Chile : Tours : Wine Route Train, a journey to the past

Every Saturday at 10:30 AM we embark on a fantastic trip back in time. The tour begins in the city of San Fernando and the trip is 90 minutes to Santa Cruz, passing by some of Colcahgua Valley’s main vineyards on the way. During the excursion you will have the opportunity to taste wines accompanied by homemade cheeses from the area and nuts as well as a folk singer who will entertains you with songs and ballads. From the Santa Cruz station, where a young folklore group will welcome passengers, we will go directly to one of the valley’s vineyards and enter into the fascinating world of wine. In this wine’s birthplace we will learn about its production and tasting techniques.

08.00 hrs - Passengers arrive. Departures from Hotel Galerias (San Antonio 65 – Santiago Center) or Ave. Tobalaba 911, Providencia, in the wine store “Uno Markett” (place subject to confirmation).

08.30 hrs - Transfer Santiago - San Fernando.

10.30 hrs - Wine Train tickets. Bilingual guide, folklore show and tasting of varietal wines and local cheese on board.

12.00 hrs - Arrival to train station Paniahue. Passengers are greeted with a folkloric show.

12.45 hrs - Vineyard Visit. Includes a tour through the cellars and wine tasting (TINTO Program Option 1)
Visit to the Cochagua Museum. Departure at 12:30 hrs. (TINTO Program Option 2)

14.15 hrs - Country lunch in the vineyard (TINTO Program Option 1)
Criollo lunch in Santa Cruz Winery (For this option: the lunch is at 14:50 hrs) (TINTO Program Option 2)

15.45 hrs - Visit to the Cochagua Museum (TINTO Program Option 1)
Tour with bilingual guide through the cellars and wine tasting, includes ride in the cable car and a visit to the Astronomical Observatory, a recreation of the indigenous towns (Rapa Nui, Aymara, Mapuche) and the wine gallery (TINTO Program Option 2)

17.30 hrs - Return directly to Santiago by bus.

20.00 hrs - Arrival in Santiago.

Colchagua Museum
The Colchagua Museum belongs to the Cardoen Foundation, a non profit organization, begun by the industrial businessman Carlos Cardoen Cornejo. The Museum collection is organized into 11 sections: Paleontology – Paleoindio in Chile – Precolumbian Art – Conquest and Colonization – Liturgical Art – Independence – Republic and the Pacific War – Folklore, Cowboys, their tackle and carriages – Agricultural machines – Water Equipment - Paleoindio stone structures.

The Program Includes

• All ground trasportation. (*)
• Ticket Train of the Wine to Santa Cruz.
• Wine and cheese tasting.
• Entrance fee to the Colchagua museum.
• Criollo lunch in the Stanta Cruz winery (TINTO Program Option 2) or in another vineyard (TINTO Program Option 1).
• Visit to the winery including wine tasting and tram trip.
• Transfers included.

(*) Buses leave from Santiago at Hotel Galerias or Ave. Tobalaba 911, Providencia, in the wine store "Uno Markett".

Notes

• If you wish, you can join us at San Fernando train station, starting the tour there. We will drop you back in San Fernando at 18:00.

Important

The Train
The average speed for this early 20th century locomotive is between 30 and 40 km/h (19 and 25 mph). It contains a type 57, #607 coal-fired steam engine, one of the last models built in Chile in the year 1913. The dining car is a series Y-19 with a capacity for 40 people, built in Germany in 1923 by Linke Hoffman Company. It arrived in Chile in 1929 along with three passenger cars series I-203, I-264, I-199, each one holding 80 people and also built by the same company.

Duration
The tour lasts approximately 12 hours total (counting the stretch from Santiago). During this time you will be able to appreciate the architecture, traditions, customs, and cuisine of the region. In addition, we will enrich our minds with a visit to the Colchagua Museum boasting more than 5,000 historical artifacts. We will return to Santiago at approximately 8:30 PM.

Rates

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Note: Children up to 12, 50% discount.

Departures

Departures 2008:

January: 05 - 12 - 19 - 26
February: 02 - 09 - 16 - 23
March: 01 - 08 - 15 - 22 - 29
April: 05 - 12 - 19 - 26
May: 03 - 17 - 31
June: 07 - 21 - 28
July: 12 - 19 - 26
August: 02 - 16 - 30
September: 06 - 13 - 20 - 27
October: 04 - 11 - 18 - 25
November: 01 - 08 - 15 - 22 - 29
December: 06 - 13 - 20 - 27

Cancellation Policy

Once the reservation has been confirmed by Gotolatin, the following charges will apply for cancellations made by the passenger, according to the program departure date:

• Between 15 and 7 working days before the beginning of the program
  50% of total program value per passenger.
• Between 7 and 0 working days before the beginning of the program: No refund.
• There are no refunds for portions of the Program not used, hotel accommodations, etc.
• We recommend considering Travel Insurance for any reason.