The Maule region is located in central Chile and begins about 180 km south of the national capital Santiago de Chile. Especially typical of the region are its wine-growing areas. Our travelArtist Jennifer explored this region and tells us about some of the sights …
On my tour of the Maule region, only about 2.5 hours from Santiago, I got to know many interesting places that left a mark on me.
Our first destination was Curicó, where we visited the Miguel Torres winery.
This winery, which is part of the Curicó Valley Wine Route, focuses on sustainable viticulture: the most diverse types of wine are produced and processed in an ecological way, which is why this winery has the Fairtrade certification award.
Ceviche (seafood dish)
After the visit to the winery, including a wine tasting, we continued towards Talca, the capital of the Maule region, where a delicious lunch awaited us at the restaurant “Quinta la Chanchá”.
The multicultural space in the heart of the city offers a unique and traditional design concept based on the appreciation of regional products and their traditional preparations.
After this culinary approach to the regional cuisine, our journey took us to Caliboro, to the family business “Caliboro Aventura”, specialized in eco- and wine tourism. If you want to experience the hospitality and dedication to tradition in the Maule region, this is the perfect place to be.
The Opazo family has made it their mission to introduce visitors to the region to wine culture paired with local native cuisine and traditions.
Awarded the 100K seal for sustainable regional gastronomy, they produce their own wines and brandies (which we were allowed to taste), and the ingredients of the dishes come from a maximum radius of 100 kilometres.
We enjoyed the sunset at the hotel “Picamaderos” in Vilches Alto on the edge of the Alto de Lircay nature reserve, where the hotel owners were already waiting for us on the terrace with a delicious “asado” (barbecue). The whole atmosphere in the midst of a breathtaking nature invited us all to end the day in a relaxed way.
The next day, after a delicious lunch at the restaurant “Las Malvinas de Longaví”, we drove to Rari, the last highlight during our tour of the Maule region.
Rari is a small town in the municipality of Colbún and is known for the production of the unique objects in the world made of horsehair, called “crin“.
The art of weaving with horsehair is a centuries-old tradition that has already been admired at international fairs.
The Maule region, thanks to its proximity to Santiago with excellent transport connections, is an ideal destination to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and experience the hospitality of its people and their love for their traditions, culture and gastronomy.
For more information about excursions to the Maule region, please send an email to info@travelart.com.