The Magic of Argentina | Trip Itinerary

DAY 1- BUENOS AIRES
Arrival Buenos Aires Airport. Note there is currently a reciprocity fee of $160 for US citizens that needs to be paid on-line before you arrive in the country.  Our local guide will meet you and transfer you to your select hotel. Time to settle in and relax before a short afternoon walking tour of the city. This is a great introduction to your surroundings and we offer a selection of approaches for you to focus on history, cafes and bookstores, architecture, modern Buenos Aires, and nature. For those that prefer a little more adventure, we can arrange for a tour by bike.

This Cosmopolitan city can be a superlative introduction to an exploration of Argentina. European in appearance, Buenos Aires can keep any culture-oriented visitor busy indefinitely. Whatever the date of arrival there will be chances to participate in cultural events, or be delighted with the best polo in the world (the national team remains unbeaten for several decades), excellent football / soccer or discover the local gaucho game of “pato”, a sort of basketball on horseback.

DAY 2 – BUENOS AIRES
Morning visit of the city of Buenos Aires.
The Four Balconies of Buenos Aires is an exclusive visit in which a guide, professor of the University, uses four parks and plazas to introduce passengers to the city, its history, its everyday life and the peculiar psychology of the “porteño”, the inhabitants of Buenos Aires.

Evening transfer from the hotel to the Tango Venue to experience the glamorous dance complemented with a fine dinner. (B, D)

DAY 3 – BUENOS AIRES
Day at leisure to explore this delightful city and surroundings on your own. Optional tours available to explore the city further, or visits the Tigre Delta.  If today is a Sunday, you may wish to visit the famous San Telmo flea market, or handicraft fairs in the Recoleta district.  Or relax with a fine lunch on the river in the Puerto Madero area. (B)

DAY 4- BUENOS AIRES – SALTA
You’ll be picked up at your hotel at the pre-arranged time for the short transfer to the Aeroparque airport and your flights to Salta.   On arrival you’ll be met and transferred by private car to your select hotel, where you check-in for an overnight stay.  In the afternoon have a short walking tour of the city of Salta with an optional visit to its very interesting High Mountain Archaeological Museum, the locally known as the MAAM. (B)

DAY 5 -  SALTA – CACHI
We head south from Salta city skirting the rust-colored tobacco fields at the city’s edge before heading west on RP 33,  the gravel road that journeys through the parched Quebrada de Escoipe (Escoipe canyon). At the canyon’s end the landscape changes abruptly as the Cuesta del Obispo (Obispo Pas) and the Valle Encantado (Enchanted valley) both huge, verdantly green valleys come into view. As the road climbs the mountains that overlook the valleys, condors can be usually be seen gliding overhead.

Doubling back and forth as it ascends, the road eventually climbs to about 12,000 feet.  Here we find the access to the beautiful Los Cardones NP, a national park populated by thousands of huge cardon cacti.

Arrival in Cachi, a small village located within a short distance form the park. It is tiny, but a good place to rest. Cachi's restored colonial church is a national historic monument. The museum of local archeology has a collection of native artifacts of the Andean region. Check in to your selected hotel for an overnight stay. (B)

DAY 6- CACHI – CAFAYATE
Leave Cachi in the morning to travel on one of the nicest roads in Argentina, the Route 40. We leave Cachi and visit Seclantas town to mingle with the friendly weavers that make the beautiful ponchos and other items. Next we’ll continue to  Molinos which is a charming village well worth a visit. Finally we enter the stunning Quebrada de las Flechas (The Arrow´s gorge) an incredible rock formation of capricious forms.
Our final destination today is Cafayate, the hometown of the Torrontes, a local wine variety.
Check-in to your selected hotel for an overnight stay. (B)

DAY 7- CAFAYATE – SALTA
This morning is dedicated to visiting the vineyards in Cafayate and, time permitting, we can visit the very interesting archaeological site at Quilmes. In the afternoon drive back to Salta via the Quebrada de las Conchas a very panoramic canyon of red rocks formations. Arrive to Salta and check in to your select hotel for an overnight stay. (B)

DAY 8- SALTA- PUERTO IGUAZU
If you are taking the non-stop flight from Salta to Iguazu Falls, you'll have a free day in Salta until your late afternoon transfer to the airport. Hotel rooms are generally available until 12:00 noon with-out additional charge.
You’ll be picked up at your hotel at the pre-arranged time for the transfer to the Salta airport. Check-in and departure for your flights to Iguazu Falls. Non-stop flights depart 6-7 PM, arriving 8-9:00 PM. For an earlier schedule, you will need to travel via Buenos Aires and change planes.

Arrival in Puerto Iguazu, meet and greet and transfer to your selected hotel.
Balance of the day at leisure to explore the area and enjoy the nice coast of the Iguazu River. (B)

DAY 9- FULL DAY TOUR OF IGUAZU FALLS
Spend the whole day exploring the amazing Iguazu Falls with your private guide. After a first stop at the visitor´s center we will board a fun small train which connects the most interesting areas of the park: the Upper and lower trails and the Devil´s Throat.  Following your tour of the falls, you’ll board small speed boats for the navigation up the Iguazu River to approach the amazing Devil´s Throat section of the falls—the most imposing view possible of Iguazu!  Return to your hotel in the late afternoon (B)

DAY 10 - Day at leisure until the time of the transfer to the airport to fly to the next destination. (B)

B=Breakfast; L=Lunch; D=Dinner