A Taste of Argentina & Uruguay
Experience Uruguay, Buenos Aires, and Mendoza
Days: 8 | From: $5,550/per person
- Includes accommodations at first class hotels that reflect the best of local culture
- Includes excursions and tours with superb private guides
Start in Colonia, Uruguay to get a taste of local food and wine. Head off on a ferry to vibrant Buenos Aires where you can have an Argentine BBQ at a local estancia where you can also enjoy a Polo lesson or just relax in the countryside. Finish by tasting world-renowned wines in great small wineries outside Mendoza.
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At a glance
- Colonia
2 nights: Start your journey discovering this UNESCO world heritiage site - Buenos Aires
2 nights: explore Argentina's bustling capital city - Mendoza
3 nights: discover Argentina's best wines and lovely scenic vineyards
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 Uruguay
Upon arrival you will be met by a local representative holding a sign with your name on it for transfer to your lodge in Colonia. Upon arrival you the afternoon to relax or enjoy one of the many activities available at the lodge including use of the pool, kayaking, use of the electric bicycles to go to town or visit a nearby vineyard, and more. You can also spend time on the beach or hike up the observation tower to enjoy the views of the Rio de la Plata. During your stay at the Rio Ancho you can request a waterside dinner to be cooked and served on the beach. This dinner was designed by chef Martín Molteni and is accompanied by a selection of Uruguayan wines.
Accommodations: Charco Hotel
The Charco Hotel is located in Colonia del Sacramento, in a privileged riverfront location. The hotel features seven unique guest rooms and a bistro with outdoor seating overlooking the water.
*Includes: DinnerAlternative lodging options: Charco Hotel
Colonia Walking Tour
Today you have a privately guided tour of Colonia, a well preserved 17th century Portuguese colonial town that is a UNESCO World Heritage site. After exploring the town of Colonia you will enjoy lunch waterside at the Charco Hotel. After lunch you will be transported back to Rio Ancho and have the rest of the afternoon to relax and enjoy the comfortable facilities of the lodge.
Ferry to Buenos Aires
In the morning you will be met at your hotel and transferred to the port for your high speed ferry ride to Buenos Aires (approximately a 1 hour ride). Upon arrival to Buenos Aires you will be met at the port and taken for a privately guided tour of Buenos Aires, visiting several of the unique neighborhoods of this sprawling metropolis, including Palermo, the Recoleta, the Teatro Colon, the Plaza de Mayo, San Telmo, and La Boca. Your guide will be there to help you make the most of your time and you have total flexibility to adjust the schedule and make detours and stops along the way. After your tour, you will have the end of the day free to explore on your own and eat out at one of the city’s excellent restaurants. (We provide an up to date list of top restaurant recommendations.)
Accommodations: Mine Hotel, 2 nights
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.
*Includes: BreakfastUpgrades available: Legado Mitico, Alvear Palace, Palacio Duhau Park Hyatt, and others
Estancia El Ombu or Polo Day at Estancia Puesto Viejo
Today you will be picked up from your hotel for your visit to San Antonio de Areco (about 1.5 hours from Buenos Aires). San Antonio de Areco is a small, charming place that has preserved gaucho traditions more than anywhere else in Argentina. After visiting you’ll continue on to the Estancia El Ombu de Areco, a place that will give you a taste of gaucho culture. You’ll have the option to do some horseback riding or take a short ride in a horsedrawn carriage, or simply relax and enjoy the countryside. This is an easy-going day that allows you to experience life in the pampas of Argentina. The estancia will serve a traditional Argentine asado (barbeque) as well as a merienda (tea time with a snack). After your visit you will be transferred back to Buenos Aires. As an alternative, you can visit Estancia Puesto Viejo (located less than an hour from Buenos Aires) and enjoy a Polo Day (polo lessons included) or Country Day (to relax and enjoy the estancia.
Fly to Mendoza / Cooking Lessons
In the morning you will transfer to the airport for your flight to Mendoza. Located at the base of the Andes, Mendoza is the heart of the Argentine wine country, and a relaxed and pleasant city with remarkably friendly people. You’ll be staying at a converted country home on the outskirts of the city, with its own small vineyard, a traveler favorite. Depending on your arrival time, we can set up a bike and wine tour that takes you to a few different wineries in the area.
In the evening you will meet Cristina Brino, chef at the Finca Adalgisa, for a cooking lesson. Held outside next to a wood-burning oven, this hands-on class will teach you how to make local specialties such as empanadas and chimichurri sauce. Brino uses many fresh ingredients grown right at the finca, and the class also includes the opportunity to enjoy the wine produced on-site.
Accommodations: Finca Adalgisa, 3 nights
Three generations of the Furlotti family have owned the Finca Adalgisa Hotel, Vineyard and Winery. The hotel sits outside the bustle of downtown Mendoza, offering guests the tranquility of the Argentine countryside. A traveler favorite for years, this place wins people over with local, unpretentious charm and welcoming service. Within walking distance are a couple of simple but good local restaurants, and the hotel offers a pool, wine and tapas bar, library, bicycles for exploring the area, and on-site cooking classes.
*Includes: Breakfast, DinnerUpgrades available: Cavas Wine Lodge, Entre Cielos
Uco Valley Winery Tour
Today you have a full day excursion through the Valle de Uco wine region (about 1 hour south of Mendoza), an area currently known for producing many of the most renowned Argentine wines and surrounded by lovely mountain scenery. Situated at the foot of the Andes Mountains, the Uco Valley produces some of the best grapes and wines in Argentina. In the last few years this valley has seen a large increase in both local growers as well as international wine producers. Tastings are included at the different wineries, as well as lunch. An exceptional day of wine tasting.
Lujan Valley Wine Tour
Today you have a full day, privately guided tour of the Lujan Valley. You can choose to do this tour on bicycle (starting right from your hotel) or you can do it with private transport. You will make visits to the Nieto Senetiner, Alta Vista, and Boutique Clos de Chacras wineries, with lunch included at the Boutique Clos de Chacras Winery. In the afternoon you will be transferred back to your hotel where you have the rest of the evening at your leisure. (Please note, the specific wineries you will visit are subject to change.)
Return Home
Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Buenos Aires or Santiago where you will connect with your international flight home.
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.
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.
Why Travel with Vaya?
We're TRUE specialists
We’ve not only traveled there, we’ve lived there. Our smart and engaging specialists are all current or former expatriates with years of experience in the region.
Uplifting service
From the first phone call to after you get back, we're here for you every step of the way. We listen, create, customize and advocate for you, and design experiences that go beyond the expected.
Thoughtful travel
Our discerning sensibility and good taste go beyond just choices in hotels and top guides; we have a walk the walk commitment to the environment and are genuine leaders in conservation efforts.