Overnight at Hotel Sonesta Posada del Inca El Olivar. 

Day 7 Lima – Cuzco  

Buffet Breakfast 

Transfer to the airport to take flight to Cuzco, upon arrival, transfer to the hotel. 

In the afternoon the half-day city tour begins.  It will be shown the exact center of the Inca Empire, the Plaza de Armas.  There one can find the cathedral built on the ruins of the ancient Inca Palace.  The cathedral borders other churches on both sides.  Next stop will be the old town with its magnificent renovated colonial buildings, some of them are being used as hotels.  Then proceed to Sacsayhuaman, a ruin located approx. 3 km above Cuzco.   Sacsayhuaman also offer a fabulous view of the city.  Stops in Tambo Machay, the bath of the Incas, Kenko, the giant rock whose niches and gaps were carved in a strange way, and Pucara, the ruin of a small fort. 

Dinner at La Cicciolina Restaurant (including round trip transfers but no guide) 

Overnight at Hotel Casa Andina Private Collectio Cuzco. 

Day 8 – Cuzco – Sacred Valley – Cuzco 

Buffet Breakfast 

Full day tour to the Sacred Valley of the Incas.  Visit of the Pisac Indian market in the town of Pisac.  Here a very special and traditional market is performed every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.  A large handicraft fair is organized by the Pisac and Cuzco Craftsmen who exhibit and sell wide variety of fine crafts of various kind: Woven goods, sweaters, Alpaca rugs, tapestry, sculpture, jewelry, etc.  Departing from Pisac, the group will descend to Urubamba until arriving to Ollantaytambo.  Short visit of the town, the shrines and the fortification with its stairs to the sky.  Return to Cuzco. 

Overnight at Hotel Casa Andina Private Collectio Cuzco. 

Day 9 Cuzco – Machu Picchu – Cuzco 

Buffet Breakfast  

Transfer by bus to the train station where the tour starts in a train that climbs the mountain in zigzag slopes and then rattles down into the fertile plain of the Urubamba valley, passes Ollantaytambo and goes on to Aguas Calientes.  Check in at your hotel.  From Aguas Calientes, small buses drive up the steep mountain to the ruin town of Machu Picchu.  Called the Lost City of the Incas, cultural Heritage of Mankind is one the names given to this wonderful stone city constructed with a technique incredible for its era and even for present times.  Stone upon stone, fitted together perfectly without any cement, with impressive delicacy, exquisite detail and discrimination worthy of the world’s greatest palaces.  There are many theories about Machu Picchu, but one thing is for sure – it is one of the most impressive sites ever. 

Dinner at the hotel. 

Overnight at Hotel Casa Andina Private Collectio Cuzco. 

Day 10 - Lima 

Buffet Breakfast 

Transfer to the airport to take flight to Lima.  Upon arrival transfer to the hotel. 

Overnight at Hotel Sonesta Posada del Inca El Olivar. 

Day 11 – Lima 

Buffet Breakfast 

Transfer to the airport for your international departure flight. 

Terms and conditions

• The total package price is $3499.00 per person based on double occupancy which includes:
  • Domestic and International air fare.
  • Air fare for flight from Chile to Peru and all flights within Peru.
  • First-class hotel accommodations.
  • Most meals.
  • All escorted tours with entrance fees to all attractions.
• Price does not include:
  • Tips to local tour guides and drivers.
  • Items of a personal nature.
• Deposit of  $300.00 per person required at time of reservation.  No reservation made without deposit.  Deposit amount is refundable minus a $50.00 service fee if refund is requested three months prior to departure.  No refund allowed if requested less than three months before departure date.
• Final full payment is required three months prior to departure.
• Each client must have a passport valid six months beyond the dates of travel.