ULTIMATE NORTHERN ARGENTINA
Northern Argentina travel!
Gauchos, vineyards, native culture and rough cactus landscapes. The North of Argentina has a lot to offer and it’s Mediterranean climate makes it accessible all through the year. This trip starts in swinging Buenos Aires, where you can enjoy the colourful neighbourhoods, great restaurants and the tango in the streets. Afterwards, you travel to Mendoza, which offers splendid hikes through the Andes and where you can enjoy yourself in the Malbec vineyards. Those interested also have the opportunity to experience the life of a Gaucho on horseback! Around the colonial city of Salta, you can marvel at the splendid mineral mountains, cactus landscapes and native culture. Lastly, submerge yourself in the tropical water spectacle of Iguazu!
Day 1 - Buenos Aires
The Argentinian culture is best experienced in San Telmo. Here you’ll see people dancing the tango in the streets and can browse through a host of wonderful antique shops.
Day 2 - Buenos Aires
Colourful Buenos Aires has something for everyone! You can explore the city in different ways. A great tour through the neighbourhoods can be enjoyed by bike. But there’s also plenty to see by foot. The free walking tours are very popular and are led by locals. If you like creativity, the street art tour is definitely worth it or a fan of antiques, then don’t skip the San Telmo neighbourhood! The neighbourhood of La Boca, boasts brightly coloured houses and the area of Palermo is highly recommended with its trendy vibe and wealth of luxurious boutiques and restaurants.
Day 3 - Estancia
Today, you’ll visit El Ombú de Areco, a historical estancia just over an hour’s drive away from the centre of Buenos Aires. This mansion built in the colonial style in 1880 is located in a splendid gaucho environment. You’ll enjoy delicious local wines and an asado, the typical Argentinian BBQ made with the world’s best beef. In summer, lunch is served in the shadows of the great ombu (tree coming from the Argentinian pampas). The Gauchos will introduce you and your friends to the Argentinian Maté (traditional Gaucho tea). At the Dia de Campo, you can ride a horse and after lunch, the gauchos show some of their skills, from dancing to horse riding and playing polo, all related to the gaucho way of life. At the end of the afternoon, you drive back to Buenos Aires.
Day 4 - Mendoza
You’ll fly to Mendoza this morning.
Mendoza, famous for the Aconcagua mountain (highest mountain in South America) and the Malbec wines, is one of the most beautiful cities in the country. Mendoza is located at the base of the Andes mountain range and has a rich culture and history that are visible in the streetscape. The city also serves as a base for all kinds of adventurous activities like mountain climbing, skiing, rafting and horse riding. The city is known for its wine route. You can taste delicious wines at the various vineyards in the region with worldwide fame!
Day 5 - Mendoza vineyards
Today, you’ll visit three vineyards where professional guides tell you everything about the wine production process and how the wine can be tasted. The tour has three wine tastings and a delicious lunch in one of the wine houses. You can visit the vineyards by mountain bike or by bus.
Optional excursion: Horse riding through vineyards and the Andes
Today, you can ride a horse for 4 hours through the vineyards and splendid Uco Valley. Surrounded by the Andes and with condors circling above your head, this is a splendid setting to ride a horse. We’ll go to “Quebrada del Condor” (the gap of the Condor) through the village of Potrerillos and “Mirador de la Hoyada” (panoramic viewpoint). The ride starts after a traditional breakfast. The flora and fauna you encounter along the way are fantastic: llamas, condors, foxes, hares and splendid birds will also be part of this ride. We cross rivers, valleys and follow ancient paths to spectacular panoramas at an altitude of 2800 metres across the “Cordón de plata” and Potrerillos Valley. We have the authentic Argentinian “Asado” (BBQ) for lunch!
Day 6 - Mendoza
Today is a free day and you can take a beautiful hike through the Andes mountain range. With the highest mountain of South America, the Aconcagua, as the background!
Day 7 - Salta
The sunny city of Salta lies in the north-west of Argentina and is surrounded by spectacular landscapes. Spanish colonial architecture dominates the street scene, on terraces you can enjoy a delicious empanada and see the charming population of highland natives come by in colourful ponchos. There’s much to do in the area. For example, you can visit the largest vineyards in Cafayate, enjoy the colourful mineral mountains and cactus landscapes around Humahuaca, visit salt flats and the environment also offers great opportunities to ride a horse in the Andes. The choice is yours! Some of the options are described below, though much more is possible, let us know what you want and we’ll customise your trip!
Day 8 - Humahuaca
Optional excursion 1: Humahuaca
Cactus landscapes, mineral mountains and native culture. Today, there’s an optional excursion to the UNESCO world heritage site of Humamuaca and environment, consisting of small villages, fascinating cultures and spectacular landscapes. You’ll drive to Purmamarca, where you visit the Seven Coloured Hill and a local market. On the way, you’ll see old ruins in the village of Tilcara surrounded by cactuses, the famous colourful La Pollera del Coya hill and paintings of the Arcabuceros angels. You also visit the villages of Humahuaca and San Salvador de Jujuy.
Optional excursion 2: Salt flats
Across the well-known Route 40, we continue to one of the most deserted areas in Argentina until we reach the Salt Flats. Immense, white salt flats offer optical illusions and a great opportunity to make some crazy perspective photos! On the way back, you drive past the famous Seven Coloured Hill of Purmamarca and San Salvador de Jujuy.
Day 9 - Cafayate
Wine tour
Following route 68, we drive to Quebrada de las Conchas, where wind and water erosion have formed unique rock formations (the amphitheatre, the devil’s throat, the castles etc.). In Cafayate, we visit the famous Torrontes vineyards, the museum of wine production and two vineyards to taste delicious wines.
Day 10 - Iguazu
Puerto Iguazu is known for its impressive waterfalls that form the natural border between Brazil and Argentina. The waterfalls are the widest in the world with 160m to 260m (it can vary depending on the water level) big and small waterfalls with a total width of 2,700 metres. At the banks of the Iguazu river, you can see the coastlines of Brazil and Paraguay and if there’s enough time, you can even visit these countries by boat!
Day 11 - Iguazu
Iguazu Argentinian side
You’re picked up at your hotel and will visit the Argentinian side of the Iguazu waterfalls today. A professional guide tells you everything you need to know about the history, flora and fauna of the National Park and the waterfalls. Experience the imposing views and sounds of the waterfalls. The National Park has easily accessible hiking trails that provide a spectacular view of the many waterfalls. Using the Upper and Lower Circuit, you walk past the forces of water.
Optional excursion – sail past the waterfalls
Additionally, you can participate in the forces of water! In a zodiac, you sail past the waterfalls as close as is possible. During this close-up, you experience how gigantic the waterfalls are, you feel the force and the mist hits you. You then sail across the Iguazu river and back to shore, after a short hike, you hop into the 4×2 jeep from which you explore the jungle! This excursion is for 12 years of age and up, not for pregnant woman or people with physical handicaps. Wear suitable clothes, you will get wet.
Day 12 - Iguazu
The Brazilian side of the waterfalls is on the programme today. Once again, you drive to the Iguazu park accompanied by a guide. Today’s hike gives you a fantastic panoramic view of the impressive waterfalls of Bozzetti, Two Sisters, San Martin and the three musketeers.
Day 13 - Buenos Aires
End of an unforgettable journey through Argentina.
Included:
* All accommodations with breakfast
* Mentioned meals
* Transport like mentioned in the program, except from domestic flights
* Excursions like mentioned in the program, unless stated otherwise
Not included:
* International and domestic flights
* Not mentioned meals
* Entry fees national parks, unless mentioned differently
* Optional and not mentioned services and excursions
