Colourful hilltown | Argentina | South America
FROM: AUD $2,915 pp
North Argentina Highlights - 12 days map

Take a journey through Argentina’s great rugged northwest, a land of infinite variety from ochre deserts to snow-capped mountains. Explore colonial towns, traditional Indian villages and pre-Inca ruins along the way with spectacular gorges to feast your eyes on.

Inclusions
Itinerary
Prices & Dates

Trip Highlights

Buenos Aires – Take a city tour and Tango dinner show
Cachi – Enjoy a scenic drive through the Cardones National Park to the traditional village of Cachi with attractive colonial architecture
Humahuaca Gorge - Traverse this long narrow valley carved out by the Rio Grande
Quilmes – Discover pre-Inca ruins of a fortified citadel
Salta – Explore this historic provincial capital
Purmamarca – Stroll through this picturesque village at the base of a gorge with spectacular views of the Hill of Seven Colours
Cafayate – Go wine-tasting in the centre of the northwest’s wine industry
Tafi del Valle – Admire this popular summer retreat sandwiched between two rivers

Included

11 nights STANDARD accommodation. Upgrading to SUPERIOR or DELUXE accommodation options are also available upon request. Accommodation rating – See Trip Notes for details
Airport arrival and departure transfer on day 1 and day 12
Entrance fees to all sites included in the itinerary
Tango Show and Dinner with shared transfers
11 breakfasts and 1 dinner
Services of local English-speaking specialist guides
City tour in Buenos Aires, excursion to Cachi, Salinas Grandes, Quebrada de Humahuaca, Cafayate and wineries, Quilmes and Tafi del Valle on a shared basis (private touring available for a supplement)
All relevant transfers and transportation on a private basis unless otherwise stated

Not Included

International flights and visas
Domestic flights from Buenos Aires – Salta and Tucuman – Buenos Aires
Tipping – an entirely personal gesture

Itinerary

Day 1

Buenos Aires

Bienviendos a Argentina! Upon arrival into the international airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel where the rest of the day can be spent at leisure
Overnight: Buenos Aires

Day 2

Tango in BA

Often labelled the ‘Paris of South America’, Buenos Aires, or simply BA, is a seductive mix of elegant architecture, characterful residents and fantastic entertainment options. This morning join a scheduled city tour taking in the Neoclassical Metropolitan Cathedral, the unusual dusty pink Government House and the history-packed Plaza de Mayo. Head to the neighbourhood of San Telmo where street performers gather to display the sensuous dance of tango, and continue to La Boca, a colourful suburb popular with local artists. Wander the attractive streets of Palermo until you reach Recoleta and the famous cemetery of the same name. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to explore Buenos Aires your way – why not wander further in search of the city’s striking street art?

Later in the evening you will be collected from your hotel for a scheduled transfer to Café de Los Angelitos for a night of love, passion, madness and glamour with a traditional tango show. Born in the brothels of the 1920s, Argentine tango is a completely improvised dance and attracts both the old and the young.
Overnight: Buenos Aires  |  Breakfast, Dinner

Day 3

Salta

Buenos Aires – Salta. After breakfast transfer to the airport for your flight to the colonial city of Salta in the northwest of Argentina. An appealing mix of festive atmosphere and handsome architecture, Salta sits between two rivers with steep, rippling mountains off in the distance. Upon arrival take a scheduled transfer to the hotel, and enjoy the rest of the day at your own leisure. Why not head to one of the lively peñas, informal folk-music clubs where you can usually enjoy dinner and drink.
Overnight: Salta  |  Breakfast

Day 4

Cachi

Today enjoy a scheduled excursion to the charming village of Cachi. Founded in 1694, Cachi features whitewashed streets branching off the delightful Plaza Mayor with the permanently snow-capped peak of Nevado del Cachi providing a spectacular backdrop. Visit the pretty church with a roof made from cactus wood, the anthropological museum and the craft market. The drive here is as picturesque as the village and along the way you’ll pass quaint little towns and old Inca roads, entering the desert land of Cardones National Park also.
Overnight: Salta  |  Breakfast

Day 5

Purmamarca

Salta – Purmamarca. This morning follow the Quebrada del Toro gorge to the pre-Inca city of Santa Rosa de Tastil, home to some of the most important ruins in the region, on a scheduled transfer. Continue to a pass of 4,080m above sea level and stop for lunch at the small town of San Antonio de Los Cobres. Route 40 brings you to the Salinas Grandes, a glistening expanse of salt-flats ringed by mountains on all sides. Downwards along the zig-zagged Cuesta de Lipan, one of the region’s most dramatic roads, you might be lucky enough to spot condors cruising on the air thermals. Arrive in the tiny, picturesque village of Purmamarca
Overnight: Purmamarca  |  Breakfast

Day 6

Humahuaca Gorge

Purmamarca – Humahuaca – Salta. Spend the morning enjoying a scheduled tour of Purmamarca and its tranquil main square, pretty 17th century church and the famous Cerro de los Siete Colores (Hill of Seven Colours) so called for the candy stripes of shades that mark the dramatic bluff of rock. Continue to the town of Tilcara to visit the local pucará, ruinous fortifications originally built by native Andean cultures. Cross the Tropic of Capricorn at Huacalera and head to the town of Uquía to see the beautiful paintings hanging in the Iglesia de San Francisco de Paula. From here it is a short journey through brilliant gorge scenery to the town of Humahuaca and on pass the striking La Paleta del Pintor (Painter’s Palette), sloping mountains banded with hues of pink and burgundy. Return to Salta.
Overnight: Salta  |  Breakfast

Day 7

Lerma Valley

Salta – Cafayate. Touring of Argentina’s rugged northwest continues with a scenic scheduled drive to Cafayate, the centre of the region’s wine industry. Traversing the Lerma Valley and historical towns along the way, stop at Shell’s Gorge where wind and water have eroded curious shapes into the rocks.
Overnight: Cafayate  |  Breakfast

Day 8

Cafayate

Spend the day exploring Cafayate your own way. Visit Cafayate’s high-altitude vineyards on a scheduled excursion and enjoy wine tasting at a local bodega or set off on bike or horseback and soak up the surrounding scenery.
Overnight: Cafayate  |  Breakfast

Day 9

Quilmes Ruins

Cafayate – Quilmes – Tafi del Valle. Departing Cafayate continue south to the attractive village of Tafí del Valle on a scheduled transfer. Along the way stop at the ruins of Quilmes, one of the most extensively restored pre-Inca archaeological sites in the country. The fortified citadel was built by the Quilmes Indians, an indigenous tribe who fiercely resisted the Inca invasions of the 15th century and the Spanish invasions 130 years later. Explore the terraced fortifications and the site museum.
Overnight: Tafi del Valle  |  Breakfast

Day 10

Tafi del Valle

Spend the day at leisure. Perhaps trek in the surrounding mountains or sample Tafí’s delicious cow’s and goat’s cheeses at one of the small farms or stalls that dot the town.
Overnight: Tafí de Valle   |  Breakfast

Day 11

Back to BA

Tafí de Valle – Tucuman – Buenos Aires. After breakfast take a scheduled transfer to the airport in Tucuman for your flight back to Buenos Aires. The afternoon is free for last-minute souvenir shopping.
Overnight: Buenos Aires  |  Breakfast

Day 12

Buenos Aires

Your unique journey comes to an end after breakfast and hotel check out. We’ll transfer you to the airport for your onward departure journey, bidding you a fond farewell.
Breakfast

Prices & Dates

'Twin/Double' prices are per person when there are 2 people on the same booking sharing a room. 'Single' prices are applicable to solo travellers and anyone wanting the privacy of their own room, based on a travelling party of at least 2 adults.

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At a Glance

Range
Trip Type
Starts
Buenos Aires
Ends
Buenos Aires
Departs
Any day of the year
Group Size
Min 2 / Max N/A
Hotel Rating
Standard (superior and deluxe available on request)
Tour Guide
Yes - for all included sightseeing
Meals
Breakfast: 11, Dinner: 1
Countries
Minimum Age
5 yrs, accompanied by an adult
Arr. Transfer
Yes
Dep. Transfer
Yes
Winding road cutting through the rugged and rocky valley in Salta
The incredible multi-coloured stone of the Purmamarca
Road stretching out across the barren landscape of Cafayate
Bright lights of the cityscape behind boats on the hardbour in Buenos Aires
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