This itinerary includes international economy flights to Buenos Aires from London. Departures from UK regional airports are possible but an extra flight and / or a supplement may apply. Make your way to the airport this evening for an overnight flight to Buenos Aires.

On arrival you will be met by your English speaking guide and transferred to your hotel for the next 3 nights, The Nuss Buenos Aires Soho, located in the most bohemian and avant-garde neighborhood of the city, Palermo.  Once a classic Spanish-style convent, The Nuss has been fully refurbished to become a boutique hotel, with an exciting selection of designer and clothing stores, art galleries, bars and restaurants on its doorstep.

Buenos Aires is a cosmopolitan, dynamic and colorful city, rich with cultural, historic and architectural heritage influenced by generations of Spanish, Italian, German and Russian immigrants. The unmistakable sound of Tango music accompanies dances performed on many a street corner or city plaza, and the city’s mix of artisanal coffee stores, historic theaters, antique fairs and crafts markets, world-class museums and gastronomic delights makes the city the lynchpin of any visit to beautiful Argentina.

Overnight: Nuss Buenos Aires Soho  |   Meals:  B

Today,  enjoy a half day city tour of beautiful Buenos Aires with your guide.   This tour will see you braving the widest avenue in the world Avenida 9 de Julio, being wowed by the beauty of the famous Teatro Colon Opera House and pottering round the Plaza de Mayo with its iconic pink government house Casa Rosada. History buffs will adore the La Boca & San Telmo barrios, the history-soaked Italian-immigrant districts where the city was born. Also explore Puerto Madero, the superbly regenerated docklands now buzzing with beautiful people, top-notch restaurants and classy cafes.  The grand finale takes you to the Recoleta neighborhood with its vast cemetery, where the great and the good of the country are buried, and finally back to trendy, park filled Palermo.

Later this evening we’ve included a Wine Tasting and dinner at Casa Coupage, a unique space in the heart of Palermo where you can discover and interpret wine paired with delicious regional food created by the in-house chef.

Overnight: Nuss Buenos Aires Soho  |   Meals:  B / – / D

There are no planned activities today, giving you the chance to explore Buenos Aires at your leisure. Getting around Buenos Aires is easy using the local ‘subte’ subway system, which  is quick and easy to navigate.

Wander around the Plaza de Mayo, with its colonial riches including the beautiful Casa Rosada. Stroll the Avenida de Mayo and sample a coffee and some Dulce de Leche at the historic Café Tortoni, or try an empanada at one of the local eateries. If you are a football fan, a trip out to colourful La Boca is a must—on game days the streets are buzzing.  The pedestrian-only alleyway Camnito in La Boca is the one with the brightly-painted corrugated tin houses you see on all the postcards.

Another neighbourhood to explore further is bohemian San Telmo, one of the oldest in the city, with quirky antique shops.  On Sunday the Plaza Dorrego in the heart of San Telmo transforms into the liveliest flea market in Buenos Aires, perfect for picking up an unusual souvenir and watching some of the street tango performers.

For a dose of high culture, visit Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes and browse the work of Picasso, Modigliani and Degas, and make sure you stop at nearby La Biela, Recoletta’s most refined café, with a terrace perfect for people-watching.

Overnight: Nuss Buenos Aires Soho  |  Meals: B

This morning you will be transferred from your hotel to the airport to fly to Mendoza in Argentina’s Cuyo region, the heart of Argentina’s wine country.

Upon arrival in Mendoza you will be transferred to Entre Cielos, your luxurious base 30 minutes outside the city for the next 3 nights. This modernist wine resort is famed for its scenic location tucked among the celebrated Malbec vines that have made Mendoza one of the world’s premier wine capitals, and its fabulous spa with six-station hammam and excellent selection of treatments.

The land surrounding the city of Mendoza is a semi-arid desert, but at the hands of hard-working immigrants and with clever irrigation systems, the area has turned into a green and fertile land. The city is both the capital of, and gateway to this region, which offers optimum conditions for grape cultivation and wine production as its climate varies from cool-temperate to temperate-warm across its five main valleys. In this area over 60% of the country’s wines are produced, from Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier and Chardonnay to Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah,  and many vineyards can be visited to enjoy a wine tasting! The Andes mountain range and the highest peak in the Americas (Mount Aconcagua 6,954m) can be seen from the entire region.

Overnight: Entre Cielos |  Meals: B

Today, enjoy a half day excursion to wineries in both the Lujan de Cuyo & Maipu area, home to some of the country’s most prestigious vineyards. You’ll learn about the vinification process from grape-growing to bottling and labeling, and of course get to sample some of their famous wines.  The region is becoming almost as renowned for its fabulous cuisine as its wine, so you can optionally also stop for lunch in a winery to enjoy an excellent wine-paired meal (lunch at own expense) taking in Andes views in the sunshine. The afternoon is at leisure.

Overnight: Entre Cielos |  Meals: B

Today you have a full day to explore Mendoza or the surrounding winelands independently,  or simply relax and enjoy the facilities at your hotel.

The city of Mendoza, 30 minutes away by car,  is absolutely charming so a half or full day meandering is very highly recommended. Head to the pretty Plaza Independencia to enjoy an ice cream or some hot caramelized peanuts from a street vendor, with numerous street performers and musicians to entertain you as you stroll amidst the fountains. Sample one of the region’s most famous specialties, the lomo, at old-school city institution Don Claudio, (a lomo is a sirloin sandwich with melted cheese and a fried egg in it).  Meander through the Parque San Martin, a great spot for a picnic or a jog.

If you are feeling energetic, head out to Maipu and hire some bikes to visit some wineries by pedal power.

The Mendoza region is also Argentina’s outdoor activity capital so thrill-seekers can try paragliding from Cerro Arco or white-water rafting on the Mendoza river. There are some great day hikes and activities such as rock-climbing too.

For a more sedate excursion, you could try the chic little village of Chacras de Coria, a great place for shopping during the day at the numerous clothing boutiques, and a hot-spot for dining and drinking in the evenings.

Finally, although wine is the focus in Mendoza, don’t forget about its other main produce—olives and olive oil!

Overnight: Entre Cielos |  Meals: B

This morning you will be transferred from your hotel to Mendoza airport for your flight to the lake-side town of Bariloche, pretty as a chocolate box and looking more like it’s in Switzerland than South America.

Scattered along the shores of sparkling Lago Nahuel Huapi and in the heart of a national park, Bariloche is the gateway to Patagonia and is surrounded by some of the most staggering landscapes in Argentina; inky lakes, emerald forests and snow-capped mountains. It offers a wealth of outdoor activities year round such as trekking, fly fishing, mountain biking, horse-riding, white water rafting and kayaking in the summer, and skiing in the winter months between June and September

Upon arrival you will be met by your guide and transported to the beautiful Llao Llao Hotel, your home for the next 3 nights.

Llao Llao is surrounded by the Cerro Lopez and Tronador mountain peaks and the Moreno and Nahuel Huapi lakes. This hotel is set in a lush15-hectare park, including an 18-hole golf course, private beach and marina, heated indoor and outdoor infinity edge swimming-pools and a spa and healthclub. The Hotel has five restaurants serving a wide variety of dishes, including the popular “Llao Llao Tea” which is served overlooking the breathtaking Nahuel Huapi Lake.

Overnight: Llao Llao Hotel and Spa  |  Meals: B

Today it’s time to get active! This morning, you’ll be driven along Bustillo Avenue with spectacular vistas of Lake Nahuel Huapi and mountain landscapes to your lake excursion. Kayaks and guides will be at the ready and you’ll have an easy introduction to paddling before taking to the stunning Nahuel Huapi and Moreno lakes in your kayaks, discovering its coasts and hidden bays. Paddle for approximately 1 ½ hours,  stopping along the way to take in the stunning vistas, before stopping for a delicious outdoor picnic lunch with traditional Patagonian cuisine, Argentinean Malbec wines and a tasty dessert. After lunch you’ll continue paddling a little further to reach the beginning of a scenic trail leading to a viewpoint offering incredible panoramic views of Lake Nahuel Huapi and the magnificent Mount Tronador.

Spend the evening relaxing back at Llao Llao after your day’s exertions. Why not try a treatment in the glorious spa, or kick back and enjoy a glass or two of their delicious Malbec!

 

Overnight: Llao Llao Hotel and Spa |  Meals: B

Today you have the day at leisure to do as much or as little as you like. Relax and enjoy the fabulous facilities at Llao Llao Hotel, or book yourself onto an active excursion to get out amongst the glorious scenery, such as mountain biking, hiking or white water rafting.

If staying local, Bariloche’s town centre is filled with pretty Alpine houses made of logs and stone, and makes for a lovely stroll through the boutiques, cafes and restaurants. The town is famous for its excellent chocolate made in the Swiss-Italian Alpine tradition, and there are numerous chocolatiers offering free samples to be found on the main street, Bartolome Mitre, some with on-site factories where you can see the chocolates being produced.

Overnight: Llao Llao Hotel and Spa |  Meals: B

This morning you’ll be transferred to Bariloche airport for your flight back to Buenos Aires.  Upon arrival you will be met by your driver and transferred 90 minutes out of town to the Argentina pampas to the impeccably elegant estancia La Bamba de Areco located just outside the pretty colonial town of San Antonio de Areco. This is an opportunity to experience a slice of Argentina’s gaucho lifestyle in an incredibly sophisticated setting.

One of the oldest estancias in Argentina, the estancia’s name is derived from the Celtic word “Bahamba” which means “place of rest and hospitality”, which is fitting now that it has been carefully renovated and turned into a boutique hotel. With stylish country interiors featuring polished dark wood floors, antique colonial furniture, cowhides and  locally crafted silverware and textiles, there is a luxe yet homely feel which puts guests instantly at ease.  It may no longer be a working ranch but horse-riding is one of the main activities offered here, and in season the internationally famous local team uses the estancia’s polo fields for practice and matches, which guests can watch. You can even have a go yourself! The estancia is famed for its extensive traditional asado (BBQ) lunches, held outdoors with a huge selection of cold cuts and salads to accompany the grilled meat.

Overnight: La Bamba de Areco |  Meals: B / L / D

The day is yours to do with it as you please. Spend the afternoon horseback riding like a Argentinian gaucho, head out on a mountain bike trail, be transported back in time with a ride in a  traditional horse drawn carriage, try your hand at a spot of fly fishing or simply kick back and relax by the large pool and enjoy a spa treatment or two!

We recommend visiting the small colonial town of San Antonio de Areco, only a short 15 minute drive from the hotel, and possibly the prettiest town in the Pampas. Filled with narrow colonial streets and the workshops of traditional gaucho and criollo silversmiths and leather artisans, there’s also a Gaucho Museum to help you delve a little deeper into the history and culture of the gauchos. If you’re in town during the annual Fiesta de la Tradición weekend held in early to mid-November, there will be live music in the streets,  horsemanship displays, parades, folk dancing and craft markets as well as parrillas grilling meat on every corner.

Overnight: La Bamba de Areco |  Meals: B / L / D

Today it is sadly time to leave Argentina. Spend the morning relaxing by the pool or enjoying once last horse ride before taking your afternoon transfer to the airport for your flight back to the UK.

Overnight: On Plane |  Meals: B

Arrive back into London (or other UK hub) this morning