Apr 23, 2014
|Last updated on December 28th, 2020 at 04:31 pm
Our Chile Travel expert spills her secrets on planning a trip to Chile that combines two very different places: the wine region and the Patagonia region. Rustic luxury, southern Andean treasures, golden vineyards, and smoky, robust wines all with the loving touch of familial ties and generations of dedication to perfection. This paradise existsβ¦in Chile!
When planning a get-away vacation for myself, I often feel that I am pulled in so many directions; I start researching where I want to go and then quickly fall into the ever-deepening crevasse of looking at every type of getaway vacation one could imagine: adventure, romantic, urban, rustic, warm locations, cooler regions, you name it!
I find myself attempting to quite creatively roll all of these great options together into one, neat, 10-day-or-less package beginning in Seattle, then flying to a beach in Hawaii, followed by a vineyard in Bordeaux, France, and ending with a hike in the Himalayas. Sound familiar? Yes? Let me put your worries to rest. You might not be able to combine far-flung places like Hawaii, France, and Nepal in 10 days, but bear with me. It is possible to combine different climates, cultures, and activities into one fantastic trip. This is where Patagonia Camp and Matetic Vineyards come into play.
Chilean Patagonia Adventure & Wine Luxury
The next time youβre planning a trip and are trying desperately to combine the impossible, its simple; Chile has it all. The icing on the cake? The family-run Patagonia Camp and its sister vineyard and bodega, Matetic Vineyards, outside of Santiago make for the perfect combination of rustic luxury in two starkly different, but equally beautiful, natural settings during a week-long vacation.
Patagonia Camp
Begin your trip by flying over the snow-capped Andes to the southern tip of Chile and then drive through the barren and rugged Patagonian wilderness to the seamless marriage of nature and luxury of the Eden-like refuge: Patagonia Camp. The first luxury camp in Patagonia, located just beyond the border of Torres del Paine National Park, on a privately owned lake, nestled into a hillside, you will find the white yurts of that make up the small community of Patagonia Camp.
There are 18 yurts, all Mongolian style, heated and donned with plush, feather down, king, or double twin beds. Each yurt has its own modern bathroom attached and all toiletries provided are biodegradable out of respect to the surroundings. The yurt-style accommodations allow for guests to feel as if they were camping, as they listen to the wind and other elements outside and gaze upon the stars through their yurtβs domed skylight, while still feeling decadently luxurious in their snug, private and comfortable quarters.
Outdoor wooden pathways that meander between the yurts and main lodge linking Patagonia Camp, give it that little extra touch of truly feeling that you are incorporated into the nature around you. Excursions are with others at the camp, but only up to 8 people to keep excursions small and intimate. Half-day treks near the camp, as well as kayaking, fly-fishing, and catch-n-release fishing are just some of the many excursions one can partake in at Patagonia Camp.
September to the end of April/early May is the best time to go as Torres del Paine is not as crowded and you can be spoiled with the feeling of glorious solitude in one of the most beautiful and remote corners of the globe. Though this is the traditional low season, in September/October and April/May, these months are actually excellent weather-wise, because the weather is more stable and is just as warm as in the middle of summer. After trekking, kayaking, and fishing in the Andes for several days, you’ll feel like you’re truly on vacation! View all our Patagonia Tours here.
Matetic Vineyards in Casablanca Valley
Flying north, located just an hour outside of Santiago, in the warm Casablanca Valley is the quaint, yet highly sophisticated, winery: Matetic Vineyards β the sister project of Patagonia Camp. La Casona is their boutique hotel with only 7 rooms in a rustic bodega house, each with large French doors opening on to their patio facing miles of vineyards.
Matetic Vineyards pride themselves in being not only organic but also biodynamic. Biodynamic practices not only take into account the natural well-being of the grapevines but also the entire well-being of the valley at large. They use quartz to help with photosynthesis, chickens to eat bugs (including portable chicken coops) instead of pesticides, gravity rather than electricity in wine processing, and many other rigidly calculated natural practices to promote the highest quality of grapes for their wine.
Take a horseback ride led by your own Huaso, or Chilean cowboy, through the vineyards and picnic with fine cheeses and wines provided by your hosts, and end your day back at the bodega with a fantastic sunset and hearty, organic dinner. View all our South America Wine Tour Itineraries here.
Get a Free Quote & Custom Itinerary!
Interested in finding out more about this trip to Chile including luxurious Patagonia Camp yurts and the Matetic Vineyards? Please get in touch with us to receive a free quote and custom itinerary that is tailored perfectly to your travel plans.
