At a glanceStart with two nights in Santiago, drive two and a half hours south to the Colchagua Valley for three nights of Carménère and horseback rides, then fly over the Andes to Mendoza for four nights in a villa among the vines, with long Uco Valley lunches facing snowy peaks. It suits food-and-wine couples who want a relaxed pace. March to April brings the harvest, while October to November brings spring green.
This is a wine honeymoon on both sides of the Andes. Chile's Colchagua Valley is red wine country, best known for Carménère and Cabernet, with long winery lunches and horseback rides between the vines. Mendoza, across the mountains in Argentina, is Malbec country, with villas among the vineyards and snowcapped peaks behind every lunch table. In between, a short flight takes you over the Andes, one of the most scenic hops in South America.
The route starts in Santiago, which has nonstop flights from several US cities and is only an hour or two ahead of the East Coast, so jet lag is mild. Two nights there gives you a taste of the city and the Maipo Valley. Then you drive south to Colchagua for three nights before flying to Mendoza for four, which is your slow stretch.
Book a driver for every tasting day. Neither of you should be behind the wheel after a Chilean or Argentine lunch. Wineries are spread out, too.
The route
- SantiagoChile · 2 nights
- Colchagua ValleyChile · 3 nights
- MendozaArgentina · 4 nights
- Best months
- March to April for the harvest, or October to November for spring green and snow on the Andes
- Trip length
- 10 days
- Budget
- About $300–1,200 a night for two in wine lodges and boutique hotels, with Awasi Mendoza costing more (approximate)
Day by day
Days 1–2: Santiago
Fly overnight to Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL), about 30 to 45 minutes from the center. Stay in Lastarria, a walkable neighborhood of cafés and galleries where The Singular Santiago has a rooftop pool and bar with Andes views. Las Condes and Vitacura have larger luxury hotels.
On day one, nap and take a slow walk, then ride the cable car up Cerro San Cristóbal for the view of the city and the mountains at sunset. Eat dinner in Lastarria or Bellavista.
On day two, visit Pablo Neruda's house La Chascona in Bellavista, then eat sea urchin or a seafood stew at the Mercado Central. In the afternoon, take a short trip to the Maipo Valley, about 45 minutes away, for Cabernet tastings at one of the big historic wineries or a smaller family estate. If you would rather relax, soak in the hot springs in Cajón del Maipo, a canyon in the Andes about an hour and a half from the city.
Days 3–5: Colchagua Valley
Drive or take a private transfer about two and a half hours south to the Colchagua Valley. Viña Vik is the splurge, a hilltop hotel with a titanium roof above its own vineyards and views across the valley. Hotels in and around the town of Santa Cruz cost a fraction of that.
On day four, take a private Carménère tasting in the Apalta hills, home to some of Chile's most celebrated wineries, followed by a long lunch at a winery restaurant. Lunch in Colchagua often runs three hours, which is the point.
On day five, ride horses between the vineyard rows with a local guide, or take a day trip to Pichilemu on the Pacific coast, about an hour and a half away, for surfers, seafood and ocean air. In March and April, look out for the harvest festival in the Santa Cruz plaza, with music, food and grape stomping. Return to your hotel for sunset and a quiet dinner.
Days 6–9: Mendoza
Drive back to Santiago Airport, about two and a half hours. Fly to Mendoza El Plumerillo (MDZ), about an hour over the Andes. Book a window seat: on a clear day you may spot Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Americas. The airport is about 20 minutes from the city and about an hour and a half from the Uco Valley.
This is your slow stretch. Awasi Mendoza offers private villas with your own guide and 4x4. The Vines Resort & Spa has villas among the vines, the Andes on the horizon and dinners cooked over fire. Casa de Uco Vineyards & Wine Resort has its own winery and a lagoon at the door.
On day seven, book a five-course pairing lunch at a Uco Valley winery facing the mountains. On day eight, take a horseback ride in the Andean foothills, then soak at the Cacheuta hot springs. Spend day nine doing very little: a spa treatment, a nap, a sunset tasting on your villa terrace and an asado dinner.
Day 10: Flying Home
Mendoza has flights to Santiago, Buenos Aires and a few other cities, but no nonstops to the US. Most couples fly back through Santiago, about an hour, or through Buenos Aires, about two hours, to connect home.
Leave plenty of time between flights. Winter weather in the Andes can delay flights between Mendoza and Santiago. Connecting through Buenos Aires sometimes means changing airports from Aeroparque (AEP) to Ezeiza (EZE). Booking all flights on one ticket helps if one is delayed.
If your flight home leaves late in the evening, ask your lodge about a late checkout or a final lunch on the way to the airport. Mendoza city is about 20 minutes from the airport, with plazas, cafés and wine bars for a last afternoon.
Getting Between Stops
Fly from the US to Santiago (SCL), with nonstops from several cities. From Santiago, the Colchagua Valley is about two and a half hours south by road. Rent a car or book a private transfer; a driver is better for tasting days.
To cross the Andes, fly from Santiago to Mendoza (MDZ), about an hour. You can also drive the Cristo Redentor pass, about six to seven hours with the border crossing, which is one of South America's great mountain roads. It can close in winter for snow, so the flight is more reliable. Bring your passport.
In Mendoza, book a private driver for every winery day. The Uco Valley is about an hour and a half from the city, with wineries spread across it. Some lodges, such as Awasi Mendoza, include a guide and vehicle.
Where to Stay
In Santiago, Lastarria is walkable and full of cafés. The Singular Santiago is a stylish choice there. Las Condes and Vitacura have larger luxury hotels closer to business districts and malls.
In the Colchagua Valley, Viña Vik is one of the most striking hotels in South America, set on a hilltop above its vineyards. Santa Cruz has smaller hotels and guesthouses at lower prices.
In Mendoza, stay among the vines rather than in the city. Awasi Mendoza is the all-inclusive splurge, with private villas and a dedicated guide. The Vines Resort & Spa offers villas in the Uco Valley with dinner cooked over fire. Casa de Uco Vineyards & Wine Resort is a lower-cost option with its own winery. All three put the Andes in your view.
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When to Go
March and April are harvest season in both Chile and Argentina, with warm days, cool nights and harvest festivals. Mendoza's big harvest festival, the Vendimia, takes place in late February and early March. Hotels fill up then.
October and November are spring, with green vines, flowers and snow on the Andes peaks. It is a quieter time to visit, with mild weather.
December to February is summer, with hot days in Mendoza and busy winery restaurants. June to August is winter, with cold nights, bare vines and snow on the Andes. Winter can close the Cristo Redentor pass and occasionally delay flights over the mountains, but it is also the quietest and coziest time to visit.
What It Costs
As an approximate guide, boutique hotels in Santiago cost about $200 to $400 a night for two. In Colchagua, Viña Vik costs well over $1,000 a night, while hotels in Santa Cruz cost a fraction of that. In Mendoza, Casa de Uco starts around $450, The Vines Resort & Spa around $800 and Awasi Mendoza around $2,000 with meals, drinks and a private guide included.
Add the flight from Santiago to Mendoza, private drivers for winery days, tasting fees and pairing lunches. Pairing lunches at top wineries are one of the best values on the trip compared with similar meals at home.
Budget for wine you want to take home. Many wineries ship within each country but rarely to the US, so pack bottle protectors and check your airline's baggage allowance.
Tips for the Two of You
Pace yourselves. A wine honeymoon can mean several tastings a day, so drink plenty of water, eat well and leave some afternoons free. Book a driver for every tasting day so neither of you has to drive after lunch.
Pack layers for both of you, since mountain evenings are cool even in summer. Bring sunscreen and sunglasses, because the sun in the Andes is strong. Comfortable shoes help on vineyard walks and horseback rides.
The trip has room for both partners' interests. One of you might hike in the Andean foothills or ride horses while the other books a spa treatment or a cooking class. If one of you drinks less, many wineries offer olive oil tastings, garden walks or non-alcoholic pairings. In Santiago, use registered taxis or ride-hail apps at night.
Make It Shorter or Longer
With a week, skip Santiago or keep it to one night, then spend three nights in Colchagua and three in Mendoza.
With two weeks, add two nights in Valparaíso, about an hour and a half from Santiago, for painted houses, funiculars and seafood dinners with bay views. Stop in the Casablanca Valley on the way for Sauvignon Blanc. Another option is three nights in Buenos Aires after Mendoza for steak, tango and Belle Époque avenues before flying home.
With three weeks, add Patagonia. Fly from Santiago to Puerto Natales or Punta Arenas for Torres del Paine, or from Buenos Aires to El Calafate for the Perito Moreno Glacier. Wine country makes a relaxing finish after the hiking.
FAQPlanning this trip
Can you combine Chilean and Argentine wine country in one honeymoon?
Yes. The Colchagua Valley in Chile and Mendoza in Argentina are linked by a flight of about an hour from Santiago over the Andes. Ten days gives you two nights in Santiago, three in Colchagua and four in Mendoza at a relaxed pace.
Is Mendoza good for a honeymoon?
Yes, especially for wine lovers. Mendoza has Malbec vineyards under snowcapped peaks, villas among the vines and long pairing lunches. Lodges such as Awasi Mendoza and The Vines Resort & Spa are romantic and well run. It suits couples who want a slow pace rather than a beach.
Should we fly or drive from Santiago to Mendoza?
Flying is faster and more reliable, about an hour over the Andes. Driving the Cristo Redentor pass takes about six to seven hours with the border crossing and is spectacular, but it can close in winter for snow. If you drive, go in summer and leave plenty of time.
When is harvest season in Chile and Argentina?
Harvest usually runs from late February to April. Mendoza celebrates with the Vendimia festival in late February and early March. Colchagua has a harvest festival in Santa Cruz. Book hotels early for these weeks.
Do we need a car for this wine itinerary?
Not necessarily. A private driver is better for tasting days in both Colchagua and Mendoza, since wineries are spread out and you will both want to taste. Some lodges include a guide and vehicle. Renting a car is useful for the drive from Santiago to Colchagua if you prefer independence.
