Argentina- Discovery – Self-guided tour – 17 days / 16 nights
Highlights…:
• Meet the local indigenous people ;
• Discover the Calchaquies Valleys and the Andean Altiplano ;
• Iguazu Falls, natural marvel.
Nature : 
- Culture :
Encounters :
Starting from $ 2545 USD*
The vastness of the landscape, century old cacti and secular traditions; the Andes will catch your imagination and inspire you. Visit the Seven Colour Mountains of the Humahuaca Valley, with its villages and artisans. Explore the exquisite landscape of the Calchaquí valleys carved by time, wind and salt lakes.
Then the contrast: appreciate the thousands of species of plants, colourful birds, butterflies and mammals that make this their home. This is the exuberance of the Argentine rainforest, its rivers and impressive waterfalls, the Jesuit Missions, mate plantations, lemongrass, vegetable sponges, and exotic fruits.
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ITINERARY
Day 1 – BUENOS AIRES, THE CITY THAT LOOKS AND FEELS EUROPEAN
Arrival of your international flight
After landing in Buenos Aires, our driver will take you to your hotel, located in the city centre. A member of our team will provide you with a road book and a mobile phone to keep in touch with us 24/7. Explore the most famous and picturesque areas of the capital city: El Caminito and San Telmo, at the origins of Tango, then Puerto Madero area, an old harbour that has been reconverted into a business area.
Flight Buenos Aires > Salta
Arrival of your international flight
After landing in Buenos Aires, our driver will take you to your hotel, located in the city centre. A member of our team will provide you with a road book and a mobile phone to keep in touch with us 24/7. Explore the most famous and picturesque areas of the capital city: El Caminito and San Telmo, at the origins of Tango, then Puerto Madero area, an old harbour that has been reconverted into a business area.
- Transport : private transfer - 45 min + public transport
- Accommodation: hotel**
- Included meals: none
Flight Buenos Aires > Salta
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Salta, where you are met by a member of our team and transferred to your hotel. 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.
Rental car
Receive your rental vehicle at your hotel. Drive south into the Andes Cordillera to the small village of Cachi at 2300m above sea level. Cross the fertile plains and large tobacco fields and continue up along the slope Cuesta del Obispo reaching the highest point of this trip at 3620m. Discover the National Park of Cardones and take a walk among thousands of these unusually large native cacti. Then to Payogasta where you will spend the night in a beautiful colonial hotel. Only 11 km away is Cachi, a charming little village with its peaceful square and white church made of cactus wood.
Rental car
After breakfast, continue exploring these valleys with incredible geological formations. Appreciate the impressive scenery and quaint villages nestled in the Cordillera. Stop at Cafayate around mid-day to have lunch. El Cafayate is a touristic village, famous for its high-altitude vineyards. Torrontes is a white wine grape variety that adapted incredibly well to this high-altitude terroir (1600m -2400m). Finally, join your host families, small farmers in the area. These people decided to join together into cooperatives to receive and promote local products.
Rental car
After a hearty breakfast with your host family, drive further south to the Amaicha del Valle, visit the Pachamama Museum and the ruins of Quilmes, one of the most important pre-Hispanic establishments in Argentina. Return to Salta across the seashell's valley where you will see rock formations that wind and water erosion shaped into peculiar figures.
Rental car
Experience the Altiplano, a large plateau lying at more than 3000m above sea level in the hearth of the Andes, extending between Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru. Continue along the Valle del Toro, follow the rails of the Train to the Clouds. On the road, visit the pre-Inca ruins of Santa Rosa de Tastil before reaching San Antonio de los Cobres by mid-day. In the afternoon, continue to Salinas Grandes, one of the largest salt flats of the Argentine Altiplano. The tour will take you to the impressive Lipan Slope, a steep zigzag road, before descending to Purmamarca, at an altitude of 2192m.
Rental car
The circuit starts from your hotel going between the colourful hills, a truly magnificent spectacle at sunrise, which can be enjoyed with a nice walk just before breakfast. 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. By late afternoon, admire the hills of Hornocal, an inverted –V shaped formation of impressive colours. Back to Purmamarca where you will spend the night.
Rental car
Back to Salta, through the Corniche Road, the ancient road connecting Jujuy to Salta. An iconic road with beautiful landscape deep the Yungas, a subtropical wet forest characteristic of the transition zone between the Andes and the Amazon forest. Back in Salta in the afternoon, you will return your rental car.
Flight Salta > Puerto Iguazu
Free morning to discover the last secrets of Salta. By mid-afternoon, transfer to the airport to board your flight to Puerto Iguazu, where you arrive in the late afternoon. You are met by our driver and transferred to your hotel.
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, among others).
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.
Rental car
Receive your rental vehicle at your hotel and head south. On the road, you pass by the Wanda mines, deposits of semiprecious stones on the shores of the Parana River. Also recommended is Montecarlo, the national capital of orchid gardens. Finally join the Roth foundation. Visit its mate plantations, the oldest mate mill in the province and the native plant nurseries used to reforest degraded areas. Dinner at the estancia. At nightfall, reach the ruins of San Ignacio Mini for a magnificent sound and light show over the Jesuit ruins dating back to the 17th century. Spend the night at the estancia..
Rental car
Choose to spend the morning at the Foundation, deepening your knowledge of mate, plants and history of the early settlers, or exploring the region’s Jesuit missions: San Ignacio Mini, Santa Ana y Loreto. Leave for the small city of El Soberbio following the beautiful scenic route along Uruguay River in the afternoon. From there visit the Moconá Park, one of the best preserved in the region. Stroll in the park and go sailing on the river to experience the amazing Moconá Falls: a 2km long gap in the bed of the river! Finally, spend the night at a beautiful lodge located in the heart of the forest where you can enjoy watching and listening to nature..
Rental car
Visit the Guarani tribe of Jejy. This tribe is situated close to an incredible forest of tree ferns. Explore the forest and the traditional traps used for hunting birds, rodents, monkeys and cats. Visit the village El Soberbio where you can get an insight in the production of vegetable sponges and citronella oil. In the afternoon, return to your hotel in Puerto Iguazu and leave your rental car.
Flight Puerto Iguazu > Buenos Aires
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Buenos Aires where you arrive in the morning. Transfer to your hotel. Continue exploring Buenos Aires, you can choose to take a walk downtown to the Pink House (Government) and Congress, or 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.
Enjoy a free day. Our suggestions:
San Antonio de Areco, a traditional gaucho town in the hearth of the Pampa. Learn about the lifestyle of the Gauchos in a traditional estancia. Taste a good piece of beef, the legendary asado Argentino and stroll on horseback or by horse buggy.
El Tigre, a residential suburb located on the delta of the Parana River. It offers pleasant walks along the river and sailing tours.
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
- Accommodation: hotel**
- Included meals : breakfast
Rental car
Receive your rental vehicle at your hotel. Drive south into the Andes Cordillera to the small village of Cachi at 2300m above sea level. Cross the fertile plains and large tobacco fields and continue up along the slope Cuesta del Obispo reaching the highest point of this trip at 3620m. Discover the National Park of Cardones and take a walk among thousands of these unusually large native cacti. Then to Payogasta where you will spend the night in a beautiful colonial hotel. Only 11 km away is Cachi, a charming little village with its peaceful square and white church made of cactus wood.
- Transport : rental car – 157 km - 3h
- Accommodation: hotel**
- Included meals : breakfast, dinner
Rental car
After breakfast, continue exploring these valleys with incredible geological formations. Appreciate the impressive scenery and quaint villages nestled in the Cordillera. Stop at Cafayate around mid-day to have lunch. El Cafayate is a touristic village, famous for its high-altitude vineyards. Torrontes is a white wine grape variety that adapted incredibly well to this high-altitude terroir (1600m -2400m). Finally, join your host families, small farmers in the area. These people decided to join together into cooperatives to receive and promote local products.
- Transport : rental car – 160 km - 4h
- Accommodation: host family (basic comfort)
- Included meals : breakfast and dinner
Rental car
After a hearty breakfast with your host family, drive further south to the Amaicha del Valle, visit the Pachamama Museum and the ruins of Quilmes, one of the most important pre-Hispanic establishments in Argentina. Return to Salta across the seashell's valley where you will see rock formations that wind and water erosion shaped into peculiar figures.
- Transport : rental car – 258 km - 4h
- Accommodation: hotel**
- Included meals : breakfast
Rental car
Experience the Altiplano, a large plateau lying at more than 3000m above sea level in the hearth of the Andes, extending between Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru. Continue along the Valle del Toro, follow the rails of the Train to the Clouds. On the road, visit the pre-Inca ruins of Santa Rosa de Tastil before reaching San Antonio de los Cobres by mid-day. In the afternoon, continue to Salinas Grandes, one of the largest salt flats of the Argentine Altiplano. The tour will take you to the impressive Lipan Slope, a steep zigzag road, before descending to Purmamarca, at an altitude of 2192m.
- Transport : rental car – 355 km - 6h
- Accommodation: hotel***
- Included meals : breakfast
Rental car
The circuit starts from your hotel going between the colourful hills, a truly magnificent spectacle at sunrise, which can be enjoyed with a nice walk just before breakfast. 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. By late afternoon, admire the hills of Hornocal, an inverted –V shaped formation of impressive colours. Back to Purmamarca where you will spend the night.
- Transport : rental car – 140 km - 2h
- Accommodation: hotel***
- Included meals : breakfast
Rental car
Back to Salta, through the Corniche Road, the ancient road connecting Jujuy to Salta. An iconic road with beautiful landscape deep the Yungas, a subtropical wet forest characteristic of the transition zone between the Andes and the Amazon forest. Back in Salta in the afternoon, you will return your rental car.
- Transport : rental car – 210 km - 3h
- Accommodation: hotel**
- Included meals : breakfast
Flight Salta > Puerto Iguazu
Free morning to discover the last secrets of Salta. By mid-afternoon, transfer to the airport to board your flight to Puerto Iguazu, where you arrive in the late afternoon. You are met by our driver and transferred to your hotel.
- Transport : private transfer - 30 min
- Accommodation: hotel**
- Included meals : breakfast
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, among others).
- Transport: private transfer - 45 min
- Accommodation: hotel**
- Included meals: breaksfast
- Entrance to the park not included (260 pesos/p.p.)
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.
- Transport: private transfer - 1h30
- Accommodation: hotel**
- Included meals : breakfast
- Entrance to the park not included (52,3 reales/p.p.)
Rental car
Receive your rental vehicle at your hotel and head south. On the road, you pass by the Wanda mines, deposits of semiprecious stones on the shores of the Parana River. Also recommended is Montecarlo, the national capital of orchid gardens. Finally join the Roth foundation. Visit its mate plantations, the oldest mate mill in the province and the native plant nurseries used to reforest degraded areas. Dinner at the estancia. At nightfall, reach the ruins of San Ignacio Mini for a magnificent sound and light show over the Jesuit ruins dating back to the 17th century. Spend the night at the estancia..
- Transport : rental car – 240 km - 3h
- Accommodation: family run Estancia
- Included meals : breakfast and dinner
- Entrance to the night show not included
Rental car
Choose to spend the morning at the Foundation, deepening your knowledge of mate, plants and history of the early settlers, or exploring the region’s Jesuit missions: San Ignacio Mini, Santa Ana y Loreto. Leave for the small city of El Soberbio following the beautiful scenic route along Uruguay River in the afternoon. From there visit the Moconá Park, one of the best preserved in the region. Stroll in the park and go sailing on the river to experience the amazing Moconá Falls: a 2km long gap in the bed of the river! Finally, spend the night at a beautiful lodge located in the heart of the forest where you can enjoy watching and listening to nature..
- Transport : rental car – 210 km - 3h
- Accommodation: lodge
- Included meals : breakfast
- Entrances to the sites not included
Rental car
Visit the Guarani tribe of Jejy. This tribe is situated close to an incredible forest of tree ferns. Explore the forest and the traditional traps used for hunting birds, rodents, monkeys and cats. Visit the village El Soberbio where you can get an insight in the production of vegetable sponges and citronella oil. In the afternoon, return to your hotel in Puerto Iguazu and leave your rental car.
- Transport : rental car – 246 km - 4h
- Accommodation: hotel**
- Included meals : breakfast
Flight Puerto Iguazu > Buenos Aires
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Buenos Aires where you arrive in the morning. Transfer to your hotel. Continue exploring Buenos Aires, you can choose to take a walk downtown to the Pink House (Government) and Congress, or 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.
- Transport : private transfer - 1h15
- Accommodation: hotel**
- Included meals: breakfast
Enjoy a free day. Our suggestions:
San Antonio de Areco, a traditional gaucho town in the hearth of the Pampa. Learn about the lifestyle of the Gauchos in a traditional estancia. Taste a good piece of beef, the legendary asado Argentino and stroll on horseback or by horse buggy.
El Tigre, a residential suburb located on the delta of the Parana River. It offers pleasant walks along the river and sailing tours.
- Accommodation: hotel**
- Included meals: breakfast
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
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.
