Immerse yourself in Argentina's vibrant culture and beautiful landscapes on this 14-day tour. Begin in Buenos Aires, where you'll cycle around the city and catch a live tango show, then head to the Lake District for hiking and kayaking in Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi. Continue to Mendoza to taste locally-produced wines before exploring the salt flats and painted deserts of Salta in the country's northwest. Finish with a day and night on a traditional ranch near the country town of San Antonio de Areco.

Highlights

  • Explore Buenos Aires on a bicycle tour around the city
  • Hike around the beautiful lakes and mountains of Bariloche
  • Sample delicious wines and take a cooking class in Mendoza
  • Visit the northern city of Salta and tour the region's salt flats

Brief Itinerary

Day Highlights Overnight
Day 1 Arrive in Buenos Aires, Tour the City Buenos Aires
Day 2 Sightseeing, Tango & Dinner Show Buenos Aires
Day 3 Ride Around Buenos Aires on a Bicycle Tour Buenos Aires
Day 4 Fly to Bariloche & Discover the Lake District Bariloche
Day 5 Hike to Cerro Llao Llao Bariloche
Day 6 Kayak or Bike in the National Park  Bariloche
Day 7 Fly to Mendoza, Horseback Ride Mendoza
Day 8 Explore Mendoza on a Wine Tour, Cooking Class Mendoza
Day 9 Free Day at Chacras de Coria Mendoza
Day 10 Fly to Salta, Cable Car Ride Salta
Day 11 Quebrada de Humahuaca & Salt Flats Excursion Purmamarca
Day 12 Scenic Return Trip to Salta, Wine Tasting Salta
Day 13 Fly to Buenos Aires, Transfer to a Traditional Argentine Estancia  San Antonio de Areco
Day 14 Depart Buenos Aires   

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Buenos Aires, Tour the City

Explore the birthplace of tango in Buenos Aires

Welcome to Argentina! Your adventure starts in the capital city of Buenos Aires, nicknamed the "Paris of South America." Transfer from the airport to your hotel and take some time to get settled before heading off on an afternoon tour. Your guide will start by showing you Plaza de Mayo, home to the national government palace and the Metropolitan Cathedral. See the famous Obelisco and continue to nearby San Telmo, one of the city's oldest neighborhoods; it's renowned for its bohemian atmosphere, street tango performances, antique shops, and cobblestoned streets.

La Boca is known for its brightly-painted houses, and Puerto Madero is on the riverside, with former industrial warehouses turned into elegant bars, restaurants, and offices. Palermo is home to many of the city's best bars, restaurants, and clubs, as well as picturesque parks and gardens. Recoleta is famous for its cemetery, where some of Argentina's most famous residents are buried—including Eva Perón, also known as Evita. After the tour, have dinner near your hotel—try an Argentine parrilla, or steakhouse—and get some rest.

Day 2: Sightseeing, Tango & Dinner Show

Tour the grand interiors of the famous Teatro Colón

You'll have part of the day free to explore the city today. After breakfast, head to the Teatro Colón, one of South America's premier opera houses. Take a tour of the theater, which opened in 1908, with its horseshoe-shaped gallery and incredible acoustics. You'll even have a chance to see the backstage and costume department. Then go for coffee and churros in Café Tortoni, one of the city's many classic cafés. Sample Argentine cuisine for lunch, then stroll around San Telmo, Puerto Madero, or La Boca.

In the evening, you'll attend a traditional tango show at a historic venue in San Telmo. Enjoy a classic Argentine menu with wine pairings as you watch dancers twirling to live music by a tango quintet. During the show, you'll learn about tango's roots and how the art form has developed over the years. You'll return to your hotel late in the evening to relax and get some rest.

Day 3: Ride Around Buenos Aires on a Bicycle Tour

Cycle through the colorful neighborhood of La Boca

Today you'll experience the city on two wheels. But your mode of transportation isn't a standard bicycle—you'll be riding a bambucicleta, an eco-friendly bike made of bamboo! In the morning, you'll meet your guide on the south end of Plaza San Martín. The first neighborhood you'll visit is Puerto Madero, pedaling through the Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve, a large waterfront nature reserve. Continue south to the La Boca neighborhood, home to the famous La Bombonera stadium and colorful Caminito Street.

Pedal to San Telmo for lunch, then ride to the upper-class neighborhoods of Recoleta and Retiro, famous for its ornate buildings and Baroque architecture. Finish the cycling tour with a ride through the expansive parks of Palermo, designed by legendary Argentine/French landscape architect Charles Thays. You'll have the evening free to relax, have dinner, and join in the city's famous nightlife. 

Day 4: Fly to Bariloche & Discover the Lake District

Explore Bariloche's charming city center on foot

This morning, you'll catch a two-hour flight to San Carlos de Bariloche, located in Argentina's Lake District. Bariloche was founded in 1902 on the shores of Lago Nahuel Huapi, part of the larger Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi. After getting settled at your hotel, get out and explore the city's charming chalet-style buildings and alpine architecture on a brisk walk. Stroll Mitre Street with its waterfront plazas, chocolate shops, and upscale restaurants.

In the afternoon, visit the elegant five-star Hotel Llao Llao for an afternoon tea service with dazzling lake views. Or ride the cable car to the top of Cerro Campanario. Located just outside town, the view from atop this 3,444-foot (1,050 m) mountain is breathtaking. Take in panoramic vistas of Lago Nahuel Huapi and the snow-covered mountains while enjoying a coffee or a glass of wine at the restaurant and lounge at the summit. Return to town and sample regional cuisine for dinner, like wild boar and freshly caught trout. 

Day 5: Hike to Cerro Llao Llao

The view from atop Cerro Llao Llao
Enjoy the view from atop Cerro Llao Llao

After breakfast, a car will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to Llao Llao Municipal Park, located just northwest of the city. This protected area is situated on the lakeshore and is home to some of the most stunning scenery in the region, as well as a network of well-maintained hiking paths. You'll embark on a hike to Cerro Llao Llao, the largest mountain in the park, for postcard-worthy views of the lake and surrounding mountains.

Points of interest you'll pass on the hike include the sandy beaches of Villa Tacúl, the ancient Puente Romano (Roman Bridge), and the little-visited Lago Escondido (Hidden Lake). Throughout this excursion, you'll trek through the Patagonian forest and stop at lookout points over Lago Moreno, Puerto Blest, the Brazo Tristeza fjord, Mount López, and Mount Capilla. The total hiking time is 3.5 hours. You'll have the rest of the afternoon and evening to enjoy Bariloche.

Day 6: Kayak or Bike in the National Park 

The beautiful shore of Lago Nahuel Huapi
Take in spectacular views of Lago Nahuel Huapi

Today you can choose between two exciting excursions around Bariloche. One option is to go kayaking on Lago Mascardi, a V-shaped lake with tranquil, glassy waters and pebble beaches. In the morning, transfer from your hotel along National Route 40 to enter Nahuel Huapi National Park. Arrive on the shores of Lago Mascardi, where it meets the Río Manso. This is your starting point for a moderate kayaking excursion. Paddle through turquoise waters flanked by evergreen forest, then stop at a remote beach to have lunch and relax before paddling back.

Another option is to go off-road mountain biking in the foothills of the Andes. Starting from your hotel, transfer to the base of Cerro Catedral to begin the ride. Cycle through beautiful scenery, taking in views of lakes, mountains, and Colonia Suiza, a traditional village founded by Swiss pioneers in the late 19th century. The ride finishes with a refreshing beer tasting at a traditional microbrewery. Both the kayaking and mountain biking excursions last about three hours. You'll have the rest of the day to enjoy at leisure. 

Day 7: Fly to Mendoza, Horseback Ride

Plaza Independencia, Mendoza
Stroll around Plaza Independencia in Mendoza

This morning a driver will transfer you to the airport to catch a two-hour flight to Mendoza. This western part of the country is ground zero for the country's booming wine industry. Mendoza also features breathtaking scenery and opportunities for outdoor adventures. With the Andes looming high above the area's vineyards, there is a wide range of options for hiking, horseback riding, and whitewater rafting.

Upon arrival in the city, you'll get settled at your hotel and have lunch. Then head off on a 1.5-hour horseback riding excursion in the foothills of the Andes. (The starting point for the ride is a 30-minute drive from the city center.) You'll enjoy an unforgettable sunset in the mountains before the tour ends. Return to the city and enjoy a traditional barbecue dinner with wine at a local restaurant. Then get some rest before tomorrow's adventure. 

Day 8: Explore Mendoza on a Wine Tour, Cooking Class

Today it's all about the grape
Explore local vineyards on a wine tour

It's time to get out and explore Mendoza's vineyards and wineries today. On this tour, you'll visit the most famous wine destinations around Mendoza, from Luján de Cuyo to the fertile soil of the Maipú Valley. Throughout the tour, you'll learn about Mendoza's history, beginning with Jesuit priests and European immigrants. They settled here and combined their winemaking knowledge with irrigation techniques passed down from the native Huarpe people, transforming a vast desert into a productive oasis.

You'll visit two wineries that still rely on traditional irrigation methods today and one or two more that use the latest technology in the winemaking process. On tours of the wineries' facilities, you'll learn about the cultivation of grapes, the harvest, and the bottling and labeling process. Of course, you'll also taste the wines! Sample several varietals alongside locally grown olives and artisanal cheeses at each winery.

This evening, you'll learn how to cook the traditional cuisine of Mendoza from an Argentine chef who will teach you how to prepare traditional recipes. Learn how to use the most primitive method of heat—glowing red flames and smoky embers—to cook vegetables and meat while delighting your senses with wine pairings of varietals produced in the region. You'll return to your hotel in the evening to relax and digest.

Day 9: Enjoy a Free Day in Mendoza

Relaxation in Chacras de Coria
Relax in Chacras de Coria, Mendoza

Today is a free day to enjoy Mendoza at your leisure. The city center features expansive plazas and wide boulevards shaded by sycamore trees. One of the most popular local meeting spots is Plaza Independencia, with its impressive fountains and elegant acacia trees. The largest park is Parque General San Martín, and it's a great place to go for a walk around well-manicured grounds and palm trees.

If you'd like to visit more wineries, consider a day trip to Valle de Uco, another wine region nearby. Or rent a bicycle and go on a self-guided tour around Chacras de Coria or one of the other wine-producing areas closer to the city. It's also possible to arrange a horseback riding excursion in the foothills of the Andes. If you're feeling less energetic, walk around town, soak up the sun in a chaise lounge, or have a leisurely meal in one of Mendoza's finest restaurants.

Day 10: Fly to Salta, Cable Car Ride

Salta Cathedral
Walk around Salta Cathedral and the city center

A driver will meet you at your hotel this morning and transfer you to the airport. You'll then board a two-hour flight to Salta. This well-preserved colonial city, founded in 1582, has been a traveler's favorite for years and has recently become a popular tourist destination. It's easy to see why—Salta offers fascinating museums, colorful nightlife, and a picturesque central plaza lined with cafés and restaurants that make great people-watching spots.

Upon arrival, you'll be transferred to your hotel. You'll have the rest of the afternoon to explore the town. Stroll around the city center to admire its colonial mansions and 18th-century buildings. On the central Plaza 9 de Julio, the rose-hued Salta Cathedral was completed in 1882. Visit one of two history museums on the plaza, then take a cable car up to Cerro San Bernardo, the most famous lookout point in the area, for views over the city and scenery. Try regional cuisine, like empanadas and tamales, for dinner at a restaurant near your hotel.

Plan your trip to Argentina
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Day 11: Quebrada de Humahuaca & Salt Flats Excursion

The salt flats of northern Argentina
Venture to the otherworldly salt flats of northern Argentina

Argentina has few more mystic, historical, and evocative areas than the Quebrada de Humahuaca. This arid desert valley starts in the high-altitude Andean plateaus before running into Jujuy Province and meeting the Río Grande, forming a 96-mile (155 km) corridor. This valley gorge runs from north to south and has been populated and used by humans for over 10,000 years, starting with the earliest hunter-gatherers. It became an important Inca trading route in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Your first stop will be the small town of Campo Quijano and the impressive Quebrada del Toro gorge. Then you'll visit Santa Rosa de Tastil, a pre-Inca settlement dating back to the eighth century. After a visit to one of the smallest villages in the region, San Antonio de los Cobres, you'll arrive at the Salinas Grandes Salt Flats. Explore this unique landscape before continuing to Purmamarca, where you'll spend the night. This picturesque village, filled with adobe houses and craft markets, is at the base of the iconic Cerro de los Siete Colores (Hill of the Seven Colors).

Day 12: Scenic Return Trip to Salta, Wine Tasting

Take a drive through the Quebrada de las Cochas
Take a beautiful drive through the Quebrada de las Conchas

After breakfast, begin the return trip to Salta. Stop at a regional winery along the way for a tour and tasting. The most popular varietal grown here is the fragrant white wine torrontés, but you'll also sample malbecs and other reds. Then continue the journey to Salta via a beautiful drive along the bright red mountains of Quebrada de las Conchas.

Wind and rain erosion have created some fascinating natural rock formations in this remote region. Many of these protrusions are so wildly shaped that they've earned colorful nicknames, like Garganta del Diablo (Devil's Throat). There's also a natural amphitheater here which has excellent acoustics. Arrive at your hotel in Salta and enjoy a free evening.

Day 13: Fly to Buenos Aires, Transfer to a Traditional Argentine Estancia 

Go for a carriage ride around the ranch

This morning, you'll board a morning flight to Buenos Aires. After the two-hour trip, you'll immediately transfer to the nearby countryside to a working estancia (ranch) near the town of San Antonio de Areco. The drive takes about 1.5 hours each way, and you'll notice how the landscape shifts to vast grasslands filled with cattle as you transfer out of the city. When you arrive at the ranch, you'll tour the grounds before choosing between hiking or horseback riding around the property. You could also go for a ride in a rustic horse-drawn carriage!

The outdoor activity will work up your appetite for a hearty lunch that begins with freshly baked empanadas and a glass of wine. Sit back and relax as your hosts prepare a traditional asado (barbecue), grilling a variety of meats and vegetables served with salads and more wine. Later, you'll sample classic desserts made with dulce de leche, Argentina's favorite sweet condiment. Enjoy folkloric dancing and more food and wine in the evening, and take in a sky full of stars before resting for the night at the ranch. 

Day 14: Depart Buenos Aires

Goodbye, Argentina!
An evening view of the historic sailing vessels in Puerto Madero, Buenos Aires

This morning, your epic two-week tour of Argentina draws to a close. Transfer to the airport in Buenos Aires for your return flight home. Safe travels!

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Map

Map of Classic Argentina: Buenos Aires, Bariloche, Mendoza & Salta - 14 Days
Map of Classic Argentina: Buenos Aires, Bariloche, Mendoza & Salta - 14 Days