Santiago Inca Lagoon Tour Review: Vineyard & Tasting Insights
Okay, so you’re thinking of visiting Chile and are probably checking things to do around Santiago, isn’t it? Perhaps the Inca Lagoon tour is on your radar, maybe even combined with a vineyard visit and some tasting of local specialties? I mean, it certainly sounds fantastic. The hope here is to share a close look at that tour so you can determine if that particular adventure fits just what you’re hoping for from your travels.
What to Expect From the Inca Lagoon Tour
First things first, let’s talk about what exactly you’re signing up for. The Inca Lagoon, sometimes known as Laguna del Inca, is located way up in the Andes Mountains. We are talking serious altitude; about 9,700 feet above sea level! Most tours are going to begin in Santiago, making for a pretty lengthy day trip that you will remember for a while. That means you should prepare for a fairly early start in the day and a pretty long journey.
The lagoon itself is what they consider something awesome. The waters happen to be this breathtakingly striking turquoise color because they reflect the sky and the surrounding mountains. There’s usually a local story or two being told to everyone concerning Incan royalty, that seems to be tied into the lagoon’s mystical appeal; adding a kind of cool dimension to your visit.
On many tours, you can also look forward to a stop, too it’s almost as though it were planned in the same visit to a vineyard in the area. I mean, because who wouldn’t want a little bit of what they consider high-altitude that tastes when vacationing?
The Journey: Getting to the Lagoon
Right, about that long journey – you want to be prepared, right? Usually, you’re looking at like a two to three-hour drive each way from Santiago, and of course that will all depend on traffic, so that’s important information for travelers who wish to visit that country. A large chunk of that journey is likely going to be spent winding your way up into the mountains and then taking some pretty switchback roads. The scenery that’s up there? Pretty outstanding, to be honest. Like, really outstanding.
My suggestion would be to prepare a little something, and bring snacks. And what I mean by snacks, are things like your own small pillow so you can catch a few winks in the transport as it drives up and down all that mountainous landscape. If, arguably, motion sickness tends to bother you? Then consider what they consider taking precautions to control what they refer to as symptoms. And by that, I mean medication and motion sickness bracelets, since some might say it can become very turbulent out there!
Up Close with the Inca Lagoon
Now, let’s talk about the main event – seeing the Inca Lagoon. You will find when you get there, that there’s a good possibility the air could be thinner given how high you are. Don’t be at all surprised if walking even just a little bit leaves you somewhat winded.
And yet, once you gaze at the lagoon itself, you may quickly discover that most consider the views spectacular. This mesmerizing hue to the water and that dramatic backdrop? Quite unbelievable, really. Take your time, relax and allow yourself to soak it up so to speak. Make sure to get that shot too! Is that crystal clear water against the mountainous backdrop the sort of thing you’ll ever get tired of photographing? We don’t think so, either.
If the day’s pretty clear and the weather allows for it, many say you could just make out the shape of the famed Christ the Redeemer statue way up on the mountaintops on the Argentina-Brazil border in the distance too; talk about quite a photo op if the weather obliges, arguably!
Vineyard Visit: A Taste of Chile
OK, and now it’s time for arguably my other most highly-anticipated section: the vineyard visit. Many of these Inca Lagoon tours stop at a local vineyard. Which one? I mean, that often depends on your tour, and they really vary. Regardless, here you’ll typically get to learn a bit about what winemaking is, taste a little bit of it and sample what’s on offer. And let’s be real, arguably there are few who visit Chile and can refuse this!
These vineyard stops can also represent kind of a welcome break, a brief relaxation from what many consider the heights of the Andes. It seems that they make a nice contrast – mountains, lagoon, wines: it all adds just a little more variety to the day’s experience in general.
Things to Consider Before You Go
Right, some very useful advice before your departure to that tour.
- Altitude: Don’t ignore this! The high altitude, generally, is a really serious thing. If you’ve got any lingering sort of medical problems? It probably wouldn’t be a bad idea to speak to your doctor beforehand. Even should you find yourself usually in the greatest of shape, then take it slowly.
- Weather: Mountain weather? Well, arguably it’s about as famous for unpredictability as your favorite soap opera plot twists! Pack in layers. It’s likely the sun is scorching so get what they call sunscreen, and always pack a rain jacket just in case.
- Tour Operator: Search to learn what other people like yourself may have to say concerning tour companies before handing money over. Do they maintain what people call glowing reviews? Does the tour include precisely the sorts of experiences and features you are searching for?
- What to wear: Layering. Always layering. Trust me when I say that the temperatures will go up, down, and maybe up once more. Sturdy footwear, too; it is always a really, really, really useful concept when you go out.
Is this Santiago Inca Lagoon Tour right for you?
Let’s cut to that for a quick moment; who’s this particular adventure for, exactly? The Inca Lagoon with Vineyard tour will likely appeal to those who like adventure and are eager to witness that mountain scenery. That visit to a vineyard? Certainly a boon for wine fans in that particular case too.
The overall length together with the altitude make this a very difficult outing if you are travelling including either smaller children or else have some worries concerning physical exercise that’s up high. As always, assess exactly what everyone who goes will feel and take account of what all your own physical fitness will entail before doing so.
To conclude, provided that you’re game to invest a bit to create what you consider the very long time, are also conscious in order to handle this height combined with weather, that adventure will probably give you something, and that is something pretty special. It’s an excellent opportunity for everyone and will probably combine the wonders that happen when visiting Chilean views into an adventure!