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TOUR
OF THE WINERY AND THE PALOMA DAM IN THE LIMARI VALLEY
(Available
Monday To Fridays Only)
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This full day excursion departs in the morning
from La Serena driving south along the Pan American Highway
admiring the beautiful beaches such as La Herradura, Las Tacas and
Guanaqueros on the way. As the coast is left behind there is an
opportunity to observe the permanent thick fog settled above the coastal
hills (the camanchaca), which produces the high humidity of this
area. Going inland from the coast towards the east the various agricultural crops can be seen
including the fruit "pepino" (sweet cucumber) grown in this
region.
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Continuing along the route of the grapes with such
fertile lands the tour arrives at the "Francisco de Aguirre
Vineyard" which is situated on the gentle rocky slopes of the semi
arid valley as it stretches from the Andes Mountains to the
Pacific Ocean. After a visit to see the different types of vineyards
with an explanation of the complete process of Chilean wine making the
visit is topped off by an enjoyable tasting in a natural underground
cave.
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Leaving the vineyards behind the tour passes
through the picturesque town of Ovalle, capital of the Limari Province. This city is
where leading producers of vegetables and fruits come from the surrounding
rural villages to market their products. Heading towards the
Paloma Dam, the visitor is able to learn about the largest integrated
irrigation system in Chile and the second largest in South America. The
reservoir has a water storage capacity of 750 million cubic meters, covers
an area of 3,000 hectares and allows for the irrigation of thousands of
hectares during drought periods. It is also a good photo stop to
enjoy the panoramic views of this huge artificial lake amidst the semi arid
coastal Andean mountains.
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The day also includes lunch in a traditional
Chilean restaurant. The return to La Serena is made along an inland
route arriving in the evening.
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For Information:
info@ingservtur.cl
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Reservations:
reservas@ingservtur.cl
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Home Page
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