- Tour code
ARGADV01
- Start
Buenos Aires
- End
Buenos Aires
- Min. age
16 years old
- Group size
Max 6-16 travellers
- Trip style
Classic
- Trip pace
Active
- Language
English
This trip shows two very different sides of Argentina in nine days. It starts in Buenos Aires, a capital of grand boulevards, late dinners and neighborhood cafés, then heads to the high northwest, where red rock, salt flats and adobe villages sit under huge Andean skies.
The first three days belong to the capital. You'll taste Argentine wine on your first evening, learn a few tango steps before watching the professionals, and spend a day at the polo: a live match, a proper asado, then a chance to get on a horse and try the sport yourself.
Midway through, the trip heads northwest into the Andean provinces and the days slow down. You'll walk colonial streets with a local guide, cook regional dishes in a hands-on class, cross the white expanse of Salinas Grandes and follow the Humahuaca Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape of striped, mineral-colored mountains.
The last night brings you back to Buenos Aires for yerba mate and a farewell asado with locals. Expect good food throughout, a mix of guided time and free time, and a small group of 6 to 16 travelers that gets to know each other well, with your Soca Islands Host handling the logistics.
Why This Journey
Most first visits to Argentina stop at Buenos Aires. This one pairs the capital's tango, wine and polo with the Andean northwest, a region of Indigenous traditions, colonial towns and high-altitude scenery that feels a world away from the city. Seeing both in one trip gives a much fuller picture of the country.
It suits travelers who like food and culture as much as landscapes, and who'd rather have the tastings, classes, guides and transfers arranged in advance. The pace is lively in the city and noticeably calmer in the mountains, with free time in both.
Where You'll Stay
Buenos Aires (4 nights in total): Hotel Madero, in Puerto Madero. Salta (2 nights): Hotel Alejandro I - Affiliated by Meliá, a short walk from Plaza 9 de Julio. Purmamarca (2 nights): Hotel El Manantial del Silencio, at the foot of the Hill of Seven Colors. Proposed accommodation (or similar), subject to confirmation. Rooms are based on two people sharing a double room with two beds.
Getting There
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travelers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Fly into and out of Buenos Aires, either Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) or Jorge Newbery Airport (AEP); arrival and departure airport transfers are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
What you will see and do
Buenos Aires three ways: a guided city tour, a tango class and a wine tasting
Cross the Salinas Grandes salt flats and drive the Humahuaca Gorge in the Andes
Fold your own empanadas and share a traditional Argentine asado
What's included
All activities mentioned on the itinerary
Accommodations in double rooms
Experienced Soca Islands Host with you throughout the trip
One farewell group activity when possible
Arrival and departure airport transfers
Group transportation
Max 16 travellers per group
What's excluded
- International flights (travellers arrange their own)
- Travel insurance (required)
- Meals not listed as included
- Optional activities
- Single room supplement (single rooms on request, subject to availability)
- Extra hotel nights before or after the trip
Group itinerary
Land in Buenos Aires, where your arrival transfer takes you to the hotel. The city mixes Parisian-style facades with an unmistakably Latin pace, and there's time to rest or take a first walk before the evening.
Tonight the group gathers for a guided wine and food tasting. Regional varietals, small plates and plenty of conversation make it an easy first night with the people you'll travel with.
Spend the day on a guided tour of the city's best-known neighborhoods and landmarks, with time in its colorful districts and busy markets to see how porteños actually live.
In the evening, instructors walk you through the basics of tango. Once you've tried the steps, sit back for a live performance and a relaxed dinner.
Polo is serious business in Argentina, and today you get the insider's version. Start with local flavors and a glass of wine, then watch a live match up close.
Afterwards the grill takes over for a traditional asado. Then it's your turn: an introductory session gets you onto a horse and holding a mallet, with instructors on hand.
Today you trade the capital for Argentina's northwest and the colonial city of Salta. The change is dramatic: rust-red peaks, wide valleys and dry, open country.
The pace eases right away. Expect scenic viewpoints along the way, then an unhurried evening with regional food and wine as the light fades over the hills.
A local guide leads you through Salta's historic streets and cultural sites, explaining how Indigenous heritage and long-held customs still shape daily life in the region.
Then roll up your sleeves for a hands-on cooking class. You'll make traditional northern dishes together and eat what you've cooked. The afternoon is free to wander the plazas or rest.
Head higher into the Andes to Salinas Grandes, a blinding white salt plain ringed by mountains and one of the most striking landscapes of the trip.
Along the way you'll stop in small villages where Indigenous crafts and community traditions remain strong, with time to browse local markets and walk out to viewpoints. Tonight you're based in Purmamarca, beneath its famous striped hillside.
Today is all about the Quebrada de Humahuaca, recognized by UNESCO for its layered rock formations and bands of color across the mountainsides. Your stops include high-altitude lookouts where the scale really sinks in, and the town of Humahuaca itself.
Lunch is out among the scenery. The evening is yours to enjoy the quiet of the mountains.
Return to the capital for one last day in Buenos Aires. Use your free time for a long café stop, a neighborhood you haven't explored yet or last-minute souvenirs.
In the evening you'll learn the ritual of yerba mate, Argentina's shared tea, before a farewell asado with locals. It's a fitting way to close the trip.
Your trip wraps up after breakfast. Say goodbye to the group before your departure transfer to the airport, with plenty of stories from the city and the mountains.
Staying on? Extra nights in Buenos Aires can be requested, subject to hotel availability.
Accommodations
Here's a glimpse of the hotels we selected for this adventure.
Hotel Madero
A contemporary hotel in Puerto Madero, the redeveloped docklands beside the River Plate, close to the Puente de la Mujer and the waterfront promenades. Plaza de Mayo and San Telmo are a short ride away, and the Costanera Sur ecological reserve is on the doorstep.
It has a restaurant, a bar, an indoor pool and a spa, and its modern rooms and quiet setting make it a comfortable base for two busy days in the city.
Hotel Alejandro I - Affiliated by Meliá
A large, full-service hotel on Calle Balcarce in central Salta, about 300 metres from Plaza 9 de Julio, the cathedral and the Cabildo. The Balcarce street of peñas and folk-music bars is on the doorstep, and the colonial centre is easy to explore on foot.
El Mesón restaurant serves regional and international dishes, and there is a heated indoor pool with hydromassage, a sauna, a gym and spa treatments for a slower afternoon after time in the mountains.
Rooms are 30 m² (323 ft²), with a king-size bed or two single beds.
Hotel websiteHotel El Manantial del Silencio
A Spanish colonial-style boutique hotel on the edge of Purmamarca, at the foot of the Cerro de los Siete Colores (Hill of Seven Colours), a short walk from the village square and its craft market. Gardens, an outdoor pool and old shuttered windows look out over the valley.
Its 20 rooms have no television, which suits the quiet of the Quebrada, and the terrace restaurant serves Andean specialities, including at breakfast. It is also well placed for Salinas Grandes and the drive north through the Humahuaca Gorge.
Rooms
- Included
Shared double
Shared with the person you book with, or a fellow traveller of the same sex.
- Extra cost
Single room
A room to yourself, subject to availability.
You choose your room when you book.
Tour FAQS
Fly into and out of Buenos Aires: Ministro Pistarini International Airport, Ezeiza (EZE), or Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP).
Proposed accommodation is Hotel Madero in Buenos Aires, Hotel Alejandro I - Affiliated by Meliá in Salta and Hotel El Manantial del Silencio in Purmamarca (or similar hotels), subject to confirmation.
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travelers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
Yes. Arrival and departure airport transfers are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
The trip includes 8 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 4 dinners. Meals not listed as included are at your own cost.
Extra nights can be requested, subject to hotel availability; contact our Customer Experience team for a quote.
There are no scheduled activities on the final day, so feel free to book your departure at your own convenience.
We recommend arriving before 3 pm on Day 1 to make it in time for the welcome event. But don’t worry no matter when you land, we’ll have an airport transfer ready for you.
Please Refer to your government’s travel advice or consult your local consulate. Remember, passport and visa requirements can change, so make sure to stay updated.
Excluding alcohol, we suggest budgeting around USD $40.00 per day for extras.
While we’re not medical professionals, we want to help you prepare for a safe and healthy adventure. Here are some tips:
- Consult with a healthcare professional: Schedule an appointment with your travel nurse or doctor at least eight weeks before your adventure to get any necessary vaccines or medications.
- Up-to-date medical advice:
- US residents: Check the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
- UK residents: Visit the NHS Fit For Travel website.
- Australian residents: Refer to the Smart Traveler Health website.
3. Government travel advice:
- US residents: Consult the US Department of State Travel Advice.
- UK residents: Check the FCDO Travel Advice.
- Australian residents: Visit the Smart Traveler website.
4. Medication tips: If you take prescription medication, bring enough to last the entire trip, plus a few extra days in case of delays. Carry a copy of your prescription in case you need to visit a clinic abroad.
We hope this helps you prepare for a safe and enjoyable adventure.
Please keep in mind that our itinerary, activities, and hotels might change. These adjustments could happen with little notice due to factors like availability, weather conditions, seasonal shifts, or other circumstances beyond our control. Rest assured, we always aim to minimise any impact on your experience. Occasionally, we may tweak the itinerary to try out fresh ideas and keep the adventure exciting.
We believe solo travelers shouldn’t have to pay extra to explore the world. That’s why our group trips are designed around shared accommodation and do not include a single supplement. Solo travelers joining our group trips are paired in twin or multi-share rooms with another traveler of the same sex for the duration of the trip.
Some of our Independent trips are structured differently. For these itineraries, solo travelers will need to book at the single occupancy rate.
Tips are not included in the cost of this tour. Remember, tipping is entirely at your discretion and based on what you feel comfortable with.
Would you like to learn more or customise our The Argentina Trip trip?
Have questions about accommodations, accessibility, group preferences, or dietary needs? Complete the form below and our team will get back to you shortly.
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