The Perfect Day in Santiago de Chile

1. The Art of Bespoke Travel: Crafting the Unexpected

My wife and I were traveling home from an awe-inspiring two-week expedition to Antarctica. On the return route, our flight schedule gave us exactly one day in Santiago de Chile. Having visited Santiago’s historic civic core on past travels, we knew we did not want to spend our precious hours standing in museum queues or touring conventional urban monuments.

Instead, we yearned to escape into the pastoral beauty of the Chilean countryside. We reached out to Abercrombie & Kent Chile, Signature Travel Network’s trusted Destination Management Specialist. Our request was intentionally simple yet personal: we wanted a day celebrating Chilean wine and rustic home cuisine, steered away from white-tablecloth Michelin dining in favor of deep local authenticity. And having recently ridden horses in Kenya and the Dominican Republic, we dropped in a gentle hint: “If there is anything that can tie in horseback riding, that would be a wonderful surprise.”

What followed was a masterclass in custom travel curation. From the moment our private A&K Mercedes van and professional chauffeur arrived at our hotel, every detail was orchestrated with warmth, precision, and authentic passion.

2. Odfjell Vineyards: Norwegian Fjord Horses & Biodynamic Terroir

Our morning began with a scenic drive southward from Santiago into the rolling hills and sun-drenched vine corridors of the Maipo Valley. As our driver pulled through the gates of Odfjell Vineyards in Padre Hurtado, the surrounding landscape unfolded in shades of emerald and golden earth against the dramatic silhouette of the distant Andes foothills.

Founded by Norwegian shipowner Dan Odfjell in the 1990s, Odfjell is celebrated for two remarkable distinctions: its pioneering organic and biodynamic viticulture, and its prize-winning herd of imported Norwegian Fjord horses. Little did we know that our winery tour would take place entirely in the saddle!

Guided by experienced equestrians, we mounted gentle, sure-footed Fjord horses. The rhythmic clip-clop of hooves echoed across the vines as we meandered along terraced hillsides, breathing in the fresh mountain air and taking in panoramic views of the estate. To explore a historic Chilean wine estate from horseback was an utterly magical surprise that set the tone for an extraordinary day.

The striking gravity-flow winery tasting room at Odfjell Vineyards with floor-to-ceiling vistas over the vines.

Heidi Podjavorsek savoring a personalized flight of organic and biodynamic Chilean wines on the outdoor terrace.

3. Sensory Immersion: The Flavors of Maipo & Maule

Following our ride, we transitioned to the winery’s architectural centerpiece—a cutting-edge gravity-flow facility seamlessly carved into the hillside to protect the grapes and regulate temperature naturally.

Our equine adventure concluded on the panoramic outdoor terrace, where a private table had been dressed for a guided wine tasting. The winery staff, brimming with pride and knowledge, walked us through the nuances of Odfjell’s celebrated portfolio. We tasted vibrant, crisp whites followed by robust, fruit-forward reds, including old-vine Carignan from Maule Valley and velvety Carmenère, Chile’s signature varietal.

The pairing of exhilarating physical activity in the morning sun with thoughtful, world-class winemaking added a rich educational layer to our sensory journey. Yet, the day was only halfway complete.

4. Private Home Culinary Immersion: Cooking with a Chilean Chef

Leaving the vineyards behind, our A&K guide and chauffeur escorted us to the private residence of a talented local female chef. The moment the front door opened, the aroma of fresh herbs, garlic, and citrus greeted us like old family friends.

There were no commercial restaurant facades or crowded dining halls. Instead, we stepped directly into her personal kitchen, framed by a charming sign on the wall that announced: “This Kitchen is for Dancing.”

The welcoming private dining table set for our traditional home-cooked Chilean meal.

Heidi Podjavorsek and our private chef preparing fresh trout and avocado appetizers paired with handmade pear Pisco Sours.

Donning our aprons, we jumped directly into the hands-on preparation of a traditional Chilean feast. The culinary adventure kicked off with the creation of an inventive house cocktail: a classic Chilean Pisco Sour infused with sweet pear. The pear nectar balanced the bright lime and pisco brandy with silky perfection.

Next came the menu:

• Fresh Trout Appetizer: Thinly sliced, glistening river trout layered alongside creamy Chilean avocado and freshly ground sea salt.
• Authentic Pebre Salsa: Hand-dicing ripe summer tomatoes, cilantro, scallions, and aji chiles, drizzled generously with golden Chilean extra virgin olive oil.
• Sizzling Garlic Shrimp: Succulent sea shrimp and button mushrooms sauteed in a fiery cast-iron skillet with garlic cloves, crushed chili, and white wine.

Finishing hand-chopped Chilean pebre salsa with estate-pressed extra virgin olive oil.

Plump garlic shrimp and mushrooms simmering in fragrant olive oil and Chilean spices.

As we chopped, stirred, tasted, and savored, the kitchen filled with laughter, banter, and cross-cultural stories. The chef’s infectious warmth and deep-seated pride in Chilean heritage transformed a cooking lesson into an intimate bonding encounter. By the time we sat down at the table to feast on what we had prepared, we did not merely have full bellies—we had forged lifelong friendships.

5. Ordinary vs. Extraordinary: Why Destination Specialists Matter

Later that evening at Santiago International Airport, we bumped into fellow travelers from our Antarctica expedition ship who were booked on the same overnight flight back to North America. We asked how they had spent their day in Santiago.

Their response was polite but uninspired: they had taken a generic bus transfer, wandered through a couple of downtown plazas, and sat in an airport hotel lobby waiting for check-in.

Then we shared the story of our day: horseback riding among organic vines on Norwegian Fjords, private cellar tastings with panoramic Andean views, making pear pisco sours in a chef’s home kitchen, and sharing freshly prepared seafood over heartfelt conversation.

As their eyes grew wider and wider, they asked in disbelief: “How on earth were you able to get that arranged?”

We proudly told them: “We worked with a certified luxury travel advisor and Abercrombie & Kent Chile.”

Luxury Advisor Planning Guide: Custom Chile Experiences

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Frequently Asked Questions: Luxury Travel in Chile & Santiago