Highlights of Northern Argentina ‌

• Day at leisure in Iberá

Second day in paradise! Did you get that photo of a cute capybara? If not, you will have a second chance today. You can take another boat tour and continue exploring Iberá in depth or try something new. This is your chance to feel like a cowboy in the wild! Take a horseback ride along the Iberá marshes and learn the land like a real Argentine gaucho.

• Transfer from the estancia to Posadas bus station

Say goodbye to the awe-inspiring sunrise of Iberá and get ready to continue your journey. In the morning, we’ll pick you up and drive you to Posadas, approximately 4 hours away. 

Once you arrive in Posadas you’ll take the public bus to Puerto Iguazú (300km away), the gateway to the famous Iguazú Falls. This journey takes about 5 hours, but if you would prefer to do this part of the trip using private transportation, please just let us know and we will quote it for you.

• Transfer from Puerto Iguazú bus station to your hotel – Day at leisure

Upon arrival, we will meet you at the bus station and drive you to your hotel in Puerto Iguazú. The small border town of Puerto Iguazú is the gateway to visit the impressive Iguazú Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders and a UNESCO World Heritage site, making it a must-see destination for any traveler visiting Argentina.

Say Hueque Tips

Our recommended activities to spend your day in Puerto Iguazú:

• You can visit “Hito tres fronteras”, a viewpoint west of the town center that stands high above the turbulent reddish-brown junction of the Iguazú and Paraná rivers, which also form the Triple Frontera, or Triple Border between Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. There is also a craft market!

• Or you may visit Güirá Oga (the house of birds in the native Guaraní language), the sanctuary for animals hurt by illegal hunting and trapping.
• If you feel really adventurous, take a bike tour through the rainforest with a specialized guide, and discover the flora and fauna, the sounds of the jungle, the trail of little native mammals, and the traditions of the Guaranies.

Today our driver and bilingual guide will pick you up from your hotel and drive you to the National Park, on the Argentinian side. Enjoy a 7-hour tour wandering through the rainforest!

The falls are surrounded by a humid subtropical forest where the exuberant vegetation is home to many different animals and birds. Our guide will help you spot some of them: antbirds, toucans, manakins, parrots, and coatis, just to name a few of the most common birds. Lower and upper walkways weave in and around falls permitting up close and personal experiences with this magnificent spectacle of nature. 

The Argentine side of the falls is filled with a myriad of paths walkways and stairways which allow you to have an experience from many different perspectives. You will have the chance to meet “The Devil’s Throat”: the largest of the falls and for many the most spellbinding. To get to the “Devil’s throat” you take the ecological train and then walk out along boardwalks. After walking and taking pictures of animals and plants, you will have some free time to eat lunch in this amazing environment. At the end of the experience, we will drive you back to your hotel.

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• Would you love to have a “Great Adventure”?

The “Great Adventure” (gran aventura) is an optional tour you can add on this day. You will take an open-air jeep through the rainforest and then a zodiac open-air boat ride up the river to the base of the falls (there is a 100% chance that you will get soaking wet on this boat trip, so be sure to take some extra clothes!).

• Visit the Brazilian side of Iguazú National Park

After breakfast, enjoy a 4-hour excursion to the Brazilian side of Iguazú Falls. Don’t forget your passport! While Argentina has 80% of the falls on its side, Brazil has the best panoramic view. On the Argentine side you will have the sensation of being right inside the falls, but only by visiting the Brazilian side will you fully appreciate the immensity of Iguazú Falls.

Take your time to enjoy it and feel it, to stroll the different walkways and feel the spray of water on your face. Take the boardwalk over the Salto Santa María; it feels like walking on the water. Get closer to the “Devil’s Throat” and experience the power of water! We are sure this is a day you will never forget. At the appropriate time in the afternoon, you will be transferred back to Puerto Iguazú village. 

• Transfer from your hotel to Puerto Iguazú airport

Today, prepare to leave the jungle and fly to the incredible North of Argentina! At the appropriate time, we’ll pick you up from your hotel and drive you to the airport to take your flight to Salta, also called “La Linda” (the beautiful). 

• Transfer from Salta airport to your hotel – Day at leisure

Salta is definitely one of the highlights in North of Argentina. From here, you can visit the most outstanding natural wonders of the area: the Humahuaca Gorge and the Seven Colors Hill in Jujuy. 

Take the rest of the afternoon to explore the city. Bear in mind that this is a stress-free hub; la siesta (a midday nap) is kind of a religious ritual for locals, which means that between 1 pm and 5 pm, shops are usually closed.

Say Hueque Tips

What to do on your first day touring Salta?

Salta has it all: the geographical diversity (red, green, and brown-tinted mountains) and the vast history—it is in these time-honored lands that men fought for the freedom of Argentina. Make the most of your time in the city and:

• Admire the colonial architecture, the lively cafés in the main plaza (great people-watching spot), and try the traditional “tamales”.
• Visit the vibrant and authentic peñas, which are places where locals grab a table to watch their favorite folkloric singers, and after a glass of wine (or two) everyone joins in for dancing. “¿Bailamos?” (Shall we dance?): It’s all you need to say to start the party!

• Full-day Safari to the Clouds and Great Salt Flats – Night in Jujuy

Today you’ll travel to the clouds—no exaggeration! We’ll pick you up at your hotel in a 4WD vehicle to start a two-day trip to Purmamarca and the Great Salt Flats, a white solid ocean, 13000 feet above sea level!

In this 10-hour trip, we’ll travel along the same route as the famous Train to the Clouds, zigzagging on lonely roads between the blue sky and the high desert plains. On our way, we will visit historic ruins and small scattered villages.

Our first destination is the small town of Campo Quijano, best known as the Gateway to the Puna. Later, we will visit the impressive Quebrada del Toro, a natural wonder where human-sized cacti stand in a backdrop of eroded peaks that emerge from the golden sand like giant fingers. Here we’ll stop for a refreshing coffee break.

We’ll keep on traveling to Santa Rosa de Tastil, a pre-Incan city of the XIII century, and right after, to San Antonio de los Cobres, the HQ of the Pachamama (Mother Earth) Celebration. The “salty” cherry on top will be the surreal landscape of the Great Salt Flats. The natural light and reflections provide perfect opportunities for endless photo fun. Test your creativity! And be careful of where you put your feet: there are artificial water pools in the area.

At the end of your adventure in the Great Salt Flats we’ll take you to your hotel in Purmamarca, located at the base of Jujuy’s famed Seven Color Hill.

Say Hueque Tips

• What to bring to this tour and what to do in Purmamarca

For this 2-day trip we recommend that you leave your luggage in your hotel in Salta, and just take a day pack on the excursion. For your free evening in Purmamarca, we recommend that you take a walk around the main plaza and visit the ancient Santa Rosa de Lima Church.

• Full-day visit to Humahuaca Gorge – Night in Salta

We’ll pick you up early in the morning to begin your 13-hour trip exploring the Humahuaca Gorge, declared a UNESCO Heritage Site and one of the highlights of Northern Argentina. Humahuaca Gorge is home to a bunch of amazing natural monuments like the Seven Color Hill, the Pucará de Tilcara (a ramshackle yet well-restored fortress), and the Paleta del Pintor (Painter Palette) in Maimará village, an impressive multi-colored mountain range. Our adventurous path will then lead us through the Yungas, the green-tinted jungle of the North, past breathtaking natural monuments until ultimately reaching the picturesque town of Humahuaca. Wander amongst colonial houses and streets, get a feel for the old-world serenity that still survives in this setting, and grab some lunch (not included) in one of the typical taverns; the humita (a traditional corn-based dish) is something you definitely must try!

In the afternoon, we’ll keep on traveling until we get to the little Uquía Church, where you’ll see some peculiar paintings from the colonial period, called Pinturas Cuzqueñas. For the potential astrologists, we’ll pass by the famous Tropic of Capricorn milestone and finally arrive in the city of San Salvador de Jujuy, the second biggest capital of the Argentine North region, after Salta. We’ll visit the cathedral, the main square, and the presidential house of Jujuy, nicknamed Tacita de Plata (silver cup) after the wealthy city, Cadiz, in Spain.

At the end of the day, we’ll drive you back to your hotel in Salta. If you feel like having a particularly nice evening, walk Balcarce Street and choose the bar or peña that suits you the most!

• A 2-day trip through the Calchaquí Valleys

We’ll pick you up from your hotel in Salta with a 4WD vehicle and leave behind the Lerma Valley to visit Laures and Escoipe, the first two gorges of this 12-hour excursion. The landscapes will still remain green, but colors will definitely begin to change when we approach the Cuesta del Obispo, the windiest and most spectacular road in this area. We’ll climb up to 11,000 feet high—get prepared to see the world from above!

This is the connective road to get to the high valleys, where the Calchaqui Valley wine region sits. We’ll see enormous cacti while passing through Los Cardones National Park on our way to Cachi, a famous village where Spanish and native traditions combine to form the most beautiful architecture.

In the afternoon, continue with your exploration of the valleys and reach the towns of Molinos and Angastaco, just before visiting Las Flechas Gorge, a special rocky formation that creates a labyrinth of sharp, high peaks. After going down its mysterious passages, we’ll get to Cafayate where we’ll spend the night.

Cafayate is one of the most popular destinations of the Calchaqui Valley wine region. Cafayate wine is renowned in Argentina, especially because of the star product of the region: the Torrontes wine.

• Visit wineries in Cafayate

Enjoy the end of the day in this picturesque town while sipping on a drink at sunset in the main square, or maybe a Malbec ice cream from a traditional gelato shop. Since there are many surrounding wineries, we thought that a visit to one or two of them could be interesting for you… so we’ve already scheduled it! According to weather and timetables, you will be able to partake in this memorable tour either on your arrival day or the day after.  

• Calchaquí Valley excursion – Night in Salta

On the second day of this Calchaqui Valley adventure, you’ll leave Cafayate and be directly immersed into the forbidding universe of Las Conchas Gorge, where erosion has carved mysterious red shapes into the rocks. Get prepared to visit this Natural Reserve for about 5 hours, and enjoy the views of its colorful hills while you go down its red-tinted promontories and discover the most prominent rocky highlights: the Frog, the Obelisk, and the Castles.

The highlight of the day will be the Amphitheater and the famous Devil’s Throat. The amphitheater is a natural semicircular formation (65 feet high) and is home to intimate concerts performed by local artists. Get inside and check out the amazing acoustics by singing your favorite tune! Nearby, the Devil’s Throat awaits at the end of Las Conchas Gorge. Going down this particular rocky formation, you’ll feel as though you’re right in the belly of a giant!

At the end of the day, we’ll take you back to Salta. Enjoy the evening by eating an empanada salteña, a special variation of this classic Argentine dish.

• Transfer from your hotel to Salta airport

This is the end of your northern trip, but the beginning of your urban exploration of Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. At the appropriate time, we’ll pick you up from your hotel and drive you to the airport to take your flight back to Buenos Aires. 

• Transfer from Buenos Aires airport to your hotel – Day at leisure

Upon arrival, you be transferred to your hotel and enjoy a leisurely evening in the city that “never sleeps”.

Say Hueque Tips

How you would like to spend your last day of vacation? Here are some ideas:

• You can explore the cobblestone, tree-lined streets of Palermo Soho in search of some one-of-a-kind Porteño fashion stores or discover the graffiti circuit. 

• You may stop by one of our historic cafés (named “cafés notables”) located all over the city and have a “cortado”, the most popular Argentine coffee choice.
• If it’s Saturday or Sunday, you may have the chance to visit one of the city markets, only open during weekends. 

• Half-day city tour through Buenos Aires

In the morning we will pick you up from your hotel to enjoy our 5-hour Buenos Aires city tour—you will be swept away by the highlights of our beloved Buenos Aires! Over the course of a half-day, you will have the chance to visit the historical and political center of the city; Plaza de Mayo, and the Pink House (the presidential house).

Next, we’ll move on to San Telmo, with its cobblestone streets and the oldest residential neighborhood, and then to La Boca where Buenos Aires turns colorful and tango is ever-present. Come walk Caminito Street and dance with the locals. The next stop is the chic and aristocratic Recoleta, where the big palaces remind us why Buenos Aires is called the “Paris of the South”.

• Dinner and Tango Show 

In the evening we’ll pick you up from your hotel to take you to a mystical place where you’ll discover one of our most ancient traditions. Tango is more than our national dance… tango is our immigrant origins, the talent of our local artists, the sensuality of Argentine women, and our way of dealing with a broken heart; dancing our way through tragic, and yet eternal, love stories.

Tonight you will enjoy a 3-hour professional display of tango and music with a group of local artists onstage immersed in an elegant and alluring place. The manners, ambiance, clothes, and dance steps that tango lovers used to practice 100 years ago will come to life again and you will travel back in time for a night.

This spectacular tango show in Buenos Aires will be accompanied by delicious Argentine and international cuisine. Dinner is all-inclusive, beverages included so you can lose yourself in the ethereal taste of Malbec wine. At the end of the evening, around midnight, you will be driven back to your hotel, fully in love with the bohemian spirit of our incredible city.

Say Hueque Tips

• What you need to know about tango culture in Buenos Aires:

Tango is, all in all, a cultural experience that’s deeply rooted in Argentine hearts. Where do regular people go to dance tango? There are an immense number of dance halls or milongas in Buenos Aires. Some of our favorites are La Viruta -beginner-friendly- and Salon Canning -with more advanced clientele- in the Palermo neighborhood. Tango has evolved a big deal in the past years, and now there are also LGBT milongas that encourage a most inclusive practice. 

• Transfer from your hotel to Buenos Aires airport

It’s the last day of your Argentine journey… we hope to see you back here soon! At the appropriate time, we’ll pick you up from your hotel and drive you to the international airport to take your flight back home.

Did you know that Patagonia is just a 3-hour flight away from Buenos Aires? If you want to explore the southern natural monuments, we have some trip ideas so you can keep on exploring Argentina.