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CITY TOUR OF SANTIAGO DE CHILE

Santiago, Chile, at the same time the largest city and the capital of the country, is just a little over a bus transfer from your ship in Valparaíso to the inland, enough reason to join this full-day tour and make a visit.

Excursion Details

Once in the capital, the city’s sightseeing tour by bus includes the La Moneda Palace as the current seat of government, the historic district with Plaza de Armas, the central post office building, the municipal cathedral, the Constitution Square, the Central Market, the Chilean National Museum of Fine Arts, the Mapocho River, and the beautiful Bellavista neighborhood before ending in the modern district of the capital. A stop at San Cristobal Hill is included. After a pause for a typical Chilean lunch, the return trip will give you the opportunity to enjoy more panoramic views.

Important Information:

Guests are recommended to wear comfortable shoes. On 2-day calls, this tour is available on the first and on the second day but please select code VAP02 if you wish to take part in this tour on the first day of call and code VAP08 if you wish to take part in this tour on the second day of call

CASABLANCA VALLEY: WINE TASTING and COUNTRYSIDE

The prowess of Chilean wine production in the nearby Casablanca Valley is highlighted on this full-day scenic tour to two of the region’s top wineries: Veramonte and Casas del Bosque. In both cases, guided tours of the facilities will include information about the history of each vineyard, organic and biodynamic farming, the winemaking process, and panoramic views of the vines.

Excursion Details

Enjoy a delicious lunch at Casas del Bosque Vineyard, featuring local cuisine paired with their exceptional wines. You will also visit the tanks and aging rooms before participating in a tasting session at each winery. Beautiful views of the lush countryside complete the tour during the bus transfer, which ends with your return to the ship.

Important Information:

Guides in languages other than Spanish/English are limited. Should a tour guide for your language be unavailable, the tour will be in Spanish or English only. On 2-day calls, this tour is available on the first and on the second day but please select code VAP03 if you wish to take part in this tour on the first day of call and code VAP09 if you wish to take part in this tour on the second day of call. Guests are recommended to wear sunglasses, a hat, high-factor sunscreen and comfortable walking shoes.

This excursion will not be cancelled due to weather conditions (rain). Guests with any type of food intolerance are required to communicate it to the Shore Excursions Office at least two days before the call.

ESTANCIA EL CUADRO CASABLANCA VALLEY

If you think South American wines please your palate, this full-day tour to Estancia el Cuadro, one of the region’s top wineries, will certainly be ideal.

Excursion Details

The tour begins with a transfer to the nearby Casablanca Valley, home to the beautiful Estancia el Cuadro Winery. Expect a tour of the facilities, including a walk through the rustic vineyard, information about the Chilean wine industry and its history, a visit to the Stock Garden, and a tasting session in one of the winery’s cellars. After your visit concludes, the bus will be waiting to take you back to the ship.

Important Information:

Water and wine are included. This tour is unsuitable for guests using a wheelchair. On 2-day calls, this tour is available on the first and on the second day but please select code VAP04 if you wish to take part in this tour on the first day of call and code VAP10 if you wish to take part in this tour on the second day of call

MAGICAL MACHU PICCHU AND THE WONDERS OF THE INCAS

Machu Picchu, the unique city of the Incas high in the beautiful Andes, is one of the greatest wonders of the world. Experience its magic and learn about the Incas through their crafts and famous sites. Flying from Santiago to Lima, you’ll overnight in Peru’s capital city before flying to Cusco and proceeding overland to the legendary sacred valley. In Chinchero, famous for its traditional textiles, you’ll learn classic Incan skills in a weaving workshop, followed by lunch with a Peruvian Paso horse show at Wayra Ranch. In the afternoon, you’ll discover the Incan wonders of Ollantaytambo, still steeped in the old traditions. Your third day is dedicated entirely to exploring the unforgettable beauty of Machu Picchu. Returning the day after to Cusco, capital of the Incas, you’ll tour historic sites, from the Temple of the Sun to the cathedral, before flying to Lima and dinner in your overnight hotel. An early flight to Tacna and transfer to Arica will take you to rejoin your cruise.

Please note: The tour to Machu Picchu takes you from sea level to an altitude of 11,200 feet (3,400 m), which may cause some guests to experience altitude sickness. The code VAP20 must be reserved by couples only and must be added to each guest’s booking (2 adults or 1 adult and 1 child; in this case the child’s price is the same as an adult’s). The code VAP20SGL must be reserved by those wishing a single accommodation only.

By booking the tour, guests acknowledge the detailed itinerary with all notes and booking information. All Guests are asked to contact MSC to provide their full name as written in the passport, date of birth and nationality in order to book hotel rooms. This tour is not recommended for guests with walking difficulties or using a wheelchair

THE UNMISSABLE BEAUTY OF SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA – DOUBLE ROOM

This tour offers dramatic vistas views in a spectacular landscape dotted with geysers framed by brooding mountains under breathtaking starlit night skies.

It’s a chance to commune with nature and revel in remoteness. The first day sees you tour Valparaiso and sample wines in the Casablanca Valley, while day two sees you visit San Pedro village with its distinctive mud houses and a trip to the Pukará de Lasana and Pukará de Quitor fortresses. The third day is packed with sights, including flamingos over the salt plains of Salar de Atacama and the Chaxa Lagoon. You’ll also trek the otherworldly Valle de Luna and enjoy the glorious sunset. Day four is spent travelling to Santiago for a fascinating city tour. Last but not least, the final day takes you to Arica for a fantastic city tour showcasing the sandy beaches and historical buildings of Chile’s northernmost city. This tour is an extraordinary opportunity to visit an extraordinary place.

Please note: Sites and order of visits are subject to change due to weather or other operational influences. This program is not suitable for guests with walking disabilities or for guests on wheelchairs and for people with heart problems. Guests must take their passport with them. The code VAP25 must be reserved by couples only and must be added to each guest’s booking (2 adults or 1 adult and 1 child; in this case the child’s price is the same as an adult’s). Single, triple or family rooms are not available. By booking the tour, Guests acknowledge the detailed itinerary with all notes and booking information.

In order to book the rooms, all Guests are asked to contact MSC to send scanned and signed detailed itinerary as well as all the required documentation (personal details, any visas, copy of passport) and everything stated in the PDF note. The same e-mail address shall be used if you want to cancel the tour to know about cancellation fees; in not doing so, the full price of the tour will be charged. MSC is not responsible for obtaining passports, visas, vaccines. Guests must check directly with the relevant authorities and/or Consulates regarding the necessary travel documentation for embarkation and disembarkation at ports of call. Any cost for obtaining visas is at Guests’ expense

WALK IN DARWIN’S SHOES IN THE AMAZING GALAPAGOS ISLANDS – DOUBLE ROOM

Enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime adventure on this incredible six-day trip as you explore magnificent cultural sights and a terrestrial paradise home to species found nowhere else on Earth. Your tour starts with a flight to Quito, a city at the foot of a 15.696-foot Pichincha volcano.

Here in this well-preserved colonial city with its spring-like climate, you’ll explore cobbled streets and marvel at this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Day two lets you explore in more detail, with highlights including La Compaia church, with its Baroque façade and gold-filled interior walls. There’s the chance to watch the water drain in different directions on each side of the Equator! On day three, the Galapagos awaits, where you can experience the archipelago’s agriculture and flora and follow in Darwin’s footsteps. Day four sees you sailing to one of the nearby islands, including the lunar landscape of Bartolome Island, with breathtaking views from the peak of Santiago, North Seymour, Baltra, Santa Cruz, and Rábida islands. You can also snorkel with a magical array of tropical fish and other animals.

Or a visit to Seymour Island and Bachas Beach to see the rare Frigate birds with their inflated red pouches. Other island possibilities include Plazas and Punta Carrion, with breathtaking ocean views and sea lions galore. Finally, there are the stunning coves of Santa Fe island. Finally, on day five, you’ll visit Charles Darwin Station, where the Galapagos giant tortoise breeding program is carried out. Then travel onwards to Guayaquil and your connecting flight to Lima to the port of Callao for embarkation. It’s a fantastic trip you’ll remember long after you return home.

Please note: This program is not suitable for guests with walking disabilities or for guests on wheelchairs and for people with heart problems. Sites and order of visits are subject to change due to weather or other operational influences. Guests must be a minimum of eight years old to participate. Galapagos National Park Rules & Regulations rules are very strict and a way to keep the Islands intact for your enjoyment and that of future generations. The most important rules are the following: Always follow the marked trail and never leave it. Do not touch the animals. Do not take souvenirs from the islands.

Do not get too close to animals. Do not litter. Do not smoke on the islands. Do not take food to the islands. Clean the soles of your shoes before disembarking in the islands. You may have carried some seeds endemic to one island and would not want to introduce them to another. Always stay with your group. Guests must take their passport with them. The code VAP30 must be reserved by couples only and must be added to each guest’s booking (2 adults or 1 adult and 1 child; in this case the child’s price is the same as an adult’s). Single, triple or family rooms are not available.

By booking the tour, Guests acknowledge the detailed itinerary with all notes and booking information. In order to book the rooms, all Guests are asked to contact MSC to send scanned and signed detailed itinerary as well as all the required documentation (personal details, any visas, copy of passport) and everything stated in the PDF note. The same e-mail address shall be used if you want to cancel the tour to know about cancellation fees; in not doing so, the full price of the tour will be charged. MSC is not responsible for obtaining passports, visas, vaccines.

Guests must check directly with the relevant authorities and/or Consulates regarding the necessary travel documentation for embarkation and disembarkation at ports of call. Any cost for obtaining visas is at Guests’ expense