Argentina Wine & Culture Tour

Trip Itinerary

Days 1-2: Buenos Aires

Day 1 - Arrival in Buenos Aires

You’ll be met on arrival at Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires by a Wayfairer representative. You’ll be escorted by private car to the trendy Palermo area, enjoying VIP service as you cruise to the center of the city.

You’ll check in at Casa Sur Palermo Hotel, your accommodation for the next two nights. Casa Sur Palermo is an elegant property with sophisticated styling, from hardwood floors to minimalist furniture. It’s located in the chic Palermo Hollywood neighborhood, brimming with cafes, bars, art galleries and the best restaurants in town.

Spend the afternoon roaming the pretty streets and museums, enjoying the superb coffee, and indulging in some delicious Argentine cuisine to celebrate your arrival in Argentina.

Day 2 - Exploring Buenos Aires

After breakfast, you’ll be met by your private English-speaking guide for your Half Day Hidden City tour of Buenos Aires. Your expert guide will help you get your bearings and take you to the iconic sites as well as the hidden gems.

You’ll get off the beaten tourist circuit to discover some of the ‘forgotten’ neighbourhoods and magnificent buildings with fascinating histories. Your guide can adapt the tour to your personal interests, and you’ll likely head to Barracas, Nueva Pompeya, Parque Patricios and Bodeo to uncover the urban grounds of old factories, working-class housing projects, beautiful churches, and tranquil parks.

You’ll find plenty of street art and traditional bars where you’ll learn about the histories of the city’s infamous inhabitants and secret societies. You’ll discover the stories of the immigrant workers who founded Buenos Aires, seeing the tramways and railroads they built and the tango and soccer they loved.

In the evening, you’ll enjoy a wine tasting and dinner at Casa Coupage. This unique restaurant is located in the heart of Palermo, and you’ll taste three wines and delectable regional food prepared by the in-house chef.

Days 3-5: Mendoza

Day 3 - Transfer to Mendoza

After breakfast, you’ll be met at your hotel by your private driver and transferred to Jorge Newbery Airport for your domestic flight to Mendoza. On arrival at the airport, you’ll be met by your private driver and transferred to Cavas Wine Lodge in Agrelo, located 30 minutes south of Mendoza city.

Cavas Wine Lodge is a luxurious property nestled in the shadows of the Andes. It’s the ultimate gateway to Argentina’s wine regions, offering access to the best wineries and a relaxing getaway into nature. Cavas Wine Lodge is exclusive and private, surrounded by a 35-acre vineyard with breathtaking views of the Andes Mountain Range, incredible sunsets and dazzling starry sky at night.

Day 4 - Exploring Mendoza

You’ll stay at Cavas Wine Lodge for three nights on a full-board basis, with activities included. The three-night accommodation program includes a one-day visit to wineries in the area, such as Viña Cobos, Budeguer and Matervini, a one-hour massage per person, and complimentary use of the outdoor pool, jacuzzi and fitness center. There are three treatment rooms in the on-site spa where you can indulge in a range of rejuvenating spa services.

You can also choose one activity out of rafting, canopy, rappelling, kayaking, biking, horse riding and golfing, although you can opt to include additional activities or even exchange the activity for another day of winery visits.

Day 5 - Exploring Mendoza

Another day of relaxation and adventure in Mendoza, known as the wine capital of Argentina and the city of eternal sunshine. Spend the day being pampered at Cavas Wine Lodge, beginning in your own room.

Each suite boasts a king bed, a large private deck, wood-burning fireplaces, and a spa-style bathroom with dual vanity, separate shower and a vintage soaking tub. Immerse yourself in nature with your outdoor shower and private plunge pool with stunning views.

The lodge serves exceptional meals all day, and you can choose to dine in the vineyards, wineries or restaurant, with non-alcoholic beverages included in your stay. You can even choose from the a la carte menus of participating restaurants around Mendoza, allowing you to explore the culinary delights of the city. Participating restaurants are subject to availability and currently include Brindillas, Francis Mallmann’s 1884 in Bodega Escorihuela, Zampa, Maria Antonieta, OMOI, and Dantesco & Azafrá.

Days 6-10: Northwest

Day 6 - Transfer to Salta (Northwest)

After breakfast, you’ll join a shared transfer, provided by Cavas Wine Lodge, to the airport for your domestic flight to Salta in the Argentine Northwest.

A land of striking natural wonders and cultural treasures, the Northwest is brimming with red mountains, brightly striped rocks, cactus fields, lush green pastures, crumbling Pre-Inca ruins, colonial plazas, pretty towns and gorgeous vineyards. The region’s indigenous culture is well-preserved, and you’ll observe the traditions, folkloric heritage and music of an area that was once part of the Inca Kingdom.

On arrival at the airport, you’ll pick up your car hire and self-drive to Kkala Hotel, your accommodation for the next two nights. Kkala Hotel is a charming boutique filled with unique antiques and regional craftsmanship, renowned for its warm, welcoming service and exceptional location at the foot of a mountain.

Set within the exclusive residential area of Tres Cerritos in Salta, Kkala Hotel is only five minutes away from the city center. This afternoon, you can relax by the fireplace in the library, enjoy a meal in the onsite restaurant, or venture into the city to sample the local fare.

Day 7 - Exploring Salta

A free day to explore Salta at your leisure. We recommend self-driving to San Antonio de los Cobres, Salinas Grandes (a huge salt plain) and Purmamarca, a gorgeous village. After breakfast, set out across Quebrada del Toro (Bull's Gorge) to reach Santa Rosa de Tastil, a huge archaeological site towering 3,000 meters high, right in the heart of Bull’s Gorge.

Continue along this route, passing by the second highest point of the gorge through the Variante de Muñano before arriving at a great plain and San Antonio de los Cobres, a gorgeous town in the peaks of the Northwest.

Your next stop is Salinas Grandes, a vast salt flat with a shimmering white surface. Keep driving along the Cuesta de Lipan, and you’ll reach Purmamarca, a charming town at the foot of the Cerro de los Siete Colores (Seven Colors Hill). From here, you can make your way back to Salta for the evening.

Day 8 - Day 1 of Calchaqui Valleys Circuit

Today you’ll begin Day one of your self-drive tour of the Calchaqui Valleys circuit, making your way from Los Cardones National Park to Cachi. You’ll head through the Lerma Valley to “El Carril”, before driving west to Chicoana, a Diaguita village of the Salta Province. You’ll continue driving along the Quebrada de Escoipe, enjoying the stunning panoramic views as you climb the Cuesta del Obispo, an impressive mountainous landscape.

After a 20 km drive along the lush, winding road, you’ll reach Piedra del Molino (Millstone), a mountain pass standing at 3,348 meters above sea level. You’ll then follow the Tin Tin Straight, a straight road that follows an ancient Inca route across Los Cardones National Park. The straight protects endangered local cacti, which are between 250 and 300 years old and stand three metres tall.

At the end of the Tin Tin Straight, you’ll reach the small, ancient town of Cachi. This picturesque village is set in the Calchaqui Valley and is rich with regional traditions and folklore. You’ll be staying in Cachi for the night at La Merced del Alto, a beautiful hotel set at the foot of the Nevado de Cachi, with stunning views of the valley, hills and rivers.

Day 9 - Day 2 of Calchaqui Valleys Circuit

After breakfast, you’ll set out on Day 2 of the Calchaqui Valleys circuit, taking you from Colomé to Cafayate. You'll set out along the renowned National Route 40, taking an hour's detour to Estancia Colomé, where you’ll enjoy a wine-tasting experience in the incredible Colomé landscape.

You may like to have lunch here before continuing your drive south and visiting some charming towns along the way. You’ll see Seclantás, a small town by the Calchaqui River with uneven streets and houses with colorful facades, and Molinos, a town known for its adobe houses with mud roofs and a church dating back to 1639. You’ll also drive through Quebrada de las Flechas (Arrow Gorge), reaching this breathtaking site by sunset, to witness the sun rays lighting up the brilliant colors and formations.

You’ll end your day in Cafayate, a town that is renowned for its exceptional wineries and the Torrontés wine variety. It’s also home to the astonishing rock formations of the Quebrada de las Conchas (Las Conchas Gorge). You’ll spend the next nights at Patios de Cafayate, a stunning hotel nestled in the vineyards of the El Esteco winery with views of the Calchaquí Valleys. The original farmstead of this estate was built in 1892 and has since been transformed into a soulful country hotel.

Day 10 - Day 3 of Calchaqui Valleys Circuit

Enjoy breakfast before setting out for your third and final day of the Calchaqui Valleys circuit. You’ll continue along the famous National Route 40 before arriving at the Ruins of Quilmes.

The ruins are one of the most significant prehispanic settlements and the ultimate stronghold of indigenous resistance against the Spanish invasion. After surrendering in 1667, the 1,700 remaining indigenous survivors were transferred on foot to the Buenos Aires region, now the city of Quilmes. Only 400 people survived the journey.

The Ruins of Quilmes are strewn across the slopes of a mountain, and you can see the reconstructions of the residential area, with the fortress towering at the peak. There are two smaller fortifications flanking the residential area, and you can follow a series of trails through the remarkable complex. Throughout the day, you’ll also visit two local wineries to taste the best Torrontés of the World.

Days 11-12: Buenos Aires

Day 11 - Transfer to Buenos Aires

Enjoy an early breakfast before departing Cafayate town and heading north through the Quebrada de Las Conchas (Shell’s Gorge). This drive will take you to some incredible rock formations, including The Castle, The Frog, The Amphitheater and The Devil's Throat.

After spending some time observing these natural wonders, you’ll drive to Salta’s airport for your domestic flight to Buenos Aires. On arrival at the airport, you’ll be met by your private driver and driven to Casa Sur Palermo for a final one-night stay. Spend the evening soaking up the fantastic cuisine and wine of Buenos Aires, toasting an incredible vacation in Argentina.

Day 12 - Depart from Buenos Aires

Today you’ll say farewell to Argentina. Enjoy a final breakfast before getting picked up by your private driver and transferred to the Ezeiza International Airport for your return flight home.

After two whirlwind weeks spent sampling Argentina’s finest wines, soaking up the rich culture, and traversing some of the most stunning landscapes in the country, you’ll be leaving with many special memories, travel stories, and funny anecdotes to share.

If you’d like to continue the adventure, we recommend crossing into neighbouring Chile for more exceptional wine experiences or taking a flight to Rio de Janeiro to embark on a Brazilian adventure.

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