VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations Unveils new Chile’s Coastal Vistas and Vineyards Bike Tour

From Santiago to Zapallar, Cyclists Explore Coastal Villages and Scenic Vineyards Partaking in Culinary Adventures

BRISTOL, VT— May 5, 2015 – VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations, America’s oldest bicycling tour operator, is expanding its lineup of award-winning itineraries with a new South American cycling adventure through Chile. Chile’s Coastal Vistas and Vineyards will begin departures in November 2015.

Trip Advisor recently named Santiago, Chile as one of the “Top 10 Destinations on the Rise” in South America and now VBT guests can experience one-of-a-kind excursions throughout the country. VBT tour highlights for Chile include:

Creating a Personal Wine Blend with an Expert Sommelier
Cycle through the Santa Rita Vineyards in the Andean foothills, home to the “lost Carmenere grape,” which was rediscovered here in 1994 after over 130 years of presumed extinction. Travelers will also visit with an expert sommelier to create and bottle their own personal wine blend in the private cellar at Santa Rita Vineyards. Afterwards, guests will enjoy a traditional Chilean barbecue with local residents.

Collecting Crab Traps and Grilling Lunch with Local Fishermen
After some coastal cycling through the historic ports of Zapallar and Cachagua, travelers will spend time out at sea with local fisherman collecting crab traps and rock shrimp. Upon return to the mainland, the fisherman will create authentic grilled seafood dishes guests will enjoy just as the locals do – served on newspapers overlooking the beautiful beach.

A Visit to La Vega Market in Santiago
The central market in Santiago is called La Vega, and features a bustling variety of artisans and vendors selling local produce, pastas, grains, spices, nuts and teas; as well as hand crafted textiles and clothing designed by local residents. Travelers browsing the market get a true sense of local life in Chile.

Cycling Through Chile’s Agricultural Region
This exciting itinerary’s first ride takes travelers through Chile’s central agricultural region. The region’s Mediterranean-like climate is perfect for growing avocados, walnuts, peaches, olives, almonds, citrus fruits and beautiful flowers. It’s also a popular grape-growing region, which will act as a great introduction to learning about the robust selection of reds and whites found in Chile.

Sleeping in a Local Wine Hacienda
Throughout the Chilean adventure, travelers stay in a unique architectural seaside spa hotel and traditional boutique properties, including the Casa Real, a Tuscan-inspired hotel villa located 45-minutes from Santiago. The beautiful house is located in the heart of the Santa Rita Winery and is just a few steps away from Museo Andina, which houses 1,800 pieces of art. The hotel includes walking paths, lush green gardens—featuring the second tallest bougainvillea in the world—a swimming pool, and a small chapel that was restored by a craftsman who worked on the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel.

All VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations are led by local residents who will provide insight into the region’s customs and traditions, as well as help facilitate authentic cultural experiences. Continually recognized as the best value in active travel, VBT’s tour prices include all accommodations, use of custom bicycles, many meals, unique sightseeing and cultural activities, and on-tour vehicle support.

To learn more about this new vacation, request a catalog and to book visit www.vbt.com or call VBT’s tour consultants at 844-635-1388 Monday-Friday from 8:30am to 6:30pm EST and Saturday 10:00am to 3:00pm EST. Use booking code VBT1518.

About VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations
VBT offers deluxe, small group bicycling and walking tours worldwide, including destinations throughout Europe, Costa Rica, New Zealand, Vietnam, Peru, Chile, South Africa, and the United States. Each trip includes all accommodations, many meals, two expert local Trip Leaders, unique sightseeing and cultural activities and on-tour vehicle support. Unlike other companies, VBT also includes roundtrip international airfare from over 30 U.S. cities and select Canadian cities for all overseas vacations. In 2014, VBT was rated by the readers of Travel + Leisure magazine among the “World’s Best Tour Operators” for the fifth consecutive year.