Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

Real travelers love South America. Andean peaks, Amazonian rainforest, Patagonian glaciers, Incan ruins, colonial towns, white-sand beaches and vertiginous nightlife: the wonders of South America set the stage for incredible adventures. It is as though the continent was built for travel; a place that excites, thrills, challenges & infuriates.

Landscapes rivalled by few….Beautiful, defiant & intense. It is apparent why Argentina has long held travelers in awe with its streetside tango, wafting grills, fútbol (soccer), gaucho culture & the mighty Andes, Patagonia. It is one formidable cocktail of wanderlust.

 And, Buenos Aires combines faded colonial architecture with Latin passion. Sexy & alive, this beautiful city gets under your skin.

Arrive in Buenos Aires which combines faded European grandeur with Latin passion.

After you exit in the Arrival Hall at Terminal? - Buenos Aires Ezeiza International Airport, subsequent to Immigration & Customs, you will be welcomed by The Journeys representative who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to the hotel, help you settle in & provide you with some useful tips for exploring the area as well as discuss the program for the next few days.

If, for any reason you are unable to make contact with our representative within 30 minutes of waiting, please call the local Emergency telephone # listed on your Contact List. Please follow the advice given by our 24 / 7 Duty Officer.  Please do not exit the Airport & make your own way to the hotel.

Reach the hotel & Check-in.

*Check-in time is 02.00 pm. For earlier arrivals in the morning, we will request the hotel for a complimentary early Check-in but cannot be guaranteed unless reserved & paid for ‘immediate occupancy’.

Balance of the day at leisure or perhaps opt for one of the options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Sexy, alive & supremely confident, this beautiful city gets under your skin. Like Europe with a melancholic twist, Buenos Aires is unforgettable.

Steak, Wine & Ice Cream| Art & Architecture| Nightlife |Tango

Arriving in Buenos Aires is like jumping aboard a moving train. The modern metropolis whizzes by, alive with street life from busy sidewalk cafes, to hush parks carpeted in purple jacaranda blooms in springtime. There are heaps of bookstores, creative boutiques & gourmet eats.

BA is an amazing city, an astonishing metropolis that looks a bit like Europe, but with an edgy Latin American twist. Stylish Portenos (as BA residents are called) savor public life – whether it is sharing mate (a tea-like beverage) on Sunday in the park or gelato under handsome early 20^th century stone facades. Portenos are passionate, opinionated & - once you get past their hard-city facade - very friendly. Walk among them along the busy avenues, taking in the street life & often the craziness that goes along with it. This is a very special place, beautiful in its own unique way, resilient & creative. It is the kind of city travelers fall in love with, dream about & then move to!

Look closely: this city is beautiful. Sure, it might look like a concrete jungle from certain angles, but stroll through the streets, paying attention to the magnificent architecture around you, and you will soon be won over. Grand French & Italian-style palaces grab the limelight, but you will see interesting architectural details in the buildings of even low-key, local barrios. These days the beauty of these traditional neighborhoods is further enhanced by colorful murals painted by artists involved in the city's vibrant street-art scene. For these talented individuals, the city is their canvas.

BA's famous dance is possibly the city's greatest contribution to the outside world. Folklore says it began in the bordellos of long-ago Buenos Aires, when men waiting for their 'ladies' passed time by dancing amongst themselves. Today, glamorized tango shows are supremely entertaining with their grand feats of athleticism. You will also find endless venues for perfecting your moves, from salons to milongas (dance events) to cafes. Just realize that some people become addicted - & can spend a lifetime perfecting this sensual dance.

Cultural activities abound here. Tango is possibly Argentina’s greatest contribution to the outside world. The steamy dance has been described as ‘making love in the vertical position.’ And what about futbol (soccer)? Argentines are passionately devoted to this sport & if you are a fan, chanting & stomping alongside other stadium fanatics should definitely be in your plans. Add a distinctive Argentine take on literature, cinema, music & arts, and you have a rich, edgy culture – part Latin American & part European – that you can’t help but fall in love with.

Fancy some Indian, French, Vietnamese, Lebanese, Thai, Scandinavian, Mexican, Brazilian, Peruvian, Armenian or American food during your stay in BA? No problem. But for many travelers, it is the city's carnivorous pleasures that shine. Satisfying that craving for juicy steaks isn't hard to do in the land that has perfected grilling those wonderfully flavorful sides of beef. Parrillas (steakhouses) sit on practically every corner & will offer up myriad cuts, from bife de chorizo (sirloin) to vacio (flank steak) to ojo de bife (rib eye). But leave room for ice cream, if you can – a late-night cone of dulce de leche (caramel) helado can't be topped. Vegetarians, you have been warned!

It is no joke: Buenos Aires is a shopper's paradise. The city is laced with shopping streets lined with heaps of clothing & shoe stores, leather shops & nearly everything else you can think of. Large shopping malls are modern & family-friendly, offering designer goods, food courts & even children's play areas. But perhaps the city's best shopping is in Palermo Viejo, where countless upscale boutiques live; these offer avant-garde clothing, unique housewares & fun souvenirs. And let us not forget San Telmo, where antiques aficionados flock; the Sunday fair here is famous & entertaining, and will easily fill up a long afternoon.

Take a cat nap, down your coffee & be prepared to stay up all night - this is a city that never sleeps! Restaurants open at 9.00 pm, bars at midnight & clubs at 2.00 am - at the very earliest. If you are cool, of course, you will show up after 4.00 am & dance till dawn. International DJs are the rage, spinning electronica & house to legions of hip, trendy & well-dressed crowds. But you can also enjoy live music such as rock, blues, jazz & even folk - just remember that you will be doing it all very late!

Evening around 06.00 pm, you will be met by a Journeys Rep / Driver & proceed for Dinner at Restaurant “Un Aplauso pa’l Asador”, which is not only a roasted grilled dinner but a truly Argentinean experience. You will also see a folk dance & music show, during & after the dinner.

For Argentines, an Asado Criollo is a ritual, a tradition, a good excuse to meet with friends & relatives. That is why we invite you to discover the secrets of cooking a delicious Asado.

The experience commences with lighting the fire, preparing the beef & the right dressing: the “Chimichurri” sauce. We will also get tips on the proper temperature & cooking time. True Asadors master their grill with flare and finesse.

Then you will enjoy more the Asado you just cooked!

You will notice another tradition… if the Asado is really good & tasty one of the guests at the table stands up and says “Un aplauso pa’l asador!” (clap your hands & congratulate the cook!). Wine is also an important part of this experience. A basic principle of food & wine pairing is to match wines with regional dishes, since local flavors tend to have a natural affinity. This becomes evident when enjoying Argentine Malbec with the Asado.

Return to the hotel.

Overnight.  D

Morning, meet the Tour-guide at 09:00 am & proceed for a 4 hour sightseeing tour of Buenos Aires, a cosmopolitan city that shows the influence of the numerous waves of immigrants that formed it.

Start at the historic Plaza de Mayo Square, the oldest public Square in BA that has been the scene of many of the most important events in the city's history, from the second founding of the city in 1580, through the revolution of independence, to more recent political demonstrations. Plaza de Mayo is the place where Argentines gather in vehement protest or jubilant celebration.

Its current name commemorates the May Revolution of 1810 that began in what was then called the Plaza de la Victoria. Six years later Argentina won independence from Spain & the Square was given its current name, May Square. At the center is the Piramide de Mayo, a white obelisk built to mark the first anniversary of independence from Spain.

Among the 3 important historic buildings surrounding the Plaza are the pink coloured Casa Rosada (or Casa de Gobierno) - the executive mansion & office of the President of Argentina & considered one of the most emblematic buildings in Buenos Aires which also houses a Museum, which contains objects relating to former presidents of Argentina.

The Town Hall Cabildo, dating back to 1580 which was the site of Spain's colonial administration in the city. Originally constructed from adobe & thatch, the current building was constructed over the second half of the 18th century, witnessed the Argentine Revolution in 1810 & served as an important administrative building during the first century of Argentine independence.

The Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral - the main Catholic church in Buenos Aires where Archbishop Jorge Bergoglio used to perform mass before assuming office in the Vatican in 2013 as Pope Francis. In Bergoglio's honour, the Cathedral now houses the Pope Francis Museum, which exhibits some of his personal & liturgical objects.

Every major city in the world has a famous main avenue, for example, New York has 5^th Avenue & Paris has the Champs Elysees. Buenos Aires is no exception & like its steak sizes, the Portenos were generous when constructing the 3km main avenue, Avenida 9 de Julio, a major thoroughfare in the city centre with its 8 lanes divided by small green squares with old leafy trees, enriched by sculptures & fountains. Named after the day of Argentina’s Independence on 9^th July 1816, construction of the imposing Avenue began in the 1930s & was finally completed in 1980, gaining the title of the widest street in the world!

As the traffic lights turn red, jugglers, fire eaters & other street performers begin their short shows in order to make a few pesos. However, within all this noise & energy, you can enjoy the tranquillity of the small tree-lined plazas & gardens which run the length of the avenue.

Find a bench and pass some time soaking up the liveliness of Buenos Aires by watching the street performers, the frenzied traffic, or taking the opportunity to try & fit the whole of the Avenue into one incredible panoramic photograph capturing all aspects of Buenos Aires life.

At the very center of the avenue where it crosses with Avenida de Mayo, is one of Buenos Aires’ most famous & recognized landmarks. The Obelisk, or Obelisco, is a 70m high, white, needle-like structure that was constructed to commemorate Buenos Aires’ 400^th Anniversary. Today it is the focal point for many Porteno celebrations & the starting point of many of the political demonstrations. There are plenty of other wide avenues with some green patches which attempt to slow down the rhythm of this vertiginous city.

Continue walking south to the picturesque & colorful port neighborhood of La Boca where you will find the famous Caminito street (little path, in Spanish) - a street museum of colourful painted houses typical of the immigrant dwellings that reflects through its architecture & customs, the influence of the European citizens who arrived on these shores in the late 19^th century, especially Genoese sailors.

The place acquired cultural significance because it inspired the music for the famous tango "Caminito", composed by Juan de Dios Filiberto. Today, there are several works by Argentine artists incorporated as part of the street museum & the Caminito has become a favourite with visitors to the city. Several restaurants offer tango & folk dance shows and street fills with artists offering original crafts & paintings.

Continue on towards San Telmo, indoor market (Mercado de San Telmo) built in 1897 in one of Buenos Aires oldest neighborhoods surrounded by colonial houses & cobbled streets in the eponymous neighborhood.

Explore the covered market, which is largely a foodie affair, but has booths of collectables such as antique dolls, second-hand records, vintage jewellery & clothing.

Every Sunday, the area around the market hosts the city’s most famous street fair, the Feria de San Telmo, when hundreds of vendors line the streets surrounding Plaza Dorrego, most of them dealing in one-of-a-kind antiques. What started as a small gathering of about 30 antiques vendors in 1970, when the fair was inaugurated, has expanded to a crowd of nearly 300.

During the rest of the week, locals buy fresh produce & meat at the indoor market, which is said to have some of the best coffee in town.

There is stall upon stall laden with the bright & shiny: used copper kitchenware, vintage buttons, military regalia, toys, magazines, books, posters, records, ancient telephones, lamps, pieces of lace, exquisite art, tortoiseshell spectacle frames, fans, beaded bags, fragile antique clothing, memorabilia from the Peron era & all manner of ornaments that show the South American, Spanish & Italian influences of modern Buenos Aires.

Tango dancers, buskers & other entertainers vie for the attention of the thousands of shoppers who flood the San Telmo neighborhood on Sundays. San Telmo being the oldest neighborhood in BA is one of the best places in the city to experience the passion of the Argentine tango. Visitors are likely to see an impromptu tango performance right out on the street during the weekly Feria de San Telmo.

Then walk towards the modern & well-off district of Puerto Madero; Palermo neighbourhood, with its elegant residences framed by wide green areas; and finally see the tony district of Recoleta, the most sophisticated area where the rich live.

The sightseeing ends & you are transferred back to the hotel (or continue exploring & go back to the hotel on your own).

In the evening, enjoy a memorable night out in Buenos Aires & experience the passion of the Argentine Tango at an evening at one of the city’s most unique tango performances.

Around 05.30 pm, you will be met by a Journeys Rep / Driver, who will accompany you to an unforgettable Tango Show performed by the best dancers & singers, while you enjoy a delicious meal. This is the perfect way to discover Buenos Aires, the city of Tango.

Legend has it that Tango developed in the brothels & backstreets of Buenos Aires' port districts. Today, the passionate dance form is on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

Head to the cobblestone streets of San Telmo (you were there in the morning during your tour), the birthplace of Tango & the oldest barrio in Buenos Aires.

Arrive at a Conventillo, a restored historic tenement & now used as a restaurant-theater, where La Ventana takes place. As you stroll through the theater’s preserved architectural interior, travel back in time to the Tango grandeur of the early 1900s. The intimate setting of the theater creates a special atmosphere for this intense and sensual live Tango show with professional dancers, incredible wardrobe, male and female singers & live tango orchestras.

Throughout the 3 hour Dinner & Show, taste the flavors of a traditional Argentine meal featuring a wide array of Argentine & international dishes, accompanied by Argentine wines (wines - direct payment) & then watch the choreographed drama unfold before your eyes. The cabaret-style atmosphere allows you to feel like you are right in the middle of the action with the tuxedo-clad performers, honey-voiced vocalists & sensual dancers.

2 Tango orchestras & an Argentine Folk Music group provide live accompaniment to the 5 smartly costumed couples on stage, who grace the stage with sensuality & breathtaking precision. Listen to both Spanish & indigenous styles of music from the bands as well as vocalists.

Get a glimpse of the gaucho culture, or Argentina’s version of cowboys, through a demonstration of boleadoras, used to wrangle livestock.

After the show closes with a moving tribute to Eva Peron, your Driver takes you back to the hotel,

Overnight.  B D

Morning, meet the Tour-guide at 10.00 am & embark on a walking 3 hour tour to check out the remarkable Bars & Cafes: an interesting way to approach Buenos Aires’s spirit is through its bars & coffee shops, just following an urban route or discovering the magnificent patrimony they own. All the places that you will visit along this tour have been selected due to their antiquity, architectonic values, or their particular atmosphere. But mainly, they have been chosen because they are referents of Buenos Aires & its people.

Come back to the hotel by afternoon or walk around on your own.

Evening, meet the Journeys Rep again & proceed for wine tasting & dinner at “Bar El Querandi”.  

At the beginning of the century, in 1920, an ancient colonial house became this traditional bar, with its Art Deco frontage, its dark boiserie & its Salomon-style columns. For 6 decades, it was a meeting point for writers, artists & students. By the ´80s it was on the rim of demolition, but it has had a promissory future. Nowadays this traditional corner of Buenos Aires has become one of those magic places of the city in which the spirit of the past comes back & invites its visitors & inhabitants.

You are invited you to share the Presentation - A Virtual Wine Route of Argentina - featuring introduction to the grapevines in America & Argentina, a description of the vine growing regions and wine tasting & dinner in this magical environment. Northwest (Cafayate Area): Torrontes served with “empanaditas saltenas” (typical turnovers prepared the way they are done in Salta) Patagonia (Río Negro Valley): Pinot Noir (with mushroom crisps) Cuyo (Mendoza): Malbec (with veal appetizers).

Return to the hotel.

Overnight.  B L 

In time, you will be transferred to Terminal? - Buenos Aires Aeroparque Jorge Newbery Airport for the flight to Salta, one of the most attractive cities in the country probably due to the eye-catching contrast of the old colonial buildings & modern urban architecture.

Arrive in Salta, a charming colonial town in Lerma Valley in the remote North West of Argentina.

After you exit in the Arrival Hall at Terminal? - Salta Martín Miguel de Guemes International Airport you will be met by a Journeys Rep who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to the hotel provide assistance during Check-in & also discuss the program for the next couple of days.

If, for any reason you are unable to make contact with our representative within 30 minutes of waiting, please call the local Emergency telephone # listed on your Contact List. Please follow the advice given by our 24 / 7 Duty Officer.  Please do not exit the Airport & make your own way to the hotel.

Reach the hotel & Check-in.

*Check-in time is 02.00 pm. For earlier arrivals in the morning, we will request the hotel for a complimentary early Check-in but cannot be guaranteed unless reserved & paid for ‘immediate occupancy’. The luggage can be left at the Bell Desk, if you want to walk around.

Balance of the day at leisure or perhaps opt for one of the options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Salta is, beyond any doubt, the Argentine city which has best preserved its colonial heritage, with its one-story houses & its typical balconies and patios. Founded in 1582 by Hernando de Lerma, the Spanish conquistador, it is now one of the focal points to begin exploring the surrounding area in northwest Argentina. A fantastic area for getting off the beaten track!

Salta City is the capital of Salta, one of Argentina's largest provinces bordered by Chile, Bolivia & Paraguay and has Argentina's best-preserved colonial architecture, breathtaking landscapes & a rich Inca-inspired cultural history. The narrow streets & charming Plazas of the city remain as quiet & gracious as they have existed for centuries.

Commonly referred to as Salta la Linda (or “Salta the Pretty”), the sophisticated city is a favorite of many, engaging active minds with its outstanding Museums & lighting romantic candles with its Plaza side cafes & the live Musica Folklorica at its popular Penas (folk music clubs). It offers the facilities (& the traffic & noise) of a larger city & aside from the morning gridlock, retains the comfortable pace of a smaller town that happens to have preserved more colonial architecture than most places in Argentina.

The town provides visitors the opportunity to experience Quechan & Andean culture & try regional foods - like the best empanadas in the country (so they say). Beautiful Salta didn’t receive as many European immigrants as some other parts of the country, so it still retains a slower paced, rural vibe & a lot of indigenous traditions & influence.

The Saltenos (people of Salta) hold fast to tradition, so while you are here don’t miss spending an evening at a traditional Pena (folk concert) where you can eat local food while watching performances of folkloric music & dancing. And if you are lucky, you might catch some of the excitement & dancing that spills out onto the street at night. One of the most famous is Pena Balderrama, where lots of Argentine bands are known to meet up & where gauchos head to hear jam sessions of Salta’s musicians.

There will likely be Spanish guitars, sheepskin drums, violins & gauchos (Argentine cowboys & folk heroes). You can clap, stomp, shout & dance along with the criolla music, a mix of Spanish & indigenous styles resulting from their blended ancestry. It is an integral part of rural life here, rather than just merely entertainment for tourists.

While Salta’s nightlife is much more laid back than say, the intensity of Buenos Aires, it is still a fun place to have a great dinner, drinks at a bar or two & then make your way to a discotheque for some dancing… but not until around 2,00 am, of course.

The lively Calle Balcarce is filled with street vendors, shops, bars & restaurants and is a great place to start your evening, especially on a Friday or Saturday.

A lesser visited area, this remote region is full of blood red gorges, arid desert landscapes, alien rock formations, ethereal salt flats, high altitude vineyards, old mining settlements & wide-open roads.

The province has a wide range of contrasting microclimates in a single region, creating a unique environment for producing unique, high-quality wines. Vineyards stretch over 8,000 acres & thrive at remarkable altitudes, with some reaching as high as 2 miles above sea level. The uniquely Argentine Torrontes variety is the region’s most celebrated, while Malbec, Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon & Tempranillo are true standouts among the red grapes, increasingly garnering awards & attention around the globe.

Overnight.  B D

Morning, meet the Tour-guide in the Lobby at 09.00 am & embark on a 4 hour tour to have a look at the most precious gems dating back to colonial times.

The city centers on Plaza 9 de Julio, an elegant, cafe-lined Square bordered by the neo-classical Salta Cathedral & El Cabildo &. Museo de Arqueología de Alta Montana (MAAM) nearby houses Incan artifacts

Start at the city’s main Square, Plaza 9 de Julio, where you will find Spanish colonial architecture, cobblestone streets & cafes along the edge of the palm tree-lined Plaza.

Fronting the Square, you will see the magnificent 1882 pink neo-classical Roman Catholic Catedral Basílica de Salta with its incredible Baroque architecture & Italian-style façade, possibly the most recognizable sight in the city. The National Monument looks spectacular when it is illuminated after dark.

Consecrated in 1878, it is the seat & the metropolitan Cathedral of the Archbishop of Salta. There is a small Museum of Religious Relics. The interior is made up of brilliant golds, greens & blues. Visitors can venture inside (& attend church services on Sundays if they like). It is notable for the enormous frescoes portraying the 4 gospel writers on the portico around the altar & its impressive stained glass windows.

Inside the entrance is the Panteon de las Glorias del Norte enclosing the Tomb of (among other notables) General Martín Miguel de Guemes, a salteno (resident of Salta) & a revolutionary war of independence hero. Wander to the back of the rose-colored cathedral for a peek at the beautiful, jasmine-infused garden.

The Cathedral, in addition to being a true expression of architectural wealth, is above all the symbol & manifestation of the faith of the people of Salta. The Sanctuary houses the images of the Lord & the Virgin of the Miracle, the patrons of the city, who every September 15 receive thousands of devotees from all over the province to renew their pact of fidelity.

There are numerous other smaller Churches spread across Salta which are worth a visit, especially in order to appreciate the history & colonial legacy of this old city.

You can also admire the beautiful architecture of El Cabildo, the 18^th century colonial Town Hall (old seat of the viceroyalty government & of the provincial government later on), in the Plaza. The construction started the same day as the town’s foundation took place, but the current building was completely rebuilt in the late 17^th century. There is a lovely central courtyard adorned with colorful climbing plants & flowers. There is also a historical Museum & exhibits date from the time before the Incas took over the region to Salta’s role in the wars of Argentine independence in the early 19^th century. There is a wide range of different pieces too, such as paintings, ancient Incan artifacts, furniture & even cars.

You will stop by at the Church & Monastery of San Francisco, designated a National Historic Monument & one of the typical postcard images of Salta. The outer walls are gold & dark red, which certainly make it stand out. Unmistakable with its high Tower & its characteristic colors, important historical events took place within it & it was declared Minor Main Church by the Vatican in 1997. When the city was founded, some estates located one block away from the main Square were gifted to the Franciscan monks.  

After it was rebuilt several times, the current Church, the minor basilica & the San Francisco convent were finished between 1789 & 1796. However, the 57 meters Tower, one of the tallest in the American continent, was built afterwards in 1870 by Fray Luis Giorgi who brought Italian architects & builders to build it. The funeral of the casualties during the battle of Salta was held here & Manuel Belgrano attended it. It has only one long & thin nave made of stones & double bricks.

Move on to the beautiful example of the handsome adobe American Baroque style Convento de San Bernardo, the city’s oldest religious building dating back to the late 16^th century & the most impressive example of colonial & indigenous art. It is still active as a Convent not open to the public. Only the Carmelites Nuns are allowed to enter, although access to the Church is permitted to the public for Sunday Mass service. Also, it is possible to buy Pastries from the in-house Bakery run by the Nuns.

But this is no reason not to admire it from the outside, especially for its beautifully carved single piece algarrobo cedarwood door, built in 1762 by the local Indians. Its architecture has remained the same since its construction & the Monastery boasts a main gate, carved by Indigenous craftsmen from a single carob tree, considered a jewel of the local colonial art. The Convent has housed San Andres Hospital since the middle of the last century.

If time permits, you may walk into the indoor Mercado Municipal San Miguel Market that covers 1 full block. There are market stalls selling fruit & vegetables, meat, artisan cheeses, regional sweets & nuts snacks, souvenirs, electrical items and even if you don’t feel like buying anything, the bustling atmosphere is a great way to experience the authentic local scene.

Last stop will be Alta Montana Archeology Museum (High Mountain Archeology Museum or MAAM) in a 19^th century restored historic & stately neo-Gothic building, with a distinct Victorian stamp, located in front of Plaza 9 de Julio (main Square) that presents collections related to the archaeological heritage associated with the ceremonies carried out on the high peaks of the Andes.

Equipped with the most modern technology, it develops various activities that converge around Conservation of the valuable collections & has a serious & informative exhibition focusing on Inca culture & in particular, the child sacrifices left on some of the Andes’ most imposing peaks.

In 1999, a group of scientists unearthed the remains of 3 Inca children, buried on a volcano summit under snow at 6700 meters above sea level at the peak of Llullaillaco. MAAM, one of northern Argentina's premier Museums, was set up to protect, study & disseminate the discovery of the Children of Llullaillaco, one of the most important archaeological discoveries of recent times, which dates from more than 500 years ago, during the heyday of the Inca state, shortly before the arrival of the Spanish conquerors.

Due to the icy conditions, the mummies are some of the best preserved in the world & as a result their intricately plaited hair, clothes & even internal organs are fully intact. It was a controversial decision to display the bodies & it is a powerful experience to come face-to-face with them & their faces reflect - you decide - a distant past or a typical 21^st century Salta face; a peaceful passing or a tortured death.

The centerpiece is the mummified body of one of 3 children (rotated every 6 months). Only one out of the 3 is on show at any one time, in order to continue their preservation. The bodies are preserved in airtight glass capsules that modify their atmosphere by reducing the oxygen content in a stable environment of 20 degrees Celsius below zero, illumination filtered in ultraviolet radiation & infrared radiation that guarantee correct preservation.

It is difficult to imagine a more privileged look at pre-Columbian South American culture as guests are amazed by their immediacy of the artifacts recovered from grave sites, with colors as fresh as the day they were produced. The illas (small votive figurines of animals & humans) are of silver, gold, shell & onyx and many are clothed in textiles. Also exhibited is the ‘Reina del Cerro,’ a tomb-robbed mummy that ended up here after a long turbulent history. Professional video presentations give a background on the ceremonial sacrifices & on the UNESCO World Heritage listed Qhapaq Nan, the Inca road system network. There is a gift shop & library as well as a cafe-bar with terrace.

The sightseeing ends & you are transferred back to the hotel or continue exploring on your own (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements for optional activities).

Salta claims to be the original home of the empanada, so you can expect to find empanadas of high quality when visiting the city. It is home to El Patio de la Empanada, which is a large food hall with numerous different empanada sellers each offering different styles of flavors.

Perfect for a snack or light meal, an empanada is essentially pastry wrapped around a filling, usually meat. The most popular kind is straightforward carne (beef mince with onion), but spinach & ricotta is a popular vegetarian alternative. After you have tasted Salta’s famous empanadas, you may venture out to try some more local cuisine.

Balance of the day at leisure or perhaps opt for one of the options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Overnight.  B D

Early morning, depart for Molinos, enroute passing by Cerrillos, El Carril, Chicoana & up the Escoipe River Gorge to enjoy the imposing scenery of Cuesta del Obispo (Bishop´s Slope) up to ‘Piedra del Molino’, the highest point in the road at about 3,600 meters above sea level.

From there, travel through the so-called Recta de Tin Tin, westbound along the bleak high plateau towards the terrain of the sleek, giant ‘cardon’ (cactuses) protected by ‘Los Cardones National Park’.

Stop at Cachi. one of the most beautiful villages in the Calchaquíes Valleys that conform to a unique a culture & scenery.

Stop at Cachi. one of the most beautiful villages in the Calchaquies Valleys of northwestern Argentina that conform to a unique a culture & scenery.

Cachi is a site for both those interested in history and in the splendor of nature - it was home to colonial aristocracy in the 18^th century. In Spanish, Cachi means "salt". Natives initially mistook the top of the Nevado Hill for a salt mine. An enchanting pre-Hispanic adobe town, backed by snow-capped Andean peaks & fringed with high-altitude vineyards that produce world-class wine, Cachi will make your heart quiver. The architecture shows noticeable influence of both the indigenous & Hispanic trends, with constructions aligned along very narrow streets, everything in excellent state of preservation.

The biggest place by some distance - you will hear locals refer to it as ‘the city’ but it is more of a pueblo (small town). Enchanting Cachi is nevertheless little more than a village surrounded by stunning scenery. Overlooked by noble snow-capped Nevado de Cachi mountains, it boasts fresh highland air, sunny days & crisp nights.

The town that used to shelter the Chicoanos, offers an array of masterful architectural structures from cobblestone streets, tranquil Plaza, pristine white colonial buildings, modest adobe houses & opportunities to explore the surrounding wilds mean that it is the sort of place that requires an extra day.

This pre-Columbian village glitters in a colorful clear atmosphere with its old houses, its radiant sun, good wines & attractive hills, where the air is so pure that locals are said to live longer than usual.  At its center sits the18^th century Iglesia San Jose, a Spanish colonial Parish Church. The nearby Museo Arqueologico de Cachi Pio Pablo Diaz exhibits locally excavated artifacts, some dating back 10,000 years.

A breathtakingly beautiful & unspoiled place, Cachi offers a range of splendid sites. Most popular are the "Valle Encantado" (Enchanted Valley), with its astounding erosion-sculpted rock formations & Los Cardones National Park, which boats a tranquil desert landscape hosting a variety of animal & vegetal species. The arid, fertile land is hospitable to the growth of a range of vegetable & legume crops and is best known for growing a range of peppers.

Continue on for Molinos located on the south bank of the Molinos river, travelling south along a winding & narrow mountain road, skirted by mud houses on one side and the view of the green Calchaqui valleys downhill on the other.

Arrive by afternoon & Check-in at the hotel.

If you thought Cachi was laid-back, wait until you see the small town of Molinos, a lovely backwater with a collection of striking colonial buildings & beautiful adobe houses, surrounded by willowy mesquite trees that huddle on the windswept hills. It is as if one has stepped back in time.

Molinos takes its name from the still-operational Flour Mill on the Río Calchaqui. It was very expensive to bring flour from the city of Salta & that is why water driven Mills were established locally for grinding grains in this place: one next to the main house of the “La Sala” Farm & another one on the Calchaquí River. The last mill in La Sala on the El Churcal Farm operated until 1980.

There is a simple & austere but photogenic 17^th century Church with a white façade, atrium & 2 bell towers, where the remains of the last royal governor of the province, Nicolas Severo de Isasmendi, are preserved. The village’s irregular streets, typical adobe houses with galleries, the large houses without ochava in the corners since in their place it has wooden gates of old shops, they give it a colonial, simple & picturesque air.

There is also a small Vicuna-breeding farm (vicunas are similar to llamas but their fur makes a much finer, more expensive wool) Per kilo, vicuna costs between $399 to $600, compared to $75 to $85 for cashmere & $5 or $6 for wool.  

Incas worshipped vicuna, the miniature cinnamon-hued cousins of the llama. The doe-eyed creatures, which inhabit the chilly Andean plateaus, produce a fleece so fine that it was considered to be cloth of gold. Only Inca royalty was permitted to wear it.

About 3 million vicuna once roamed the rocky terrains of the Andes - until the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors, who made guns the primary method of obtaining “the silk of the new world” which was used to line King Philip II’s divans. And, for centuries, the animals were hunted, rather than sheared, for a material substantially finer than cashmere.

The Association of Craftsmen & Producers "San Pedro Nolasco de los Molinos" is a co-operative that produces handicrafts based on vicuna wool, legally exploited.

The main draw, however, is its location on the way to Argentina's oldest Winery (Bodega Colome) & to many more in Cafayate.

Molinos is also just a few miles from Seclantas’ Camino de Artesanos (Road or Way of the Artisans), where weavers make ponchos & scarves by the roadside on contraptions improvised from wood & old bicycle parts.

Since time immemorial, along the current Provincial Route No. 55, lived some families almost all dedicated to agriculture, since the narrow valley, called El Colte, was on the east bank of the Calchaqui River, the families had plots of excellent land for the cultivation of alfalfa, corn, cumin, pepper etc. & good vegetables for consumption, an economy that was complemented in some cases with artisan work.

Many of these families had rooms of the typical Calchaqui architecture, some of them with pointed arches that belonged to a gaucho named Frabriciano Arce.

Over time, this sector began to be populated with weaving families & it is around 2001, through the “Valle Verde” Foundation, that Gloria Aban & her brother Fido, created Escuela de Ponchos Nuestra Senora del Carmen (school to teach poncho weaving), as a Christian educational Institution dedicated to the free teaching of the Art of Weaving on loom, with local teachers. Today the "The Way of the Artisans" road has 22 workshops, many of which have several family members dedicated to the activity.

Balance of the day at leisure or for independent explorations (we will be happy to offer suggestions).

Taking a stroll through the streets will reveal some real gems.

Overnight. B D

Morning,   proceed to Bodega Colome, one of the oldest wineries in Argentina founded in 1831.

Located in the Upper Calchaqui Valleys in Salta, it is home to the world’s highest Vineyards, sitting between 2300 & 3111 meters above sea level.

Hidden in a nook of the Calchaqui Valleys, one of the most imposing landscapes in Argentina, you will find one of the highest Vineyards in the world. Bodega Colome has been pioneering the potential of high altitude vines for more than 180 years.

Bodega Colome is a place to enjoy a glass of wonderful wine, disconnect & to be totally immersed in nature & the vastness of this land.

A unique & unforgettable experience in the immensity of the Calchaqui Valley. Colome is not just an incredible Vineyard, it is an incredible combination of taste, art, culture, adventure travel, gastronomy & continually evolving potential. The breathtaking views & the vast expanses of untouched terrain make Colome one of the jewels in the crown of Hess Family Estates, a family-run business made up of 7 Wineries across the world.

Nestled at 4 different altitudes ranging from 2,300 to 3,111 metres above sea level, the 4 Vineyards are at one with both the earth & the sky among the beautiful Calchaquí Valleys. In 2019, Bodega Colome was named one of the top 25 Vineyards in the World’s Best Vineyards Award.

Colome is a unique & unforgettable experience which starts with an amazing & challenging journey up through the magnificent foothills & mountains of the Cordillera. A magical mix of star-lit skies & an intense and glowing sun which radiates energy, adding mystery to this extraordinary adventure.

Get in touch with the history of the Winery. The film “Virtual Tour of Colome” played at the auditorium will introduce you to the Winery & the long tradition in wine making of one of the oldest wineries in the country.

Walk to the James Turrell Museum dedicated exclusively to the distinguished Californian artist renowned for his sculptural creations. Then, enjoy a Tasting experience, to sample the flavor & aroma and appreciate the body of the local wines.

Time to eat & it is really hard not to get swept away by the charms of the kitchen at Estancia Colome. The restaurant’s farm-to-table menu is sourced from the in-house organic farm and orchard. Here, the ingredients are gathered, for an authentic culinary experience: a simple menu that builds on ancient flavors of the land, a gentle environment & an attentive, wonderful service. Ideally, you should sample every dish in order to experience the full palette of flavors and fragrances unique from this land.

Return back to the hotel whenever you like.

Balance of the day at leisure.

Overnight. B L 

Morning at leisure to enjoy the superb surrounding scenery, relax & walk in the Vineyards.

After lunch, depart across the moon like landscape of Quebrada de las Flechas towards Cafayate, a beautiful colonial at the very heart of the Calchaqui Valleys, surrounded by rivers & vineyards.

Arrive at the hotel & Check-in.

*Check-in time is 02.00 pm. For earlier arrivals, we will request the hotel for a complimentary early Check-in but cannot be guaranteed unless reserved & paid for ‘immediate occupancy’. However, the luggage can be left at the Bell Desk, if you want to walk out.

Balance of the day at leisure, explore independently or perhaps opt for one of the options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Argentina’s 2^nd center for quality wine production, Cafayate is a popular tourist destination but still has a tranquil small-town feel. It’s spectacularly scenic, with the green of the vines backed by soaring mountains beyond & is one of northwest Argentina’s most seductive destinations.

Known as the “Tuscany of Argentina,” this little wine town is famous for the Torrontes grape (grown only in Argentina) producing aromatic dry, crisp, floral white wines that can be a bit round when aged in oak.

With several Wineries - from boutique upstarts to burly behemoths - to visit in & around town, it entices one to explore the surrounding area. The Bodegas located all over the village, so tourists can leisurely stroll between Wineries & Vineyards around the city center or out in the countryside for tours & Tastings all day.

There are lots of Bodegas within walking distance of the town’s main Plaza, like the family-run Salvador Figueroa, the modern El Transito, Bodega Nanni with its beautiful garden area & Domingo Hermanos producing some fine reds from cabernet sauvignon, malbec & tannat & some dry rose too.

You can visit the Mercado Artesanal market featuring high quality local artwork & handicrafts influenced by the Calchaqui land & culture.

Wander around the works of vendors just next to the main Town Square & browse the range of handmade items from ponchos to pottery to specially ground spices. Great place to pick up souvenirs from all sorts of textiles, leather, basketry, silver & wood workings. Even better, you can usually have a chat with the skilled Artisans who made the products you are interested in buying. There is everything from handmade carvings to homemade dulce de leche, all made from raw materials taken from the valley.

It is a lovely way to spend a couple of hours with a coffee or glass of wine after you finish souvenir shopping & it can get rather lively on the weekends with music & craft fairs in the pleasant Plaza 25 de Febrero (main town Square).

Stroll around the gardens, check out the wine shops, bars, restaurants with outdoor seating & have a beer, or just absorb the charming atmosphere here during the day or night, but be aware that lots of things may be closed in the afternoon for siesta.

Iglesia Catedral Nuestra Senora del Rosario is a prominent landmark on the main Square. Built in 1896 by the Augustinians, it replaced the city’s former temple which was nearly in ruins. The Cathedral’s simple yet beautiful post-colonial architecture matches its provincial surroundings very well. Though the interior is not as ornate as many of the Catholic cathedrals in other South American cities, there are still 7 altars & 5 naves that you can see inside. During a religious holiday or festival, the church is decorated & filled with celebrating crowds & processions.

A little different than a typical Museum, Museo Arqueologico Rodolfo Bravo is located in an old house packed with archeological finds. It is a private collection filled with over 2,000 artifacts & works of art by the indigenous people of the local region & even the Incas.

You will meet a family member of the archaeologist Rodolfo Bravo who was responsible for these excavations & discoveries. Learn about the Calchaqui & Diaguitas cultures & see the many things that pack the shelves & even the bicycle that Bravo used to bring home his hauls.

You will likely be drinking a lot of the stuff, so learn about the history of the wine industry at Museo de la Vid y Vino. One section deals with the life of the grapevines & viticulture using a series of images & poems. The 2^nd section teaches visitors about the winemaking process & displays some of the equipment used by producers. You will want to visit here before hitting the Vineyards to learn all about why the grapes grow so well in this high altitude climate. There is also a cafe & shop where visitors can have a glass of wine & food in the shady courtyard or purchase bottles to take home - sometimes they offer free Tastings.

You may want to make a trip into the countryside around Cafayate on a bike or cab (both can be rented) for a visit to the Disneyland of Wineries, the picturesque & incredibly dramatic landscapes at Piattelli Vineyards.

It is a huge Tuscan-style estate that is a bit grandiose & over the top, but everything here is truly high quality. Visitors come here for a fancy lunch or special dinner on the terrace overlooking the spectacular grounds, vineyards & mountain scenery. Or just for a tour of the Winery & a generous Tasting of their best vintages. Food & service is impeccable, and you can opt for the Tasting menu or on a Saturday (only), their popular Argentine asado of grilled meats, vegetables & potatoes.

But if you want to walk around the city centre only, then, we suggest, you try the Empanadas, popular all over Argentina. Typically smaller so you can order a lot more, Empanadas Saltenas are supposed to be the best in the country! Different from others because in Salta, they use sliced beef rather than minced.  Try the saltenas at La Casa De Las Empanadas, one of the most popular & delicious empanada joints in the city. They serve jugs of wine & sometimes there is live music. The menu has variations on the usual fillings, like goat cheese, pesto, corn & roast tomatoes.

If you want to eat Steak & drink carafes of Wine then, skip the higher priced, lower quality restaurants surrounding the main Plaza & head to a Winery or a no-frills Parrilla (steakhouse) for some quality grilled meats. Bodega Nanni & Piattelli serve amazing dinners & excellent steaks.

Or go for an uncomplicated & authentic experience down Rivadavia to the local favorite El Gallito where you will find meats grilled on an outdoor barbecue, fries served with aji mayo, plastic seats & plenty of house wine.

For an afternoon al fresco vino, choose one of the many Cafes away from the main Square where they sell cheaper (but still high quality) wine by the carafe.

And to end the gourmet trail, try the Wine Ice Cream. The city might be famous for wine, but visitors love its brilliant wine-flavored ice cream too.

Try a few scoops of creamy Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, or Torrontes at one of the many ice cream shops around the city. There are lots of little parlours & pop-up stands in town serving the stuff but Heladeria Miranda is the original creator of wine ice cream & consequently, they are the most famous heladeria in town. And don’t forget that the ice cream is actually made with real wine, so yes it contains booze. But, they also serve other fun flavours like dulce de leche & pink grapefruit.

Overnight. B D 

Today, we have an exciting experience planned for you.

Morning, accompanied by the Journeys Rep / Driver, proceed to yet another Winery with a twist.

Have you ever visited a Goat Farm in a Winery? Well, here you can. How would anyone know that Cafayate, the 2^nd wine-producing region in Argentina famous for Torrontes wine, would also have a big Goat Farm amidst the Vineyards.

With all that wine you are drinking, you may want to try some local cheese with it! Understanding one of Argentina’s favorite Cheeses & taking a break from wine tastings makes it a great experience.

This unique Farm is part of Domingo Hermanos Winery, one of the most renowned in Cafayate, about a 20 minute walk from the city center at Cabras de Cafayate. Seeing the goats upfront & learning how the product is made gives you a deeper appreciation for the local specialty.

It offers guided tours culminating in Tasting of their artisan Cheese. Learn all about the cheese-making process, explore the beautiful location, grab a cheese platter & take it outside to enjoy. Goat cheese is one of the typical products from the Northwest part of Argentina & you can also purchase Goat & Cow Cheese at their shop to take home.

Learn that the only fresh white cheese comes from goat milk & if it is yellow in color, it is from cow milk. Goat cheese is alkaline, making it easy to digest & rarely causes heartburn, reduces cholesterol & has a much higher Vitamin A content than cheese from cows.

It all started when the family actually needed the goat excrement to use as fertilizer for their Vineyards & in 1990s, acquired the goats.

The working Winery & Farm has around llamas, cows & around 500 goats (& 350 of them produce milk everyday). The farmers carefully study the breeding of the goats to ensure they will be best to produce milk. Later on, as goat meat became popular on the menus of the local restaurants, they also started selling the meat to the local restaurants.

That is when Palo Domingo had a vision & assigned an ambitious project to his son - create an artisanal fabrication of goat cheese. Until the Farm was created, the artisanal goat cheese was produced marginally & without much sanitary control.

To manage the feeding & diet of the goals, they are separated by age. The baby goats of 1 year old which are not yet producing milk, stay in one barn. Milk producing goats between 2-8 years of age stay in a separate barn. These goats produce milk for about 5-6 years. The lifespan for the goats is about 13 to 14 years old after which they are slaughtered for their meat.

One of the particularities that makes this Goat Farm so special is the important & very specific emphasis placed on the diet, studied to optimize the quality & quantity of the milk. The goats consume the residue from the grapes pressed at the Winery & other natural organic products from the field, which makes their diet rich in flavonoids, tannins & anti-oxidants.

The Tour starts with a walk through the barns where the goats are kept & move freely. See the baby goats being fed differently from the older ones in the in the next corral. You will have the chance to see the newborns which are kept with their mothers.

Right away, you will notice as you walk through the Farm, the lack of the peculiar odor that goats usually have. You will learn that the females are not returned to the Farm immediately after the milking service to avoid contact with urine from the males, which is the cause for the bad odor.

Enter the well designed clean & spacious dairy building where only 24 goats can be milked at a time while music is played in the background to relax the goats during the milking process. Each goat has its own space to move freely & milking is done once a day, producing an average of 2 liters each. Outside, you will see the goats being fed close to the barn.

Next, visitors enter the building where the cheese is made behind glass enclosures. You may not be able to see much but you will notice the cleanliness of the fabrication area.

The Farm started selling their cheese products in 2006. About 700 liters of milk are produced each day from a total of 350 milk producing goats & all Cheese is produced on-site with 100% goat milk.

They produce 4 types of cheese. Natural which is made without any adds-on. Ahumado or Smoked cheeses. Pategras de Cabras which is a type of gouda, very popular in Argentina. And for some specialised ones, spices added: Aji (chile pepper), Albahaca (Basil), Provenzal (Provencal Herbs), Oregano (oregano).

The semi-firm or hard Cheese are mainly sold by 200 gm. There are also queso fresco or soft cheese as well as cheese by 800g, 1.5 kg & 8 kg. To make the cheese semi-firm, it is stored for 3 to 4 months while the hard cheeses are stored up to 8 months. There are 2 new types of cheese: a fat-free cheese & a blue cheese / Roquefort type.

The products are packaged fresh on site without the use of preservatives. That means a shelf life of up to 5 months & the Farm is now accredited to export their cheese overseas. There is an in-house lab equipped for comprehensive testing on site & it can provide traceability from the cheese back to the animals.

The tour ends with a Tasting offering 4 types of cheese all semi-firm: Natural, Aji, Provenzal & Pategras de Cabra. Taste varies from mild, earthy & grassy for the Natural without the spices to mask the taste. The Pategras is the mildest of the all the cheese, quite a contrast with the usual tangy taste of the goat cheese.

From the Farm, travel to the outskirts of the city to explore the epic landscapes of Calchaqui Valley. You will see natural rock formations like the Anfiteatro (Amphitheater) & La Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s Throat), red stone ridges, valleys & canyons as you drive through the Quebrada de las Conchas (Gorge of the Shells), stopping for photos along the way. Ancient traditions of the Valley promote relaxation, health & pleasure and beautiful views of the Vineyard & hills or spectacular garden scenes create long-lasting memories.

Get a little exercise at Los Medanos, a hidden gem off the tourist trail, a great place to hike or bike around for views of the surrounding valleys, mountains & of course, the expansive dunes. You will arrive at the dunes via a trail through the bush, or you can arrange to ride horses here. Be ready to get a bit dirty while visiting this sandy, desert landscape as the winds tend to carry a bit of grit.

You can even grab bicycles in Calafate & then drive one way & cycle back on mostly downhill or flat roads.

Come back to the hotel.

Balance of the day at leisure or for independent explorations (we will be happy to offer suggestions).  

Overnight.  B D

Very early in the morning, depart for La Rioja.

Enroute, stop at Quilmes Aborigine Ruins, an archaeological site occupying about 30 hectares in the Calchaquí Valley, located 1,980 meters above sea level.

The site of the Ruins was once the largest pre-Columbian settlement in the country, dating back to 500 AD, inhabited by as many as 5000 indigenous urban Quilmes people who resisted Inca invasions in the 15^th century & fought the Spanish for 130 years but could not outlast the final Spanish siege & in 1667 deported the remaining 2000 to Buenos Aires.

The archaeological site show remains of their city, a real example of urban & defensive planning, which had been carefully restored to show the architectonic perfection of the settlement.   Quilmes’ thick walls underscore its defensive purpose, but clearly this was more than just a pucara (walled city). Dense construction radiates from the central nucleus. For revealing views of the extent of the ruins, climb as high as you can; there are trails on either side up to the remains of the watchtower.

It is difficult to interpret the ruins without some solid reference at the site. No camping is allowed at the ruins, and nightlife at Quilmes belongs to the wildlife & the ghosts.

Spend an hour before continuing westwards to Chanarmuyo state along a region of small wineries. 1,720 meters above sea level, where the Vineyards lie, there is a perfect combination of height, climate & soil (rock, sand & slime).

Arrive in La Rioja by afternoon & Check-in at Chanarmuyo Estate Lodge located in the middle of this sublime landscape. This boutique hotel is a unique place with a distinct taste. An ideal point to grasp the particular spirit of the town, taste regional dishes & local wines, wander around the hills, the winery & the vineyards.

Balance of the day at leisure or for independent explorations (we will be happy to offer suggestions).

San Juan & La Rioja provinces in the north west of Argentina share some memorable countryside, with range after range of lofty mountains alternating with green valleys of olive groves, onion fields & vineyards.

Bordered by the imposing Andes Mountain Range, giving it a hilly yet & landscape. Leaving the cities behind to scout around the outback, there is a real sense of setting off into uncharted territory. Some unpaved roads peter out into tracks barely passable in the hardiest 4WD jeep. Perfect for adventure travel & outdoor activities.

From the province’s capital of La Rioja to the Pampas & surrounding areas, there are many things to do in the region. Located amidst imposing & beautiful valleys, mountains, rivers, narrow passes & encircled by the Sierra de Velasco's graceful peaks, La Rioja is quite a sight on a sunny day. And there are plenty of those: summer temperatures rise sky-high in this quiet, out-of-the-way provincial capital dotted with palm trees.

La Rioja came into being on May 20, 1591, when the governor of Tucuman, Juan Ramirez de Velasco, a native of La Rioja in Castile, founded the city in its strategic valley location. Today’s main Plaza 25 de Mayo coincides exactly with the spot he chose. Ramirez de Velasco had set out on a major military expedition to populate the empty spaces of the Viceroyalty & subdue the native Diaguitas, who had farmed the fertile oasis for centuries.

La Nueva Rioxa, the only colonial settlement for leagues around, soon flourished & Ramírez de Velasco felt justified in boasting in a letter that it was “one of the finest cities in the Indies”. From the town, mainly Franciscan missionaries set about fulfilling Ramírez de Velasco’s other aim of converting the indigenous peoples. Their Convent & that of the Dominicans, one of the oldest in Argentina, both miraculously survived the earthquake that flattened most of the old colonial city in 1894.

The whole city was rebuilt, largely in a Neo-colonial style that was intended to restore its former glory, but long decades of neglect by the central government were to follow.

La Rioja is the perfect place for visitors to this wine region to experience the local charm of the region as well as the wealth of local history. This wonderful city is considered by many as being the soul of the La Rioja region & is characterized by the sweet scent of orange blossoms that emanates from the main City Square.

Today, the town is a mix of antiquity & modernity - narrow streets, low houses, historical monuments, Churches & Convents contrasting with a dynamic Commercial Centre. Strolling through the streets, passing all the historical buildings & monuments, takes one back into time.

While exploring the city, the sites that should not be missed include the Government House, the famous Social Club, the Minor Basilica of San Nicolas de Bari & the house of Joaquin Gonzalez. Among the highlights are 2 of the country’s best Museums of indigenous Art, one Archaeological & the other with a Folkloric slant.

Some of the things, a visitor can do here are visiting mines, farms, national parks & nature reserves, historical sites, geological formations, desert, forest, caves, ranches. The more adventurous can parachute, kitesurf, windsurf, kiteboard, skydive, climb & abseil.

Visiting the Reserva Provincial Las Vicunas gives visitors a sporting chance of spotting wild pumas & vicunas, along with a host of other Andean wildlife, amid unforgettable landscapes. Further east are the provinces’ star attractions: Parque Nacional Talampaya, with vertiginous red cliffs that make you feel totally insignificant & - only 70 km south - its contiguous, unidentical twin, Parque Provincial Ischigualasto, more commonly referred to as the Valle de la Luna, an important dinosaur graveyard in a highly photogenic site.

Although one of the main attractions here is the La Rioja coast, this coastline is in fact nowhere near the sea! The La Rioja coast follows the part of the La Rioja river, passing various quaint local settlements & meandering through extraordinary nature. The attractions along the ‘coastal’ route include the Las Penas settlement, the Velasco Mountain Range, the settlement of Agua Blanca, the orchards of Pinchas & the main town of Aminga. An adventure along the La Rioja coast provides the perfect opportunity to escape to the La Rioja countryside & experience the best that the region has to offer.

La Rioja did not even benefit as much as it hoped it would when Carlos Menem, scion of a major local wine-producing family was elected President of Argentina in 1990. There are signs that La Rioja is beginning to diversify away from its agricultural base, although the city, with a current population of about 150,000, is still regarded by most Argentines as a rather arid backwater.

Best time to visit is in the Spring (Oct–Nov), when the jacaranda trees are abloom & the city is perfumed by the blossom of orange trees that have earned it the much-bandied sobriquet “Ciudad de los Naranjos”. In spite of the plentiful shade of this luxuriant vegetation, the blistering summer heat is refracted off the brutally arid mountains looming to the west and turns the city, notoriously one of the country’s hottest, virtually into a no-go zone.

The sophisticated metropolis of Mendoza, one of Argentina’s biggest cities, is the epicentre of the country’s blossoming wine - & wine tourism - industry, with the 2 smaller provincial capitals, San Juan & La Rioja, still quiet backwaters by comparison.

The provinces’ Bodegas, for example, continue to take a back seat to those of Mendoza & San Rafael, even though their wine can be just as good & they export much of their grape harvest to Mendoza’s wineries.  The wines of the La Rioja have a distinct character thanks to the region’s unique location in the foothills of the Andes mountains.

Overnight.  B D

Full day at leisure or perhaps opt for one of the many options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

La Rioja presents interesting chances of adventure and contemplative tourism, agro-tourism in the vineyards & wine cellars that allows the visitor to taste the various fragances & flavours of Rioja wines. Nightlife here offers a casino, discos & pubs that cater to different tastes & ages.

You might like to visit La Mexicana mine or take a tour to Talampaya Nacional Park or check out the Inca Ruins of Shincal. Or if you want adventure, options are available for Trekking, Bike-tours and horseback riding in the Famatina mountain range or 4WD expeditions at the Aimogasta dunes.

At dawn (or even earlier, if possible), depart for San Juan, traveling through Cuesta de Miranda mountain road, an amazing beauty, which reaches its maximum height near Chilecito, 2,020 meters above the sea level.

Argentina’s midwestern region, generally known as El Cuyo, is formed by the provinces of Mendoza, San Juan & La Rioja plus the neighbouring province of San Luís. This massive territory stretches all the way from the stark, chocolate-brown pampas of La Payunia, on the northern borders of Patagonia, to the remote highland steppes of the Reserva Las Vicunas, more than a thousand kilometres to the north. Extending across vast, thinly populated territories of bone-dry desert, they are dotted with vibrant oases of farmland & the region’s famous Vineyards. The processing of meat, wines, fruits & grains is the main economic activity.

Arrive in the San Juan, the capital of the province of San Juan by late afternoon & Check-in at the hotel.

San Juan & La Rioja provinces share some memorable countryside, with range after range of lofty mountains alternating with green valleys of olive groves, onion fields & vineyards, but they are the poorer cousins, in every sense, of Mendoza Province. Living in the shadow Mendoza can’t be easy &, to its credit, San Juan doesn’t even try to compete. Life in this provincial capital with long, shaded avenues, moves at its own pace & the locals are both proud of & humble about their little town.

San Juan is a valley city east of the Andes Mountains, in west-central Argentina. Founded in 1562 by Juan Jufre y Montesa, governor of the captaincy general of Cuyo, the city was moved in 1593 to its present site, 2 miles south, because of floods; it is now protected by an embankment. The San Juan River gorge & the Ullum Dike have helped turn this desert into an orchard.

Because it was on the fringe of Spanish-held territory, it was originally named San Juan de la Frontera. Early in the 18^th century, Jesuits built a Cathedral & a Convent, both of which were destroyed, along with most of the city’s other buildings, in a severe earthquake in 1944.

The old city was completely rebuilt after the earthquake & reconstruction gave San Juan a modern appearance. This oasis-city (founded in 1562) contains surprising contrasts with its leafy streets - a miracle wrought by irrigation - surrounded by desert.

Work of the prestigious architect Daniel Branches Strap, the new Cathedral was inaugurated in 1979. The bell tower is a 51 meters high needle with a viewpoint at 33 meters. It has a Big-Ben type clock & a German carillon that rings every 15 minutes, an integral part of the daily life here. Inside, there is a bronze vestibule designed in Italy with bas-relief of Santa Rosa of Lima, San Luis king of France, the Santiago apostle, Santa Ana & several shields & emblems. In the basement, is the cripta, the pantheon of the bishops & the chapel of Right Fray Santa Maria of Gold. 

San Juan was the birthplace of Domingo Faustino Sarmiento (Argentine hero educator President from 1868 to 1874) & his home, which contains a Museum that gives visitors a peek at his childhood & Library, was declared a National Monument in 1910.

Juan Peron’s subsequent relief efforts are what first made him a national figure & one of the most notable Argentinian President, until this day.

The city goes dead in summer, especially on Sunday, when all of San Juan heads to the nearby shores of Dique Ullum for relief from the sun.

The very first thing that catches the attention of visitors to San Juan de la Frontera is the city’s low-rise, modern architecture. The city goes dead in summer, especially on Sunday, when all of San Juan heads to the nearby shores of Dique Ullum for relief from the sun.

In the center, the Casa Natal de Sarmiento is the birthplace of 19^th century President & writer Domingo Faustino Sarmiento. It was the first historical monument to be officially recognised. It has 9 rooms in which relics, furniture, commemorative photographs, medals, periodicals & books written by Sarmiento in its original collections, can be admired. In the central patio of the house one can find a sprout of the famous fig tree & a replica of the historical loom of Dona Paula, his mother, whom Sarmiento mentions in his book "Recuerdos de Provincia". 

Nearby, the Museo Provincial de Bellas Artes Franklin Rawson sharing space with Agustin Gnecco Provincial Historical Museum features paintings, sculptures, Creole silverwork engravings & drawings of the greatest Argentinean & European artists & showcases numismatics & philately collections from the 18^th & 19^th century.

A few steps away is the Don Julio Living Olive Oil Museum, which was named after wine-maker Julio Marun, who started production of Tupeli oil (named for a Huarpe chief) in 1949. His children later began making fine, old-fashioned, virgin olive oil & eventually created the Museum. The exquisitely aromatic & mild-tasting oil is hand-made using the traditional cold-pressing method, which is showcased at the Museum. Pieces on exhibit include an old press, or stone mill, for crushing olives & visitors can even enjoy an Olive Oil Tasting.

There is the Museum Amid Read - House of the Tango Carlos Gardel features displays & videos about Tango & its evolution in the 20^th century. Conferences, discussions, Violin & Bandoneon classes are conducted here. 

Seat 25 of May Square dating back from year 1871, is the main seat of the City & constitute a green space of colorful characteristics. There are 100 years old statues of Domingo Faustino Sarmiento & Right Fray Santa Maria de Oro with more than.

Living in the shadow of a world-class destination like Mendoza can’t be easy &, to its credit, San Juan doesn’t even try to compete. But, no slouch on the wine production front, San Juan’s Wineries are refreshingly low-key after the Mendoza bustle & the province’s other attractions are all within easy reach of the capital.

Those who prefer to plunge into the history of wine should head for the wonderful & informative Bodega Santiago Graffigna Museum, created in 1870, when the San Juan wine industry was born.

Near Quebrada del Zonda, visitors will find a destination unique in the Americas: Bodega Cavas de Zonda, an extraordinary champagne cellar located in the heart of the mountain in a large tunnel that was excavated in 1932 by Yugoslavian immigrants. The 61 ºF average temperature in the cellar & the absence of light & noise create ideal conditions for storing champagne.

Venturing just outside east of the city, visitors can travel to Valle Fertil (Fertile Valley), different from other areas in the San Juan province thanks to the extra rain it receives every year. In addition to being greener than the rest of the province, this is the only place where the red quebracho tree grows; there are also many cardon cacti.

Driving further, leads to the enormous Santuario de la Difunta Correa (Deolinda Correa Shrine), visited by pilgrims from all over Argentina. Visitors will notice hundreds of tiny toy houses carpeting the site -people pray to the Difunta for a house & then place a miniature of their house at the shrine when their wish is granted.

The next stop can be Astica (“flowers” in the Huarpe tongue), one of the small mountain oases that abound in Valle Fertil where family-owned orchards produce a rainbow of citrus fruits: limes, grapefruit, oranges, pomelos, tangerines & citrons, which resemble giant lemons, but are only used to make marmalade. The valley also provides excellent conditions for aromatic plants, the traditional alcayota (a type of squash used for sweets) & black olives which are made into an exotic preserve in syrup.

There is a UNESCO World Heritage listed Paleontological Reserve which illustrates how the world looked 230 million years ago, during the last Triassic Period of the Mesozoic Era, when dinosaurs ruled the earth.

Eroded geoforms, worn down by the wind, have inspired the lunar moniker, and each geoform has a descriptive nickname: “submarine,” “mushroom,” “bocce field,” & so on. However, the loveliest thing about Moon Valley is the overarching silence - so complete it can sometimes feel overwhelming - that prevails when you close your eyes & imagine this vast area populated with prehistoric animals.

The Park has an Interpretation Center & several trails that can be followed on foot, by car, or mountain bike. The sunsets that color the landscape are especially incredible. The nights shine with more than enough stars to please sky gazers, who can even take night time strolls through the park when the moon is full.

Not too far, in the village of Achango on a nearby hilltop, sheltered by poplars, are the Pismanta Hot Springs, volcanic waters    believed to have curative properties. The name pays homage to a Huarpe chief who took refuge in a cave to await death with his family as the Spaniards advanced upon the area. According to legend, a thunderclap was heard and a crack opened in the rock & began to spout hot water, thus giving birth to the hot springs.

See the antique Chapel built by Jesuits around 1630 with original bells. This National Historic Monument was constructed from adobe, sticks, cane stalks & rawhide. The nearly 12-inch-thick walls are coated with goat dung & dirt and the roof is made of straw & wood. The dry climate has conserved the Chapel & the carpets softening its earthen floor, which were woven by local women 200 years ago.

Time to drive back to your hotel.

Rest of the evening is at leisure.

Overnight. B D

Morning, depart for Mendoza, Argentina’s prime & best known wine growing area, where many leading Argentine & foreign Wineries are located with its vineyards spread in the surrounding area.

Arrive by noon & Check-in at the hotel.

Mendoza, San Juan & La Rioja provinces – plus the less interesting province of San Luís, to the east – make up the region known as El Nuevo Cuyo, or “New Cuyo”, formed by a 1988 treaty. The original core area of the Intendencia del Cuyo, basically corresponding to the modern Mendoza Province, has strong historical ties with Chile from where it was first colonized.

Mendoza attracts visitors from all over the world for this “Argentine Napa” (or is Napa the Californian Mendoza?). Two wine valleys close by are the Valle de Uco & Lujan de Cuyo, with some 400,000 acres of Vineyards making some of the world’s best wine & the standout has traditionally been wine from Argentina’s signature grape, Malbec. Argentine wines span from garage-style to world famous labels you will know from home.

A long, narrow sliver of desert landscape, the Mendoza region is home to two of Argentina’s claims to fame - the Andes & Wine. All over the country (& in much of the world), the name Mendoza is synonymous with wine & this is the place to base yourself if you are up for touring the Vineyards, taking a few dozen bottles home or just looking for a good vintage to accompany the evening’s pizza.

Mendoza is a laid-back agricultural province in Argentina where wine flows & outdoor dining is a must. It has over 140 hectares of Vineyards (68% of the total surface in Argentina cultivated with grapevines). A most privileged area for high quality wine production due to its location at the foot of the Andean Cordillera which creates the perfect blend of latitude, altitude & soil combined with a superb craftsmanship that makes the best of both modern & traditional winemaking strategies in order to produce top level fine wines.

Sandwiched between the Andes (including mighty Mount Aconcagua, the tallest mountain on the continent at 6962 meters) & the wide open pampa, Mendoza city is also an access point to 2 main wine valleys, Valle de Uco & Lujan de Cuyo. Some of the nation’s best restaurants are close by as well, so you will be eating some of the world’s finest steak paired with just the right Malbec in no time. If you can put your glass down for a minute, there is plenty more to keep you busy.

Cosmopolitan Mendoza is a modern bustling Argentine city with a colonial charm, wide, leafy avenues, art deco buildings, cosmopolitan cafes, world-class restaurants & spas, most of which are laid out around a set of 4 smaller atmospheric Plazas are arranged like the 5 rolls on a dice, with the main Plaza Independencia in the middle, each with its own personality. The surrounding area boasts hundreds of wineries offering tours – an educational (& occasionally intoxicating) way to spend an afternoon or a month.

Ostensibly it is a desert town, though you wouldn’t know unless you were told - acequias (irrigation ditches) that run beside every main road & glorious fountain that adorn every main Plaza mean you will never be far from the burble of running water. Whereas Buenos Aires is all vibrant hustle, bustle & fiery passion, Mendoza takes the term "laid-back" to the next level.

Lively during the day, the city really comes into its own at night, when the bars, restaurants & cafes along Av Aristides fill up & overflow onto the sidewalks with all the bright young things, out to see and be seen.

Plaza Independencia. Is the best starting point to explore downtown Mendoza. It boasts green area with fountain, some nice buildings around, restaurants & even some street shows. At night, you can see some nicely illuminated buildings & a beautiful big coat of arms of the city that is made of lights

But, possibly Plaza Espana is the most beautiful Square, decorated with typical Andalusian & Spanish motifs, an artistic expression of the special relationship that this city (& all others in Hispanic America) had with Spain. The central wall depicts some images & texts of the Spanish colonization & it is crowned by a gorgeous statue.

There is the beautiful 420 hectare Parque General San Martin designed in the late 1800s by Carlos (Charles) Thays in 1897, who also designed Parque Sarmiento in Cordoba. The Park honors Jose de San Martin, the general who liberated Argentina from the Spanish & the national hero whose name graces Parks, Squares & streets everywhere but the Libertador is especially dear to Mendoza, where he resided with his family and recruited & trained his army to cross into Chile. Its famous Cerro de la Gloria has a large monument commemorating San Martin’s Ejercito de los Andes (Army of the Andes) for its liberation of Argentina, Chile & Peru from the Spaniards.

Walking along the lakeshore & snoozing in the shade of the rose garden & sculptures dotted around in the Park is a great way to enjoy one of the city’s highlights. On the way to the entrance, admire some of Mendoza’s finest houses. Just inside the impressive entry gates, which were shipped over from England & originally forged for the Turkish Sultan Hamid II.  On clear days, picturesque views of the valley - particularly pleasant at sunset - make the climb especially rewarding.

Mendoza’s liveliest shopping & night-life street is the 4 block stretch of Aristides Villanueva that runs from Belgrano to Paso de los Andes. Packed with busy restaurants, shops, cafes & craft beer bars with outdoor seating, this is where you can pick up trendy pieces by Argentine designers & get a sense of local life at the same time. At Cosset, a combination bookshop & clothing boutique, visitors will find jeans & soft knits for women from the trendy Buenos Aires brand Rie, slinky dresses from Allo Martinez & chunky jewelry from Cuatromusas as well as art supplies & books on film & graphic novels. Moht has Isabel O. slip-on shoes in colorful patterns & Lazaro handbags. At Espacio Aristides, you can pick up a pair of jeans from the hip Argentine label Ay Not Dead.

While one could spend days leisurely exploring the Plazas & Cafes in town, there is incredible outdoor adventure right outside the city.

And if your interest is in the great outdoors, the area has an abundance of parks, lakes & rivers, great skiing, white water rafting, fly fishing for trout, horseback riding into the Andes at sunrise, biking through the Vineyards for casual wine tastings & the continent's highest mountain, affording endless opportunities for a vacation far from the urban hustle & bustle and for the more ambitious, climbing Mt. Aconcagua, the highest peak in South America. You can even see the gaucho, or Argentine cowboy, in action here, riding the herd from the giant cattle ranches in the southern expanses of the province.

Worth visiting just outside of the city is Museo Nacional Del Vino Y La Vendimia, which displays a detailed history of wine-making in Argentina.

History says that Geronimo Baustista Gargantini, a Swiss immigrant, an Italian immigrant Juan Giol set up one of the first Winery in Mendoza: La Colina de Oro back in 1896.

Years later, the right decisions & the meteoric growth of the Winery led to the construction of 2 fancy Chalets which were called “the landlord’s houses”, next to the main building. They hired the services of Bolognese architect Manuel Mignani & the well-famed constructor Ricardo Ciancio, who gave an Italian villa style to this undertaking which used to be surrounded - & still is - by huge gardens. Large windows & balconies gives an idea of the glorious days & the majesty of the constructions of the time.

Both houses, specially designed to welcome a great number of important visitors, were renowned for the Parties organized there & the celebrities that attended them.  Both Mansions were very advanced for the time since while the common Maipucinos had to go to the central Plaza to fetch water, these houses already had drinking water & an electrical power network.

Bautista & Juan together created one of the largest empires in provincial Viticulture. First, they made homemade wine together that they sold to the workers of the Trans-Andean Railroad, but the following year they bought a few hectares of land & formed the La Colina de Oro Winery that produced one of the Wines most remembered by the national collective- Toro wine. The Winery produces 30 million liters per year.

The National Museum of Wine & Grape Harvest linked to the most important industry in Mendoza, opened in 1993 & was soon declared a National Historic Landmark.

Among the different details that it has, you can see the imposing Carrara marble stairs, the original display cabinets in which the Wines of the region are exposed & the furniture sets that have the god Bacchus carved on the upper part. On the 1^st floor, in what was one of the bedrooms, the first bottles with their respective labels are displayed, as well as over 4500 pieces of machinery & homemade tools used for winemaking. The Museum also has rooms for meetings of Winemakers & Tastings.

You will experience an intimate ‘guided’ tour of the city as you discover the history of Mendoza trough the picturesque settings of the city's 4 main Plazas (Chile, San Martin, Espana & Italia) & the charming grounds of Parque San Martin, full of valuable sculptures & monuments, considered to be the most beautiful Public Park in all Latin America with an artificial lake, its perfectly manicured trees, bushes & over 5,000 roses that are the pride of the city.

The short sightseeing concludes & you are free to explore on your own. You will be feeling at home in Mendoza's beautiful, tree-lined streets in no time as you discover the history of the city.

Balance of the day at leisure or perhaps opt for one of the many options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Overnight.  B D

Today, we have a busy day. Morning, meet the Tour-guide & proceed for a typical Argentinian gourmet experience.

The south west of Valle de Uco, situated in the foothills of the mighty Andes Mountains, features breath-taking scenery & bountiful Vineyards that stretch across the vista. The region is peppered with generational Farmlands that make use of age-old planting methods. Here, rooted in the pleasures of gourmet fare & great wines, you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in authentic Argentinian culture.

As much as for its Tango & Wine, Argentina is known for asado, or traditional grilling. Outside of Buenos Aires, a good variety of vegetarian food is not common (although, in a pinch, pasta, pizza & vegetable empanadas can be found on every corner).

Argentine cuisine is distinctive in South America because of the strong influence of Spanish, Italian & French styles of food.

Food lovers will delight in learning to cook traditional Argentine cuisine in an authentic, Winery kitchen, taught by a qualified Chef & Winemaker. These are 2 elements integral to nearly every meal, with antipasti-style appetizers & olive oil gracing many menus.

Proceed to Bodegas Salentein, the family-run Winery with a homely feel that is instantly welcoming & warm, with a troupe of residents & workers. These wine makers are awash with the knowledge, folklore & history of the region.

Located at 4,000 feet above sea level & literally at the foot of the Andes, this Winery has received several international awards in recognition of its excellent wines and was nominated by Wine & Spirit as Winery of the Year in 2003. Bodegas Salentein offers visitors a unique combination of top quality wines & a breathtaking view of the Andes.

Stroll through the organic vegetable garden as the Winery chef presents guests with delightful, mouth-watering menus that can be recreated in the cooking class.

Discover the rich, organic ingredients used in traditional Argentine cookery & marvel at the unique techniques employed to produce delicious fare, effused with the deep flavours of the mountain & the fragrant aromas of its spice, interlaced with the heat of the smoke-lined kitchen.

You will learn about 3 typical dishes & prepare your own deep fried, gold crusted empanadas, choose & carve different cuts of the world famous Argentine beef & make traditional chimichurri sauce, to grill the delicious meat & vegetables, taste regional appetizers & famous Malbec wines. While beef is the most common, lamb & goat are also staples in Mendoza.

Try your hand at manning the traditional mud oven & learn to set the fire the local way, get the coals ready to grill the “Asado”. There is no lighter fluid or bags of charcoal involved & forget about grilling with gas. Argentines, with all the love & patience they can muster, start burning wood early to create the embers that will be used to slow cook some of the finest cuts of meat in the world. Not relevant o your lunch but a perfect slow-grilled ribeye takes 9 hours.

Before lunch, your host will guide you through the qualities of olive oil & taste 3 varietals: Manzanilla, a delicate & light olive oil; Nevadillo, a fruity medium body olive oil & Arauco, a spicy medium body long finish intense olive oil. Enjoy an Olive Oil Tasting.

And finally, it is time to enjoy the fruits of your labour, your own culinary creations accompanied by the wines from the Winery & interacting with the hosts & exchanging cultural insights.

And now, it is time to explore the Vineyard.

The 60 minutes activity begins at 03.30 pm with a guided tour of the Vineyards, high-end production facilities, including the fermentation room, fractionation & sustainability areas, underground cellar & high-end Tasting rooms.  The Guide will explain the production process of wines or sparkling wines. The experience will end with a Tasting of 3 emblematic wines of the winery.

Bodegas Salentein’s Chief Winemaker, Jose Galante is much more than a winemaker. As one of the foremost enologists in Argentina & an icon of modern wine making, his name is unavoidably bound to the evolution of Argentinian wine styles since the 1980s. One of the keys to his success is the style he brings to authentic terroir wines. His philosophy consists of “preserving entirely the spectrum of aromas & flavors of the fruit through a soft & gentle fermentation process, with excellent technology with a particular emphasis in achieving the best expressions of the Uco Valley”. Far from following fleeting trends or making products without identity, he has always produced great, modern varieties which preserved the identity of the Argentinian wine.

Bodegas Salentein also features an Art Gallery. Killka-Espacio Salentein is the meeting place for art, nature, wine & excellent gastronomy at the Winery. The original idea was to create a first - class center as important as the Winery itself & on a conceptual level, Killka was conceived as a cultural space, so that the visitor could experience everything related to Viticulture & also enjoy the valuable collection of contemporary Argentine & Dutch art from the 19^th & 20^th centuries.

The art space organises 3 annual exhibitions of renowned national & international artists & has become an undisputed cultural space, where wine & art come together in a unique architectural environment created for this purpose. In 2008, Killka was awarded the World Gold Award, in the Art & Culture category, in the “Best of” contest of the Great Wine Capitals.

The experience ends & you return to the hotel.

Balance of the day at leisure or perhaps opt for one of the many options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Overnight.  B L D

Alas, like all good things, the wonderful experience comes to an end & it is time to say good-bye.

In time, you will be met by a Journeys Rep, who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to Terminal? - Mendoza El Plumerillo International Airport to board the flight for Buenos Aires.

On arrival at Terminal?  - Buenos Aires Aeroparque Internacional Jorge Newbery, you will proceed on your own to connect the flight for your onward journey back home. B

(Our services end with the Departure Transfer at Mendoza Airport, unless you are stopping in Buenos Aires & we are providing the arrangements).  

However, if your onward flight is later in the evening, you can go to the city & explore Buenos Aires on your own (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements,  if required).

But, we sure hope that after this experience, you may want to discover a little bit more of the Argentine Culture, practice your Tango & discover Argentina’s vast natural wonderland on your next visit.

“Travel is like knowledge. The more you see the more you know you have not seen” - Mark Hertsgaard

The iconic Journey comes to an end and it is time to go home.

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