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ULTIMATE ARGENTINA!
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November 13 - 24, 2009
November 24 - 25, 2009 (Extension to Iguazú Falls)
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The vibrant, cosmopolitan city of Buenos Aires
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Majestic Patagonia at the southern end of South America with the jagged peaks of the Andes and awesome glaciers and lakes
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The underrated and marvelous Northwest with the country’s most prevalent indigenous cultures, gorgeous landscapes, and a thriving wine production
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Awesome Iguazú Falls on the border with Brazil
It’s all part of our incredible tour of Argentina! Join us
on this wonderful 12- or 13-day odyssey from the far tropical north
to the wild remoteness of the alpine deep south.
Special Note: The Andean Northwest is an area that
is missing from most itineraries and which sets apart our Argentina
tour for gay travelers. Some may find it the most seductive part of
the country. The Northwest is the country’s most historical
and colorful region with its deep-rooted culture and traditions. Here
lie the Calchaqui Valleys (known as the Sacred Valleys) and the Humahuaca
Gorge, two regions that are full of contrasts: the dawn light reflected
on the Western Andean mountains and the colors of the sunset glowing
on the Eastern “Sierras.” There are fascinating formations
evocative of the American Southwest and ancient rock carvings; Inca
ruins; colonial churches and picturesque Indian villages; gorgeous
vineyard scenery; and infinite extensions of desert country covered
by gigantic cactus and unique flora species with volcanoes looming
far above.
Arrive in Buenos Aires with your own air arrangements and transfer to the group hotel in the city. We can arrange a transfer for you in advance, or there are desks in the arrival area before you exit the baggage claim area where you can book a transfer on the spot. The rest of the day is on your own to settle into the hotel. You may wish to have a walk around the neighborhood to stretch your legs and help shake off any jet lag.
We will come together in the early evening at the hotel for a welcome drink and then set out for our first dinner, which will be in one of the most elegant tango show palaces of Buenos Aires. The grand old-time dining room here features high-tech acoustics and superb dancers, creating a wonderful tango environment.
Overnight in Buenos Aires
Meals included: Welcome Drink and Dinner
{Tip: You may want to consider arriving in Buenos Aires a day early to help alleviate any jet lag or fatigue from your journey. There is plenty to see and do in this exciting city, and we can assist with booking an extra night at the group hotel.}
We have a full day in Buenos Aires to explore this terrifically vibrant and cosmopolitan city’s great diversity of neighborhoods such as La Boca and Recoleta with our accompanying guide. Over the years Buenos Aires has come to be known as the “Paris of South America.” There is indeed an abundance of beautiful architecture, great shops and restaurants, lively cafés and bars, and no shortage of beautiful people. We’ll explore the narrow streets of the old city and the broad avenues that mark Buenos Aires’ modern growth. Around the Plaza de Mayo we will see the Casa Rosada (the rose-colored presidential residence), the Cathedral, and the Cabildo (Town Hall). On South America's broadest avenue, Avenida 9 de Julio, we see the historic Colon Theater and the iconic Obelisco. A highlight is a visit to the Recoleta district, one of the most fashionable parts of the city, which includes South America's most opulent and extraordinary cemetery, the resting place of much-revered Eva Peron. The colorful working-class La Boca district is also included in the tour. In the afternoon, we’ll visit the trendy Palermo neighborhood which includes the Malba (Museum of Latin American Art of Buenos Aires). Malba’s mission is to collect, conserve, study, and disseminate Latin American art, dating from the early 20th Century to the present day. It contains one of the most impressive collections of Latin American art anywhere. This evening will be free to follow your own interests. You may wish to explore some of the bars or clubs. Buenos Aires is noted for its thriving nightlife -- gay and otherwise.
Overnight in Buenos Aires
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
The size and diversity of Argentina will become apparent today as we fly from the cosmopolitan urban center of the capital in the north to far southern Patagonia — around 1,200 miles. The geological curiosities of vast, remote Patagonia have produced some of the world’s most attractive natural beauty. We will spend three nights near Los Glaciares National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage region that covers 1.5 million acres of rugged territory — the Andes Mountains, lakes, rivers, and pampa — and includes some magnificent glaciers.
The bulk of this day will be taken up by the logistics of getting here as we fly to the remote town of El Calafate on the southern shore of turquoise Lake Argentino and the gateway to the national park. This evening we'll enjoy a nice dinner in the town of El Calafate.
Overnight in El Calafate
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
A 60-minute trip takes us to the awesome Perito Moreno Glacier — a wall of jagged blue ice extending nearly 15,000 feet (about 2.75 miles) across and soaring nearly 200 feet above the Canal de los Témpanos (Iceberg Channel). It’s not uncommon for massive icebergs to calve off the face of the glacier and crash down to the sea. Perched on catwalks and overlooks you can walk around and gaze at, or with eyes closed, simply listen to, this amazing river of ice as it rumbles forward. Scientists say Perito Moreno is “in balance,” not retreating like most glaciers, but alternately growing and receding. Included is an excursion called the “Safari Nautico” – a one-hour boat ride approaching the front wall of the glacier for amazing close-up views.
For those wanting a little more adventure you can take a guided trek on the glacier itself (extra cost applies) – a wonderful experience if you’re up to it! The trip begins with a 20-minute boat ride across the Brazo Rico, enjoying wonderful views of the front wall of the glacier, followed by a 30-minute walk with specialized guides to the glacier. You will be outfitted with crampons and other safety gear then spend about an hour atop the ice, complete with a stop for a whisky on the thousand-year-old “rocks.” This exciting trip gives you the chance to peer into the electric-blue crevasses of the glacier, see small lagoons and streams, and truly appreciate the glacier’s immensity. (Please Note: Those who opt to do this trek on the glacier will not be able to do the “Safari Nautico” mentioned above, but you still get a short boat ride along one wall of the glacier in order to reach it.)
Overnight in El Calafate
Meals included: Breakfast, Packed Lunch
Today we continue our exploration of awesome Patagonia with a full-day trip to Estancia Cristina. We get picked up early from our hotel for the 30-minute drive to Puerto Bandera on the lake, where we board our modern and comfortable ship. Breakfast is served on board. We sail among icebergs and take in the breathtaking views of the Upsala Glacier, which is even larger than Perito Moreno: 30 miles long and 6 miles wide at its foot, the largest in South America. Impressive for its sheer extent, the size of the bergs that have calved off it, and their shapes and colors, this is an outstanding sight. Later we arrive at Estancia Cristina, a remote and typical Patagonian ranch that dates from 1914 where we will have lunch and then choose between hiking, horseback riding, or simply relaxing around the estancia and learning about the interesting history of the place. One fairly easy walk is to the Cascada del Río de los Perros during which you can appreciate the local flora and fauna, including some great birdwatching, and have wonderful views of Anita Lake and Colgantes and del Valle Glaciers. The return boat journey across Lake Argentino is about two hours back to Puerto Bandera, and then we transfer by land to El Calafate.
Overnight in El Calafate
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
We fly back to Buenos Aires, and the remainder of the day is at leisure. We have inserted an overnight in the city as a wise precaution. Domestic flights have a reputation for delays, and a missed connection would be quite problematic for our itinerary.
Overnight in Buenos Aires
Meals included: Breakfast
Today we begin the next stage of our journey by flying to the Andean Northwest of Argentina – an area that is missing from most itineraries and which sets ours apart. For a long time this vast underrated area was regarded as just a dusty outpost. As we tour the area’s vividly colorful deserts, adobe villages, and desolately beautiful high-altitude steppes punctuated by volcanoes soaring above vast salt pans -- and as we come face to face with the indigenous populations of Argentina -- you might think you’re in Bolivia or Peru. Indeed, this land was part of the ancient Inca empire. It’s a place steeped in history, with the ruins of ancient civilizations as well as baroque art created by the people when they were converted to Christianity by Spanish conquerors. This is where Route 40 begins -- the epic Andean roadway that forms the backbone of Argentina. In the Northwest alone it passes important vineyards, cactus hills, rain forests, tobacco fields, sugar cane country, dinosaur parks, and vast empty salt plains. It is, in essence, the very heart of South America. And Argentina’s wine industry is taking off here as the Mendoza region (farther south) becomes saturated and overpriced.
Our base for two nights is the peaceful and attractive adobe village of Purmamarca, at an altitude of 7,200 feet, sitting at the base of the imposing and majestic Cerro de los Siete Colores (Seven Colors Mountain). The hamlet’s buildings date from the 17th century, which gives an interesting glimpse of its pre-Spanish origin.
Nearby Purmamarca we will see the village of Tilcara (8,100 feet), in a very attractive setting thanks to its Andean archeological heritage, living indigenous presence, and artist-colony atmosphere. The Pucará (an ancient “fortified place”) here affords spectacular panoramic views of the stunning Humahuaca Gorge – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The gorge was an outlier of the Inca empire, but more than 500 years earlier the peoples of the region built hilltop fortifications like this one to detect invaders such as the Inca latecomers.
Overnight in Purmamarca
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today we set out for the Salinas Grandes (“Great Salt Pans”) which are at an altitude of 11, 300 feet approximately. You will see enormous glistening expanses of land, one of the country’s biggest salt-flats and certainly the most impressive, ringed by mountains on all sides and sitting beneath almost perpetually blue skies. This vast rink of snow-white crystals – formed of irregular octagons with crunchy ridges, crackling like frozen snow under foot -- is like a huge mirror. The enormous expanses of salt often create water mirages, though there are in fact some isolated pools of brine where small groups of flamingos and ducks gather. With cooperative weather we will walk to our picnic spot, admiring the landscape until we reach our site. Llamas will carry our food and other necessities for us. This terrain is basically an extension of the famous Atacama Desert, which lies on the other side of the Andes Mountains on the Chilean side of the border. The peaks of the mountains here reach well upward of 16,000 feet. Beneath these peaks domesticated llamas and wild vicuñas graze the grasses of the Andean steppe (“Altiplano”), where migratory birds frequent enormous shallow lakes and blindingly white salt pans open onto the horizon.
Overnight in Purmamarca
Meals included: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch
We cover a lot of ground today as we head south along the Rio Grande to the provincial capital of Jujuy with attractive 17th century buildings surrounding its central plaza and then continue on to another provincial capital – Salta. The landscape outside of Salta resembles the southwestern United States, with polychromatic hills keeping watch over the Lerma Valley. We drive along the very scenic gorge of Quebrada de las Conchas with its crimson and curious sandstone formations like Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s Throat), El Sapo (The Toad), and El Anfiteatro (The Amphitheater).
Finally we reach our base for the next two nights, the wine town of Cafayate. Its signature varietal is the white Torrontés. Tourism promotion boards call this zone the “Tuscany of Argentina.” It has some very pretty wineries, excellent arts and crafts, corn-yellow sand that gathers along the curbstones, and donkeys in the town’s central plaza. Before arriving at the hotel, we will enjoy wine tasting at a small family-run producer, also enjoying the amazing views from their lovely terrace.
Overnight near Cafayate
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today we’ll be able to take in a little bit of the town of Cafayate. This wine town has its own distinct colors – pink dust, red hills, and olive-green mountains. Excellent arts and crafts, pretty wineries, and stunning vineyard country add to the flavor of this area. We’ll also venture out to the ancient Indian settlement of Quilmes, perhaps Argentina’s single most impressive pre-Columbian ruins. Built in the 10th century by the Quilme tribe, these well-preserved ruins once sheltered a population of 5,000 people and resisted invasion by the Spanish for more than 150 years. Set among the vividly colored canyons and high summits of the Andes, ruins like Quilmes are the legacy of the native peoples of the valley.
Overnight near Cafayate
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
On our last day in the Northwest we’ll drive to Salta airport via a wonderfully scenic route. We’ll pass through little pre-colonial villages such as San Carlos, Angastaco, and picturesque Cachi, with its narrow cobbled streets. The people of Cachi are well respected for their weaving skills. This route takes in the “Quebrada de las Flechas” (Canyon of the Arrows), where the rough dirt road winds through breathtakingly beautiful rock formations of wind-eroded reddish-brown sandstone strata. This area appeared in the Star Wars movie The Empire Strikes Back. We will also pass through Los Cardones National Park, whose emblematic species is the “candelabra cactus,” which forms imposing stands and was the only source of construction wood for the pre-Columbian population. Eventually we will reach the airport in Salta and board a flight back to the capital.
Overnight Buenos Aires
Meals included: Breakfast
If you are returning home this day, you will be transferred to the city’s international airport to catch your flight. As flights to the U.S. generally depart in the evening you’re likely to have most of the day in Buenos Aires, so you can do some last-minute shopping or take in more of the city’s sights.
Meals included: Breakfast
IGUAZU FALLS
EXTENSION
Day
12 – Tuesday, November 24, 2009 - Iguazú Falls
Leaving Buenos Aires this morning, we fly one and a half hours to
the tropical far north of the country where it meets Brazil and Paraguay.
Here we will see what are arguably the world’s most spectacular
waterfalls — the dazzlingly beautiful Iguazú Falls, the
jewel of the jungle and a UNESCO World Heritage site. One of the true
wonders of the natural world, these 275 foaming waterfalls dropping
into a 230-foot-high river canyon is one of earth’s most unforgettable
sights. The falls lie in the glorious setting of the Iguazú
National Park, a treasure for bird-lovers (448 species). The park
is inhabited also by coatis, capuchin monkeys, caimans, large lizards,
250 species of butterflies, and even jaguars.
Our up-close visit of the falls will include an excursion by open-top
truck through the jungle whose flora includes bamboo, ficus, fig,
thousand-year-old rosewood trees, bromeliads, 85 species of orchid,
and much more. We also have a motorboat trip to the falls, navigating
along the lower Iguazú River as we approach Devil’s Throat
Canyon, and then enjoy walks along various trails offering many vantage
points where you can peer over the tops of, or stare straight into
the face of, the raging waters. Expect to get wet from the spray of
the falls! It’s worth it.
Overnight in Puerto Iguazú
Meals included: Breakfast
Today we will appreciate the falls from the Brazilian side where the panoramic views are stunning. While the Argentine side is fantastic for up-close, in-your-face experiences with the falls, the Brazilian side is wonderful for taking in the whole, enjoying dazzling vistas.
Later you will be transferred to the Puerto Iguazú airport for your afternoon flight back to Buenos Aires, where you will land at the domestic airport and then be transferred to the international airport for your homeward-bound flight. Flights to the U.S. generally depart in the evening.
Meals included: Breakfast
We have selected very nice, upscale accommodations throughout our itinerary, some of which are small boutique properties. All are very comfortable and very well located.
Puerto Iguazú - Opened in 2007 the hotel is located on a hill, very close to the "Three Frontiers" landmark. There's a lovely view of the meeting of the Iguazú and Paraná rivers, which form the borders of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. Surrounded by lush tropical gardens and featuring a beautiful pool, it is an ideal setting to relax in after an excursion to Iguazú Falls and enjoy a nice sunset. Rooms are all equipped with wi-fi, jacuzzi tubs, and flat-screen TVs. There's even a small casino off the lobby. It's also an easy walk to town for local color, shops, and everything from top-notch restaurants to small cafes. The hotel also has its own fine indoor/outdoor restaurant with a view out over the river as well as a top-floor international cocktail bar with an even better view.
$3,550 (12-13 participants)
$3,750 (10-11 participants)
$3,850 (8-9 participants)
Single Supplement: $650
Cost Includes:
* Accommodations for 11 nights (see hotel descriptions above)
* Meals indicated in the itinerary: all breakfasts, 4 lunches, 5 dinners
* All activities indicated in the itinerary
* Local tour guides throughout
* All ground transportation during the tour
* Escort traveling with the group throughout the tour
* Transfer to Buenos Aires’ international airport on final day
Cost Does Not Include:
* International airfare to/from Buenos Aires
* Domestic airfare for 4 flights within Argentina. Venture Out will book these flights. Exact price to be determined.
* Any meals not indicated after each itinerary day
* Optional trekking on Perito Moreno Glacier
* Transfer from international airport to Buenos Aires hotel on Day 1
* Appropriate tips to guides and drivers
TOUR COST -- Iguazú Extension
$470, based on double occupancy
Single Supplement: $160
Extension Cost Includes:
* Accommodations for 1 night in Puerto Iguazú (see hotel description above)
* Breakfast in hotel
* National Park entrance fees to the Argentine and Brazilian sides of the falls
* Guided activities on each side of the falls, including boat ride under the falls
* Local tour guide throughout
* All ground transportation, including airport transfers in/out
* Transfer to Buenos Aires’ international airport on final day
Extension Cost Does Not Include:
* Domestic airfare for round-trip flight: Buenos Aires/Puerto Iguazú. Venture Out will book these flights. Exact price to be determined.
Please note: At the present time Brazil requires U.S. citizens to obtain a visa prior to entering the country, even if not staying overnight. The cost of this visa is not included in the tour. Currently the cost is $130. Tour participants may opt out of the excursion to the Brazilian side of Iguazú Falls if they wish.