Argentina - Nature– Guided– 15 days / 14 nights
Highlights:
• Authentic encounters with local populations;
• The colourful valleys of the Andean Altiplano;
• The remote wetlands of Iberà;
• The endless tumbling of the Iguazu Falls.
Nature : 
- Culture : 
Encounters :
Starting from $ 2380 USD*
This is a journey through the dramatic landscapes and authentic cultures of North Argentina. Explore colourful canyons, unique rock formations and the quaint villages and artisans of the Humahuaca Valley. Reach high-altitude salt lakes. Visit Salta, one of the country’s best-preserved colonial city and the pre-Columbian archaeological site of Quilmes. Meet the Diaguitas, an indigenous community in Amaicha del Valle and learn about their traditions and beautiful handicrafts.
Travel east to the wetlands of Ibera. Spend a day in a traditional Estancia to discover its wildlife: all the species of plants, birds and mammals that make this their home. Finally travel to Misiones and the Iguazu Falls. You’ll be met by the exuberance of Argentina’s rainforest and its people, its rivers and impressive waterfalls, Jesuit Missions and exotic fruits.
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ITINERARY
Day 1 – BUENOS AIRES, THE CITY THAT LOOKS AND FEELS EUROPEAN
Arrival by international flight
- Transport: Regular Bus Service 45 min
- Accommodation: Hotel**
- Included meals:none
- English speaking guide.
Day 2 – BUENOS AIRES, GREAT AVENUES AND LARGE PARKS
Bus Buenos Aires > Salta
Today you will continue exploring Buenos Aires. In the morning, you will enjoy the parks and nice buildings of Recoleta and Palermo. In these neighbours, you will find interesting museums, as well as Plaza Francia’s craftsman fair and Tango dancers. In the afternoon, you will take a walk downtown to the Pink House (Government) and Congress. The overnight bus to Salta leaves from Retiro bus terminal in the early evening.
- Accommodation & Transport: Night Bus 09h30
- Included meals: breakfast and small dinner on the bus
- English speaking guide.
You are met by your Tour Leader at the bus terminal and transferred to your hotel. In the afternoon time to visit this marvellous city nicknamed "La Linda", meaning the Beautiful. Salta boasts well-preserved colonial architecture and two colourful churches: like the pink Cathedral and the red and gold San Francisco Church. Another fascinating attraction is the Museum of High Altitude Archaeology which houses the well-preserved mummies of three children found on the summit of Volcano Llullaillaco. The museum will offer you an insight into the pre-columbine culture of the Andes.
- Accommodation: hotel**
- Included meals: small breakfast on the bus;
- Entrance to the museum not included (aprox. £10)
- English speaking tour leader.
Leaving early in the morning, you will ascend to San Antonio de los Cobres and then continue on the high plateau to Salinas Grandes; a scenic 200 km² Salt Lake, 3400m high, where polygons of salt align endlessly. The tour continues on dusty roads through the impressive Lipan Slope, a steep zigzag road, before descending to Purmamarca. This is a small village at the foot of the Seven Color Valley that you can discover on foot, during a beautiful walk between the hills. Overnight in Purmamarca.
- Transport : Excursion in minibus 8h (included)
- Accommodation: Hotel***
- Included meals: breakfast
- English speaking tour leader.
Day 5 – HUMAHUACA VALLEY
Explore the colourful and culturally rich Valley of Humahuaca, with its picturesque villages: Tilcara, an authentic Andean village and its Pucara, a pre-Inca fortified farming village overlooking the valley. Humahuaca, with a splendid landscape, interesting handicrafts and traditional music.
Enjoy a nice lunch with Hector and Clara. This is a family of Kolla farmers growing corn and potatoes in this stunning setting. Head back to Salta to spend the night.
- TTransport: Excursion in minibus 8h
- Accommodation: Hotel**
- Included meals: breakfast, lunch
- English speaking tour leader.
Day 6 – CAFAYATE, VINES AND LANDSCAPE
Start the day exploring the Lerma Valley and its fields of tobacco before entering the seashell's valley where you will see rocks that wind and water erosion shaped into peculiar figures. Stop at Cafayate to have lunch and visit a famous local winery. By midday, stop at El Cafayate, a touristic village famous for its high-altitude vineyards, especially Torrontés. Enjoy a visit to a winery in the afternoon. Spend the night in Cafayate.
- Transport: Excursion in minibus 8h
- Accommodation: Hotel**
- Included meals: breakfast
- Entrance to the Winery included
- English speaking tour leader.
Day 7 – THE DIAGUITA PEOPLE
Travel further south to Amaicha del Valle, stopping at the ruins of Quilmes, one of the most important pre-Hispanic establishments in Argentina. Continue to the Diaguita-Calchaquies community of Amaicha del Valle. This is one of the few indigenous communities in Argentina to own its land, which has enabled it to develop an interesting socio-political model based on some political autonomy, as well as community socio-economic projects. Spend the evening with the community.
- Transport: Excursion in minibus 4h
- Accommodation: Homestay
- Included meals: breakfast and dinner
- Entrance to the ruins not included (aprox. £4)
- English speaking tour leader.
Day 8 –AMAICHA – TAFI DEL VALLE
Bus Tucuman > Corrientes
After breakfast with the Diaguitas, you will visit the Museum of Pachamama. Leave the community in the morning to reach Tafi del Valle for lunch. On the way, you’ll go through amazing changing sceneries, reaching 3042m above sea level, with some stunning views over the valleys and Tafi del Valle. In the evening board a night bus to Corrientes.
- Transport : excursion in minibus 6h + Night Bus 9h
- Accommodation: Overnight Bus
- Included meals: breakfast and light dinner on the bus
- Entrance to the museum not included (aprox. £3)
- English speaking tour leader
Day 9 – IBERA’S WETLANDS
You will arrive in Resistencia in the morning, before heading to the Iberà wetlands, the most important in Argentina. This rich ecosystem consisting of ponds, lagoons, estuaries and marshes is home to over 4,000 animal and plant species including capybaras, caimans and marsh deer. You will spend the night at a local Estancia.
- Transport: private transfer 2h30
- Accommodation: Estancia
- Included meals: light breakfast on the bus, lunch and dinner
- English speaking tour leader
Day 10 – EXPERIENCE THE ESTANCIA
In the morning, you will have a chance to enjoy several excursions, including horse riding, bird watching and swamps navigation. You will enjoy your lunch at the Estancia and leave in the early afternoon to reach the city of Posadas.
- Transport: private transfer 170km 2h
- Accommodation: hotel**
- Included meals: breakfast, lunch
- English speaking tour leader
Day 11 – JESUIT RUINS
You will be heading to Iguazu today. Leaving Posadas in the early morning you will stop for lunch at the UNESCO-listed San Ignacio, once a prosperous Jesuit mission. You will then continue north to the beautiful Wanda mines to see crystals in their natural state. You will finally reach Puerto Iguazu in the evening.
- Transport: private van 8hrs
- Accommodation: Hotel***
- Included meals: breakfast
- Entrance to the sites not included (aprox. £10)
- English speaking tour leader
Day 12 – IGUAZU FALLS - Argentina
Explore the Argentinian side of the National Park of Iguazu. Get to the heart of the 275 individual falls forming a 2.7 km wide horseshoe-shaped gorge, including the impressive 90 m high Devil’s Throat. You can follow several walking trails through the park’s tropical rainforest or under the full power of the rushing water: waterfalls can be admired from above, below, or as a whole from several points of view. If the water level is not too high, you can visit the island San Martin in the heart of this huge gorge. A busy day during which you can also observe wild animals (coatis, monkeys, toucans, alligators, turtles…).
- Transport: local bus not included 45m
- Accommodation: hotel**
- Included meals: breakfast
- Entrance to the park not included (330 pesos/p)
- English speaking tour leader
Day 13 – IGUAZU FALLS – Brazil
Bus Iguazu > Buenos Aires
Today you will visit the Brazilian side of the Iguazu National Park. If the Argentine side is all about getting up close and personal, the Brazilian side offers an incredible and breath-taking full frontal view of all the falls. In the afternoon, you can visit the Bird Park, gathering over 160 species including some anacondas, boas, monkeys and butterflies. By late afternoon, you will reach the bus terminal and take your overnight bus to Buenos Aires.
- Transport: local bus (not included) 1h
- Accommodation: Overnight bus
- Included meals : breakfast, light dinner on the night bus
- Entrance to the park not included (52,3 reals/p. + 34 reals/p.)
- English speaking tour leader
Day 14 – BACK TO BUENOS AIRES
You will arrive at Retiro bus terminal in Buenos Aires in the morning. You will be transferred to your hotel and then continue your visit of the capital city or the surrounding areas such as the Tigre Delta.
- Transport: Private transfer 45m
- Accommodation: hotel**
- Included meals: breakfast on the bus
- SELF-GUIDED
Day 15 – LAST DAY IN ARGENTINA
Departure of your international flight
Some free time to continue visiting the capital city of Buenos Aires. Three hours before your international flight, a transfer vehicle will pick you up at your hotel to take you to the airport.
- Transport: Private Transfer 45 min
- included meals: breakfast
- SELF-GUIDED
End of your adventure in the North of Argentina…
This program is only given as an indication. TransHumans reserves the right, directly or through its local partners, to replace transportation, accommodation, itinerary, as well as dates and departure times, without the participants being able to claim any compensation.
DATES AND PRICES
PRICES 2017 (in USD per person)
- 4-5 people : $ 2860 USD
- 6-7 people : $ 2540 USD
- 8-9 people : $ 2430 USD
- 10-11 people : $ 2380 USD
Departure Dates: 23rd September 2017 and 7th April 2018
The price includes:
- Long-distance buses: Buenos Aires > Salta; Tucuman >Corrientes; Iguazu > Buenos Aires
- Ground transfers as mentioned in the program
- 12 nights in hotel**/***; 1 nights in Estancia; 1 night homestay (DOUBLE ROOM ONLY)
- Excursions as for itinerary
- All the meals as mentioned in the programme
- An English/Spanish speaking tour leader and local team assisting you throughout the trip
The price does not include:
- International flights
- Entrance to the sites, price specified in the program
- The single occupancy supplement: $380 (no single room available with the host family)
- Drinks and personal expenses
- The comprehensive insurance and repatriation assistance
... … and more generally all that is not mentioned in "the price includes" section.
Some important facts
- National flight(s) is included
- Transfers to/ from airport/hotel are included
- Accommodation is included and selected based on quality and hygiene
- Local partners are fairly compensated
- 3% of the price of your trip goes directly to support a local educational project of cultural and environmental development.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Accompanying English and Spanish speaking guides
The day of your arrival, you will be received by an English-speaking member of our staff. If specified in your program, he/she will also accompany you around the capital, giving you the basic practical information about the country or countries you are visiting.
You will be accompanied by an English-speaking tour leader throughout your stay from Salta to Iguazu.
During excursions, you will be accompanied by a local Spanish speaking guide, often also speaking English.
When to visit the North of Argentina
In the Northwest, precipitations tend to concentrate from December to February: short lived but intense bursts of rainfall usually occur in this period. Parts of this geographical area have record levels of sunshine as the Valley of Calchaquies or Humahuaca Valley. The altitude is a key factor in temperature variation. For example, at 3000m in winter time it is possible to have temperatures of around -15 ° C. In the Northeast, there is rainfall distributed throughout the year, storms are generally short and intense. The temperatures are very high in the summer (30 to 40 degrees) with a high humidity. In winter, temperatures are cooler with occasional frosty mornings.
Local transportation
Travelling by bus is the most popular and cheapest way to discover the country. Classes range from Semi-Cama to Cama Suite with wider seats which are reclining to a horizontal position almost like being in bed. Distances are long and it takes more than 20-hour bus ride from Buenos Aires to Salta. Bus lines connect major cities together. The buses run at an average speed of 80 km/h. For long distances, the plane remains the most convenient mean of transportation.
NOTE: TransHumans offers the option of booking for you the international flight ticket; we will seek and book for you the best deals. Price may vary depending on the time of purchase but can vary between $1000 and $1600 insurance included.
Formalities
PASSPORT & VISA: A valid passport is sufficient for most European and US citizens; a tourist visa will be issued at entry to the territory. If the stay exceeds the three months, it will be necessary to apply for a visa at the Embassy in your country. However, U.S. citizen tourists must pay a $160 reciprocity fee prior to arrival in Argentina. Contact your local embassy, or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements.
IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE THE CORRECT TRAVEL DOCUMENTATION.
REMINDER: Make copies of all your important documents (passport, flight tickets, insurance, and credit card). Leave one copy of each at home and pack one with you..
EQUIPMENT
GOOD GEAR WILL ALLOW YOU TO BETTER ENJOY YOUR TRIP…
Clothing:
Given the great variation in temperature between day and night in the Northwest it is necessary to pack both light and warm clothes.
Remember to take good insect repellent, hat, cap and sunglasses (minimum lens category 3)!
Miscellaneous:
-Toiletry bag (biodegradable products are preferred)
-Small quick-drying towel
-Sunscreen lotion
-Insect repellent DEET (+ 40% for good protection). This is also useful against fleas which can be a nuisance for people with sensitive skin.
-Head torch (with spare batteries and bulbs)
-Bottle and/or camel bag
-Pocket knife (checked luggage)
-Money belt or pouch to safely store your passport, currency, credit cards, personal
papers, insurance papers.
-A copy of your passport.
-Power sockets in Argentina are type C and I; Voltage: 220 V..
Medical Kit:
-Antidiarrheal medication (i.e. Smecta and Imodium)
-Antihistamine
-Plasters, sterile dressings and antiseptics
-Medicine for pain or fever (such as acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen)
-Elastic adhesive bandage
-Anti-inflammatory ointment or cream
-Water purification tablets
NOTE: Most of these products are also available in local pharmacies.
Luggage:
Please arrange your belongings in two bags:
-Small backpack (capacity 25/40 litres). This is your hand luggage you will take with you on the plane as well as every day during hikes, excursions and transfers.
-Large waterproof backpack to check-in (capacity 60 to 90 litres).
-Large plastic bag to protect from moisture your belongings in your backpacks.
HEALTH
Vaccines
The country does not present any health risks, and the water is potable almost everywhere. No vaccine is mandatory for Argentina, but some are recommended:
Tetanus-diphtheria
Polio
Pertussis
Hepatitis B
For children and those born before 1980: measles, mumps – rubella.
Other Risks
Try to avoid contact with insects. Fleas tend to be a nuisance for sensitive skin. Regular
insect repellent is also effective against fleas and dengue.
Altitude Sickness
Altitude sickness is due to a rapid ascent to higher altitudes and the decreasing level of oxygen available at those altitudes. The symptoms include shortness of breath, irritating dry cough, severe headache, nausea and exhaustion. The first solution is to descend to a lower altitude (at least 500 m). Proper acclimatization of the body to increasing altitudes is the best way to prevent altitude sickness. Once above 3000 meters it is wise not to increase the altitude at which you sleep by more than 500 meters. Stop a day if the altitude increases by 1000 meters in a day, keep hydrated and avoid drinking alcohol and smoking. The best way to acclimatize to the altitude is to climb gradually. Given enough time, your body will adapt to the decrease in oxygen at a specific altitude.
Medical Assistance
Medical care is excellent in most tourist areas in Argentina. For more remote areas, in case of urgent medical assistance, contact your Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina. We highly recommend you to contact your insurance as soon as possible.
LOCAL CUSTOMS
Guarani People - Misiones
The Guarani are culturally-related indigenous people of South America, specifically Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. They inhabit the Amazon rainforest and other forests, such as the Yungas and the Selva Paranaense in Argentina, Paraguay and Bolivia. They are divided into several ethnic groups, each one with its own customs and beliefs. They are nomadic hunter-gatherers who, under pressure from governments and landowners, transitioned to more sedentary forms of subsistence. They believe in the spirits of the forest, use a wide variety of medicinal plants and are skilled craftsmen. Much of the Guarani population of Argentina still speak Guarani and only very little Spanish. They are typically a much-closed society and often struggle to understand "modern society" to which they were force to adapt in less than two generations. Despite this, the Guarani are warm, hospitable and friendly people. Feel free to talk with the elders; they can be a little shy but have a lot to say about the incredible changes to the lifestyle of their tribes in the last decades.
Diaguita People – The Calchaqui Valleys
The Diaguita were culturally-related indigenous people of the Northwest of Argentina (Catamarca, La Rioja, Tucuman and Salta) and the North of Chile (Atacama and Coquimbo). The Diaguita culture developed in the period between the 8th and the 16th centuries. Together, the Diaguita fought against the interference of the Incas and despite hundreds of years of invasion and colonization by the Inca first and the Spanish later, the descendants of these people still live in these ancestral lands. The Diaguita were among the most advanced Pre-Columbian cultures, with sophisticates agricultural and irrigation techniques. The microclimate allowed them to grow traditional Andean crops such as different types of potatoes, quinoa and maze, all of which are still cultivated today. The Diaguita were also famous for their ceramics and fine craftsmanship.
RESPONSIBLE TOURISM
RESPONSIBLE TOURISM
Our Vision & Commitment
Cultural awareness is very important to us. Sensible to the local cultural traditions and beliefs, the beauty of the landscapes and the biodiversity of the ecosystems, we choose to limit the negative impact of our activities on the local environment. In addition to designing trips that aim at preserving the natural, cultural and social resources of the territories in the long term, we also include the concept of “Territorial Compensation”. The idea of Territorial Compensation is to help local people protect and conserve their ecosystem, enhance their cultural heritage and develop sustainable projects for their territory.
Based on this concept of Territorial Compensation, TransHumans donates 3% of the total price of each trip to this cause. The money goes directly into a solidarity fund that finances our ERECA program (Education Relative à l'Environnement et aux Cultures Aborigènes), an environmental and cultural program. Since 2007, we have supported various projects aimed at training and awareness-raising for the local communities.
If you want to know more about this+ : http://www.transhumans.fr/en/solidarity-project-transhumans
