Argentina Turismo

Argentina is well-known for its vast and varied landscape. The name Argentina conjures up visions of icy glaciers in Southern Patagonia, energetic tango dancers in Buenos Aires, Magellan penguins in Ushuaia, the mighty Iguazu Falls on the border of Brazil, and the delicious wine in Mendoza. But don’t forget about the hard-working gauchos in the north country. Cattle and sheep herders still roam the pampas and work the land on estancias built by the elite criollo class, the descendents of Spaniard peninsulares, in the 19th and 20th centuries. An Argentina vacation deserves at least a few days exploring the Buenos Aires pampas and the Salta north country.

You can fly into Buenos Aires and begin your Argentina vacation there, or you can head straight to Salta, the city near the north that is famous for the Train to the Clouds. You can fly to the Salta airport and then transfer to your Salta hotel. The next day, take a Salta city tour and become acquainted with this beautiful colonial city. Salta flourished as the waystation between Lima and Buenos Aires during the colonial era, and the archtitecture, especially in the historic district, clearly reflects this heritage.

On a Salta city tour, you can see the churches, museums, and colonial monuments. The neoclassical Cathedral is especially remarkable. The nearby San Bernard hill gives you a great view of the city nestled in the green Lerma valley. Also check out the Mercado Artesanal, a great place to bargain for treasures to take home.

The next day, take a train ride to the clouds on the Tren de las Nubes. This train once was used only for shipping cargo, and is now only a passenger train, as the vistas along this train ride are dramatic and beautiful. Starting in the Lerma Valley in Salta, the train climbs up to nearly 14000 feet, high up in the Andes that border Chile. Alternatively, you can take a bus tour that follows the Train to the Clouds tracks, but allows you to stop and visit the towns and enjoy the vistas along the way. In the evening, return to Salta.

The next day, fly to Buenos Aires. Spend a day or so touring the city – a biking tour is a terrific way to squeeze it all in – and leave a day or two to get outside the city and tour the pampas and estancias where the gauchos roam.

At the Estancia La Portea, you can tour the 180 year old ranch that is a perfect example of Argentinean traditions. The architecture of the estancia reflects the elite tastes of the criollos, or descendants of Spanish colonials, who once lived here. You can visit the nearby town of San Antonio de Areco, the Ricoardo Guirales Museum, and the Estancia La Portea Cultural Historical Monument on this vast ranch and surrrounding area.

Estancia La Cinacina is another Buenos Aires ranch where you can easily spend a day. Located in the town of San Antonio de Areco just outside of Buenos Aires, the La Cinacina estancia offers traditional home-cooked meals, horseback riding and carriage tours of the ranch, and traditional Argentina folk dance shows. Enjoy an empanada before touring the ranch, then have a traditional Argentina asado, or barbeque, for dinner while watching the folk dance show. During the summer, you can also take a dip in the pool.

Lastly, tour Estancia La Alameda, located near the Chascomus lagoon, 75 miles from Buenos Aires. The house is two centuries old, but is well-preserved. There is a saloon where Argentinean folk dancers put on quite a show, and you can also enjoy a traditional Argentinean asado, or barbeque, plus coffee and dessert.