With twelve lanes lined with violet jacaranda and majestic kapok trees, be welcomed to Buenos Aires as you drive along its wide Avenida 9 de Julio. In the center stands its two-hundred-foot-tall white Obelisco, the historic monument commemorating the 400th anniversary of the city’s founding. Through stunning palaces in vibrant barrios, sway to the rhythms from the bandoneón and learn the improvisational nature of the tango, then witness a spectacular choreographed show of this legendary dance. 

“The Tango is the natural pulse (of the wrist) of Buenos Aires.” -Leopoldo Marechal

Uncover the spicy fusion of Argentinean cuisine in a market-to-table experience and venture to a century-old estancia for a day filled with the high-flying action of a polo match. Trek through Incan ruins set alongside the scenic red rocks of the Calchaqui Valley and visit the home of the golden wine known as Torrontes, in an amazing journey through the sights of Argentina.

• 7 Day Itinerary: Argentina: Buenos Aires, Cafayate, Salta
• Day 1: Buenos Aires

  Tango Lesson, Esquina Carlos Gardel Tango Show

  

  Be welcomed to Buenos Aires with an afternoon devoted to the art of tango, the sultry dance of Argentina at the Elsa Maria & Mayoral Tango Academy. Enjoy a lesson at a 19th century French-style palais with the Tony Award-winning Mayorals, original cast members from the musical, Tango Argentino, who will share their secrets of mastering this evocative dance.

  Celebrate the history and magic of the tango with an evening at the legendary Esquina Carlos Gardel in the Abasto barrio.  Be transported to another era and savor a tantalizing dinner inside the elegant 1930s-style hall, where Gardel himself used to sing his classic tango ballads. Afterwards, be enthralled as an exquisite cast of dancers performs an unforgettable tango show, accompanied by the captivating music of a full orchestra.
• Day 2: Buenos Aires

  Plaza de Mayo, San Telmo, La Boca, Palermo Park, Recoleta

  

  Begin a day exploring Argentina’s major landmarks with a morning tour of the historic Plaza de Mayo. In the Montserrat barrio, surrounded by 20-foot palm trees, this impressive square commemorates Argentina’s independence. The Plaza is the centerpiece of nearby architecture of note, including the pink presidential palace, known as the Casa Rosada, the colonial Cabildo museum and the neo-classical Catedral Metropolitana.

  Venture to the charming San Telmo neighborhood, renowned for its historic squares, where dancers practice tango on the streets, and treasures are discovered at the superior, outdoor antique market.

  With its picturesque pastel houses, stroll through the colorful La Boca barrio, once the Italian neighborhood of the city. Wander along the vibrantly painted, corrugated metal houses along Caminito Street, that have been an outdoor showcase of local art for over a century.

  Then travel to the vast Palermo Park, once the home of President Juan Peron and his wife, Eva.  The day tour ends in the elegant La Recoleta district with a visit to the monumental Nuestra Senora del Pilar Church and the Recoleta Cemetery, where many of Argentina’s notable citizens have been buried, including its beloved Evita.
• Day 3: San Antonio de Areco

  El Rosario de Areco

  

  Surrounded by verdant, fertile plains, the Pampas region of Argentina is just ninety minutes from the cosmopolitan Buenos Aires, but another world away. Uncover the essence of the country’s heritage in this picturesque region, known as the land of the gauchos. Visit the world-renowned estancia, La Bamba, for a day filled with horseback riding, polo, and delicious Argentinean barbecue.  Inside this 200-acre colonial-style ranch, recognized as one of Argentina’s best facilities for the breeding and training of thoroughbreds, enjoy the opportunity to watch a polo practice or watch one of four important tournaments during polo season, from September to December. Then explore the nearby historic town of San Antonio de Areco where leading silversmiths and leather craftsmen can be found, alongside a delightful chocolate factory.
• Day 4: Buenos Aires

  Market-To-Table Lunch with Jeronimo Bergada; Private Shopping Excursion

  

  Encounter the culinary traditions of Argentina on a private food and cooking tour excursion with chef Jeronimo Bergada.  Begin at the nearby farmer’s market and procure the freshest produce, herbs and spices. Then visit a local carniceria to learn first-hand about Argentine beef and the cuts needed for your gourmet lunch. After, be invited into Chef Bergada’s home and learn how to make Argentina’s signature beef empanadas. During lunch, taste wines produced by some of the finest Argentinean labels and savor a sweet dulce de leche and mate tea for dessert.

  In the afternoon, be taken on a private shopping tour through Buenos Aires, where a personal shopper will uncover the finest leather, the best made-to-measure shoes, superior antiques, and extraordinary silversmith and artisanal goods.
• Day 5: Buenos Aires to Cafayate

  Quebrada de Cafayate, El Esteco Vineyard

  

  Venture to the heart of the Calchaqui Valley where bands of red rock frame the horizon along an astonishing landscape. Drive along the famous Route 68, a captivating, scenic road from Salta to Cafayate and traverse from fertile green valleys through the high deserts, dotted with giant cacti. Across these stretches, indigenous people still carry on Incan tradition, herding their llamas, goats and burros. Then pass the spectacular Quebrada de Cafayate, the gorge renowned for its unusual rock formations and white-sand dunes.

  Surrounded by the Andean mountains stands the refined Patios de Cafayate Hotel, which shares its sprawling grounds with the esteemed El Esteco Vineyard.  The high altitudes of this fertile region help produce exceptional, full-bodied wines. Tour the winery and learn about the bodega’s winemaking process where award-winning varieties such as Malbecs and Torrontes are handcrafted from vine to bottle. Many blocks of old vines are still managed traditionally, with flood irrigation and grapes growing overhead on pergolas, while new varietals are irrigated via a computer-controlled stress-drip method. Complete your tour with an afternoon tasting on the stunning grounds.
• Day 6: Cafayate

  Los Quilmes Ruins, Etchart Winery, Bodega San Pedro de Yachochuya

  

  Spend the morning at Los Quilmes Ruins, part of Argentina’s sacred valley and one of the most important archaeological sites of the Pre-Columbian era. This impressive fortified city, located on a natural formation, was the site of a century-long resistance of the Quilmes natives against the Spanish who came to colonize the Calchaqui Valley in hopes of finding gold. Walk around the vast ruins and climb through the fortresses in a captivating tour.

  Devote the afternoon to the art of wine and visit  several prestigious bodegas in the tantalizing wine region of Cafayate, where vineyards flourish on high-altitude plains. Nestled in the sunny foothills of the Andes lies the Etchart Winery, where year-round warmth and deep sandy soil allow for the cultivation of superior Torrontes, Cabernet Sauvignons, Malbecs, and Merlots.  Now owned by Pernod Ricard, the founders of the Etchart began a new undertaking in 1995 with Michel Rolland, a premier oenologist. Visit their Bodega San Pedro de Yachochuya, located on the slopes of Salta, one of the highest vini-viticultural sites in the world and taste their matchless varietals of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tannat and Torrontes. 

  If desired, visit the clay studio of the Cristofani family and Barracco, a local silversmith known for his beautiful wood and silver creations.
• Day 7: Salta

  Cabildo, Cathedral, San Bernando and San Francisco.

  

  On the southernmost tip of the Incan empire stands this scenic 16th century Argentine city, where ancient colonial buildings sit alongside modern, urban architecture. Once an outpost for the Spanish between Lima and Buenos Aires, after independence, the city flourished as a hub for Argentina’s multi-cultural immigrant population. Salta still retains a unique Spanish flavor, highlighted by its architecture surrounding its main square.  With its sweeping arches, the city’s 18th century Cabildo is regarded as one of the best surviving examples of colonial architecture. Visit the historic center of the city, including its neo-classical Cathedral and the convents of San Bernardo and San Francisco. Then ascend to the top of San Bernando’s Hill, passing the Monument of General Guemes and overlooking the city below.

  Lunch at La Chueca, known for their hearty, colorful dishes and delectable empanadas, where cherished recipes have been passed down for generations. Then venture to San Miguel Market, the social center of the city, where arts, crafts and foods have been traded since 1887. At this vast market, walk through the stalls and witness the emblematic ingredients that have been the foundation of Saltean cuisine.

  Conclude a day in Salta with a visit to MAAM, the High Altitude Archaelogical Museum, and view the five-hundred-year-old sleeping children from Llullaillaco. These Incan mummies, discovered in 1999 in the Andes, are truly one of the most remarkable archaeological finds of recent time.