Northwest Argentina: Culture & Wine in a Land of Extremes
Wine, culture, and stunning natural beauty
Days: 8 | From: $5,390/per person
- Includes accommodations at first class hotels that reflect the best of local culture
- Includes excursions and tours with superb private guides
Explore the sweeping landscapes of a wild, less-touristed part of Argentina. Visit Salta and Molinos, tour the world's highest winery in Colomé, and hike Cafayate.
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We tailor itineraries to your dates and interests, adjusting hotels, excursions and length as desired.
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At a glance
- Buenos Aires
1 night: explore Argentina's bustling capital city - Salta
2 nights: discover this charming colonial city - Molinos
2 nights: Los Cardones National Park and the world’s highest vineyard - Cafayate
2 nights: hike the unique and otherworldly landscapes of Argentina's northwest
All itineraries are fully customizable. We will send you a personalized variation that reflects your interests and travel dates at no extra cost. Call to discuss your travel plans with one of our Specialists who know this region firsthand.
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Sample itinerary
Welcome to Buenos Aires
Arrive to Buenos Aires, Argentina’s colorful capital, where your private guide will take you to your boutique hotel in the fashionable Palermo district. This is one of the best areas of town for walking around, with charming boutiques and top restaurants.
Accommodations: Mine Hotel
This small, modern boutique hotel has an excellent location in the vibrant Palermo SoHo neighborhood, with many cafes and restaurants right outside the front door. The 20-room hotel offers a restaurant and a private green space with a garden and small pool; most rooms overlook this quaint backyard area.
Upgrades available: Legado Mitico, Alvear Palace, Palacio Duhau Park Hyatt, and othersFly to Salta, a Colonial City in Northwest Argentina
Fly to Argentina’s northwest, an area of sweeping vistas and distinct culture. Your private guide will take you to your hotel in the historic center of Salta. The largest city in Argentina’s northwest, Salta displays both a deep colonial history and a strong Andean character, and is surrounded by expansive mountain scenery. You have the balance of the day to explore the city on foot and enjoy its lively culture and music scene, while based in a first class small boutique hotel that is a perennial traveler favorite.
Accommodations: Salta Legado Mitico, 2 nights
Located in Salta's historical center and housed in the former manor of a patrician family, Salta Legado Mitico captures the history and culture of the Argentinean Northwest. A quintessential boutique hotel in the best sense, the property has a lot of local charm, first class service, and a great location in town. It has established itself as a favorite among our travelers.
*Includes: BreakfastSalta: Historic Churches, San Bernardo Hill, and Charming Small Villages
Get to know Salta with your private local guide. The city was founded in 1582 and has conserved its Spanish colonial character, which distinguishes it from other Argentine capitals. Let your knowledgeable guide show you the city’s highlights, including historic churches and museums, then head to the top of San Bernando Hill for a panoramic view of Salta. You’ll also spend some time in colonial villages and scenic areas outside the city: San Lorenzo, Río Vaqueros, and the Quebrada de Castellanos.
Travel to Molinos, a Small Rural Village
Set out for Molinos, first along the vertiginous Cuesta del Obispo and then through Los Cardones National Park, known for never-ending expanses of towering cactus and views of 20,000 foot high Andean peaks. Enjoy an asado lunch at Hacienda La Merced del Alto, then stop to visit the charming colonial village of Cachi before continuing to Molinos, where you overnight in a beautifully restored 18th century estate house.
Accommodations: Hacienda Molinos, 2 nights
Hacienda Molinos is an 18-room traditional hacienda dating back to the 18th century. Once the home of the last governor of Salta appointed by the King of Spain, it has been refurbished to provide modern comfort while preserving the essence and typical features of colonial times. The patio shaded by a pepper tree, the thick walls made of adobe, the iron window bars and the ceilings made of carob wood and reed are some of the enchanting details of the hotel which characterize its history. The on-site restaurant features regional and international cuisine as well as a selection of regional wines, and the outdoor pool offers views of the snowcapped Cachi mountains.
*Includes: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerColomé Winery and the James Turrell Museum
Visit Colomé Winery, the world’s highest vineyard, founded by Donald Hess of Hess Vineyard in Napa. Tour the winery and enjoy lunch at the vineyard’s superb restaurant.
In the afternoon, take time to visit the on-site museum, an 18,000 square foot installation dedicated exclusively to James Turrell. Turrell is an American artist whose works are primarily concerned with light and space. Donald Hess is known as one of the world’s biggest collectors of contemporary art, and he invited Turrell to participate in the design of the facility, which was custom-built specifically to showcase several of his works.
Transfer to Cafayate
Take a scenic private ride to Cafayate, stopping along the way to do some hiking in the Quebrada de las Flechas (Gorge of the Arrows), an otherworldly environment of rock formations and ravines as far as the eye can see. Arriving to Cafayate, overnight in comfort at an exceptional boutique hotel with its own vineyards, located just outside of town.
Accommodations: Patios de Cafayate, 2 nights
Patios de Cafayate is located outside the city of Cafayate in a secluded area surrounded by mountains and vineyards. The hotel 32's rooms overlook the courtyards, gardens, vineyards and mountains surrounding the Calchaquí Valley. The restaurant serves dishes typical of the region, prepared with local products and vegetables from the on-site garden and accompanied by local wines. The hotel also offers a pool with mountain views, game room, bicycles to explore the area, and a wine cellar.
*Includes: Breakfast, LunchDiscover Cafayate: Town and Wineries
Explore the town of Cafayate and some of its notable wineries. This area is known in particular for producing some of the best Torrontes in Argentina. This grape, grown almost exclusively in Argentina, is used to create crisp, floral white wines that have become increasingly popular around the world. The town of Cafayate is renowned for both its wine and its natural setting in the Calchaqui Valley.
Depart for Home or Your Next Destination
Transfer back to Salta through the scenic Gorge of Cafayate, arriving to the airport for your flight home or to your next destination.
Popular Ways to Customize This Itinerary
Add a few extra nights in Buenos Aires or Mendoza. We can arrange a variety of activities, including city tours, culinary excursions, visits to historical sites, and active options such as hiking, biking, boating, and horseback riding. We can also arrange activities that cater to special interests, such as a Jewish Heritage Tour, architecture tour, visit to the Boca Juniors Stadium, tango class, or wine tours. We can also arrange privately guided day excursions to nearby sites, such as the town of Colonia, Uruguay (a well preserved 17th century Portuguese colonial town that is a UNESCO World Heritage site), or up to Tigre and the Delta (there are also biking excursions up to Tigre).
Take part in a day of polo at an estancia outside Buenos Aires: Spend the morning on a horse learning the basics of this popular equestrian sport, enjoy a traditional lunch, then put your new skills to use in a relaxed polo match in the afternoon. Great for beginners and experienced riders alike!
Visit one of the traditional estancias of San Antonio de Areco, about 1.5 hours from Buenos Aires. This is an area that has preserved gaucho traditions more than any other in Argentina, and the estancias offer an in-depth experience in this fundamental aspect of Argentine culture and history.
Include some downtime for rest and relaxation! Some free time to unwind or have a massage will allow you to feel refreshed and ready for the remainder of your trip. Many of our properties include excellent spas or wellness centers. We can help arrange these services or include properties that offer health & wellness amenities.
Extend your visit with time in Argentine Patagonia or the lovely Lake District and Bariloche.
Contact us to learn about more options for designing and customizing your trip.
Reviews From This Trip
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