Adventure in Argentina: Off the Beaten Path Itinerary

What to expect on this itinerary
Imagine yourself standing in the Argentine countryside with the mouthwatering aroma of asado, which is a traditional Argentine barbeque, as it drifts through the air. Picture the rugged, Northern mountains of Salta as they reflect different hues of red, orange, purple, and green against a blue and cloudless sky. From the natural beauty of Purmamarca’s colorful mountains in the north to the charming town of in the south, Argentina is full of treasures from top to bottom. On this luxurious, 10-day tour, you will explore this country off-the-beaten-path and discover its many secrets that are waiting to be uncovered.
Customizable Itinerary
Salta – Arrive in Argentina and Explore the Vivid Colors of Salta and Jujuy
Home to an endless bounty of natural marvels, Argentina is full of amazing things to discover. You will arrive at the airport in the charming city of Salta and be met at the baggage claim by your private driver who will transfer you to your luxurious, five-star hotel accommodation in the heart of town. Once you have had time to settle in and freshen up, you will meet your private tour guide in the hotel lobby. Your introduction to this wonderful country will begin with a half day’s private tour of the quaint town of Purmamarca and the glorious Salinas Grandes salt flats.
As you drive through Argentina’s rugged countryside via a private, air-conditioned coach, you can stop to admire the phenomenal natural colors of the mountains. You can appreciate the vibrant orange, red, green, and purple hues that this region is famous for and be amazed by the beauty of mother nature as you take in the rest of the gorgeous features of this incredible region. Once you arrive at Purmamarca’s traditional town, you will be led on a private tour to discover its rich history and culture. Your guide will provide riveting commentary about the sights. Afterward, you will visit the famous Salinas Grandes salt flats and marvel at their alluring endlessness.
What's Included:
Salta – Privately Tour Salta's Archeological Museum and Charming Town
Salta – Discover the Wineries of Cafayate and Enjoy a Traditional Asado Lunch
El Chalten – Delight in a Hike Around Sensational Mount Fitz Roy
El Chalten – Enjoy an Exclusive Small Boat Tour of Los Glaciares National Park
Ushuaia – Discover Penguins in Their Natural Habitat and Explore Ushuaia
Ushuaia – Cruise in Luxury Through the Stunning Beagle Channel
Buenos Aires – Visit a Classic Argentine Estancia and Enjoy a Gaucho Show
Buenos Aires – Delight in a Day Trip to the Charming Town of Tigre
Buenos Aires – Enjoy a Cafe con Leche at El Ateneo and Head for Home
Trip Highlights
- Discover the beautiful colors of the rugged landscapes of Salta and Jujuy as you traverse Argentina’s mountainous region in the north
- Delight in a private tour of Salta’s riveting Museum of High Altitude Archeology and enjoy the charming city
- Uncover the treasures of Cafayate’s many wineries, a wonderful and unassuming alternative to the wine country of Mendoza
- Bask in the breathtaking natural wonders of El Chalten as you trek through the gorgeous region that surrounds Mount Fitz Roy
- Luxuriate in an exclusive boat tour of Patagonia’s Los Glaciares National Park and witness areas of the park that are typically inaccessible to tourists
- Venture to Isla Martillo to observe penguins in their natural habitat and explore the charming city of Ushuaia
- Indulge in a classic asado or barbeque lunch at a traditional Argentine estancia and delight in an exciting Gaucho show
- Take pleasure in a visit to the enchanting town of Tigre, which is a classic, Buenos Aires getaway
Detailed Description
From Tigre’s charming streets on the outskirts of Buenos Aires to the vast, rugged landscapes of Ushuaia, Argentina is sure to leave you speechless. You will delight in the vivid and natural colors of Jujuy’s stunning mountain range and indulge in the rich flavors of the world-class wines from the vineyards of Cafayate. On this luxurious, 10-day tour, you will experience some of the best of Argentina’s most unexpected regions as you traverse this unique country.
You will begin your trip in Salta, which is Argentina’s Northern region. Here, you will be provided with a tour of Jujuy and Purmamarca, which will enchant you with its vibrant colors of the mountains. From there, you will enjoy a tour of Cafayate’s lovely vineyards, which produce world-class wines and is an off-the-beaten-path alternative to the typical wine country of Mendoza. By venturing south, you will discover the immense beauty of El Chalten before trekking to the gorgeous Mount Fitz Roy in Patagonia. Here, you will luxuriate in an exclusive boat tour of Los Glaciares National Park, which will provide you with more access to the park than what is typically available to tourists.
Continuing further south, you will reach “the city at the end of the world” as you come upon Ushuaia. Here, you will cruise through the magnificent Beagle Channel and discover penguins as they relax in their natural habitat on Isla Martillo. By traversing to the glittering city of Buenos Aires, you will experience the wonder of a traditional estancia, which is a classic, Argentine ranch. Here, you will delight in a Gaucho show to connect with the roots of this eclectic country. If you are looking to discover the treasures of Argentina from a completely new perspective, this intriguing and off-the-beaten-path tour certainly will not disappoint you. Don’t take just our word for it - consider reading some of our travelers’ reviews of Argentina, and see how you can customize your own dream vacation.
Starting Price
$4,100 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
Verified Traveler Reviews
Based on 62 reviews
There are not enough words to describe how magical this trip was. It was 26 days and every day was an adventure filled with unexpected surprises. This trip touched the highlights of Argentina and just a tiny portion of Antarctica. Even though I was not able to see the whole of Argentina and the whole of Antarctica, the experience remained beautiful, all thanks to Zicasso's travel agent and his team, who made this trip very much a magical adventure. Yes, it was aggressive, as I covered many different parts. However, my agent and his team made it possible for me to feel comfortable and enjoy my experience. He and I worked together from March 2024 to October 2024 on customizing this trip. We talked about the budget and certain modifications. The result was a trip I will never ever forget.
Buenos Aires: I was there for one night and got a great overview of the history of Argentina from my guide. In the six hours I had on the tour, I understood I needed to stay in Buenos Aires longer to appreciate the city. There are many districts and each has its own history and, in a way, its own culture. I have to return to explore Buenos Aires a little bit more because six hours is not enough to explore this beautiful city. I was amazed at how green this city is. I appreciated the guide for giving me an overview of the history of Argentina. However, I know I need to come back to really get an in-depth education of the history of Argentina, especially the history of Buenos Aires.
El Calafate: This is a relatively new city in Santa Cruz province. Let me tell you, it is absolutely gorgeous. It has a different, country-style feeling. One of the biggest attractions of El Calafate is definitely Lago Argentino, with branches of its glacier river surrounding the city. The Perito Moreno Glacier was absolutely magnificent. I can't believe I was able to trek on top of the glacier. The guides were awesome. They helped me a lot while I was struggling to trek on this glacier. They made me feel comfortable and gave me the courage to trek on just a small part of the glacier.
The next day, I visited El Chaltén. My guide was awesome. She made me comfortable during the three-hour ride and told me lots of interesting facts. She was very patient when I was hiking up to Laguna Capri. The hike, which is four kilometers from the base, was very challenging, but I was able to do it. On the ride back, I was able to see the cloudless peaks of Mount Fitzroy. That was really a lucky day … it reminded me that life can be very unpredictable, with many twists and turns.
Ushuaia: I cannot believe I came to the southernmost city in the world! I hiked eight kilometers in the Tierra del Fuego National Park and paddled in the Lapataia river. This was definitely a very challenging excursion, but my guide made me feel very comfortable and helped me all along this challenging trek. Everybody in my trekking group made me feel comfortable as I was struggling to hike along the steep path. However challenging this trek was, I still loved it and enjoyed it, and was able to inhale the beauty of this pristine forest.
The next day I did a five-kilometer hike into Laguna Esmeralda, which was again breathtaking. Even though this track was not as challenging as the previous day, it was still challenging because of the muddy path. My guide was very patient with me and made us all feel very, very comfortable. This hike was worth it, as after five kilometers hiking, I was able to see Laguna Esmeralda. This beautiful green glacier lagoon was breathtaking; again not enough words to describe its beauty. I was very appreciative of my guide and all the group members who helped me as I was struggling to hike.
Antarctica: What can I say? I visited the coldest, driest, windiest place on our planet. Even though it was not fun journeying through the Drake Passage for 48 hours, going in and coming back, it was definitely worth the experience and risk-taking. After all, adventures are known for their challenges. The expedition team was excellent. They were highly and made sure everyone on the ship had a great experience. Every one of the crew cared about us. Again, there are not enough words to explain how beautiful this continent is. I have never loved winter, snow, or even ice, but it taught me how to fall in love with ice. There were so many beautiful icebergs. And I fell in love with the penguins. I can definitely see myself sitting down in a place and just watching penguins all day. I even did the polar plunge. This trip taught me that I have the capacity to do a lot of things I did not expect to be able to do.
Mendoza: Usually, people come to Mendoza for wine. I came to Mendoza for something else besides wine. I can't believe I was able to see Mount Aconcagua, the highest mountain peak in all of the Americas. It was Mount Aconcagua that was my inspiration to come to Argentina. I saw Mount Aconcagua and learned about the different mountain ranges. I even enjoyed the beautiful ride along the mountain ranges through tunnels. I learned about the oasis and the irrigation system. I was very, very impressed with the irrigation system and how they divert the glacier river to feed the town and water the trees in the cities. I even visited an olive oil and balsamic vinegar factory. It was amazing to learn how olive oil was made before newer technologies came into place. I finally was able to taste different types of olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette, which I fell in love with. This was all thanks to my guide, who was wonderful throughout the trip. She was what made the trip so memorable. I definitely had a great time interacting with her and learning from her. I cannot believe that during my short stay in Mendoza, I was able to see many things and learn many things.
Salta/Jujuy: Again, my words come up short in describing how much I enjoyed these two beautiful provinces. They reminded me of Peru, having once been part of the Incan civilization. There is so much history and countless natural beauty within these two provinces. It was my guide who made this trip unforgettable. He made this trip very educational and fun at the same time. I visited some small towns, both colonial and pre-colonial. I visited many breathtaking areas, such as Quebrada de Las Flechas, Cafayate, Cachi, and Humahuaca. It was unbelievable how the topography changed on different points of my journey. I am so happy that he was my guy, as I learned so much from him, especially about geology. I sincerely do not have enough words to describe how grateful I am to have learned from him.
Iguazú: One word, spectacular! I cannot believe I saw the Iguazú Falls from the Argentine and Brazilian sides. It was hands down one of the most beautiful waterfalls I've ever seen. I even did a boat ride to get a river-level perspective of these falls. I'm glad to have had a guide who was so excited and enthusiastic in showing me different parts of the waterfalls along the different trails in the national park. He was excited to show me the national bird reserve in Brazil on my last day. I could feel myself coming back to Iguazú Falls and just standing there and enjoying the beautiful, spectacular view of this magnificent group of water bodies.
Once again, I thank my travel agent from the bottom of my heart for arranging this beautiful and majestic adventure for me. I learned so much history and geology. I also learned that I had the capacity to undertake difficult, challenging trekking that I didn't think I was able to. I came out of this trip feeling like a stronger person. I cannot wait to work with him again for another adventure!
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I am so happy we entrusted the planning of our 30th wedding anniversary trip with this Zicasso travel company. Our agent and the entire team are kind, professional, and eager to serve. He was attentive, an excellent communicator, and full of ideas during the planning stages. I feel like he truly listened and learned who we are and what we were hoping to see and do during this trip. He designed an itinerary that enabled us to do everything on our wish list, while staying within our budget.
Buenos Aires, El Chaltén, El Calafate, Torres del Paine, Punta Arenas, and Santiago: we packed a lot into two weeks, but everything was seamless, from transportation to guides to accommodation to special experiences for our occasion. Having a representative "following" us on our trip through the app was reassuring and helpful. She was delightful and eager to assist if needed. She even made a point of coming to say hello to us at our hotel in Buenos Aires.
We are so grateful for the knowledge and personal touch of the travel company; it truly made for one of our most special and memorable trips ever! We hope we have an opportunity to use their services again!
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Zicasso's travel agent planned a great trip for us, tailoring it to activities that we wanted; as well, he suggested some other activities we had not considered, and all were superb. He was always available prior to the trip as well as during the trip -- he met us at our first hotel in Buenos Aires to explain the itinerary and give us vouchers (which we never needed to show). All pick-ups and transfers went well (except one which was the fault of the local Patagonia tour company). Highly recommend him to plan your trip.
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This was our first organized trip through an agency in decades. We found it a nice way to personalize and structure our two-week trip to a new continent. All of the people we were in contact with were courteous and well-informed, and transported us safely to our destinations.
Overall, we felt the services in Chile were more organized and informative than in Argentina. Communications were also better, with more heads-up and outreach. Tours were paced well and we loved the personalized, individual touches.
Our only disappointment came at the end, when no driver arrived to take us to the Buenos Aires airport. We had to call an Uber and Zicasso's tour agency did reimburse us.
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