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Argentina Holidays, Tailor Made: Salta + Mendoza Winelands + Patagonia + Iguazu Falls

Grand Argentina: Iguaza + Salta + Mendoza + Patagonia Wildlife

24 NIGHTS FROM:

$5,141

Per person sharing

Scheduled flights + car hire quoted separately

ACG24B

• Buenos Aires, Argentina

• Iguazu Falls

• Salta & Salt Flats

• Mendoza Winelands

• Lake District

• El Calafate, Patagonia

• Los Glaciares National Park

• Perito Morino Glacier

• Valdez Peninsula

• Argentina Holidays ,Tailor Made

This Grand Argentina part self-drive holiday explores dramatic landscapes, with some of the best food & wine in the world. Our Argentina holidays that can be tailor made to your needs to include Buenos Aires, thundering Iguazu Falls, the indigenous culture of Salta, the Mendoza winelands, the Lake District, stunning Patagonia & the wildlife of the Valdez Peninsula.

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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

This morning enjoy a half day shared tour of Buenos Aires - a cosmopolitan city that has been influenced by the many immigrants who helped form it and offering beautiful architecture, history and culture.

After collection from your hotel, your 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 continue down Avenida de Mayo, with its wide avenues and spacious green areas, past the Obelisk to the neighbourhood of San Telmo, one of the oldest in the city with cobbled streets and colonial houses. The vibrant area is the centre for most of the tango parlours, restaurants and bars of the city. Every Sunday a major artisan market takes place here around the Plaza Dorrego.

Going further south, we visit the Italian port neighbourhood of La Boca, with its colourful houses in Caminito Street and many 'cantinas' (small restaurants). Also the trendy modern neighbourhood of Puerto Madero, where the old piers have been converted into upmarket offices, apartments and restaurants with views of the Rio de la Plata.

We 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: Shared day tours have a maximum of 25 people. After your city tour you will be dropped off at one of the designated drop-off points in the downtown area.

Day 3

At leisure to explore more of the fabulous city of Buenos Aires.

You can enjoy its many shops and restaurants, or take an optional walking tour of San Telmo, the oldest neighbourhood in Buenos Aires. Alternatively take a tour to San Elmo, Tigre and the vast Parana River Delta, or a full day excursion to a traditional Estancia (ranch) where you can admire the skills of Argentinian 'gauchos' (cowboys).

You can also explore some of the city's museums, such as the Naval Museum, or take a full day excursion by high-speed hydrofoil ferry to the charming colonial city of Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay.

Day 4

Transfer to Aeroparque Airport for your onward flight.

Note: Your driver will only speak Spanish.

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.

Note: Your driver will only speak Spanish.

Day 5

Today enjoy a full day shared tour of the Argentinian side of the incredible Iguazu Falls.

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. Lunch is for your own account today.

Note: Wear good walking shoes, as you will walk a lot today on metal walkways that can get very slippery when wet. Also take a light raincoat, as you will get wet visiting some sections of the falls.

Day 6

This morning we cross the border for a half day shared tour of the Brazilian side of the incredible Iguazu 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.

Your afternoon is at leisure to relax at your hotel or explore further independently.

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. Shared day tours have a maximum of 25 people.

Day 7

Transfer to Iguazu Cataratas Airport for your onward flight.

Note: Your driver will only speak Spanish.

Arrive at Salta Airport, collect your hire car and drive 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.

Day 8

Today we suggest an optional half day Walking Tour of Salta, one of the most picturesque cities in Argentina with an attractive contrast between its traditional colonial buildings with their railed balconies and modern urban architecture.

Plaza 9 de Julio is at the heart of the city and surrounded by some of its most important buildings, numerous bars and restaurants. The 18th century Church and Convent of San Francisco has been declared a minor basilica by the Vatican. The Cabildo and Historical Museum of the North was the former seat of government of the Spanish Viceroy and subsequently the provincial government. The 16th century Convent of San Bernardo, whose portal is carved from an algarrobo (carob) tree, is considered a jewel of colonial art. The Italian designed Basilica Cathedral housese the remains of General Martín Miguel de Guemes, a hero of the battle for independence.

Afterwards drive to Cerro San Bernardo, where the monument to General de Guemes is located. From this hill there is a panoramic view over the Lerma Valley and the city below. Your tour ends at the Mercado Artesanal (Craft Market), where you can admire the mastery of local artisans with pottery, weaving, textiles, ponchos and tapestries, as well as with musical instruments.

At the end of your tour visit 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.

Day 9

A full day on the road today as you drive from Salta to the wine-producing region of Cafayate, travelling via the the charming pre-Colombian town of Cachi.

Drive 3-hours to Cachi, passing through the towns of Cerrillos, El Carril and Chicoana before ascending the Escoipe Cliff. 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 you reach the high altitude Piedro del Molino (Stone Mill) at 3,384 m. From here you 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. 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, you will 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.

Then leave Cachi and drive 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.

Day 10

This morning you can visit the Vine and Wine Museum (pay entrance fee locally) before leaving Cafayate and driving 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.

Note: Vine and Wine Museum is closed on Mondays.

Day 11

Today we suggest an optional full day tour to see the magnificent salt flats at Salinas Grandes, the largest in Argentina, travelling for 5.5-hours via the small town of San Antonio de Los Cobres and the indigenous village at Purmamarca.

We depart from Salta and travel towards San Antonio de los Cobres, following the route of the 'Train to the Clouds', which allows you to admire this marvellous feat of engineering with its many curves and zig-zags cutting deep into the Quebrada del Toro gorge. Enjoy the bright blue skies and multi-coloured hills covered with cacti and shrubs, in this pristine Andean environment.

On arrival at San Antonio de los Cobres we visit the La Polvorilla Viaduct, which rises 63 m above the ground at an altitude of 4,197 m. Built between 1930 and 1932, this was a great work of engineering in its time.

We continue our journey northwards along the old Route 40 to the magnificent Salinas Grandes salt flats situated at the foot of the Sierras de Córdoba Mountains. This spectacular 200 square mile (525 sq. km) salt plain is located some 11,000 ft (3,350 m) above sea level, with a salty crust of up to 20 inches (0.5 m) thick in places. On a bright day you will need sunglasses to take in the blinding contrast between the brilliant white expanse of cracked and crusty salt and the bright blue sky.

After enjoying this amazing scenery, we descend through the winding Cuesta de Lipán (a series of steep zigzags in the road) to the Valley of Purmamarca. Here you will find an indigenous Indian village, nestled in the enchanting landscapes of the Cerro de los Siete Colores (Hill of Seven Colours). The old adobe parish church, dedicated to Saint Rosa of Lima, dates from 1648 and is a national monument. The main square has an artisan market, which brings together local craftsmen with their wood carvings, tapestries, woven rugs and wide variety of medicinal and aromatic herbs. We then drive 4-hours back to Salta.

Note: This excursion travels to a very high altitude, so take precautions for altitude sickness.

Day 12

Drive to Salta Airport for your onward flight.

Arrive at Mendoza Airport, collect your hire car and drive to your hotel in the heart of Argentina's wine country.

Check in and relax in this region that is famous for its Malbec and other bold red wines.

Day 13

Today we suggest self driving to some of the many small 'bodegas' (local wineries) found in Lujan de Cuyo outside Mendoza, as well as an olive oil factory. Alternatively you can book a private driver or a small group tour (pay locally).

Situated in the foothills of the Andes, Mendoza is Argentina's main wine producing region with rows and rows of vines stretching out to the distant snow-capped mountains. Learn more about how Malbac and other wines are produced and enjoy wine tastings and lunch in these beautiful surroundings (own account).

Day 14

Today we recommend visiting some of the many small 'bodegas' (local wineries) found in the beautiful Uco Valley. Alternatively you can book a private driver or a small group tour (pay locally).

Situated in the foothills of the Andes, Mendoza is Argentina's main wine producing region with rows and rows of vines stretching out to the distant snow-capped mountains. Learn more about how Malbac and other wines are produced, and enjoy wine tastings in these beautiful surroundings and and lunch (own account).

Day 15

Drive to Mendoza Airport for your onward flight.

Arrive at San Carlos de Bariloche Airport, collect your hire car and drive to your hotel in this regional centre situated on beautiful Lago Nahuel Huapi, a large glacial lake.

Relax in this region of great natural beauty, surrounded by the snow-capped Andes Mountains.

Day 16

Today we suggest self-driving to Mount Campanario and the Llao Llao Peninsula, to see one of the most beautiful views in the world.

Enjoy these mountain and lake landscapes, with magnificent views from López Bay and the Panoramic Lookout, before ascending Mount Campanario by chair lift (pay locally), for wonderful views into Chile. Here you can visit the San Eduardo Chapel and buy local handcrafts - including pottery, woodwork, candles and knitwear.

Day 17

Today we suggest an optional full day tour to Victoria Island and Los Arrayanes National Park.

We transfer from Bariloche to Puerto Panuelo, where we embark on a 1-hour sightseeing boat ride across beautiful Nahuel Huapi Lake. We disembark at Puerto Anchorena on Victoria Island, the largest island on the lake. Enjoy a guided nature walk through a coniferous forest where, in the summer months, you can take a dip in the lake at Toro Beach or an optional chair lift up Bella Vista Hill (pay locally).

We return to the boat and continue to the Quetrihué Peninsula, where we disembark to explore Los Arrayanes National Park. Learn about its hundred-year-old arrayán trees, with their cinnamon-coloured bark, which only grow on this narrow isthmus of land near Villa Angostura. You may also see a few pudu (a species of miniature deer). Afterwards we return by boat to Puerto Panuelo.

Note: Lunch can be purchased on the boat, or bring your own. If only a small number of passengers on the day, this tour may be shortened to half day without notice (i.e. lunch is not enjoyed on the island). As the same activities are done, no refunds are given. Guides on board the boat are Spanish-speaking.

Day 18

Drive to Bariloche Airport for your onward flight.

Arrive at El Calafate Airport, collect your hire car and drive 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 19

Today we suggest you spend the full day driving 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 (pay entrance fee locally - or take an optional full day shared tour)

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.

Take a 1-hour boat ride to view this spectacular glacier up-close (pay locally), before returning to El Calafate in the late afternoon. Lunch is for your own account today.

Day 20

At leisure to explore more of El Calafate and the surrounding area independently or take a boat ride on Lake Argentino.

There is the option of a full day All Glaciers Navigation, sailing up the northern arm of Lake Argentino to the western front of the beautiful Upsala Glacier, crossing the impressive barrier of ice floes that break off constantly from the front of the glacier, before continuing up the Spegazzini channel to view the Seco, Heim south & impressive Spegazzini glaciers, arriving back at port around 14.00.

Alternatively you can set out early from Port de la Cruz on the Estancia Cristina cruise, that also sails to the beautiful Upsala Glacier, before continuing up the Cristina channel to a local estancia (ranch) where you can visit the Costumbrista Museum, a former shearing shed. This involves an exciting 4x4 ride up steep gradients, with panoramic views. After an included lunch at the estancia, we walk 30-minutes over glacial erosion to the Continental Ice Refuge to admire the eastern front of the Upsasla Glacier, Guillermo Lake, the Southern Patagonian Icefield and the Andes. We then sail back to Port de la Cruz, arriving at around 19.00.

There is also the option of spending a full day experiencing life on a traditional Patagonian Estancia, where you can enjoy hiking or horse riding through these landscapes and see sheep shearing, with included lunch.

El Chaltén extension

If you would like to do some walking, enquire about extending your trip to include the small village of El Chalten, which is situated inside Los Glaciares National Park and has many wonderful walking trails with views of Mount Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre.

Day 21

Drive to El Calafate Airport for your onward flight.

Arrive at Trelew Airport, collect your hire car and drive 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.

Day 22

Today we suggest you explore the marine life of the rocky Valdes Peninsula (pay all entrance fees locally).

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. In addition, 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.

We suggest you visit 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. You can also visit the sea lion colony at Puerto Pirámides.

Your next stop should be 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 you may also spot terrestrial wildlife such as guanacos, piches, maras, ostriches and foxes, as well as many different bird species.

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.

Day 23

Today we suggest self driving to the Punta Tombo Penguin Reserve as well as the small Welsh village of Gaiman and the town of Trelew.

You can drive 3-hours southwards to the Punta Tombo Fauna Reserve, which is home to the largest Magellan penguin colony on the continent (over 500,000 birds). Here you can walk along trails through the reserve and observe the penguins and their nests up close, as well as the nests of many other sea birds such as gulls, petrels, Antarctic pigeons, skuas, steam ducks, plovers, cormorants and terns. Dolphin also occasionally come in to the bay.

Afterwards we suggest you visit the riverside village of Gaiman, which has preserved the cultural and historical tradition of the Welsh settlement in Patagonia. The Regional Historical Museum, housed in the old railway station, documents the lives of the Welsh settlers who colonized this area in the 19th century. There are several Welsh Protestant churches here, including the Bethel Chapel, and the town has many traditional teahouses serving pastries and torta negra, a local twist on traditional Welsh fruitcake.

You can then continue to the city of Trelew, the most important commercial centre in the Chubut River Valley. Here you can explore the central square, former train station and the old chapel. There is also the option of visiting the Egidio Feruglio Paleontological Museum (pay all entrance fees locally).

Note: From April to August, when the penguins migrate, you can visit Mount Avanzado and Punta Loma instead where you can view sea lions.

Day 24

Drive 1-hour to Trelew 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.

Note: Your driver will only speak Spanish.

Day 25

Transfer to Buenos Aires Airport for your flight home.

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