DAY 1: Puerto Iguazu
Arrival in Puerto Iguazu, (NOT on Fridays) Airport or Bus Station pick up. From 2 pm on, check in at selected accommodation. Free day.
DAY 2: Puerto Iguazu
Breakfast. 8 am Full Day Excursion to the Falls, Argentine side: This Tour take will you to visit part of the Iguazu National Park. It preserves 67.000 ha. of giant trees, vines and ferns living with multicolored butterflies, birds and mammals, all of them part of the rich local flora and fauna.
The park was declared Natural World Heritage in 1984, due to its scenic beauties and the great biological diversity of the subtropical jungle. The famous falls are in the heart of this Park.
You will start the visit at the Local Museum and continue the Tour along the Lower Trail, from where you can see the " Two sisters Falls", the "Bossetti Fall", the "Hidden Fall", a panoramic view of "San Martin island " and the "Union Fall".
Later you walk the Upper Trail shifting along walkways located above major falls up to the majestic "San Martin Fall" from where you have a panoramic view of the Brazilian falls.
Finally, you go with the Train of the Jungle up to "Devil's Throat" station. From there, after 1,000 meters walk along the catwalks, you will reach the spectacular "Devil's Throat", where the Iguazu river expresses itself with all its strength and the falling water gives the illusion of magic rainbows.
DAY 3: Puerto Iguazu
Breakfast. Excursion to the Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls, half day: The guide will take you to visit the wonderful Iguazu Falls, on the Brazilian side, from where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Argentine side.
You will get close to "Floriano", "Deodoro," and "Benjamin" waterfalls, and the walkways lead you also to "Santa Maria Falls." (Beware of visa needs if going to the Brazilian side, eg: Australia, USA, Canada, China, etc)
DAY 4: Puerto Iguazu-Tucuman
Breakfast and check out before 11 am. Bus station drop off. Depature to Tucuman city in the late evening. Night bus.
DAY 5: Tucuman-Salta
Arrival in Tucuman in the evening to connect with another bus heading to Salta. Arrival to Salta, late in the night. Check in at selected accommodation.
DAY 6: Salta - Purmamarca
Breakfast. Safari to the Clouds/Purmamarca Excursion: You will travel in the same route as the famous Train to the Clouds, zigzagging on lonely roads between the blue sky and the Puna. On your way, you will visit magnificent ruins, scattered houses, small villages and amazing landscapes. Departure from Salta will be at 7 am and you will quickly reach the small town of Campo Quijano and later, the impressive Quebrada del Toro. Soon you will leave all signs of vegetation as you enter the realms of the solitary Puna. In Santa Rosa de Tastil, a pre-Inca city of the XIII century, you will do a short archeological hiking. Later, you will reach San Antonio de los Cobres, a small miner´s town rich in tradition and the Train to the Clouds final destination. Further ahead, a desert plateau will take you to the surreal landscape of the salt flats, where you stop again to walk around and enjoy the contrasts. In the afternoon, you will return through the overwhelming Lipan mountains and arrive at the Seven-color Hill in Purmamarca, a landmark on its own. You will overnight in this village suspended in time.
DAY 7: Purmamarca - Salta
Breakfast. Humahuaca Full Day Excursion: Towns and relics of ancient cultures, superb mountains and the feeling of being in timeless places are the exquisite elements of this trip through the Humahuaca Gorge.
You will leave Purmamarca at 9:00 am and head north to the province of Jujuy. The small towns of Tumbaya, Purmamarca, Maimará and Tilcara open their ancient charm to your captivated eyes. In Purmamarca, you will stop to see the famous Seven-color hill, in Tilcara, you visit the Pucará (fortress) and the Archeological Museum, while in Uquía you stop to admire the local church. But it’s in Humahuaca where you enjoy in the extremely peaceful atmosphere, the typical colonial architecture and the charming people. In your way back you will also visit San Salvador de Jujuy to get to know its monuments and intriguing legends. Let the history behind the walls and stones of these places take you on a ride to the Argentinean past! Arrival to Salta at 7 – 8 pm
DAY 8: Salta
Breakfast. Free day to enjoy optional tours or just relax in beautiful Salta city
DAY 9: Salta-Mendoza
Breakfast. Check Out. In the evening: Take the nigh bus to Mendoza.
DAY 10: Mendoza
Arrival in Mendoza. Check in at selected accommodation. At 2.30 pm, Half Day Winery Tour: These Tour runs among vineyards in the areas of Lujan de Cuyo and Maipu. You will experience the work culture brought by of immigrants, using irrigation techniques (canals and ditches) inherited from the former Huarpes Indians. They managed to change a vast desert into a productive river oasis. This is the scene of the settlement of prestigious wineries, which represent Argentine wines in the world with high quality wines.
You will visit two wineries, one with traditional organic methods and the other that uses the latest avaliable technology. Guided by professionals in winemaking, you will learn about the vinification methods and processes, bottling and labelling of wines, in the end of the tour you will taste the different grapes that the wineries offer. Departure: Monday to Saturday: 2.30 pm. Sundays 08.30 am
DAY 11: Mendoza
Breakfast. 7 am: Aconcagua Valley Day Trip (Alta Montaña): The Tour offers a variety of colors and sceneries. Early in the morning along the river Mendoza, get a view of the majestic mountain range called Cordon del Plata and the Potrerillos dam, colossal work for hydraulic power generation and water distribution for irrigation.
Your next visit will be Uspallata, pre-Hispanic settlement of Huarpes indians and the southern last point of the Inca Empire.
Here you will see the Vaults of Uspallata, historic "adobe" (mud) buildings, that were used by the chaplain Fray Luis Beltran for casting cannons and guns.
Afterwards you will visit the villages of Picheuta, Polvareda, Punta de Vacas and Los Penitentes ski resort. Free time for the use of chair lift to enjoy beautiful panoramic views.
Later, you will find Puente de Inca along your route, a huge natural bridge with strands of hot springs.
Continuing the road and 2750 meters above sea level you will reach the viewpoint of Cerro Aconcagua, the colossus of America (6959 meters high), from where you are going to the Laguna Horcones and the Aconcagua Provincial Park.
Following the international route to reach your last destination, Las Cuevas, an European-style village located 3200 meters above sea level. Back to town at 7 - 8 pm
DAY 12: Mendoza
Breakfast and Check out.
Included
Not Included:
Situated in the northeast of Argentina, Puerto Iguazú City is 300 km away from the Capital City of the Province - Posadas City - and is the city that borders on Brazil and Paraguay through the concourse of Paraná and Iguazú Rivers.
Being a touristic place, it provides with the greatest spectacle of water and forest ever existing on Earth - the imposing Iguazú Falls - in guaraní language "Big waters".
This region has a humid subtropical climate without dry season, with temperatures ranging from 20º C to 33º C in Summer while Winter is mild and nice. It is important to mention that due to the high degree of humidity the rain diminishes thermic amplitude and causes clouds increase.
Topographicaly speaking, Puerto Iguazú is located in a plateau with red rocky land due to the melaphyre decomposition rich in iron and having cliffs covered by humus favouring the growth of an exuberant forest.
To get to this charming city and one of the most wonderful sceneries in South America one can do it by plane arriving at Iguazú International Airport 17 Km away from the city centre.
Coming from Brazil and Paraguay one can cross "Tancredo Neves International Bridge".
Among the most chosen activities, the tourist goes on excursions to Iguazú National Park -Natural Heritage to Humanity by UNESCO- visiting 275 waterfalls and getting to know the exotic flora and fauna.
In the city, there are different places to visit such as "Mbororé" and Natural Sciences Museums, Tres Fronteras Boundary Stone and the International Casino.
From Puerto Iguazú, one can go on excursions to Ciudad del Este (East City) -Paraguay- where there is an important crafts and electronics fair, as well as on excursions to Brazil in order to get a different view of the falls.
Puerto Iguazú is a place where nature , in its greatest beauty expression, will amaze the tourist for sure.
HIGHLIGHTS
Situated at the foot of The Andes, Mendoza is the capital city of the homonimous province and the most important city of the West of Argentina. It is one of the most chosen tourist destinations because of the various interesting activities available in the region. It is an incredible oasis to grow fruits and vegetables due to the presence of the Mendoza and Tunuyán Rivers.
The climate of the region is mild though the mountains provide a certain degree of aridity. The temperature in Summer ranges from 18º C to 33º C and days are hot and nights are fresh. In Winter, the minimum temperature is 3º C and the maximum registered temperature is 16º C.
One can get to Mendoza City by plane arriving at Francisco Gabrielli-El Plumerillo International Airport, or by car or bus through Nº 8, 7 and 40 National Routes.
In the city, there is a beautiful sight of streets flanked by trees, squares and parks linked by a web of irrigation ditches which is 500 km long and waters the whole area allowing city planning even in arid zones.
Land with historic tradition, Mendoza keeps many memories of San Martín's epic in the cerro de la Gloria (Hill of the Glory), El Plumerillo, San Martín Park and the museums that show documents testifying the presence in the region of this Argentinian eminent person.
Starting point to enjoy adventure travel and high mountain sports like andinism, ski or rafting, Mendoza offers various circuits to go on these excursions. Walks in the five squares, the civic centre and the foundation area make the tourist admire the culture, the history and the idiosyncrasy of native people. In the surroundings of Mendoza City, interesting places and towns can be visited: Ruins of San Francisco Church, Maipú, El Challao, Villavicencio Thermal Resort, Cacheuta, Potrerillos and Vallecitos.
The very well known "Ruta de los Vinos" (Route of the Wines) deserves a special mention because tourists can visit ancient cellars and taste excellent yields which are product of carefully chosen grapes.
When visiting Mendoza, one is going along the land of the good sun and the good wine
HIGHLIGHTS
The city of Salta is situated at 1187 m.a.s.l., in the north extreme of the Lerma Valley. It was founded in 1582, its spanish physiognomy emphasize it from the rest of the cities of the country. In Salta you can find ground floor houses, narrow streets and sidewalks, everything situated among mountains and trees. Owner of an intense historic past, it finds in one of the most impresive geographies of the region, from the jungle (yungas) in the East part to the Puna desert in the West side.
Summer is mild and Winter is warm and dry, with records of an annual average temperature of 22ºC, which makes the city an ideal place to live or visit.
A few kilometers away from the city, there are many interesting places to visit, to spend the day or to enjoy them by doing some adventure activities. It stands out the towns of San Lorenzo, Vaqueros, La Caldera and the dam Cabra Corral. In all those places is possible to practice horse ridding, four trax, trekkings, rafting and cannopy.
The night in Salta has for every kind of taste, and its variety cover all the alternatives. From the traditional "peñas", within artistic local shows, it is possible to taste the tipical regional dishes, to a large range of restaurants, casinos, bars and discotheques.
In Salta is not possible to miss the turistic circuits that this beautiful province offers. In the Calchaqui Valleys circuit you´ll be surprised by the rocky formations of their gorges and multicolored hills, where they rise many little towns which adobe and straw houses will take the traveller to ancient times. It is an unforgettable trip to a region forged by the turbulent pre - inca and colonial history inside a dramatic geography, where we can also apreciate the road of wine, one of the specialities of the region.
The Andean Circuitor Puna will take us to one of the most extreme areas. Passing through Campo Quijano, the gate of the Andes, we´ll arrive to Bull Gorge, an impresive road that will lead us to the pre-inca ruins of Santa Rosa de Tastil, one of the most important in the region.
Going through the Abra Muñano at 4100 m.a.s.l. we´ll be entering in the arid desert of the Puna, in which it finds the town of San Antonio de los Cobres, where the inhabitants of the place will show us their way of living in such a hard place.
In this desert it is possible to see the amazing white colour of theSalt Lakes, shared with the neighbouring province of Jujuy.
In the Noth Circuit, going through the middle of the jungle area, we can enter from Salta to Humahuaca Gorge, with all its colour and history, this will allow us to go into the mountains where are hidden magic towns like Iruya.
Salta offers alternatives for every taste. Its people is doing of this place something special and the traveller falls in love with the city. The combination of landscape and history is doing of Salta an oblige city for those who wants to know the best of the country.
HIGHLIGHTS
