Journey Through Argentina

(17 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls, Salta, Purmamarca, Mendoza, El Calafate, Bariloche

This is our most comprehensive private luxury tour of Argentina. It is recommended for travelers wanting to experience the depth and range of the country’s extraordinary cultural and natural richness, and  includes luxury hotels and private touring of Argentina’s most interesting  and beautiful destinations.

Begin in fascinating Buenos Aires, the dynamic political and cultural capital of Argentina. During private touring with your expert local guide, see the historic Plaza de Mayo and Casa Rosada, discover hidden secrets in beautiful Recoleta Cemetery, browse select antique shops in San Telmo, and explore the most interesting parts of the Retiro, La Boca, Palermo and Puerto Madero neighborhoods, including top markets, boutiques, restaurants and museums. One day, take a private excursion to an estancia in the pampas to learn about gaucho culture, experience the traditional estancia lifestyle, dine on succulent Argentine steak grilled on an authentic parrilla, and relax in a park-like setting. Alternatively, visit charming Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay and tour the historic center of this former Portuguese colony and the oldest town in Uruguay. Or, opt to take a private excursion to Tigre and the Parana River Delta to enjoy a relaxing private cruise on the canals of this “rural Venice,” passing gardens and upscale vacation houses. One night, enjoy a tango performance at an intimate, upscale dinner theater. Touring in Buenos Aires is flexible and can be fully customized to accommodate special interests such as art and architecture or Jewish history.

Next, visit Iguazu Falls, one of the most spectacular natural attractions in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy a direct view of the falls from your hotel room and private balcony. With your private guide, explore hundreds of waterfalls streaming over high cliffs along the Argentina-Brazil border, travel through the jungle on an open train as butterflies flit about, and gaze into the awe-inspiring horseshoe chasm of Garganta del Diablo, one of the world’s most powerful waterfalls. Also, cruise up the Iguazu River for an unforgettable experience of the force of Iguazu Falls from below.

Next, explore wonderful but little-known Salta and Jujuy provinces, a diverse region in Northwest Argentina that borders the Andes and has been a crossroads of trade and culture for centuries. In Salta City, tour historic architecture, and see the haunting exhibition of mummified Inca children in the Museum of High Altitude Archaeology. Take private excursions on routes forged by gauchos, Incas and pre-Inca people. Travel through verdant sub-tropical valleys, desert landscapes, vast salt lakes and the puna or Andean high plateau. See pre-Inca ruins and abundant llamas and vicuna. Stay at an upscale finca-style hotel in Purmamarca, a tiny village surrounded by colorful hills, and tour Spanish colonial architecture and ancient Andean villages in the Quebrada de Humahuaca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Continue to Mendoza, one of the world’s most important wine regions, and a relaxed town at the base of the Andes Mountains where streets are lined with shade trees and small canals. Stay at the exclusive Park Hyatt in central Mendoza. During private touring, visit the most interesting and upscale local wineries, and sample Malbec, Torrontes and other locally produced wines. Mendoza also has some of the best restaurants in Argentina, and there will be opportunities to dine at acclaimed restaurants on the grounds of vineyard estates.

Next, fly to El Calafate to experience southern Patagonia’s vast open steppe and the impressive peaks, glaciers and pale blue lakes of Los Glaciares National Park. One day, visit magnificent Perito Moreno Glacier to see massive slabs of luminous blue ice calve from its active terminal face, and perhaps opt for a unique perspective by taking a guided trek on top of the glacier itself.

Next, fly to Bariloche, a resort town in the beautiful Lake District of northern Patagonia. Stay in the stunning Moreno Lake wing of the legendary Llao Llao Hotel, and enjoy spectacular views of the mountains and lakes in the surrounding national park. With your guide, enjoy a private cruise on the deep blue waters of Lake Nahuel Huapi, discover hidden treasures in a secret part of Isla Victoria, and dine on a gourmet meal of local food and wine on a private, secluded beach.

Return to Buenos Aires for two more days in the exciting city, including private touring or shopping.

This tour can be further extended to include an estancia visit, a polo match, and private touring in the Parana Delta, Colonia del Sacramento (Uruguay) and other destinations.

All Artisans of Leisure tours are private and depart daily.
Call us at (800) 214-8144 for more information regarding the above tour, or to begin customizing your own itinerary.