Argentina trip - pls critique itinerary
 

Hello all - I am going to Argentina for my honeymoon in late Oct/early Nov. We were planning 5 days in Buenos Aires and 5 days in Mendoza. Do you think I would be doing myself a disservice by only visiting these two locations? We had also discussed doing either a day or 2 at the falls OR visiting the glacier.

Any thoughts/opinions? Just want to make sure I'm getting nice highlights of the country during my time in Argentina.

Thank you!

I would better include the NW in my itinerary.
Four days are necessary to see as most as possible in the area; the salt Flats, Purmamarca, Tilcara and CAfayate are the MUST see.
If WINES is your reason to go to Mendoza, You can also viosit the NW and try our unique white, torrontés.
HAve you ever heard about it?
Many people have already adopted torrontes as their favorite.
If amazing landscapes is your best concern, just have a look to the thousand of pictures people left in the web at flicker, and remember that nost of those who took the pictures think they do not make justice to the place!
If the NW is your choice , you will never regret.
Flintstones

Thanks Flintstones - I am really most interested in whether I should include the falls or the glaciers. I am leaning more towards the glaciers.

would 2 night be enough time there?

You don't need that many days in Mendoza if you want to take a couple off there. You can see the falls with one or two nights, but the glaciers in Patagonia really need more time to see.

I would lessen my time in BA (that's just me) as I feel it is better to spend more time with the natural beauty of AR. That being said, I would stay 1 night BA, fly to Iguazu the next AM for 2 nights, then El Calafate for 3 nights and back to BA for the last 4 nights (or reverse the order and spend the first few days in BA).

Mendoza is very nice with the Andes and all, but unless you're really into wine tasting, I didn't think the area was as spectacular as the falls and the glaciers. Just my opinion.

You could save the NW and Mendoza for your next trip :)

Hmm, tough decision. Maybe knock a day off in BA and 2 days off in Mendoza and add in the glaciers. Worth a visit if you're here. How often do you get to see glaciers?

Well, in that case How often do you see colourful mountains or salt flats?
You need a second visit, for sure... and probably be surprised with the NW!
When I insist on the NW is because most of our visitors where 100% satisfied with the wonderful sceneries of the area!
Anyway... I expect you have a second chance to come to Argentina and you finally choose SALTA and the NW!
FLintstones

owlwoman's idea would work. I tend to agree about Mendoza, lovely as it is, it is mainly about visiting vineyards (or climbing Mt. Aconcagua, but not on your honeymoon surely!).

Several attractive destinations have been established for those visiting Argentina. It is a question of what you like best. Do you like cities, going out to restaurants, tango shows, etc?
Then Buenos Aires is for you . Do you prefer nature, like Calafate and Iguazu? etc etc I believe there is a lot of information in this forum and elsewhere and it is only up to you to make a selection.

I like BA and always suggest more time there than others might, but i gotta say that the most can't miss thing in argentina is the Iguazu falls. there really isn't anything else like it in the world. Also, the glaciers of el calafate and ushuaia are pretty amazing, so if you like nature try to head there.

Cheers!

I would recommend the glaciers, El Calafate in particular. You could take a day off of Buenos Aires and a day or two off of Mendoza. You will need 2 to 3 nights in El Calafate, depending on your flight schedule, in order to get 2 full days of glacier trekking and sightseeing. Let us know if we can help with anything else.

I'm sure I'll be shot for this but personally I felt the NW was totally boring. Sure, the scenery is pretty, but other areas, like BA, Mendoza, even Iguazu had more to offer in terms of things to do, places to eat, etc. Driving 5 hours a day on average was not my idea of fun. I'm still dying to go to Bariloche, which I'm sure would be lovely at that time of the year.

You have just been shot!

Just kidding, but I obviously disagree. LOL!!!

We can agree to disagree.

I absolutely loved the northwest and it was the highlight of our 2 months in Aregentina. Iguazu was spectacular and is definitel worth a couple of days to visit the falls (I preferred the Brazilian side.

Peninsualr Valdez was a fanatstic experience. Seeing the whales so close is something I will remember forever.

Personally, I was a bit underwhelmed by Mendoza. Unless food and wine are high up your list of priorities, I would give it a miss. Bariloche was nice enough but we visited at the wrong time (spring break and loads of drunken students!!)

My one regret is that we didn't visit the glaciers - maybe next time

Skiergirl obviously prefers the snow. But just a fact of preferences, but to say it is boring...?
Frotunatelly in Argentina we also have snow, desert, pampas, whatever you want.
Anyway, maybe you did it wrong. We have a lot of fun maybe you could not find... bungy jumping, (it is not my idea of fun...), rafting, boating, skidiving, hikking, peñas show. We have alot more to offer, really...
Flintstones

We went in Oct.2007 & thought the NW was gorgeous. If you love Sedona, Arizona, & Utah, Purmamarca & its surroundings are comparable,but with painters' pallette mountain scenery at every turn in the NW. The winding drive up to high altitude with the condors to the most unusual Salt Flats was spectacular, unlike anything I've ever seen in my travels around the world.Each small town has its charming main square, the aboriginals & the wonderful food. Don't miss the museum in Salta's main square that has a recently discovered 500 yr old mummy on display.This teenage mother & her 2 babies were sacrificed to the gods alive,placed in an induced sleep by coca leaves & buried on top of the Andes.Fascinating! The only route I wouldn't recommend is Rte 40 that takes you on a dusty, bumpy ride to Cachi.Instead go to Cafayate, the wine town with the soaring Andes in the background. Five days in the NW is needed.

thank you everyone - we have decided on sticking with the 5 nights in Buenos Aires and 5 nights in Mendoza. We love wine and food and feel like since this is our honeymoon, we would prefer not to be packing and unpacking as frequently as we might be willing to do on other trips.

For BA our MUST DO list includes:
*Dinner at La Cabrera
*Lunch at Café Tortoni
*Private bike tour
*Tango lesson and/or show
*Shopping in Palermo Soho (any fav specific stores??)

For Mendoza, our MUST DO list includes:
*dinner at Azafran
*winery tours -- thinking about Ruca Malen, Achaval-Ferrer, Finca Adalgisa
*cooking lessons at Cavas. (any other suggestions as that is far from our hotel)

Please let me know your thoughts on my above selections -- does anything stand out as a really poor choice?

I have looked up tons of stuff and have received some personal recommendations.

As always, thank you in advance for all of your opinions. PLease keep in mind we will be in each of these places in November. If anyone can comment on the weather or the way people dress for lunch/dinner in each place that would be very helpful and appreciated!

I would have a coffee and pastry at Cafe Tortoni and save lunch for one of the many really good restaurants in town .. or ... go to Cafe Tortoni one night to watch their Tango show.

Palermo Soho has new shops opening every day, things are constantly changing .. just take a map and start walking.. stopping for refreshment along the way .. which is so easy, cafes every few steps !

I would spend a day in Recoleta, see Recoleta Cemetery, walk around the neighborhoods, Alvear and the parks, one day doing maybe the open bus tour and seeing Casa Rosada and .. is the bike tour in Palermo or Recoleta? I see them all the time, here in Recoleta .. flying along Libertador on their orange bikes ! :- )

November is just beautiful here.. Spring time .. cool nights, sunny days and blue blue skies .. Bring layers, cottons and comfortable walking shoes, maybe something with heels for nighttime .. dress is more European here, lunches are casual although business people eat out and ladies so you see the whole range of styles.. like NY or Paris .. don't know where you live .. use Weather Underground to check the weather here when it gets closer to time to arrive ..

Syl, I agree with yuo, route 40 is too not as nice as the one to Cafayate.
NW is one of those places you will never forget.
Thank you for your review.
Flintstones---

We just returned last week from may of the places you are looking at. 3-4 days in BA is enough when there is so much else to do. We took the signaturetours city tour and that got you oriented and exposed to all parts of the city. It was 3 hrs ..don't have an email . The concierege arranged it, but you can google it I am sure

We loved Mendosa. Our meal and tour at Ruca Malen was out standing. Azafran was so good we ate there 2 nights. The city is laid back. Try to get on one of the high mountail tours also.

Igazu is beautiful. We stayed at the Sheraton on the Argintine side. The falls are seen out the lobby window, that is how close you are. The paths to the falls are literally a 2min walk away. Food is a bit boring in the hotel and town is a $50 taxi ride away, so you are a bit of a captive audience. 2 days are pleanty to see and do what you want.

You ae aware that inter South American flights are VERY expensive. This may limit some of your destinations. See our trip report RHKKMK's visit to South America as reported on the SA board.

Enjoy

I am struggling mightly with my trip this December. Never been to South America before. I want to do a mixture of City and Nature - I love both. I can shop like a fiend but love nature and hiking. I am having problems making everything line up the way I would like because of limited flights for LAN. We are landing Xmas EVE in BA so our first two days we can see the city, but museums and shops will be closed. I was also hoping to do a day trip or two from BA? (Tigre, Uruguay).

So, we have 8 days in BA, 2 nights and one full day in Iguazua plus an afternoon and an evening, 7 full days in Salta and area. And 3.5 days in Mendoza (yes love food and wine). How does this sound??? Thanx!

7 days in the NW will let you see a lot!
I think you only run a risk; falling in love with the area nad maybe, as Crellstone you will wish to buy a place and stay...LOL!
If you need any other info about the NW feel free to ask as many questions as you consider convenient...
Warm regards.
Flintstones

not_enuf_vaca; In the NW do not miss to eat a lunch at YACON in Tilcara, the quinoa pie, the humitas, and the cheese empanadas are fantastic.
The best beef empanadas are in SALTA, specially at DONA SALTA, close to St Francisco Church.
LA LEÑITA at Balcarse and Alsina St is a great place for you to get a good parrilla.
EL TERRUÑO in Cafayate, in fron of the main square... Yummmm....
get some goat cheese from Cabras de CAfayate, and get some torrontes to it it by the pool at KILLA,... or wherever you stay.
Have a great tome!
Flintstones...

Ohhhhh Im getting so hungry :)

And thirsty...
Do not miss a bottle of the famous torrontes! Just as an advance see www.undiscoveredwines.com. Torrontes is a young wine which should be drunk cold, about 8° centigrades, excpet for the Domingo MOlina at Domingo Hermanos it was not aged in barrels. It is a White young wine... which developed very well here because of the sandy soils and the sunny weather (350 days of full sun)with cool nights. The torrontes is like feeling the sunshine in the throat! Great companion for goat cheese, any cheese, some cold meat, and also with empanadas. Torrontes is fruity but dry... delicious!!!!
Flintstones...

not_enuf - Your itinerary sounds great (makes me wish I was back there!). You should definitely try and fit in a trip to Colonia in Urugauy for a day. It is only an hour or so by ferry and there is alot to see in a very small area. You can buy a ticket which gets you into all of the UnESCO sites and it is a very pretty town so just wandering around is a great way to spend a day. Another option is to rent a golf buggy and get out to some of the beaches outside of town or maybe hire a guide upon arrival. Weekdays will be a LOT quieter.

Tigre was also good, if a bit too touristy in the centre and markets for my tastes. It is easy to get the train out there an then jump on a boat to explore the waterways.

You will not regret your 7 days in the NW. Spectacular scenery and great food. Two great palces to stay are Casa Hernandez in San Lorenzo just outside of Salta and Finca La Paya just outside of Cachi


http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog...1200/tpod.html

not_enuf - if you like wines, then look into a stay at Colome in Molinos. It may be the most expensive lodging but it has the best wines! Request a room on the side that faces the pool for the best view. Stay at least two nights there if you do go!! You must have at least a full day to enjoy the setting and do take a horseback ride. Splurge and order the wine that comes from their oldest vineyards, which are the oldest in Argentina. Upon our return, our friend battled against some of the top restaurants in New York to get a case of it from the distributor!

Colome in Molinos looks beautiful - but way out of my price range! Especially as I hadn't planned on dropping 1800 on domestic airfare!

Let s see kristind05, a bit late though
TEN DAYS IN ARGENTINA just to wet your appetite !

Obviously you will have to choose between Calafate and Mendoza. You dont have glaciers anywhere else in Argentina but you do have excellent wineries in the south of Salta and for many people a richer experience.


1. night buenos aires
2. bs as iguazu night iguazu
3. direct flight iguazu salta night salta
4. night salta
5. night salta
6. salta bsas night in calafate
7. night calafate
8. night in buenos aires
9. buenos aires
10 buenos aires

good luck and welcome to any region in Argentina.
milla

10 days! almost nothign for such a huge country! YOu have to choose one destination... and come back, of course!!!!
Flintstones

please I need some info from graziella5b, we are going to montevideo and i saw in your post about hand made lingerie you usually buy there. is there any place or shop?
thanks,
if you have any other tip for montevideo...

grazzita:

I suggest you post the question in Graziella's "Which is the name of the great Italian restaurant in Campana, Argentina?" thread, because she is more like to look at it.

You could also post it as a new thread, using as a title something like "Question for Graziella5b".

Grazzita:Does this help?

From Graziella5b's response on Uruguay Forum.

"Because I am a woman I love their lingerie for women, hand made , that I have not even seen in Europe at great prices. Also hand made sweaters and many things sold in a place call Manos del Uruguay."

Happy shopping, ~MarnieWDC

Great research, Marnie!

http://www.manos.com.uy/

Click on "Where we are" and on "Business Premises". They have several locations.

Have a great time in our sister country, grazzita.