Highlights
- Sample Argentine malbec and steak at a traditional Buenos Aires parrilla
- Marvel at the otherworldly rock formations near Salta
- Soak in the healing waters of Termas de Cacheuta near Mendoza
- Tour the oldest wineries in Uruguay outside of Montevideo
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Buenos Aires (Argentina), Dinner in Puerto Madero | Buenos Aires |
| Day 2 | Buenos Aires Tour, Palmero Walking & Food Tour | Buenos Aires |
| Day 3 | Tour Casa Gamboa Vineyard | Buenos Aires |
| Day 4 | Fly to Salta, Folk Music & Dance Tour | Salta |
| Day 5 | Horseback Riding in Salta | Salta |
| Day 6 | Transfer to Cafayate via the Calchaquí Valley | Cafayate |
| Day 7 | Return to Salta via Quebrada de las Conchas & the Lerma Valley | Salta |
| Day 8 | Fly to Mendoza, Vineyard Tour & Wine Blending Workshop | Mendoza |
| Day 9 | Olive Oil & Wine Tastings Near Mendoza | Mendoza |
| Day 10 | Spa Day at Termas de Cacheuta | Mendoza |
| Day 11 | Trek Cerro Bayo, Fly to Buenos Aires, Ferry to Montevideo (Uruguay) | Montevideo |
| Day 12 | Montevideo City Tour, Folk Dance & Music Dinner Show | Montevideo |
| Day 13 | Montevideo Winery Tour & Tastings | Montevideo |
| Day 14 | Tour Uruguay's Oldest Wineries, Depart Montevideo |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Buenos Aires (Argentina), Dinner in Puerto Madero
¡Bienvenidos a Argentina! Your flight lands in the beautiful city of Buenos Aires. Known as the "Paris of South America," the Argentine capital is a dazzling mix of vibrant street life, elegant boulevards, and top-notch food and wine. After you've settled in, wander the neighborhoods of Retiro and Recoleta, which are full of vast green spaces and French-style mansions, then head to La Boca, where you'll find the Caminito area, famous for its colorful painted houses. Buenos Aires is also the birthplace of tango, and full of places to watch and learn the dance, such as Café Tortoni.
For dinner, head to the Puerto Madero neighborhood, the city's former main port that fell into disuse until a revitalization project in the 1990s. Today, the glistening architecture, riverside location, and excellent choice of restaurants make it the perfect place to sample the city's famed cuisine. Do like the locals and enjoy a juicy steak drizzled with chimichurri (garlic, herb, and vinegar sauce) at a local parrilla (steakhouse).
Day 2: Buenos Aires Neighborhood Walking Tour, Palermo District Food Tour
Spend the morning on a walking tour through Argentina's beautiful capital. The route begins at the emblematic Avenida 9 de Julio to see El Teatro Colón and the Obelisk. Discover the city's founding site at the Plaza de Mayo, where you'll also see the Cathedral and the Cabildo (City Hall). Continue to the traditional neighborhood of San Telmo, with its cobblestone streets and colonial architecture, and wander the colorful Caminito Street.
See the renowned fútbol (aka soccer) stadium, Estadio Boca Juniors, and discover history at the old port, Antiguo Puerto de La Boca. Finally, take a tour of Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur, a haven for native flora and fauna, protected coastlines, marshlands, grasslands, and forests. Enjoy the peace in the middle of the city and spot wildlife such as black-necked swans or long-necked turtles.
In the afternoon, take a walking and food tour of the picturesque Palermo neighborhood. Walk through the impressive streets, find vibrant street art, and learn about the borough's long history. Stop at restaurants and cafés to taste specialties at traditional Argentine parrillas, try famous street foods like choripán (sausage with bread), and sample milanesas (breaded steak). End the night with a visit to a wine cellar to taste some locally-produced wine.
Day 3: Tour Casa Gamboa Vineyard
Leave the city for the countryside today as you head to the Pampas, a vast grassland stretching for miles outside Buenos Aires. Around 40 miles (65 km) from the capital, you'll find the exceptional Casa Gamboa Vineyard, a small oasis in this traditional ranchland, with vines originally planted by Spanish and Italian immigrants in the late 19th century.
Start with a guided tour of the grounds, gaining insight into wine production and tasting malbec, pinot noir, and cabernet franc varietals in the wine cellar. After the tour and tasting, head to the charming countryside restaurant for a four-course lunch accompanied by paired wines before your transfer back to Buenos Aires.
Day 4: Fly to Salta, Folk Music & Dance Tour
This morning, your driver will transfer you from your hotel to the airport for your flight to Salta. After you arrive, a driver will be waiting to whisk you off to the city center. After you settle in, head out to explore the vibrant city, known for its rich cultural heritage and stunning landscapes. See the beautiful Salta Cathedral or explore the Museum of High Altitude Archaeology with its impressive artifacts from the Incas. Get a panoramic view of the city from San Bernando Hill, reachable via the scenic Teleférico San Bernardo cable car.
Later in the day, join a folk tour to discover the many dances and songs that originated in Salta. For two hours, you'll learn folk dances like chacareras and sambas, as much a part of the cultural fabric of Salta as its landscape and wines, at the dinner club La Vieja Estación. Enjoy Andean specialties and local wine as you watch the show and learn the basic steps in a peña, a traditional gathering featuring folk music and dance.
Day 5: Horseback Riding in Salta
Today, join a horseback riding tour through the scenic landscape around San Lorenzo, a small town just outside of Salta. Meet the horses at a local farm and learn the basics of riding a horse before following your guides past gorgeous rivers, hills, streams, forests, and panoramic views.
Enjoy the views of the Reserva Finca las Costas, a natural reserve dedicated to preserving the cleanliness of the water and the local horse culture. Spot flora and fauna in the lovely Montana Forest before returning to the farm for a traditional barbecue, complete with helados (ice cream) and coffee, then head back to Salta.
Day 6: Transfer to Cafayate via the Calchaquí Valley
After an early breakfast in Salta, depart for an exciting two-day excursion with a local guide. A driver will pick you up at your hotel in Salta for a journey down the picturesque Ruta 40 to the charming wine town of Cafayate, where you'll spend the night. The famous road runs thousands of miles along the Andes from Patagonia to northern Argentina.
After about four hours, arrive in the historical town of Cachi. Admire the adobe houses and iconic 16-century church, visit the small yet rich archaeological museum, and hit the road again. Pass through charming mountain towns such as Angastaco, Molinos, and Seclantas to see more churches or shop for artisanal goods such as handwoven textiles and ceramics.
By the end of the afternoon, arrive at Cafayate, a picturesque town surrounded by wineries in the Calchaquí Valley. After checking in to your hotel, try a sample of the famous local wine, torrontés, an aromatic white varietal, in the lovely plaza, and sample malbec ice cream at a traditional gelato shop.
Day 7: Return to Salta via Quebrada de las Conchas & the Lerma Valley
After a relaxing breakfast in Cafayate, hop aboard your transfer back to Salta along Ruta 68, which passes the nationally protected Quebrada de las Conchas (Shells' Gorge) with its unique rock formations. This famous gorge, characterized by intense colors and an erosion-shaped landscape, has well-known landmarks like the Devil's Throat, the Amphitheater, the Frog, and the Obelisk. You'll stop along the way to explore the landscape and snap photos to appreciate these iconic monuments up close.
Continue back to Salta through the Lerma Valley, including a section on the Cuesta del Obispo, a snaking road that traverses a lush mountain slope, ideal for spotting native wildlife like vicuñas, pumas, and falcons. From there, continue driving north a few hours back to Salta, where you'll check into your hotel. You'll return in plenty of time to explore more of the lovely town.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 8: Fly to Mendoza, Vineyard Tour & Wine Blending Workshop
Today, you'll make the short flight from Salta to Mendoza, a beautiful city in the foothills of the Andes mountain range, known for its outdoor activities, gorgeous scenery, and, most importantly, winemaking! Arrive at El Plumerillo International Airport and take your private transfer to your hotel.
Once you've settled in, explore the city at your leisure. Visit the Plaza Independencia, the central square, surrounded by historic buildings and landmarks such as the Casa de Gobierno and the Teatro Independencia. Later in the day, visit the Malbec Clone Mother Vineyard to tour the vineyard, discover the production and winemaking process, and taste exclusive varietals from the wine cellar.
Take part in a blending activity, combining two of your favorite wines from the winery. Vote on your favorite new blend, take a personalized label home and eat a multicourse meal (paired with specific wines).
Day 9: Olive Oil & Wine Tastings Near Mendoza
Eat an early breakfast at your hotel in Mendoza before taking a full-day tour of the famous surrounding wine country. Spend the day at the base of the dramatic Andes in Luján de Cuyo, the cradle of malbec, Argentina's most renowned wine. Visit several wineries in these beautiful, centuries-old vineyards framed by snowcapped mountains, stopping along the way to participate in wine tastings.
Mendoza is famous not only for its wine but also for its olive oil. As you explore the wine country, you'll also stop at several olive producers, like Olivícola. Taste freshly made olive oils and olive paste and learn more about olive production in the region. Sample Argentina's most famous malbec or the unique fuego blanco at the multifaceted Bodega Salentein. Your tour will include lunch, showcasing regional specialties like tomatican (Mendozan tomato soup), locro (local stew), and flambres (cold meat).
Day 10: Spa Day at Termas de Cacheuta
Today, your driver will be waiting to take you outside Mendoza to the famous thermal waters of Termas de Cacheuta. Located in a valley surrounded by the Cordón del Plata mountains, the stone lagoons of this luxurious spa overlook the picturesque Río Mendoza. While there, take full advantage of the healing waters and the other perks, including a sauna in a natural cave, whirlpools, footbaths, cool water springs, and a solarium.
Indulge in spa treatments such as mud therapy and massage before tucking into a criollo (country) lunch with a barbecue buffet. Later in the day, you'll return to Mendoza for your final night in the city.
Day 11: Trek Cerro Bayo, Fly to Buenos Aires, Ferry to Montevideo (Uruguay)
Wake up early for a trekking tour near Mendoza in the mountains of Potrerillos. Join a transfer for about an hour to the trailhead leading up Cerro Bayo, one of the most beautiful peaks in the area. Hike up the zigzagging path, noting local flora and fauna, including the famous condor. The two-hour hike to the mountain's peak provides incredible views of the surrounding ridges and the turquoise glacial lagoon, Lago Potrerillos.
Once you reach the top, your guide will produce a traditional lunch of cold cuts and bread, Argentine sweets such as alfajores (caramel cookies), and a cup of coffee or tea. During the break, you'll have time to take plenty of pictures and enjoy the far-reaching views. Begin the descent after you're rested, and after about an hour and a half, you'll reach the parking lot, where a van will be waiting to take you back to Mendoza.
Day 12: Montevideo City Tour, Folk Dance & Music Dinner Show
Discover the famous sites of Montevideo today on a comprehensive, citywide tour. Admire historic buildings like the Montevideo Metropolitan Cathedral, stop at charming squares like Plaza Matriz, and stroll through the traditional Prado neighborhood. Stop at the famous Mercado del Puerto to refuel and sample food at one of the famous grills.
Later, wander along the Rambla de Montevideo, an extensive promenade stretching over 13 miles (20 km) along the coast. See the oldest theater in South America, the Solís, and the neighborhood of Punta Gorda, where you'll find Plaza Virgiliond and spectacular panoramic views of the coast.
In the evening, head to El Milongon for dinner along with local folk music and dance. Enjoy a glass of Uruguayan wine as you watch the show, starting with a demonstration of candombe, a style of music and dance invented by African descendants in Uruguay. Watch dancers perform milonga, a traditional folk dance considered the precursor of tango. Famous gaúchos (cowboys) bring the crowd together, and you'll be invited to join—you won't resist the rhythm!Day 13: Montevideo Winery Tour & Tastings
You're already an expert on Argentine wines, and now it's time to focus on Uruguay's as you visit some of the best wineries around Montevideo on this full-day tour. The experience begins at Bodega Altos de la Ballena, a small, family-run winery on the Sierra de la Ballena. With just under 20 acres (8 ha) of grapes, the winery specializes in limited-production, high-quality wines, creating flavors that speak to the rich mountain soil and ocean breezes.
After a visit and tasting, continue to the charming small town of Pueblo Edén. Sample wine at the Viña Edén winery and visit nearby olive plantations to try local olive oils before returning to enjoy the nightlife of Montevideo on your final night in Uruguay.
Day 14: Tour Uruguay's Oldest Wineries, Depart Montevideo
Make the most of your final morning in Uruguay with a guided tour of the region's oldest wineries. Start at Bodega Juanicó, where you'll sample Don Pascual wines, accompanied by a table of snacks and handmade bread. This pioneering winery, which produces both whites and reds, was the first in the area to build an underground cellar in 1830, enabling incredible quality wines due to the naturally cool environment in the cellar.
Continue to Bodega Pizzorno, located roughly 12 miles (20 km) from Montevideo in Canelón Chico. This prime area for wine production has warm days and cold nights that produce more intensely colored and flavored grapes. Tour the vineyard and taste the best selection of wines and several regional food specialties. End the tour with a three-course lunch paired with perfectly complementing wine.
After your tour, it'll be time to say goodbye to Uruguay. A driver will transfer you to the airport to catch your flight home or your next destination. Buen viaje, wherever life takes you next!
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