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Compare Peru & Argentina by Great Value Vacations vs Wine and Landscapes of Argentina's Northwest by Explore!

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Duration 10 days 14 days
Price From $ 4,492 $ 3,960
Price Per Day $ 449 $ 283
Highlights
  • Feast your eyes on a spectacular Tango show in Buenos Aires!
  • Stand in awe of natural wonders like Machu Picchu, Iguazu Falls, the Sacred Valley, and more.
  • Enjoy scenic tours of the amazing cities of Lima, Cusco, and Buenos Aires!
  • Try authentic Ceviche in Peru and Empanadas and Asado in Argentina.
  • Sit back, relax, and enjoy the amazing tours and sights. Leave all of the planning, driving, and organizing to us!
  • Road trip through magnificent mountain scenery, and taste Argentina's famous wines
  • Explore the differences between the indigenous, rural northwest and cosmopolitan Buenos Aires
  • See colourful mountains, cactus-strewn deserts and giant rock formations in unusual national parks
Trip Style Group tour Small group tour
Lodging Level Premium Premium
Physical Level
  • 2- Easy
  • 4- Strenuous
Travel Themes
  • Local Immersion & Homestays
  • Relaxing Retreats
  • Cultural
  • Hiking & Walking
Countries Visited
Cities and Attractions
  • Aguas Calientes
  • Buenos Aires
  • Cusco
  • Iguazu Falls
  • Lima
  • Machu Picchu
  • San Francisco
  • Urubamba
  • Bar
  • Buenos Aires
  • Mendoza
Flights & Transport Airfare included No
Activities
  • Culture
  • Historic sightseeing
  • History
  • Homestays & Cultural Immersion
  • Relaxing Retreat
  • Ruins & Archaeology
  • Hiking
Meals Included N/A
  • Breakfast : 13
  • Dinner : 1
Description

Journey to Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu, Urubamba, Iguassu Falls, and Buenos Aires - all in 10 days! This incredible vacation package boasts the perfect blend of amazing natural wonders, cultural experiences, and urban city life.

Please note that the altitude in some parts of this itinerary may not make it ideal for small children

Take an adventure through the heart of Argentina. Journey through the northwest region's most inspiring scenery, from colourful mountains and barren plains to spectacular gorges and lunar landscapes. Along the way, explore the changing cultural and gastronomic identities, from the still-present indigenous heritage in the Andean region to the multi-cultural, cosmopolitan vibe of Buenos Aires.

Explore Argentina's wine regions - Sample Malbec and Torrontes wines in the vineyards of Cafayate and Mendoza, set in the shadows of the Andes Mountains.

Soak up stunning scenery - Road trip through Argentina's unforgettable landscapes from arid cacti-strewn deserts to rich fertile forests.

Witness Humahuaca Gorge - Visit the immense gorge and 'seven coloured mountain', and take a drive up to San Antonio de los Cobres.
Itinerary: Peru & Argentina

Day 1: Welcome to Lima!

Arrive in beautiful Lima, the Peruvian capital rife with bustling squares, amazing architecture, and bright-blue seascapes. Known as the "City of Kings," Lima is chock full of colonial richness, which you will feel in all of its 43 diverse districts!

Enjoy a comfortable transfer from the airport to your hotel, then settle in and relax. Rest up; you've got quite the journey ahead of you!

Transfer from Lima airport (LIM) to Lima hotel

Day 2: Lima

Enjoy a pleasant breakfast, then grab your camera and get ready to explore. You will be picked up at your hotel for your city tour of Lima! Experience both "old" and "new" Lima, where you'll see everything from the colonial Plaza de Armas, stunning San Francisco Monastery, the modern, trendy districts of San Isidro and Miraflores, and much more.

You may want to spend your evening in the tranquil, culture-packed, artsy village of Barranco. Known to be a cool, relaxed area, Barranco is famous for its nightlife, amazing restaurants, boutiques, and live-music bars!

Lima Colonial & Modern City Tour with San Francisco Monastery & Larco Herrera Museum (5 hours)

Embark on a city tour through old and new Lima! Begin at the Plaza de Armas with its colonial buildings like the Government Palace, the Municipality, the Palace of the Archbishop and the Cathedral, among others. All these buildings are gathered around the history-laden square.

Then visit San Francisco Monastery with its maze of tunnels and catacombs that served as a mass grave. After touring the historic city center, head to the modern districts of San Isidro and Miraflores. In San Isidro, stroll through the Olive Park (El Olivar) where old olive trees stand tall next to modern shopping centers. In Miraflores, visit the Park of Love (El Parque del Amor) from where you have a view over the cliffs and the Pacific.

Ending the tour, you will visit the fascinating Larco Herrera Museum. With more than 45,000 objects of pre-Columbian ceramics, textiles and gold and silver pieces, it houses one of the most impressive collections in Latin America. It is also known for its exhibition of erotic ceramics of the Mochica culture.

Day 3: Lima - Cusco

Recharge with a delicious breakfast, then embark on a journey to Cusco! Relax on a quick ride to the airport, then feel your stomach flutter with excitement as you fly to Cusco. Enjoy a convenient ride to your hotel and get to know your friendly local guide.

Cusco, South America's archaeological capital and oldest continuously inhabited city, is now one of Peru's most-visited tourist attractions! The legacy of the Inca Empire still lives throughout the city, and can be felt as you walk through its stone-walled streets.

Spend the afternoon enjoying a tour of Cusco and its surrounding ruins! Visit the most important landmarks of both the Inca and the Colonial times, such as Qoricancha (the "temple of the sun"), the Cathedral, the Inca Street of Loreto, the fortress-temple of Saqsaywaman, and more.

Transfer from Lima hotel to Lima airport (LIM)

Fly to Cusco!

Transfer from Cusco airport (CUZ) to Cusco hotel

Tour of Cusco and surrounding ruins (4 hours)

Go on a city tour of Cusco with visits to the most important landmarks of both Inca and Spanish Colonial times! Begin at Qoricancha, known as the Temple of the Sun and the most important temple of the Incas. A catholic monastery, Santo Domingo, was built over the Inca temple in 1572, and the fascinating contrast can still be seen today.

Continue to Cusco Cathedral, considered the best repository of colonial art from the Cusco School. Built over the palace of the Inca Wiracocha, it was considered the religious and political center of Cusco during the Inca era. After ooing and awing at the cathedral, walk through the Inca Street of Loreto, a fine sample of the old town and its remarkable Inca walls.

Leave the city to the outer parts of Cusco with important ruins of the Inca Empire. Between them, the most important is the archaeological park of the fortress-temple Saqsaywaman which shows precise zigzags of massive stone to which centuries could not do any harm.

Day 4: Cusco - Urubamba

Fuel up with breakfast and get ready for a culture-packed day! This morning, you will be picked up at your hotel and driven to Awanakancha, a living museum of Andean camelids, such as llamas, alpacas, and the rarely seen Vicunas and Guanacos. Learn about traditional weaving techniques while you feast your eyes on these fluffy fellows!

After that, you'll be off to the Pisac market, a charming market where people of Pisac and surrounding villages sell and buy fresh fruits and vegetables, alpaca clothing, jewelry, and more. Bargain the day away and snag some awesome souvenirs!

You'll then spend the afternoon in Ollantaytambo, where you'll visit a local house and immerse yourself in daily Peruvian life. Then, you'll explore the impressive fortress thrones of the Ollantaytambo ruins! End the day with a visit to a traditional Chicheria, where you'll sip on the national drink, Chicha, made of corn!

Visit to Awanakancha and Pisac Market

At Awanakancha farm, learn about the various types of camelids (llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, and guanacos) that live in the Andes region. After you get a chance to pet and take photos with the animals, local villagers will demonstrate the ancestral methods and techniques used to produce their signature textile art.

Continue along the Sacred Valley and reach Pisac, a beautiful town where Incan and Colonial influences have reached a perfect balance and created the unique way of life of the local inhabitants. Explore the famous Pisac artisan market where you can find extraordinarily fine jewelry and ceramic and textile craftwork.

Day 5: Urubamba - Machu Picchu - Cusco

Today's the day you've been waiting your whole life for - you're going to see Machu Picchu! Yes, it really is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. After breakfast, relax on a quick transfer to the train station of Ollantaytambo. Hop aboard the Vistadome train and enjoy scenic views of snow-covered mountains, sparkling rivers, and small villages along the way.

Once you reach the train station at the foot of Machu Picchu, you'll take a shuttle bus up the twisting road to the top! Upon arrival at the most famous Inka ruins in the world, your guide will take you on an unforgettable tour of the marvelous citadel. Stand in the main plaza, gawk at the Temple of Three Windows, see the sacred sun dial, and more!

After an amazing day, you'll return back to your hotel the exact way you came - scenic shuttle and train rides. Spend the evening relaxing at your hotel; you'll be craving some serious R&R after a full day in Machu Picchu!

Guided tour of Machu Picchu ruins (2.5 hours)

Machu Picchu, the "lost city of the Incas," is not only one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, but also the biggest treasure of Peru’s past and the empire of the Incas. Undiscovered by the Spaniards and forgotten over centuries, it was in 1911 that the American scientist Hiram Bingham came upon it accidentally.

Still today, the ruins leave scientists with numerous questions and riddles on how it was built and for which purpose. Theories vary but one thing is for sure: Machu Picchu is one of the most impressive and exciting places in the world, sublime and majestic on top of the mountain and surrounded by impenetrable rainforest.

Enjoy a guided tour of the marvelous citadel, visiting the main plaza, the Temple of Three Windows, the circular tower, the sacred sun dial and the burial grounds!

Day 6: Cusco - Lima - Foz Do Iguassu

Get ready to jet-set... again! Today, you will be transferred to the airport, where you will stop in Lima, and then continue on to Foz do Iguacu. This beautiful city is nestled right near the majestic Iguazu Falls, where the Iguazu River empties its waters into the Parana River!

Bordering on Brazil and Argentina, these humongous waterfalls attract tons of visitors all year-round. Although the city of Foz do Iguacu is not a large city, it is always bustling with shoppers,, tourists, and locals.

Transfer from Cusco hotel to Cusco airport (CUZ)

Catch connecting flight in Lima (LIM), then fly to Foz do Iguassu (IGU)!

Transfer from Iguassu Falls airport (IGU) to Foz do Iguassu hotel

Day 7: Puerto Iguazu

Wake up ready to explore! After breakfast, you'll spend the day touring both the Argentinian and Brazilian sides of the world-famous Iguazu Falls. From your hotel, you'll be driven to the Visitors Center, and then you'll hop aboard a train which will take you to all the most prominent points of this natural wonder.

Continue your journey through the Iguazu River Canyon on foot! Walk around, appreciate the flora and fauna, and feel the soft mist of all 270 waterfalls up-close!

Iguazu Falls Tour (Brazilian and Argentinian Sides)

Today's the day to see magical Iguazu Falls from every angle! Arrive at the Visitors Center and board a gas-propelled train at the main station. Enjoy a scenic ride until you reach the upper falls circuit and the Devil's Throat (Garganta del Diablo), one of the very highest falls! Feel your eyes widen as you gaze out at a surreal lookout point.

Then, take an unforgettable walk along the Iguazu River Canyon, via the lower circuit and the upper circuit to appreciate the amazing flora and fauna surrounding you. Iguazu is made up of about 270 individual waterfalls - see them all up close!

You'll go through the National Park on the Brazilian side of the falls, where you'll walk along paths cascading down to the bottom of Devil's Throat. See breathtaking views of the Argentinian side, where you'll see the Two Sisters, Bozzeti, Superior Circuit, and San Martin Island, where the movie The Mission was filmed. Get ready for amazing views and unforgettable memories!

Please note it is your responsibility to obtain the appropriate visa for entry into Brazil.

Day 8: Puerto Iguazu - Buenos Aires

What would a trip to Argentina be without a visit to Buenos Aires?! After breakfast, enjoy a quick transfer to the airport and begin your journey to Argentina's capital. Upon arrival, you'll feel Buenos Aires' strong European influence through its eclectic cuisine, luxury boutiques, amazing architecture, and charming plazas.

Each neighborhood boasts its own unique personality - some very artsy, some filled with nightlife, etc. Buenos Aires is the perfect place to visit tons of museums, have a picnic in a lush green park, and browse around antique stores and art galleries!

Settle into your luxurious hotel, then get to know the city. You  might want to treat yourself to some authentic Asado (Argentinian barbecue) with a side of Chimichurri, the country's go-to condiment (green salsa)!

Transfer from Foz do Iguassu hotel to Cataratas del Iguazu Inlt. Airport (IGR)

Fly to Buenos Aires, Argentina!

Transfer from Aeroparque Jorge Newbery Airport (AEP) to Buenos Aires hotel

Day 9: Buenos Aires

Wake up smiling - you're in beautiful Buenos Aires! Make the most of your last day with a wonderful tour of the city. Start at the famous 9 de Julio Avenue, see the gorgeous Colon Theater and Casa Rosada, and walk around the Plaza de Mayo! Explore San Telmo, a historical neighborhood and the oldest district of Buenos Aires. Head to the northern districts, which include the green area of Palermo and the upscale Recoleta neighborhood!

The fun doesn't stop there! In the evening, enjoy an amazing cultural experience when you indulge in an authentic Argentinian dinner and watch a Tango show at El Viejo Almacen, a famous Tango House! Buenos Aires was the birthplace of Tango, after all!

Buenos Aires City Tour

Your city tour of Buenos Aires starts at the famous 9 de Julio Avenue, known as the widest avenue in the world! Pass by the beautiful Colon Theater, the cultural pride of Buenos Aires, and arrive at the main square Plaza de Mayo, which is surrounded by Casa Rosada (Government House), Metropolitan Cathedral and the Cabildo (first City Hall). Visit the inside of the Metropolitan Cathedral, which holds the remains of General José de San Martín (Argentina's national hero).

Continue to San Telmo, the oldest district in Buenos Aires with many antique shops. (On Sundays, the neighborhood holds a famous antique market). Your next stop is La Boca, a colorful neighborhood of painted houses with the famous "Caminito" street.

The tour ends in the city's northern districts. Drive to the green neighborhood of Palermo with its parks and artificial lakes. Then, visit Recoleta with its elegant boutiques and restaurants. At the famous Recoleta cemetery, you will find the grave of Eva Duarte, known as Eva Perón (Evita). The mausoleums and pantheons reflect the architectural diversity from Argentina's different cultures.

Dinner & Tango Show at El Viejo Almacen (with transfers)

Experience the soul of Buenos Aires at a tango show with dinner! The Tango tradition started at the end of the 19th century, and developed out of a mixture of various rhythms, which were originally danced in the poorer neighborhoods.

Your night starts with a hotel pick-up, where you'll then be taken to one of the famous Tango Houses - El Viejo Almacen - for dinner. Enjoy a show with music, singing, and of course -  dancing.

The El Viejo Almacen, the home of traditional tango, became a unique place thanks to its historic location and authentic style. Every night its doors are open to enjoy an impressive tango show performed by prominent interpreters of the tango scene, a demonstration of Andean music, as well as exquisite cuisine.

Includes:

  • Hotel pick-up and drop-off
  • Entrance to Tango Show
  • 1 full dinner
  • Entree
  • Main course
  • Dessert
  • Drinks

Day 10: Depart Argentina

Savor the flavors of one last Argentinian breakfast, then squeeze all your souvenirs into your luggage and enjoy a comfortable transfer to the airport. Spend your relaxing flight home dreaming about your next adventure!

Transfer from Buenos Aires hotel to Buenos Aires airport (EZE)

Fly home!

Itinerary: Wine and Landscapes of Argentina's Northwest

Day 1 Join trip in Mendoza

Our tour starts today in Mendoza, the heart of Argentina's wine country, located in the shadow of the mighty Andes. For those arriving in time, our tour leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 6pm for the welcome meeting and for those that wish, there is the chance to go out for dinner. There are no activities planned today, so you're free to arrive in Mendoza at any time. If you'd like an airport transfer, you'll need to arrive into Governor Francisco Gabrielli International Airport (MDZ), a 20-minute drive from our hotel. Should you miss the meeting, your tour leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up. If your flight arrives earlier in the day, you could explore the lively city by strolling the leafy streets or relax with a spot of people-watching and a coffee in one of the many charming plazas

Meals Provided : None

Day 2 Wine-tasting in Argentina's famous vineyards

Today, we'll head to Lujan de Cuyo, 30 minutes outside of the city. Lujan de Cuyo is a wine-growing region where row upon row of vines grow in neatly ordered lines under the shadow of the Andes mountains. Drinking wine in this landscape is an unforgettable experience, and today we'll be visiting two of the region's wineries. Although this area is home to many varieties of white, it's mainly known for its reds, particularly the ubiquitous malbec. We'll have the chance to taste the multiple varieties of grapes found in the area during our tour, before returning to Mendoza. The late afternoon is free to explore the city, and on our first full day in Argentina, it's a good idea to try some of the local delicacies - visit an afternoon coffee shop for an alfajor (an Argentinian speciality - a cakey biscuit filled with 'dulce de leche') or take a walk around the lively Plaza Independencia.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 3 Walk in the Aconcagua Provincial Park and visit the Inca Bridge

Today we have a full-day trip to Aconcagua Provincial Park, home to the magnificent Aconcagua - standing at 6,961 metres/22,837 feet it's the tallest peak in the Americas. At the bottom of the permanently snow-covered peaks, we'll find lush meadows and some forested valleys, and our tour leader will take us on a 90-minute hike to the Horcones Lagoon, a glacier-fed lagoon with outstanding views of the mountains. The trail is relatively flat and rocky, with mountains at either side of us and the peak of Aconcagua rising before us in the distance. Before returning to Mendoza, we'll also make a stop at the Puente del Inca, a geologically formed bridge once allegedly used by Incas to cross the river. The reddish oranges of the formation are caused by the minerals in the waters running beneath the bridge, and the remains of a slightly curious-looking stone chapel are still found built into the rock. We'll drive back to Mendoza after our visit. The drive to Mendoza takes approximately three hours each way.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 4 Drive to Barreal; visit El Leoncito National Park

Today we'll set off to Barreal, one of the most beautifully situated towns in this sleepy region of the country. The town is a shot of green in the often desert-like landscapes of the northwest, with seven snow-capped Andean peaks overlooking it. The highlight is the nearby El Leoncito National Park, a protected area with very strict regulations on air pollution. This valley gives us the chance (weather-dependent) to do some night sky watching while enjoying its breathtaking scenery. Our drive today will take around six hours, with a section of unpaved roads.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 5 Drive to Villa Union through the Las Burras gorge

We have a long day of driving today, approximately seven hours, to Villa Union. Much of the drive is on the iconic Route 40 - similar to Route 66 in the US, the road is embedded into the country's culture, taking travellers from Salta in the north down to the wilds of Patagonia. Most of the road is paved, with just 120 kilometres/74 miles of dirt roads, and on this section we'll pass through small villages, ancient prehispanic settlements and the 'Las Burras' Gorge road, winding through the mountains. Villa Union is the jumping-off point for exploring the Talampaya and Ischigualasto National Parks and is a sleepy town with the shadows of the Andes in the background.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 6 Explore the geo shapes and red rock landscapes of Ischigualasto and Talampaya National Parks

A full day exploring weird and wonderful landscapes awaits us as we delve into the moonlike scenery of Ischigualasto National Park, and the red rock towers of Talampaya. Once the kingdom of dinosaurs, these two parks contain the most complete fossil record known from the Triassic Period and have together been granted UNESCO heritage status. Talampaya National Park is up first. The scrub desert boasts fossilised remains of a wide range of ancestral animals and plants. Even for those amongst us who are not scientifically minded, the park is an impressive show of geological wonders. We'll be undertaking an easy hike through the immense red rock canyon of the Don Eduardo Gorge, which is approximately 8 kilometres/5 miles on flat terrain. The dry riverbeds, red dunes and sand plains are more akin to a Martian journey than our expectations of Andean scenery. Popularly known as 'Moon Valley', Ischigualasto National Park, the next stop on our visit, is home to geological oddities that have been formed by water, wind and sun over the last million years. 'Bowling Lane' is one of the most iconic sites, with scores of perfectly polished round balls sitting on a flat surface, with apparently no explanation for their formation. We'll drive through this park by bus, stopping at the most interesting shapes to explore them further. After a thorough exploration of both parks, we'll return to Villa Union.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 7 Drive to Belen and visit a women's weaving co-operative

We'll get back on the Ruta 40 today, driving towards the small town of Belen and passing through characterful, rural villages en route. Part of the drive takes us on a winding upward journey over the Cuesta de Miranda, perhaps one of the most photogenic and visual climbs in the region - taking us from 1000 metres/3280 feet to 2000 metres/6561 feet above sea level and back down, in just a couple of hours. The highway was originally built in the early 1900s, following the path of the ancient Inca Trail that eventually led to Cusco. That early road was precarious - you could barely fit two cars abreast, with one side of the road dropping into the deep Miranda gorge. Thankfully it was updated in the last ten years, and a new highway was built - we'll pass the old one during the drive for comparison. After the Cuesta de Miranda, it's an easy drive for the final 200 kilometres/124 miles to Belen. There is a women's weaving co-operative in Belen that we've been visiting with groups for the last few years. Weaving, with both sheep and llama or alpaca wool, is an essential part of the economy up here in the northwest, and the co-op is a fascinating way to learn more about the process and its important place in this society. Our drive time today is six hours without stops. With stops, we'll spend a full day on the road.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 8 Wine-tasting in Cafayate and visit to indigenous Quilmes ruins

Setting off this morning to Argentina's northern Winelands around Cafayate, we'll stop at the indigenous Quilmes ruins en route. The Quilmes people, dating back to around AD1000, famously resisted the Incan invasion and lived through over a century of Spanish colonisation. The large site is made up of the remains of terraces rising up the cacti-covered hillside - we can walk to the top for excellent views of the valley and the site. Although not as impressive as other archaeological sites in the Andes, it helps us to understand the indigenous heritage in this part of Argentina. Finally, we'll arrive in Cafayate in the early afternoon for a round of wine tasting in two of the region's rustic wineries, their rows of green vines backed by the spectacular mountains beyond. We might try Argentina's main white wine, Torrontes, famous in this region. Our drive to Cafayate takes approximately six hours.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 9 Drive to Cachi through 'Broken Arrow Gorge'

The Argentina of the Andes is steeped in Inca heritage, and the indigenous populations have retained many of their old traditions - in small towns like Cafayate, local methods of weaving have been maintained since pre-Hispanic times, and during our journey through the Andes, we'll admire their woven clothes, hats, sweaters and ponchos in llama and vicuna wool. Today our journey takes us to Cachi through 'Broken Arrow Gorge', a spectacular formation of sharp, pointed rocks shooting up through the air at all sorts of different angles; the road that we travel on pierces this dramatic and surreal landscape. We'll take the opportunity to stop en route at viewpoints, with some short walks and small village visits. On arrival in Cachi (2,530 metres/8,300 feet altitude) we'll have some free time. We can use the time to relax and wander the cobblestoned streets and tranquil plazas of the town. The drive to Cachi takes approximately four hours without stops.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 10 Drive to Salta through high arid cactus deserts down to fertile forests on the 'Bishop's Hill Road'

This morning, we'll head on to Salta, down the 'Bishop's Hill Road', 20 kilometres/12 miles of hairpin bends that offer views down to the Sierra del Obispo. During the drive, the change in scenery is simply amazing, as we travel from the cactus-filled deserts of the Cardones National Park, down to lush green mountains, blanketed in vegetation and eroded by rippling brooks and streams. We'll stop to discover the spectacular mountain views at the various viewpoints on route to Salta - one of the livelier cities in the north of Argentina, it is a blend of colonial architecture, fascinating museums and buzzing nightlife. Our drive today will take approximately five to seven hours, depending on the number and length of stops and the traffic upon arrival into Salta.

Meals Provided : Breakfast & Dinner

Day 11 Discover Humahuaca Gorge; visit local villages

Today we'll set out to explore the UNESCO Heritage area of the Humahuaca Gorge, a highlight of any trip to the northwest of Argentina. Purmamarca is one of the towns within the gorge, and setting off today we can appreciate the town's incredible backdrop - a mountainside named the 'Seven-Coloured Hill' for its bright shades of yellows, oranges, reds and greens. Indeed, the rest of the day's journey is awash with colour and scenic roadside lookouts; another appropriately named mountain is The 'Painters Palette'. During our exploration today, we'll visit the region's old traditional villages, such as Tilcara and Maimara - these villages are perfect people-watching opportunities, and it's interesting to see once again the heritage from the pre-Columbian period which gives this area of northwest Argentina a very distinct sense of cultural identity. This is not only manifested in the woven items that we've potted in other towns but also in the local diet, with northern food including llama stews and corn dishes on offer. After a full day exploring, we'll return to Salta this evening and will get a taste of its music scene at a 'pena', a traditional folk music hall where locals come with guitars and take turns to play and sing. Dinner is included.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 12 Fly to Buenos Aires

This morning, we'll say goodbye to the northwest and catch our flight to cosmopolitan Buenos Aires. Here we'll find ourselves amid Argentina's capital, located on the southern shores of the Rio de la Plata. Since its founding by Pedro de Mendoza in the 1500s, the city has thrived on trade and its vibrant streets are filled with an eclectic mix of European architectural styles, with Spanish, French and Italian classicism rubbing shoulders with remnants of Victorian grandeur. The afternoon is free to settle in. Tomorrow we'll visit the eclectic and bohemian south of the city, so this afternoon you might want to visit the elite north, home to the embassies, the richer neighbourhoods and many of the city's green spaces. Its main site is the famous Recoleta Cemetery, the final resting place of some of Argentina's most revered figures, including Eva Peron. Or perhaps go to Palermo Park, an urban oasis in the madness of the city. This evening or tomorrow we'll have an opportunity to enjoy Buenos Aires' dazzling nightlife and soak up the pulsating rhythms of one of South America's most captivating cities.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 13 Walking tour of La Boca and Plaza de Mayo; free afternoon

We're experiencing the city as a Porteno (a Buenos Aires native) today, using the local buses and exploring on foot. Each neighbourhood of Buenos Aires has a distinct character, with grand Italianate architecture rubbing shoulders with winding cobbled streets or tree-lined avenues. To get a feel for the heart of the city, we'll stroll towards its founding point at the Plaza de Mayo, where the President's dusty-pink mansion is located. Every big event in Buenos Aires's history has been witnessed by the Plaza, from the continued protests of the Madres de la Plaza de Mayo back to Eva Peron's mass demonstrations in 1945. From here, we'll hop on a bus towards the colourful neighbourhood of La Boca. Settled originally by Italian migrants, the area is famed for its bright houses, a ramshackle affair of corrugated iron, and the tango dancers who perform in the streets. We'll visit a local Cafecito during our tour, taking a traditional Porteno elevenses of coffee and pastries. We end our morning in bohemian San Telmo, with its small one-way streets, historic mansions and walls covered with street art. Our Tour Leader will suggest lunch at a traditional Bodegon, sampling specialities that an Argentinian grandma would be happy with. Empanadas, locro (corn and pumpkin stew) or a delicious choripan (a fat chorizo sausage in bread, with chimichurri sauce) may be on the menu. The afternoon is free to explore with much on offer. You could stay and see more of San Telmo, which is particularly interesting when the antiques market takes over the cobbled streets. For book lovers, the Ateneo Grand Splendid, set in a converted theatre, is one of the most impressive bookstores in the world. This evening, we'll have the opportunity to enjoy Buenos Aires' nightlife, perhaps going to a tango show and soaking up the pulsating rhythms of this most Latin of dances.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 14 Trip ends in Buenos Aires

Our trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Buenos Aires. There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart from Buenos Aires at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like an airport transfer, you'll need to depart from either Aeroparque Internacional Jorge Newbery (AEP) or Ezeiza International Airport (EZE).

Meals Provided : Breakfast

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"The gladdest moment in human life, me thinks, is a departure into unknown lands."
Sir Richard Burton
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