4 Day Long Weekend Gourmet & Cooking Vacation in Curico, Maule

Day 1, Thursday - Arrival

• Arrival in the afternoon at Mapuyampay.
• Welcome drink followed by gastronomic dinner experience.

Day 2, Friday - Cooking class, wine tour with tasting

• 09:00 - 10:45 Buffet breakfast.
• 11:00 - 15:00 Cooking and wine pairing class “Creative Chilean Flavors.”
• Afternoon: visit the Miguel Torres, Montes or San Pedro vineyard.
• Dinner at a local restaurant (price not included).

Day 3, Saturday - Cooking class, wine tasting, free time

• 09:00 Breakfast.
• 11:00 - 14:00 Cooking and wine pairing class “Creative Flavors of the World” and wine tasting of three reserve wines.
• Free time in the afternoon: horse riding, rafting, olive groves visit and oil tasting.
• Light dinner: Mediterranean flavors

Day 4, Sunday - Departure

• Farewell brunch (quiche, fruits, homemade jams, waffles or french toasts).
• Departure on or before 13:00.

You will visit a winery in the valley of Curicó or Colchagua where you will be delighted with a wine tasting.

Mapuyampay is quietly nestled in the foothills of the majestic Andes Mountains, at only 2 hours drive south of Santiago. It's a little off the beaten paths, away from touristy areas, that's why its so peaceful there. Actually, it is located right in the heart of Chile's wine country, only one hour away of the Andean village Los Quees with its breathtaking views, or the colonial town of Santa Cruz, ideal for interesting day trips and olive growers or winery visits.

Only 200 kilometers away is south of Santiago. Curico, the provincial capital, is the entrance to the main touristic resources of Maule Norte Mountain Range through improved roads. This area has a mild Mediterranean climate with well defined seasons. It is dry and hot in summer, rainy and chilly in fall, cold and rainy in winter, and dry and mild in spring. Up to 2,000 meters, in the Pre Mountain, there is a slight change becoming mild and therefore the temperature lowers slightly and the rainfalls increase. Over 2.000 meters high, snow like rainfall is common throughout the Maule Norte Mountain Range, which turns the area into a huge potential for winter tourism.

Great food, fine wines and sharing experiences is Ruth and Vicente's life passion. In Mapuyampay, all meals are prepared by the Belgian-born chef and cookbook author; Ruth Van Waerebeek, former Peter Kump’s NY Cooking School (now ICE) instructor and since 2000, a brand ambassador and executive chef for the mayor international events of Chile’s leading Winery Concha Y Toro. All the cooking workshops (minimum 2 persons, maximum 10) are hands-on, take about four hours, and are dictated in Ruth's spacious and professional kitchen. After class, you will all sit down under the shady vines to enjoy the dishes prepared in class with a nice glass of wine. For every class, you will receive a booklet including recipes of all the dishes made during your stay.

Enjoy the swimming pool, gardens, and countryside trails for walks or bike rides. Mapuyampay has mountain bikes available for its guests. Its easy enough to get around by car in the region and truly a privileged way to discover this still unspoiled countryside. There are detailed route indications at your disposal. Located in the foothills of the Andes and in the middle of the wine Valleys of Colchagua and Curic, Mapuyampay recommends the following tourist destinations:

Curic

Located 40 kilometers away, It is the capital of the province with its main square considered as one of the most beautiful in Chile. Its fresh market, La feria, is worth a visit.Convenient for its restaurants and shopping mall and the surrounding wineries, such as San Pedro, Miguel Torres, Echeverria and others (several offer visits and tasting). We recommend the following restaurants in Curic: Las brasas de Zappallar (steakhouse), Miguel Torres Restaurant (international cuisine) Hotel Turismo, and Soler (excellent pork sandwich).

Los Quees

Mountain village located 40 kilometers away, at about one hour of travel inland, over dirt roads in good condition. This little village is nestled in the imposing Andes Mountains at the encounter of two rivers, the Teno and the river Claro. Ideal for rafting, kayak, or fly fishing.

Santa Cruz

A Colonial town 60 kilometers away with one of the most complete museums regarding the history of Chile, various art and craft shops and good restaurants. We recomend these restaurants in Santa Cruz: Vino Bello (Italian cuisine), La Casita de barrlales (Peruvian cuisine), El Candil (steakhouse and Chilean cuisine), Pan Pan Vino Vino (international).

Optional tours

Beer and olive oil tastings: For the amateurs of micro breweries and artisanal beers, visit Mauricio Bruna and our friends Juan Manuel and Juan Pablo in brewery Berner. In the region of San Fernando, (at 1 hour of Mapuyampay) visit our friends and producers of Premium olive oil, the family Diaz Guerrero. A walk through the olive groves and facilities culminates in a tasting of 2-3 oils (minimum 4 people) An unique opportunity to know all about the art of making Premium olive oils and learning to differentiate varieties such as Arbequina and Picual.

Fishing: For the amateurs of fishing, our friends Carlos and Lorena organize fly fishing expeditions in the mountain hills of Potrero Grande (at 1.5 hrs drive of Mapuyampay), an ideal area for this sport, surrounded by native forests for a full day activity.

Horseback riding: In Mapuyampay we organize horseback riding trips from 2 to 3 hours exploring the surrounding countryside and hills. You will be accompanied by Patricio, an experienced guide. For the beginners, Patricio will give a small demonstration / lesson of riding in the media luna. (Location Fundo San Alfonso, neighbors of Mapuyampay). For the more adventurous and experienced riders we offer a wonderful Full Day Riding Experience. On the trails of Chiles Independence will take you over the coastal hills to the peak for an aperitif-break, overlooking the majestic Andes and valleys of Colchagua and Curic. After a 3-4 hours ride you will return to the historic Hacienda San Isidro for a typical Chilean asado or barbecue.

Rafting, kayaking, and hiking: Easily accessible trails are perfect for walking and hiking, and suitable for all members of the group. The more experienced and well-equipped hikers can venture into the mountains. Our friends Tod and Marcela Erickson offer rafting or kayaking in a safe and professional way.

Wine and bike: Discover Chiles wine country on a bike. Our friend Marc guides and organizes interesting visits of wineries and wine country on the bike. Santa Cruz, in the Colchagua Valley is surrounded by worldwide acclaimed wine houses such as Via Montes, Via Lapostolle, Via Santa Cruz, Viu Manent, Las Nias, Laura Hartwig and many others.

• 1 brunch
• 2 breakfasts
• 2 dinners
• 2 lunches
• 2 hands-on cooking classes
• 3 nights accommodation
• One 4-course tasting dinner
• Wine pairing during cooking classes
• Wine tasting tours
• Winery visits

• Dinner on Friday
• Optional activities
• Transportation

• A reservation requires a deposit of 100% of the total price.
• The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.