During this 5-day tour exploring the western vineyards of Uruguay, you will visit Colonia del Sacramento to witness the rich history of this old town. Then, head to the Carmelo region to discover three different vineyards and learn about the history of wine-making in Uruguay. Delight in multiple varieties of premium wine in each vineyard. Finally, enjoy a sunset river cruise to appreciate the coasts of Uruguay.
Highlights
Explore the rich history of Colonia del Sacramento
Discover area of Carmelo, visiting 3 different vineyards
Enjoy a sunset river cruise and appreciate the beautiful coasts of Uruguay
Learn about the wine-making process and characteristics of Uruguay's wines
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Arrival at Port of Colonia del Sacramento and Hotel Transfer with Guide (Private Service).
Begin your journey with a local guide on the Walking Tour of Colonia del Sacramento with museums & mate tasting (Private Service).
Explore the enchanting city of Colonia del Sacramento, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Founded by the Portuguese and the subject of disputes between the Spanish and Portuguese crowns for years, Colonia's rich history is beautifully preserved. Wander the picturesque cobblestone streets under the guidance of your local expert, uncovering landmarks like the old city gate (Porton de Campo), the historic Calle de los Suspiros (Street of Sighs), charming squares, and the local church, Iglesia Matriz. The tour includes a mate tasting session and entrance tickets to local museums.
You kick off your day with a transfer to Bodega el Quinton, where you can indulge in a tour of the vineyards and olive plantations, followed by a delightful wine and olive oil tasting session. Your journey then takes you to La Vigna Cheese Farm, where you'll gain insights into the local cheese-making process and savor some of the finest cheese varieties in the region, all under the guidance of the knowledgeable "Cheese Architect." Agustin and Lucila, the proprietors of La Vigna, have created a unique and eco-conscious establishment that focuses on sustainability and organic production. You'll have the opportunity to sample some of the most delectable and inventive cheeses. If you're interested, there's an optional cheese-tasting lunch at La Vigna, though it's not included.
In the morning, you'll have a private transfer (no guide) to Carmelo.
As the day draws to a close, prepare for an unforgettable experience: the Rio de la Plata Sunset Cruise (approximately 1.5 hours).
Embark on a serene journey through the Delta's islands, where the waters of the Río de la Plata and Rio Uruguay converge. This unique location marks the "kilometer 0" point for both rivers. Your adventure commences just before sunset at the secluded marina of Club del Faro, where you'll board a classic boat guided by our experienced captain. Explore the tales of the Uruguayan coast and its shipwrecks, and raise a toast to an incredible sunset!
Day 4: Calera las Huérfanas and the local wineries
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch
Meet your local guide for a visit to Calera las Huérfanas and the local wineries:
La Calera de las Huérfanas National Monument: This place's history dates back to the 18th century when the Jesuits established themselves in the northern part of the Province of Colonia in Uruguay. They continued their mission and constructed the first buildings in 1741. Here, a diverse group of people, including Indians, slaves, and priests, would gather. Following the expulsion of the Jesuits by the Spanish crown, Don Juan de San Martín assumed control of the estancia and discovered 1500 grapevines, which marked the birth of wine production in Uruguay.
You will then visit two wineries in the Carmelo region:
Bodega El Legado: A family-owned winery that traces its roots back to Bernardo Marzuca and his family, who decided to repurchase the family vineyards that had once belonged to Bernardo's father. The winery represents the legacy they continued by tending the land and crafting wine. Today, the winery is known for producing highly exclusive fine wines using a unique technique in Uruguay. Their vineyards follow a free vertical cord system, allowing the vines to express themselves fully. What began as a hobby for the Marzuca family evolved into a profound passion as more people were captivated by their wines. The winery tour includes a guided exploration of the vineyards, wine cellar, and production area, followed by a tasting of 3 wines paired with cheeses, salamis, and olives.
Bodega Cordano: A small, family-run winery led by Ana Paula Cordano and her husband, the fifth generation of the family. The tour encompasses visits to the production areas and vineyards, along with a stop at the "Almacén de la Capilla," a vintage grocery shop founded in 1855 by Antonio Cordano. The experience culminates with a tasting of 3 of their finest wines and a delectable homemade lunch.
After your wine adventures, return to your hotel.
Day 5: Return Home
1 Breakfast
After breakfast, get on a private transfer (without a guide) to Colonia del Sacramento Port.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Initial deposit is 25%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days (10 weeks) prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
The trip might have been the absolute best of our lifetime (thus far). We particularly want to commend our guide Peter in the Guilin area-he was so incredibly attentive, energetic, enthusiastic-and absolutely dedicated to ensuring that our meals were 100% vegetarian.
Jack Charney
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1 day ago
The holiday of a lifetime. The company is Alaksa-owned and thhat makes a big difference to the experineces you get i.e. meet genuine First Nations tribes people. The amount of wildlife was beyond my expectation, and seeing everything on sucha small, intimate boat made it even more spoecial and unique.
Liz O
1 day ago
Adventure Life covered all the details in planning our trip to Ireland. Any questions we had were answered immediately. Any trip glitches, which always happen when traveling, were resolved immediately. There were no worries, just fun!
Kathleen Weller
1 day ago
It was an outstanding, up-close, educational vacation of nature, culture, history, animals and geology! It was everything they promised! Binoculars were plentiful on the boat, but I'm glad I brought my own. Food was excellent. Rooms had black-out shades. Pack/wear multiple layers of clothing (I carried a small backpack when off the ship). Crew were delightful and very accommodating! Remember to jump FEET FIRST first when taking the optional polar plunge! Spend as much time outdoors as you are able and ENJOY!!!
Janet Dutton
6 days ago
Excellent travel advice and service
This is my second experience working with Adventure Life. I’m sold. Jess Heuermann is an experienced traveler and provides a lot of useful information when planning a trip. These are the questions I like to ask at the outset - What’s it like to go here, there, what would you suggest, what do people report, can we add any additional side trips? Jess took the time to answer my questions and seek additional information to share with me. Petchie Colina is outstanding in helping with travel logistics and final preparations. Adventure Life has excellent guides and offers private guides and small group adventures. We enjoyed the opportunity to talk with the guides and drivers to learn more about their countries, cultures and histories. A highlight was having the guides pick local restaurants where we could share meals together. Highly recommend.
Claire Cordon
1 week ago
Our six-day tour in Iceland went smoothly with one exception. We had asked for two rooms each night. Somehow we were booked with one room with three beds. It could not be fixed at the first hotel in Reykjavik because the hotel was fully booked. Once informed of the problem, however, Adventure Life rebooked for two rooms for the remainder of the trip. As an 85-year-old traveler, I appreciated that one could participate at different physical levels at many of the stops. Iceland is a great place to visit but on the expensive side.