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Argentina Tour, Small Group: Valdez + Patagonia + Salta + Iguazu + Buenos Aires

Essential Argentina Tour: Valdez + Patagonia + Salta + Iguazu
Argentina Tour Small Group Valdez Patagonia Salta Iguazu Buenos Aires
15 NIGHTS FROM:
$3,520
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights quoted separately
AYI15B
• Argentina Tour (small group)
• Buenos Aires
• Valdez Peninsula
• Patagonia
• Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego
• El Calafate glaciers
• Salta
• Humahuaca Gorge
• Cafayate Winelands
• Iguazu Falls

On this Grand Argentina tour, you will travel in a small group to see the wildlife of the Valdez Peninsula (penguins, whales, seals & sea lions), as well as the ice fields & glaciers of Ushuaia & El Calafate in spectacular Patagonia, the dramatic landscapes of Salta, the thundering Iguazu Falls & vibrant Buenos Aires. English speaking guides, all transfers & specified sightseeing included. Min 2 / max 16.

Day 1
You will be met at Buenos Aires Airport and transferred to your hotel in this exciting city, situated on the estuary of the Río de la Plata - the 'River of Silver'.
 
Check in and relax in this capital of Argentina, known for its wonderful architecture, tango dancing and rich culture, including the highest concentration of theatres in the world.
Day 2
Today your exciting tour of Argentina begins, starting with a half day tour of Buenos Aires - a cosmopolitan city influenced by the many immigrants who helped form it and offering beautiful architecture, history and culture.
 
Our tour starts at the Plaza de Mayo, the historical, political and cultural centre of the city. Here you can see the Pink House (Presidential Palace), the Pyramid de Mayo and Metropolitan Cathedral. We then continue south to the Italian port neighbourhood of La Boca, with its colourful houses in Caminito Street and many 'cantinas' (small restaurants).
 
We also visit the residential neighbourhood of Palermo with its elegant mansions surrounded by spacious parks, before arriving in glamorous Recoleta, where there is the option to visit the famous cemetery where Eva Peron is buried, with its rich architecture (pay locally). Next to the cemetery is the church of Our Lady of Pilar, the Recoleta Cultural Centre (originally a convent) and the Palais de Glace exhibition centre.
 
In the evening you will be collected for a Tango Show. Born in the brothels of the city amongst a racial mix of Gauchos, Italian, Spanish and African immigrants, this dance and its music originated as a combination of Cuban and Spanish rhythms, with some polka and African beat. Enjoy the show and dinner, including mouth-watering Argentinian beef and Malbec wine.
 
Note: On escorted group tours please note that for operational reasons it is sometimes necessary to substitute one hotel with another of a similar quality.
Day 3
Transfer to Aeroparque Airport for your onward flight.

You will be met at Trelew Airport and transferred 1-hour to Puerto Madryn on the coast of northern Patagonia.
 
Trelew is the gateway to the rich marine life of the Valdes Peninsula. This region has strong links to the culture of Wales, as a result of Welsh settlement in this part of Argentina.
 
Check in and enjoy the afternoon at leisure in this maritime city.
Day 4
Today is devoted to exploring the marine life of the rocky Valdes Peninsula.
 
We drive 1-hour to this World Heritage site that is home to important breeding colonies of sea lions and elephant seals. These marine animals are preyed on by orcas, which have adapted their hunting techniques to local coastal conditions. From June to November, over 2,000 southern right whales gather here to give birth - making this the largest breeding population of southern right whales in the world.
 
Our first stop is at Puerto Pirámides, where an optional whale watching boat ride can be taken. Outside of whale watching season, you can see sea lions, cormorants and possibly bottlenose dolphins. After lunch (own account) we visit the sea lion colony at Puerto Pirámides.
 
Our next stop is at Punta Canor, a panoramic viewpoint over the peninsula and Caleta Valdes. From the rocky cliffs you can get close views of a colony of sea elephants. During the day we may also spot terrestrial wildlife such as guanacos, piches, maras, ostriches and foxes, as well as many different bird species.
 
We return to Puerto Madryn in the late afternoon, where you can walk along the beautiful sandy beach or the promenade that faces Golfo Nuevo Bay. There is also a clifftop museum with exhibits on Patagonian nature and a lighthouse-style tower with wonderful ocean views.
 
Note: The order we visit the above places may change.
Day 5
After a morning at leisure, transfer 1-hour to Trelew Airport for your onward flight.

You will be met at Ushuaia Airport and transferred to your hotel.
 
Surrounded by the spectacular mountains and fjords of Pategonia, this southermost city in the world is located on the shores of the Beagle Channel, at the southern tip of the island of Tierra del Fuego (or 'Land of Fire'). Regarded  by Argentinians as the capital of Malvinas (the Falkland Islands), you can explore this quaint port town and see the memorial to its citizens who lost their lives in this war.
Day 6
This morning enjoy an excursion to Tierra del Fuego National Park, situated at the very end of the Pan American Highway.
 
See the foothills of the Andes Mountains as they meet the ocean, with panoramic views of the Beagle Channel. We drive through the Andean-Patagonian forest with its many tree species, orchids and other flowers to visit Ensenda Bay, Lapataia Bay and Lake Acigami (formerley Lake Roca) with its waters that change colour according to the weather. There is also the opportunity to walk through this splendid scenery and see the many beaver dams.
 
In the afternoon enjoy a boat ride on the Beagle Channel to admire Sea Lion (Lobos) Island, Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse and the Bay of Ushuaia from the water.
Day 7
Transfer to Ushuaia Airport for your onward flight.

You will be met at El Calafate Airport and transferred to your hotel in this small town, situated on Lake Argentino in Santa Cruz province and the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park.
 
Check in and relax surrounded by the scenery of the spectacular Southern Patagonian Ice Field.
Day 8
Today enjoy a full day excursion to Los Glaciares National Park, the largest national park in Argentina covering an area of over 725,000 hectares and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
 
This is an area of exceptional natural beauty, with towering mountains and many glacial lakes. The giant ice cap in the Austral Andes that feeds these 47 glaciers is the largest outside Antarctica and Greenland, with over half the park covered with enormous glaciers. You can make your way along walkways in front of the famous Perito Moreno Glacier to get closer views. With luck you may see it "calving", when huge chunks of ice break off the glacier and splash into the lake below.
 
As an addition to your tour, we have included a 1-hour boat ride to view this spectacular glacier up-close, before returning to El Calafate in the late afternoon. Lunch is for your own account today.
Day 9
Transfer to El Calafate Airport for your onward flight.

You will be met at Aeroparque Airport in Buenos Aires and transferred to your hotel in this sophisticated capital city.
Day 10
Transfer to Aeroparque Airport for your onward flight.

You will be met at Iguazu Cataratas Airport and transferred to your hotel located near one of the greatest waterfalls in the world, regarded as one of Latin America's most awe-inspiring sights.
 
The mighty Iguazu Falls, whose name means "Great Waters", straddles the border between Argentina and Brazil - although almost 80% of the falls are on the Argentinian side. It is situated in a huge tropical rainforest that has been declared a World Heritage Site, with countless flora and fauna species.
 
On arrival enjoy a tour of the Brazilian side of these incredible falls, with panoramic views of the nearly 2-mile (3 km) cliff edge. We take an elevator down to the base of the waterfalls and stop at different viewing points. The volume of water flowing over the falls varies greatly depending on seasonal rainfall, but the falls are a spectacular sight at any time of year. The waterflow is highest between October and March, with the heaviest rains from December to February, when many trails are closed.
 
Note: You will need your passport to cross into Brazil. UK citizens do not need a visa for Brazil, but citizens of other countries need to check their requirements. Take a light raincoat, as you will get wet visiting some sections of the falls.
Day 11
Today enjoy a half day tour of the Argentinian side of the incredible Iguazu Falls, whose name means "Great Waters".
 
Comprising approximately 275 separate cascades, the falls form a curtain of foaming water that crashes over a vast granite amphitheatre and into the jungle below. Resembling a reversed letter "J", most of the Iguazu River plunges down through an area known as The Devil’s Throat, with the rest spreading out over a wide shelf that splits into hundreds of different waterfalls. There are a series of walkways that lead above, below and behind the falls, with breath-taking views. You can also hope to see monkeys, toucans, parakeets and other wildlife in the rainforest.
 
When the Devil's Throat section is inaccessible due to flooding, we will visit the Three Borders Landmark instead. This is where the Paraná River meets the Iguazú River - which marks the meeting point of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. There is a fair with local handicrafts, and from this point you can see the flags of all three countries.
 
Note: Take a light raincoat, as you will get wet visiting some sections of the falls.
Day 12
Transfer to Iguazu Cataratas Airport for your onward flight.

You will be met at Salta Airport and transferred to your hotel in this high-altitude Andean capital of the mountainous northwest, situated in the beautiful Lerma Valley.
 
The city has a timeless Spanish colonial atmosphere, reflected in its folk music - as it has a strong 'gaucho' (cowboy) culture. Salta also has many excellent museums. But in this region you will also see farmers herding their llamas and alpacas. You may also see other camelids such as vicuñas and guanacos, groups of rheas (which look like small ostriches) and the mighty Andean condor, the largest flying bird in the world.
 
In the afternoon enjoy a Walking Tour of Salta, including a visit to the MAAM High Mountain Archaelogical Museum (Museo de Arqueología de Alta Montaña) with its collection of Incan artifacts, including mummies of girls found in the Llullaillaco Volcano.
 
Note: The Town Hall and MAAM Museum are closed on Mondays. San Miguel Market is closed on Sundays.
Day 13
Today enjoy a scenic full day tour (12-hours) to visit indigenous Indian villages and view the unusual landscapes of Humahuaca Gorge (meaning 'broken'), a narrow mountain valley that is a spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Site.
 
We travel along a stunning ancient Inca route to the small indigenous town of Purmamarca. Here we see the multicoloured Cerro de los Siete Colores - the Seven Colours Mountain - and the adobe chapel of Saint Rosa of Lima dating from 1648. We also vist the Indian artisan market.
 
We continue through the Posta de Hornillos staging post to the town of Tilcara, where we visit the Pucara de Tilcara, a partially reconstructed pre-Columbian fort and the Archaeological Museum, with its fascinating collection of pre-Colombian items.
 
Crossing the Tropic of Capicorn, we view Pollera de la Coya - the Hill of Seven Colours - and the Church of Uquia, before arriving at Humahuaca situated nearly 10,000 ft (3,000 m) above sea level. This indigenous village was founded in 1594 and today has many beautiful adobe colonial houses, narrow cobblestone streets and colonial lanterns. Most historic buildings are set around the main square including the church, museum and monument to the wars for Argentinian independence, known as the Monument to the Indian.
 
After lunch (own account) we start our return journey, stopping in Humahuaca Gorge to admire Paleta del Pintor - the Painter’s Palette -  a stratified hill that frames the village of Maimará. We return to Salta in the late afternoon.
Day 14
A full day on the road today as we travel from Salta to the wine-producing region of Cafayate, travelling via the the charming pre-Colombian town of Cachi.
 
We travel 3-hours to Cachi, passing through the towns of Cerrillos, El Carril and Chicoana before ascending the Escoipe Cliff. We continue along the dramatic mountain road known as the Cuesta del Obispo, with its hairpin bends offering marvellous views of the rippling Sierra del Obispo mountains covered in olive-green vegetation, until we reach the high altitude Piedro del Molino (Stone Mill) at 3,384 m. From here we take the Recta de Tin-Tin, a straight path originally laid out by the local Aboriginal people that produces the strange sense of rising, whereas in reality the road is declining. We continue heading westward across an arid plateau to Los Cardones National Park, set up to preserve the endangered giant candelabra cactus.
 
After crossing Payogasta, an ancient indigenous settlement, we arrive in the town of Cachi situated at the foot of the Nevado de Cachi. This pre-Columbian region of old houses and good wine has a pristine atmosphere. Here you can visit the small 18th century church that is decorated with wooden objects and also serves as the Archaeological Museum.
 
We then leave Cachi and travel 4-hours to Cafayate, the region that produces the world's best high altitude white wines using the Torrontes grape. The town is scenically situated in the heart of the Calchaquíes Valleys and is surrounded by vineyards and rivers. This series of high altitude valleys receives over 300 days of sunshine a year and is renowned for its contrast of colours and unique geography, ranging from mountain deserts to subtropical forests and vineyards. The town has many beautiful homes that combine colonial and baroque architecture, such as the parish church and the municipal building.
 
Note: Pablo Diaz Museum and the Vine and Wine Museum are closed on Mondays.
Day 15
This morning enjoy a brief tour of Cafayete, including a visit to a local Winery.
 
After lunch (own account) we drive 4-hours back to Salta, travelling through the spectacular Cafayate Gorge. This barren and wild landscape of richly coloured sandstone has been carved out by the Rio de las Conchos river. Its reddish limestone walls have been eroded by wind and water, forming many capricious forms that have been names by local residents - such as the amphitheatre, devils’s throat, obelisk and the castles. The canyon’s twisted sedimentary strata display a stunning array of colours, ranging from rich red ocher to ethereal green.
 
You will be dropped off at Salta Airport for your onward flight.

You will be met at Aeroparque Airport in Buenos Aires and transferred to your hotel in this sophisticated capital city.
Day 16
Transfer to Buenos Aires Airport for your flight home.