Top 10 Destination Guide

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Top 10 Destination Guide Buenos Aires & The Pampas The capital of Argentina, Buenos Aires, is the base for the SAHIC Conference and the throbbing heart of Argentina, with all that you would expect

Porteños, as the natives of Buenos Aires are known, have an elaborate and rich cultural identity.

In fact, Buenos Aires is often referred to as the Paris of the South.

How to Get to There: Buenos Aires is easily accessible from the international airport, Ezeiza, which is 45 min.

Many major airlines fly direct to Buenos Aires from destinations all over the world.

1 Top 10 Destination Guide Buenos Aires & The Pampas The capital of Argentina, Buenos Aires, is the base for the SAHIC Conference and the throbbing heart of Argentina, with all that you would expect from a thriving cosmopolitan city. Of the 50 million Argentines, about 13 million live in Buenos Aires. Porteños, as the natives of Buenos Aires are known, have an elaborate and rich cultural identity. They value their European heritage, and the lifestyle and architecture are markedly more European than any other in South America. In fact, Buenos Aires is often referred to as the Paris of the South. Location: situated on the estuary of the River Plate, the world's widest river that flows into the South Atlantic Ocean, separating Argentina from Uruguay. How to Get to There: Buenos Aires is easily accessible from the international airport, Ezeiza, which is 45 min. south of the city, and the Domestic Airport, Aeroparque Jorge Newbery, 15 min from downtown. Most international flights from the US and Europe are overnight. Many major airlines fly direct to Buenos Aires from destinations all over the world. Recommended Length of Stay: Three days is good to get acquainted with the city and see the bulk of the attractions, but if you are a person who loves city life, you might want to spend some more time or even come back. So this is an option to consider if you d like to extend your stay after the Conference and explore the city in-depth. What to Do There: Buenos Aires is Latin America s most elegant capital. Walk around chic Recoleta without missing the famed Cemetery. Hit Palermo for hip boutiques, have your steak char-grilled to perfection with a velvety Argentine malbec, then learn to tango at an atmospheric milonga. Go to the Opera, the Colón is one of the world s most magnificent theatres. Take a day trip to an Estancia in the Pampas; a river boat ride along the Tigre Delta; or cross the Río de la Plata to the colonial village of Colonia in neighbouring Uruguay.

The Pampas Beyond the sprawling city of Buenos Aires, fertile plains and vast skies stretch in all directions, interrupted only by wind pumps and cattle.

Here you ll find rural tradition alive and well, in huge estancias (cattle ranches), where gauchos (Argentine cowboys) still work the land on horseback and some towns seem unchanged since the 1880's.

2 The Pampas Beyond the sprawling city of Buenos Aires, fertile plains and vast skies stretch in all directions, interrupted only by wind pumps and cattle. This is where those succulent steaks come from, and it was Pampas beef which gave Argentina its early 20th century wealth, when it was breadbasket of the world. Here you ll find rural tradition alive and well, in huge estancias (cattle ranches), where gauchos (Argentine cowboys) still work the land on horseback and some towns seem unchanged since the 1880's. Location: The Pampas extend westward from the city of Buenos Aires in a radius of some 400 miles. How To Get There: A nice drive out of Buenos Aires takes you out to the Pampas, an hour from downtown BA you start to enjoy the view of endless plains dotted with cattle and covered by crops. Recommended Length of Stay: A day-trip from Buenos Aires is the most common escapade; but for country lovers we thoroughly recommend a longer stay, at least an overnight if the Estancia of your choice is within a 2-hour drive from Buenos Aires, and longer if you venture inland to the heart of the countryside. Argentines commonly spend their weekends in the country. What To Do There: Ride horses or horse carriages; savour a typical Argentine barbecue ( asado ); watch Gauchos at work and partake in rural chores as herding cattle; visit nearby villages where local artisans work with silver and leather; and enjoy the authentic lifestyle true hospitality of the Argentine country. Iguazu Falls - Misiones Jungle The Iguazú Falls are considered some of the most overwhelming falls in the world, a UNESCO Heritage Site and one of the World Natural Wonders, with 275 falls plunging over a 250 foot precipice into the Devil s Throat Gorge, wrapped in a dense cloud of mist and a myriad of rainbows. The Argentine Iguazú National Park embraces a large area of over 55,000 hectares of subtropical rain forest, with more than 2,000 identified plant species, mammals, and reptiles. Location: Between Argentina and Brazil, the River Iguazu forms the boundary. The Falls lie within the Iguazu National Park in the northern Province of Misiones, Mesopotamia region. The Iguazú River rises in the Brazilian hills near Curitiba and receives some 30 streams on its course across the plateau. How To Get There: The Iguazu Falls may be visited from the Argentine or the Brazilian side of the Falls. You can fly either into the Argentine Airport, Puerto Iguazú (IGR) or into the Brazilian Iguassu (IGU). There are several daily 1 hour 45 minute flights from Buenos Aires to Puerto Iguazú, and a 15 minute drive from there to the national park, and several from Sao Paulo into Iguassu. You can also fly from Lima, Perú direct to Iguassu. And if you are travelling within Argentina, there is a direct flight from Salta on certain days to Puerto Iguazú. Recommended Length of Stay: Two nights will allow time to explore the falls plus having a jungle experience, though a one night stay and even just a day trip from Buenos Aires are possible if the goal is seeing the falls and you don t have much time to spare. What to Do There: Stroll through tropical rainforest humming with birds and butterflies to find overwhelming cascades of water that make Niagara look small! For the adventurous, exciting boat rides to approach the falls, rapelling or biking in the jungle, kayaking in the Upper Iguazu river or rafting down the Lower Iguazu.

The NorthWest - Salta & Jujuy This is the land of high deserts, majestic mountains with high-flying condors, ravines dotted by cacti and red peppers drying in the sun, vast salt flats and lagoons

A region of poets, gauchos, guitarists, colourful festivals and markets, characterful regional cuisine and extremely hospitable people. How To Get There: There are daily, 1 hour 50 min.

3 The NorthWest - Salta & Jujuy This is the land of high deserts, majestic mountains with high-flying condors, ravines dotted by cacti and red peppers drying in the sun, vast salt flats and lagoons with pink flamingos, and oases of jungle in the lowlands, a high altitude wine country, picturesque Indian villages and vestiges of colonial architecture, parts of the ancient Inca Route. A region of poets, gauchos, guitarists, colourful festivals and markets, characterful regional cuisine and extremely hospitable people. How To Get There: There are daily, 1 hour 50 min. flights from Buenos Aires to the international airport in Salta and Jujuy. On certain days there are direct flights from Iguazu and Mendoza into Salta. From Chile, you can cross from the Atacama Desert at San Pedro de Atacama into the village of Purmamarca in a scenic 5 hour drive. And from Bolivia to the road of the Humahuaca Gorge. Climate: Temperate throughout the year due to its altitude, temperature always drops at night. Mostly dry except for rainy months: January and February. Recommended Length of Stay: Three days are considered minimum here, as the distances are big. Ideally 4 or 5 days are enough for a nice road-trip comprising the main mountain villages and captivating sights in the Calchaqui Valleys (Cachi, Molinos), the Cafayate wine valley and the Humahuaca Gorge (Purmamarca and Tilcara). Salta City deserves a visit as well, with its historic roots and authentic atmosphere. What To Do There: Visit Salta city, its beautiful churches and interesting MAAM, High Altitude Museum with its famed Inca mummies; Take a day trip into the Humahuaca Gorge and its villages Purmamarca and Tilcara, or better, spend the night and include the amazing Salinas Grandes salt flats; Tour the Cafayate wine Valley; Explore the Calchaqui Valleys staying in Cachi or Molinos, visiting the Colome Wine Estate and impressive James Turrell art collection of lighting installations. Ibera - Marshlands The Iberá Marshlands in northeastern Argentina are the second largest in South America. Double the size of the Everglades in Florida, these until recently inaccessible marshes have protected a wide range of wildlife and offer an unforgettable experience for nature lovers. They are breathtaking wetlands covering up to 13,000 square kilometers (estimates vary), which is nearly 15% of Corrientes Province. Location: In the heart of the northeastern Province of Corrientes in the Mesopotamia Region. How To Get There: It can be difficult to get there. From Buenos Aires, you either fly to Corrientes or Posadas (about 1 ½ hours) and then it's a short or long drive (from 40 minutes to 4 hours, depending what area you are visiting), or you take an overnight sleeper bus from Buenos Aires to Mercedes, Corrientes. You can ideally combine it with Iguazu Falls, that lies a 3-hour drive away from Posadas. Recommended Length of Stay: Three days is a good amount of time to be able to explore the wetlands, bird watch, and fly-fish as well if you are interested. Because it is a bit difficult to get to the region, you might want an additional day to rest. What to Do There: Navigate the lagoons inside the intricate network of wetlands and islands spotting the indigenous wildlife as yacarés, the South American alligator basking in the sun; capybaras; swamp deer, howler monkeys, the spooky anteater and bountiful bird life. Ride horses in the open savannah; enjoy true Correntino country life with the colourful Correntino gauchos.

Location: The Province of Córdoba is in the heartland of Argentina. It lies midway between the Andes Mountains and Buenos Aires on the Atlantic coast.

4 The Central Sierras - Cordoba This region holds some of Argentina s finest examples of colonial architecture, both secular and religious. Cordoba city was founded in 1573, before Buenos Aires was even an idea. It marks the center of the region, and from here the hills spill out, dotted with charming mountain towns. Location: The Province of Córdoba is in the heartland of Argentina. It lies midway between the Andes Mountains and Buenos Aires on the Atlantic coast. The city of Córdoba is in a valley of the sierras. How to Get There: There are several daily 1 ¼ hour flights from Buenos Aires, and Córdoba s Airport is connected to Mendoza and Salta, as well as Santiago de Chile. Recommended Length of Stay: Three days are ideal, giving enough time to visit Cordoba city and its landmarks, tour the Jesuit Route and enjoy time in the countryside visiting an estancia and the picturesque villages. What to Do There: This is a perfect spot for history buffs and for taking in some of the traditional Argentinian scenes. Follow the Jesuit Route, a meandering drive through the mountain towns. Also for enjoying country life at a traditional Estancia, horse riding and learning to play polo. Cordoba is prime region for golf and dove-shooting. The Wine Country - Mendoza World class Argentine wines, cutting-edge bodegas, endless vineyards at the foothills of snow-capped towering Andes, lots of sunshine, and perfect terrain for outdoor activities are what await in Mendoza. Hailed as the world's next big wine region, Mendoza is geared up with good hotels, wine estates and regional cuisine. As more and more premium Argentine Malbecs, Syrahs and Cabernet Sauvignons win awards and turn heads in international wine circles, you can sense the excitement in this region, located at the doorstep to the majestic, snow-covered Andes Mountains. How To Get There: There are several daily 1 ½ flights from Buenos Aires to Mendoza Airport, and 45 minutes from Santiago. Certain days of the week there are direct flights from Salta and Cordoba.There is also an airport to the south in San Rafael, which can be convenient when touring the San Rafael Wine Valley. Also by land, crossing over the Andes from Santiago on a 5-hour drive is a fantastic experience. Recommended Length of Stay: Touring the Wine Country can be done as a day trip from Buenos Aires, or can be spread out over the course of several days, depending on the level of interest. Three days are ideal if concentrating in the Central and Uco Valleys, 5 if we include San Rafael, or combine with the Chilean Wine Regions. What to Do There: Drink wine! And enjoy fabulous gourmet cuisine, savouring paired stepped meals In Mendoza, Argentina s main wine growing region, rich green vines flourish against the hazy purple veil of the Andes under cloudless skies. The terrain is perfect for outdoor activities such as hiking and riding in the mountains, white water rafting and zip-lining. There are excellent golf courses as well. Or climb Aconcagua for a different kind of high.

The Lake District - Bariloche, Villa La Angostura, San Martín de los Andes San Carlos de Bariloche is a lakeside town in the heart of Argentina s Lake District, located in the North West Patagonia

It is also a great place to take the famed Lake Crossing into Chile. Location: In the Northwest Patagonia, straddling between the provinces of Neuquén and Río Negro.

By land it s a 20 hour drive from Buenos Aires, which is best done in intervals, stopping at estancias along the way.

5 The Lake District - Bariloche, Villa La Angostura, San Martín de los Andes San Carlos de Bariloche is a lakeside town in the heart of Argentina s Lake District, located in the North West Patagonia region. This is the perfect area for those who enjoy the outdoors, from hiking to biking, kayaking, climbing, horseback riding, condor-watching, rafting and skiing. It is also a great place to take the famed Lake Crossing into Chile. Location: In the Northwest Patagonia, straddling between the provinces of Neuquén and Río Negro. How to Get There: There are several daily 2 hour flights from Buenos Aires, and Bariloche Airport is also connected to other Patagonian destinations such as Calafate and Ushuaia. By land it s a 20 hour drive from Buenos Aires, which is best done in intervals, stopping at estancias along the way. There is a very scenic day-long Lake Crossing program between Argentina and Chile (Bariloche and Puerto Varas) combining land and water traversing 4 lakes flanked by impressive snow-capped volcanos. Also by land, there are Mountain Passes from Villa La Angostura and from San Martín de los Andes into Chile. Recommended Length of Stay: Three days are ideal to see the area and participate in outdoor activities. However, if you d like to explore the Lake District venturing to the nearby villages of Villa la Angostura and San Martin de los Andes, 5 days to a week is recommendable. What To Do There: A paradise of the outdoors: some of the best pristine lakes and rivers in the world; mountainous terrain to hike, mountain-bike and horse ride with incredible views, condor-watching, golfing in fantastic courses as Llao Llao, Arelauquen, Chapelco, El Desafío and Cumelén; kayaking in crystal clear lakes, white-water rafting to the border with Chile, touring the scenic roads like Panoramic Circuito Chico to the Llao Llao Peninsula, and the 7 Lakes Road between Villa La Angostura and San Martín de los Andes, and skiing the diverse ski resorts of Mount Cathedral (Bariloche), Chapelco (san Martín de los Andes) and Cerro Bayo (Villa La Angostura). Peninsula Valdés - Puerto Piramide The Valdés Peninsula holds one of the world s largest concentrations of marine mammals and is one of South America s finest wildlife reserves. It is the breeding ground for southern right whales, southern elephant seals, southern sea lions and Magellan penguins. This is the best place on continental South America to observe marine life, and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. How To Get There: There are daily two hour flights to Trelew from Buenos Aires. Recommended Length of Stay: Three days will give you time to sight the local species. What To Do There: Take a whale-watching boat ride where sighting is guaranteed, the Southern Right Whale is a tame and friendly specie that naturally approaches the boats; stroll along pebbled beaches dotted with harems of elephant seals, watch the males fight for their tertritory; walk among waddling penguins and witness their living habits; kayak in the bays; horse ride on the beach; dive with sea-lions; photograpgh wildlife; visit the interesting Eco-Centre in Puerto Madryn, and the Paleonthological Museum in Trelew; tour the Welsh villages of Gaiman and Dolavon.

The Glaciers - Calafate Immense stretches of ruckled ice stretch out silently as far as the eye can see, and then rupture with a roar into a milky turquoise lake.

This is the Patagonia most often described as wind-swept, sparsely populated, remote, and rugged.

6 The Glaciers - Calafate Immense stretches of ruckled ice stretch out silently as far as the eye can see, and then rupture with a roar into a milky turquoise lake. Calafate is the base from which to see the spectacular Perito Moreno Glacier and the Glaciers National Park. The town hugs the shores of Lago Argentino, surrounded by desert steppes. This is the Patagonia most often described as wind-swept, sparsely populated, remote, and rugged. It is punctuated by wildlife, national parks, towering snow-capped mountains, glistening glaciers, and deep blue fjords and bays. How To Get There: There are daily 3-hour flights from Buenos Aires, and Calafate Airport is also connected to other Patagonian destinations such as Ushuaia and Bariloche. By land it s a five hour drive to Punta Arenas, Puerto Varas and the Torres del Paine National Park in Chile. Recommended Length of Stay: Three days will allow you to visit to the Perito Moreno Glacier, spend a day navigating Lago Argentino to the remote Estancia Cristina, and choose between a number of day trips available in the area. A longer stay will allow you to include a visit to El Chalten and/or Lago del Desierto, or to take a 1 or 2 night cruise on Lake Argentino. What To Do There: Visit the Glaciers National Park and its vedette, the Perito Moreno Glacier, stroll along the catwalks to witness the roar of the huge chunks of ice breaking-off and pounding into the gelid waters; take the ice-trek over the glacier; navigate the waters of Lake Argentino among icebergs to the remote pioneer Estancia Cristina, only accessible by ice. Visit the Glaciarium and Ice Bar, take hikes and horse rides in the open steppes: Extend your visit to include El Chaltén if you are a serious hiker, with the towering Fitz Roy peak, and the magic Laguna del Desierto. Or cross over to Chile to explore the stunning Torres del Paine National Park, or board a cruise along the Chilean fjords to Cape Horn and Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. Ushuaia - Tierra del Fuego Situated on the Beagle Strait, Ushuaia is the largest city in Argentine Tierra del Fuego, and arguably the southernmost city in the world. In the past, the town has been a missionary base, penal colony and naval base for the Argentine navy. Ushuaia is frontier harbour, a base for hiking, winter sports, and cruises to Antarctica. How To Get There: There are daily 3 ½ hour flights from Buenos Aires. Also, there are connections with Calafate and Bariloche. And a 3-4 night expedition cruise along the fjords to Punta Arenas in Chile. Recommneded Length of Stay: Two to three days are good for seeing the town and the National Park nearby. What to Do There: Gaze out over the end of the world from pioneer town Ushuaia, with its national park, ski resort (complete with husky rides), and boat trips on the spectacular Beagle Channel sighting penguins, sea-lions and Jules Verne lightouse. Follow Darwin s Route; play golf at the world s southernmost course; go flyfishing in pristine rivers holding trophy sea trout; hike on the Martial Glacier; take the End of the World steam train and visit the End of the World Museum; explore forests with beaver dams; hike to Lapataia Bay where the Andes meet the sea; dine at one of Argentina s best restaurants for the famed king crab: Kaupé; and visit the world s southernmost ranch, Estancia Harberton. You could even sail to Antarctica.

District: 4815 Departing: Sunday 18th of November Patagonia Duration: 17 Days. Destinations: PROGRAM: 18/11 Cordoba - Puerto Madryn:

District: 4815 Departing: Sunday 18th of November 2018 Patagonia Duration: 17 Days Destinations: Puerto Madryn, Calafate, Ushuaia, Esquel & San Carlos de Bariloche. PROGRAM: 18/11 Cordoba - Puerto Madryn: