Pumamarca Salta Iguazu Falls Ibera Wetlands

Overlooked for so long, northern Argentina offers some of the most captivating and diverse scenery in all of South America. From Buenos Aires, you travel up to the multi-coloured canyons, red rock gorges and salt lakes of Saltaā€™s highlands before plunging into the subtropical jungle surrounding the thunderous Iguazu Falls. From there, you head into the steamy wetlands of IberĆ”, home to a dizzying array of flora and fauna, one of the continentā€™s true wildlife centres.

Itinerary Highlights

  • Visit multi-coloured canyons, salt-lakes & pre-Incan ruins
  • Ride the dizzying “Train to the Clouds”
  • Tour colonial Salta and the famous MAAM Museum
  • Marvel at the “Devil’s Throat” at Iguazu Falls
  • Enjoy widlife safaris through the Ibera Wetlands

Whatā€™s included

  • Private tours for most included activities
  • Meet & greet airport service
  • Luxury or boutique accommodation at your chosen level
  • Expert guides in each destination

flexibility

This is an example itinerary. It is fully flexible; you can add or detract days and include hotels at your chosen budget. It departs daily.

13

Nights

Price Guide

$7000 – $9500 pp

Our quotes are bespoke for your customised trip. The prices displayed are indicative only, read more

Day 1

Fly to Argentina

plan line
Day 2-4

Pumamarca & the Humahuaca Gorge

Fly to Jujuy, 100km north of Salta, capital of the Argentinaā€™s north-western highlands where you will be met and driven on to the picturesque Andean town of Purmamarca perched at the foot of the magnificent ā€œrock of seven coloursā€. This is a remarkable and largely overlooked corner of Argentina and together with your guide, you will explore the terracotta canyons, deep gorges and salt-lakes rich in pre-Incan history and lore. Wander amidst the ancient ruins of Tilcara, marvel at the multi-coloured Maimara Canyons and pass the Tropic of Capricorn as you continue up the Humahuaca Gorge. High in the mountains above Purmamarca, the dazzling Salinas Grandes salt-flats contrast with eerie rock formations and long abandoned mining towns and railway stations, unmissable for photographers.

Day 5-6

Regional Capital Salta

Head south to the elegant city of Salta with charming colonial architecture centered around cathedral and leafy central plaza. If running, you may like to ride the ā€œTrain to the Cloudsā€, a dizzying rail journey that takes you high into Argentinaā€™s altiplano and negotiates some 29 bridges, 21 tunnels and 13 viaducts through breathtaking canyon scenery.

Day 7-9

Iguazu Falls

From highland canyons to tropical rainforest, fly to Iguazu, home to the worldā€™s largest waterfalls and one of Argentinaā€™s and South Americaā€™s natural wonders. Experience the falls from both the Brazilian and Argentine side of the borders following the jungle trails as they take you to dramatic viewpoints overlooking the raging cataracts. Join nature walks through the national park, enjoy scenic helicopter overflights across the gorge or even take-on the white knuckle excitement of the Macuco safari boat trip to experience the power of the falls.

Day 10

Posadas & Misiones

Leaving Iguazu, you will continue south by road through Misiones province to reach the city of Posadas on the border of Paraguay. On route, you may like to visit the atmospheric ruins of San Ignacio Mini, a 17th century Jesuit Mission abandoned after the Jesuits were expelled from Argentina.

Day 11-13

The Ibera Wetlands

Head south-west into wilds of the IberĆ” Wetlands, a vast area of some 1300 kmĀ² of marsh, savannah and gallery forest and home to an extraordinary range of flora and fauna including pampa deer, capybara, caiman, maned wolf and over 350 species of birds. Based at a traditional estancia-style lodge, you will join daily walks, boat-trips and photo-safaris accompanied by expert naturalist guides to experience the huge diversity of wildlife. Ibera is rich in gaucho tradition, and for riders, there is no better way to experience the wetlands than on horseback following in the footsteps of the Argentine cowboys.

dot joiner for itins
Day 14

Fly back to Buenos Aires

A note on price

The prices outlined above are a rough guide to give you an idea of costs and enable you to budget for your trip.

Guide prices are generally for private arrangements based on twin share, in well located, good quality accommodation (excluding international flights).

Please note costs are indicative and may vary due to a number of factors such as; travel date, hotel choice, room category, number of people travelling and prevailing exchange rates.

Price Guide $7000 – $9500 per person

When to travel

jan feb mar apr may jun jul aug sep oct nov dec

Argentinaā€™s weather is as diverse as the countryā€™s landscapes. In the far south, temperatures reach the high teens during the spring and summer months of November to March (best time to visit) though can drop close to zero at night. Due to its latitude, days are long ā€“ 16 hours of light in December which contrasts with around 8 hours in mid-winter when temperatures run close to zero during the day and sub-zero at night. Heading north, the Lake District follows a similar pattern though is warmer over 20Ā° in the summer and wettest in March/April though with beautiful autumnal colours. Buenos Aires and central Argentina enjoys a warm Mediterranean climate with annual highs of 30Ā° while the subtropical north is very hot and sticky with tempestuous downpours during the summer months ā€“ Iguazu Falls are particularly impressive in January in February though often the sheer volume of water and surrounding mist shroud the view.

Add onā€™s

South of Salta, the wonderful terracotta landscapes, vineyards and gorges of the Calchaquies Valleys combine beautifully and offer some of South America’s most scenic driving routes. Heading west across the border, Chileā€™s Atacama Desert offers eerie rock formations, red rock canyons, white-washed Andean villages and spectacular landscapes such as the Tatio geysers and Atacama Salt-Lake. Continuing north into Bolivia opens up multi-coloured canyons and the dazzling Salar de Uyuni.

South of Buenos Aires, the Lake District offers a heady contrast to the highlands with picturesque volcanoes, forests and national parks while deep in Patagonia, El Calafate, Mount Fitzroy and the Torres del Paine National Park in Chile reveal glaciers, granite peaks and rich gaucho culture.

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