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16 Day itinerary in Argentina, South America

Northern Argentina, Chile & Uyuni Salt Flats

The North has always been a magical region of Argentina. Nothing compares to the outstanding colors of Purmamarca Hill and the humble hearts of the local Northerners. During this 16-day adventure vacation to South America, you’ll discover the northern region of Argentina, as well as the best of Boli... Read More

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MicaelaCynthia

By Micaela and Cynthia

Overview

Physical Difficulty

Light
help_outline

Recommended Age

Everyone

Operated in

English, Spanish

GUIDANCE

On Some Day Trips

starting point

Buenos Aires

trip type

Private

trip attributes

Hiking

Visit markets

Meet local people

Indigenous culture

Meditation

Historic & cultural landmarks

Travel with Purpose

Outdoors & Nature

Food & Drink

Start

Night

End

Highlights

1

Buenos Aires

2

Salta

3

San Pedro de Atacama

4

Uyuni

Itinerary

Standard ($) expand_more

Day 1

place Transfer from Ezeiza airport to hotel

  • Welcome to Argentina!

    Upon your arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel and have the rest of the day to enjoy at your own pace.

    Buenos Aires is a marvelous and furious cosmopolitan city, full of colors and different kinds of architecture. Capital of Argentina and described as the Paris of South America, Buenos Aires proudly embraces this title, as well as showing off plenty of its own culture!

    Argentines are usually eager to host visitors: if you walk the streets with a map, someone will surely stop and ask if you need directions. That’s our spirit! So, for this first day, feel free to wander the cobblestone streets lined with outdoor cafes, enjoy the mouthwatering aroma of prized Argentine beef sizzling on an open “parrilla” (barbecue) and browse the local antique and artisan markets that offer plenty of bargain shopping. And to travel deeper and have a firm grip of the Argentine spirit, find the perfect leather jacket or handbag (Buenos Aires is home to some excellent local designers) and explore the colorful Palermo Soho neighborhoods.

    Type of service: Private
    Included: Transportation mentioned above, English-speaking guide
  • Guide assistance during transfer

Guide: Included for the day

Day 2

place City tour and tango dinner

  • Half-Day Buenos Aires Walking Tour
    During the morning our guide will pick you up at your hotel and take you to see the most alluring places in the city.

    You will enjoy a walk through the Southern area we recommend the see the political epicenter of Buenos Aires: Plaza de Mayo. You’ll visit iconic landmarks such as the Cathedral of Buenos Aires, Casa Rosada (Presidential Palace), colonial city hall Cabildo, the Block of Lights, and St. Ignatius Church (BA’s oldest). We’ll visit iconic landmarks such as Dorrego Square, Defensa Street, Minimal House , Caminito Street, the old port, and the Boca Juniors Stadium. Join us on this unique journey through the cultural heart of Buenos Aires!

    After enjoying this tour, our guide will take you back to your hotel.

    Type of service: Private
    Duration: 4 hs
    Included: Guide, public transportation expenses
    Not included: Lunch
    Note: As a private service, the tour can be customized according to your interests and preferences as long as they fit with the schedule.
  • Dinner & Tango Show
    In the evening you will be picked up from your hotel to be driven to a mythical place where you will discover one of our most ancient traditions.

    Enjoy a memorable night out in Buenos Aires and experience the passion of the Argentine tango. Tango is much more than our national dance. It symbolizes our immigrant origins, the talent of our local artists, the sensuality of the Argentine woman and our way of dealing with a broken heart, dancing through tragic but eternal love stories.

    Tonight, you will enjoy a professional display of tango and music with a group of local artists onstage immersed in an elegant and alluring place. The manners, ambience, clothes and dance steps which tango lovers used to practice 100 years ago will come to life again and you will travel in time for a night.

    This spectacular demonstration of the finest local dancing will be accompanied by delicious Argentine and international cuisine. Dinner will be à la carte, with drinks included so you can lose yourself in the taste of Malbec wine.

    At the end of the night, we will take you back to your hotel, completely in love with the bohemian spirit of our beloved Buenos Aires.

    Type of service: Shared
    Duration: 4 hours
    Schedule: Dinner 8:00 p.m. - Show 10:00 p.m.
    Included: Shared round trip transfers, tango show, dinner and drinks (wines from Callia Winery or similar, water and soft drinks), one bottle of champagne every two people.
    Not included: Tips
    Note: Formal dress is not required

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 3

place Transfer to airport- Next destination: Salta

  • Transfer Buenos Aires Hotel / Buenos Aires Aeroparque Jorge Newbery Airport
    At the appropriate time, you will be taken to the domestic airport to take your next flight.

    Type of service: Private
    Included: Transportation mentioned above
  • Transfer Salta Airport / Salta Hotel
    Welcome to Salta!
    Upon arrival in Salta you will be transferred to your hotel.

    Salta has it all: the geographical diversity (green, red and brown mountains) and the historical richness. Do not forget that, in these lands, one day they fought for the independence of Argentina! It also has exquisite and well-preserved colonial architecture, picturesque and very crowded cafes in the main square (a great place to sit and watch the locals in their daily hustle and bustle!), and the characteristic and fun peñas, places where Salteños sit and listen to their local folklore idols, and then end up dancing (after one or two encouraging glasses of wine) together.

    The perfect base to explore the Argentinian Northern area is Salta city

    Keep in mind that religion is very important here: religiously speaking, people take a siesta in Salta... so between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. it will be more difficult for you to find the places open, so take advantage of it to take your first northern siesta!

    Type of service: Private
    Included: Transportation mentioned above
  • Guide assistance during the transfer

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Day 4

place From Salta to Cafayate

In the morning, we wil pick you up at your hotel in Salta to leave behind the fertile Lerma Valley, ascend along the Quebrada de Escoipe and then continue along the impressive Cuesta del Obispo and the Encantado Valley, surrounded by mountains.

Then, we will go to Piedra del Molino (3,400 meters above sea level), through Los Cardones National Park, which occupies 65,000 hectares in the middle of hills and dry ravines of around 2,700 and 5,000 m.u.s.l. The area is covered by thick vegetation, mainly cacti that measure almost 3 meters high once they turn 250 or 300 years old.

The magical Cachi, the highest area of the valleys, is a village at the foot of the snowy mountain (6,320 m.a.s.l.) that bears the same name. The town stands out for its old colonial-style houses that are located on the edge of narrow cobbled streets, its church dating from the 18th century and is known for its floor, ceiling and cactus wood furniture and its adobe walls. In addition, the town has an important Anthropological Museum, where the history of indigenous civilizations is exhibited in almost 5,000 pieces.

Then, we will continue along the national route N° 40, finding other attractions on the way: the town of Seclantás, also known as the "cradle of the Salteño poncho" is the home of tissue experts. Molinos, irregularly, stands out for its Church (declared a National Monument) built in 1639, where the mummified remains of the last realistic governor Nicolas Isasmendi are preserved. Angastaco: from where the Quebrada de las Flechas begins, named for its capricious forms carved by rain and wind erosion. San Carlos, an old town that originated when the Jesuits established the so-called "Mission of San Carlos". Nearby, visitors will find the only stone mill to operate using the millenary system. Animaná, a town famous for its production of artisanal wine.

Finally, we will arrive at Cafayate, a town known for its colonial-style, baroque, single-story houses from the late 19th century. Its church is one of the few temples in the country that has 5 ships.

Overnight in Cafayate.

Type of service: Semi private
Duration: 10/11 hours
Included: Transportation mentioned above, driver-guide
Not included: Meals
Note: For this exploration, we recommend to leave your luggage in your hotel in Salta, and just to take a day pack on the excursion.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Day 5

place Visit to a Winery in Cafayate and return to Salta

At the agreed time in the morning, we will visit the wine center of the province, particularly famous for the "Torrontés" wine variety. We will visit a winery where you will learn about the wine production process (wine tasting not included).

After lunch, we return to the city of Salta, driving along the Quebrada de las Conchas that originated in the Tertiary Age, 70 million years ago and divides the Lerma Valley and the Calchaqui Valley. Wind erosion has formed a succession of capricious natural phenomena such as Los Castillos, El Obelisco, El Fraile, El Sapo, El Amphitheater (with excellent acoustics) and Garganta del Diablo (The Devil's Throat), a deep and narrow canyon.

We will take you back to your hotel in Salta. We highly recommend visiting Peña and mix with the locals while eating empanadas and dancing Folklore.

Type of service: Semi private
Duration: 6/7 hours
Included: Transportation mentioned above, water and snack, driver guide, visit to a winery.
Not included: Meals, wine tasting, entrance fees to museums, ruins, national or provincial Parks.
Note: In case of force majeure the itineraries can be modified without previous notice. Ask about luggage allowance.
Optional, with extra cost: Cachi Museum, Tasting in Wineries, Visit to Quilmes Ruins, Visit to Colomé.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Day 6

place Full day Humahuaca

In the morning, we will pick you up at your hotel to visit Humahuaca Gorge, a Natural and Cultural Heritage of Humanity (UNESCO) since 2003.

Along the journey we will discover changing landscapes, vegetation and climate due to the altitude, passing by from tall trees in Jujuy to solitary cardones by the hillsides. Unique villages as Purmamarca with its famous Hill of Seven Colors, visible from the streets and the handcrafted market around the main square. Maimará with its natural colourful slopes of Paleta del Pintor and its suspended cemetery at the top of the hill, visible from the route.

Tilcara stands out for its local festivities (Carnival and Holy Week) and for its Pucará (fortress in height) whose ruins have been partially rebuilt for more understanding of the pre-Hispanic way of life. Further north we will cross the Capricorn Tropic line in Huacalera identified with a white monolith. Uquia shows its chapel, built in the seventeenth century with the oldest altarpiece in the region, worked in laminated gold one of the two existing in Argentina decorated with 'Los Angeles Arcabuceros' from Cusco, a testimony of colonial architecture.

Humahuaca gives its name to the Quebrada and is its largest population, with cobbled streets and iron lanterns in the corners, it is also the highest point of the route, 2,940 m.a.s.l. Main attractions: The Independence Monument, Cathedral Church and Municipal Building.

After enjoying the amazing landscapes and culture, we will return to Salta by the same route and take you back to your hotel.

Type of service: Semiprivate
Duration: 12 hours
Depature: In the morning
Distance: 520 km / 323 mi
Included: Transportation mentioned above, bilingual driver-guide (English/Spanish), a bottle of water.
Not included: Food and beverage, entrance fees to museums, ruins, national or provincial parks (if aplicable), pick up in San Lorenzo, Entrance fee to Pucará de Tilcara.
Restrictions: Tour not recommended for passengers with heart problems due to the high altitude.
Note: It is not possible to take your luggage. In case of force majeure the itineraries can be modified without previous notice.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Day 7

place Purmamarca

Today you will have a free day in Purmamarca to relax and enjoy the beauty of this region.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 8

place Bus ticket from Purmamarca to San Pedro de Atacama

Today, you will make your own way to the bus terminal to take a public bus to San Pedro de Atacama.

During the journey, you will cross the Andes Range thorough the "Paso de Jama", one of the highest international border crossings in the world. The bus trip takes about 12 hours during which you will be able to observe the stunning Altiplano scenery.

**It is important to point out that today you are leaving Argentina and crossing an international border. Please, keep your passport handy and bear in mind that it is not allowed to bring any fresh food, plants, seeds, etc. into Chile.

**They are very strict, and fines can be high. If you are not sure if something is allowed or not, please declare it (they will provide you with a form) and they will inform you whether you can carry it or not.

Upon arrival at the bus station in San Pedro, you will make your way to your hotel on your own.

San Pedro de Atacama is a small town in the driest desert of the world. It has little adobe houses and cozy restaurants and it's the perfect base to explore one of Chile’s most spectacular sceneries.

Type of service: Shared
Bus duration: roughly 8 hours
*IMPORTANT: Don't forget your passport! To enter Chile, all passengers -without exception- must complete the “DIGITAL AFFIDAVIT” on their cell phone. This will be requested from each passenger at the time of border crossing, along with the ticket and passport. This must be completed within 48 hours prior to crossing. To complete it, go to www.ingresoachile.cl



  • Transfer San Pedro de Atacama Bus Station / San Pedro de Atacama Hotel
    Upon arrival to San Pedro de Atacama bus station, you will be transferred to San Pedro de Atacama hotel.

    Welcome to San Pedro!

    San Pedro de Atacama is a small town in the driest desert in the world. Little adobe houses, cozy restaurants are the base to explore one of Chile’s most spectacular sceneries.

    Type of service: Shared
    Duration: 1:30 hours
    Included: Transportation mentioned above, spanish/english speaking driver
    Not included: Guide

Meals: Breakfast

Day 9

place Half-Day Moon Valley Tour

In the afternoon, you will go on your own to the indicated meeting point to start the visit to the Valley of the Moon.

It is a desert area, a geomorphological marvel. Our ancestors called it Las Salinas, today known worldwide as Valle de la Luna, surrounded by a set of landscapes of incomparable beauty that resemble a fragment of the lunar landscape to which it owes its name. In 1982 it was declared a Nature Sanctuary and is part of the Los Flamencos National Reserve. In this place you can observe a geological spectacle of great interest, especially at sunrise and sunset.

During your visit you can contemplate: Ckari Gorge, the famous natural formation known by our ancestors as Los Tres Vigilantes today called Las Tres Marías, Duna Mayor; majestic body of sand and viewpoints such as; Quebrada Honda where the famous Piedra del Coyote is located.

After the excursion, we will take you to downtown Atacama, and you will have to return to the hotel on your own.

Type of service: Shared
Duration: 4.5 hours
Altitude: 2.400 m.a.s.l approx.
Included: Round-trip transportation mentioned above, bilingual driver-guide (English/Spanish).
Not included: Lunch, box lunch, tips.
Recommendations: Bring closed or trekking shoes, a jacket, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and water.
Restrictions: Children under 7 years old. Pregnant people; people with hypertension, edema, or embolism (only with medical authorization).

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Day 10

place Half-Day Tatio Geysers

Very early in the morning, we will pick you up at your hotel to visit one of the highest geyser fields in the world.

Located in the Andes Mountains, 61 miles from San Pedro de Atacama and 4,320 meters above sea level, El Tatio (from Kunza "tata-iu") means "The Grandfather Who Cries." It is the largest group of geysers in the southern hemisphere and the third-largest in the world, after Yellowstone (USA) and Dolina Giezerow (Russia).

At dawn, between 06:00 and 07:00, you can see an amazing spectacle, generated by violent steam flows that rise up to 10 meters high with temperatures that reach 85°C.

On the return trip, it is possible to observe fauna such as vicuñas, llamas, rheas, vizcachas, etc. While in the Flora, the Giant Cactus, llaretas, coirón, etc. stand out. In addition, from a viewpoint we will observe the small ancestral town of Machuca, its few inhabitants are mainly dedicated to grazing and cheese production, very close to the place is the Laguna Salada where families of flamingos, ducks and seagulls live with an impressive landscape of beauty.

After the excursion, return to San Pedro de Atacama

Type of service: Shared
Duration: 7/8 h
Altitude: 4.320 .m.a.s.l. approx.
Difficulty: Moderate to hard (due to the altitude), walking on a flat surface
Included: Transportation mentioned above, driver-guide, breakfast
Not included: Lunch, box lunch, tips.
Recommendations: Bring warm clothes (temperature between -5°C and -20°C), closed or trekking shoes, hat, gloves, first layer, sunglasses, sunscreen and water.
Restrictions: Children under 12 years old. Pregnant people; people with hypertension, edema, or embolism (only with medical authorization).

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Day 11

place Salar de Uyuni (04D/03N)

  • Day 1: From San Pedro de Atacama to Villa Mar
    Today begins this four-day adventure from the Atacama Desert to the Uyuni Salt Flats. You will enjoy the beautiful contrast between the clear skies, the mountains and these unique landscapes of volcanoes and geysers.

    Early in the morning, we will pick you up from your hotel in San Pedro de Atacama. We will arrive at the border of Hito Cajón - between Chile and Bolivia - to carry out the migratory procedures. We will have breakfast at the border and change vehicles to continue the journey in a 4x4 jeep.

    We will start by visiting the White Lagoon and Green Lagoon, at the base of the Licancabur Volcano. The journey continues north to visit the Salvador Dalí Desert, the Polques Hot Springs and the Sol de Mañana Geysers. After lunch we will continue until we reach the spectacular Red Lagoon, where you can see thousands of flamingos.

    To end the day, we will settle in the Villa Mar Hostel, located in the Mallku Community, to have dinner and spend the night at an altitude of 3,500 meters (11482.94 feet).

    Type of service: shared
    Included: Bus from San Pedro de Atacama to the border, and transportation by 4x4 jeep in Bolivia. All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and drinks (water and juice) during meals. Spanish/English bilingual guide. Accommodation in a private room.
    Not included: Tickets to the parks (direct payment by the passenger in each park, in cash in local currency). Alcoholic drinks. Tips.

    Note: in January and February the company reserves the right to modify the route of the itinerary in Bolivia due to its Altiplanic weather.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12

place Day 2: From Villa Mar to Salt Hotel

We will start early in the morning visiting cave paintings and the Valley of the Rocks, where you can see formations such as the lost city of Italy, the World Cup, the Camel, etc. Then we will visit the Black Lagoon, where a large amount of local fauna such as Tawas or Geese lives, and the vegetation is abundant. We will also visit the Catal Lagoon - also called Mysterious - and the Catal Canyon.

After lunch, we will continue to the Agua Dulce Waterfall viewpoint and head into a valley inhabited by many highland communities; which are dedicated to raising Andean animals such as llamas and alpacas.

The day will end with the arrival at the community of Villa Candelaria, where we will have dinner and spend the night at the Salt Hotel.

Type of service: shared
Included: Transportation in a 4x4 jeep. All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and drinks (water and juice) during meals. Spanish/English bilingual guide. Accommodation in a private room.
Not included: Alcoholic beverages. Tips.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13

place Day 3: Uyuni Salt Flats and town. Return to Villa Mar

We will start at 5:00 am driving to Incahuasi Island, located in the center of the Uyuni Salt Flats, to watch the sunrise. Then we will visit the Playa Blanca Hotel, totally built with salt blocks. We will continue the route until we reach the Ojos del Salar and the Montones de Sal. We will arrive at the Community of Colchani, where we will be able to observe the traditional process of extracting the salt consumed throughout Bolivia.

After lunch, our last stop will be at the train graveyard for some amazing pictures. We will arrive in the city of Uyuni, Bolivia, at approximately 03:00 pm.

Around 4:00 pm we will begin the return to Villa Mar, where we will have dinner and spend the last night.

Type of service: shared
Included: Transportation. All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and drinks (water and juice) during meals. Spanish/English bilingual guide. Accommodation in a private room.
Not included: Alcoholic beverages. Tips.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 14

place Day 4: Return to San Pedro de Atacama

We will start the return at 05:00 am, we will have breakfast and we will continue to Hito Cajón. Here we will carry out the immigration procedures and finally we will arrive in San Pedro de Atacama.

Type of Service: shared
Included: Transportation. Spanish/English bilingual guide. Breakfast.
Not included: Tips.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Day 15

place San Pedro De Atacama / Santiago De Chile

  • Transfer San Pedro Atacama Hotel / Calama Airport
    At the appropriate time, you will be driven to Calama Airport to take your flight

    Type of service: Shared
    Duration: 2 hours
    Included: Transportation mentioned above, spanish/english speaking driver
    Not included: Guide
  • Transfer Santiago de Chile Airport / Santiago de Chile Hotel
    Welcome to Santiago!
    Home of Pisco Sour, seafood, and marvelous Cabernet Sauvignon. Chile's capital is the perfect base to explore the country or enjoy a few days between the mountains and the ocean.

    IMPORTANT:
    If you arrive in Santiago on a DOMESTIC FLIGHT, you must exit through GATE 1, where they will be waiting for you with a sign with your name. If you don't see anyone yet, please wait there.

    If you arrive on an INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT, you must exit through the main door that says EXIT, located near by gates 3 and 4 (for reference, it is the largest, close to the restaurant "La Pica"). There they will be waiting for you with a sign with your name. If you don't see anyone yet, please wait there.

    In order to avoid scam drivers, please go straight to the meeting point that corresponds to you, and do not accept help from any person approaching you without the sign with the local representative logo or your name on it. A scam driver could tell you that the transfer is delayed and that it is better to take the taxi offered by that person. Assistance in restricted areas within the airport is available for an additional cost.

    Type of service: Private
    Included: Transportation mentioned above

Meals: Breakfast

Day 16

place Transfer Santiago de Chile Hotel / Santiago de Chile Airport

At the appropriate time, you will be transferred from your hotel to the international airport to take your flight. ¡Buen Viaje!

Type of service: Private
Included: Transportation mentioned above

Meals: Breakfast

What’s Included

Meals expand_less

  • Breakfast (15)
  • Dinner (4)
  • Lunch (3)

Not Included expand_less

  • Internal flights
  • entrances fees
  • meals not mentioned

About Micaela

TEAM LEAD

+1 Local experts

verified Baboo Certified

star_outline 4.87 (15 reviews)

Expertise: 

Cycling

Hiking

Visit markets

Meet local people

Meditation

Historic & cultural landmarks

Outdoors & Nature

Food & Drink

Beach & Sea

I´ve been working in Tourism for 10 years. Being a coordinator, a local guide, and then a travel agent, I forged my personality through the people and places I met along the way. I had the opportunity to visit several places in Argentina.

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FROM PRICE PER TRAVELER

$4,840.00 USD