Highlights of Northern Argentina
Travel Destinations: Argentina
14 Day Itinerary | Buenos Aires, Ibera Wetlands, Iguazu Falls, Salta, Puramerica, Jujuy, Cafayate
Discover all the northern natural highlights of Argentina on this 14-day trip to Iguazú Falls, Iberá Wetlands, Salta, and Jujuy. Soon you’ll be adventuring the way Northerners do! At the end of your journey to the North, travel back to Buenos Aires to explore the vibrant streets of the capital of Argentina, and enjoy an exclusive dinner tango show in the most historic district of the city.
• Stay for 3 days in a typical ranch in Iberá Wetlands, surrounded by amazing wildlife, and experience horseback riding along marshes.
• Fly to the jungle and enjoy a boat trip to immense waterfalls.
• Visit the gleaming salt flats near Salta. Try tamales, drink delicious wine, and meet the locals in traditional peñas.
Independent Travel
Independent trips are either entire trips you take privately or solo extensions to a group tour.
Classic
Embark on a timeless journey where iconic destinations, historical landmarks, and cultural treasures create a well-rounded and enduring trip.
Premium
Elevate your journey with style and sophistication, offering top-notch experiences without breaking the bank.
Flexible
With no pre-set departure dates, choose when you want to go and for how long.
At A Glance
Day 1 – Buenos Aires
• Private airport transfer
• Day at leisure
Day 2 – Ibera Wetlands
• Airport transfer
• Fly to Posadas
• Afternoon horseback exploration
Day 3 – Ibera Wetlands
• Boat trip through Provincial Natural Monument
Day 4 – Ibera Wetlands
• Day at leisure
Day 5 – Iguazu Falls
• Transfer to Iguazu Falls
Day 6 – Iguazu Falls
• Full day tour of Argentinian side of the falls
Day 7 – Iguazu Falls
• Half day tour of Brazilian side of the falls
Day 8 – Salta
• Airport transfer
• Fly to Salta
• Afternoon at leisure
Day 9 – Jujuy/Purmamarca
• Full-day Safari to the Clouds and Great Salt Flats
Day 10 – Salta
• Full-day visit to Humahuaca Gorge
Day 11 – Cafayate
• 4WD tour through Calchaquí Valleys
Day 12 – Salta
• Las Conchas and Devil’s Throat excursion
Day 13 – Buenos Aires
• Airport Transfer
• Fly to Buenos Aires
• Afternoon at leisure
Day 14 – Buenos Aires
• Depart at any time
Itinerary
Day 1 – Buenos Aires
Upon arrival, we will drive you to the city and you’ll have the rest of the day to enjoy Buenos Aires at your own pace. Buenos Aires is a marvelous, energetic, cosmopolitan city, full of color and different styles of architecture.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 2 – Ibera Wetlands
Start your journey to discover the natural highlights of the North of Argentina with a pick-up from your hotel and a transfer to Buenos Aires airport. Today you’ll fly to Posadas!
Upon arrival in Posadas, we’ll drive you to a local estancia (typical Argentine ranch) in the Esteros del Iberá region, near the popular Iberá wetlands. Esteros del Iberá is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience; so much more than just a tour. This is the perfect place for travelers who want to experience ecotourism, explore an off-the-beaten-path destination in Argentina, and be in close contact with nature and local fauna. The Esteros are the second-largest wetlands in the world, after Pantanal in Brazil, and one of the biggest freshwater reservoirs on the continent.
The estancia is the perfect base to explore the area and enjoy a typical gaucho environment. This is much more akin to a family house than a hotel, so you will have the chance to try homemade food and learn about the inhabitants’ traditional customs. Once in the estancia, you will have the afternoon to explore the beautiful secluded countryside on foot or on horseback.
Accommodation: Estancia
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 3 – Ibera Wetlands
After breakfast, we will sail towards the Corrientes Stream where an unforgettable fauna exploration awaits us amongst the famous floating islands of the Iberá lagoon. The “embalsados” are floating islands made up of aquatic roots and sediments. Their thickness can vary from a few inches up to 7 feet, allowing 330 pounds of marsh deer to walk across them.
These islands are able to move from place to place due to the area´s strong winds, causing the geography of the lagoon to change constantly, which has given rise to many of its mysterious legends.
Take a boat trip to see alligators and capybaras, and enjoy some flora and fauna sightseeing. The natural reserve is home to some exotic species declared Provincial Natural Monument like the marsh deer and some impressive aquatic vegetation.
Accommodation: Estancia
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 4 – Ibera Wetlands
Explore the best-kept secrets of scenic Bariloche, a panoply of lush hills, rugged peaks and lakes reflecting a crisp blue sky. Then, join your guide for a low-intensity hike, listeningSecond day in paradise! Did you get that photo of a cute capybara? If not, you will have a second chance today. You can take another boat tour and continue exploring Iberá in depth or try something new. This is your chance to feel like a cowboy in the wild! Take a horseback ride along the Iberá marshes and learn the land like a real Argentine gaucho.to the sounds of the forest. Stop in the woods to enjoy freshly made mate, a favorite Argentine beverage, and learn the etiquette of enjoying it — a shared cultural ritual practiced daily by locals. This afternoon, visit a local brewery where a brewmeister shows you what makes beer from this region so unique, and enjoy a tasting.
Accommodation: Estancia
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 5 – Iguazu Falls
Say goodbye to the awe-inspiring sunrise of Iberá and get ready to continue your journey. In the morning, we’ll pick you up and drive you to Posadas, approximately 4 hours away.
Once you arrive in Posadas you’ll take the public bus to Puerto Iguazú (300km away), the gateway to the famous Iguazú Falls. This journey takes about 5 hours, but if you would prefer to do this part of the trip using private transportation, please just let us know and we will quote it for you.
Upon arrival, we will meet you at the bus station and drive you to your hotel in Puerto Iguazú. The small border town of Puerto Iguazú is the gateway to visit the impressive Iguazú Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders and a UNESCO World Heritage site, making it a must-see destination for any traveler visiting Argentina.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 6 – Iguazu Falls
Today our driver and bilingual guide will pick you up from your hotel and drive you to the National Park, on the Argentinian side. Enjoy a 7-hour tour wandering through the rainforest!
The falls are surrounded by a humid subtropical forest where the exuberant vegetation is home to many different animals and birds. Our guide will help you spot some of them: antbirds, toucans, manakins, parrots, and coatis, just to name a few of the most common birds. Lower and upper walkways weave in and around falls permitting up close and personal experiences with this magnificent spectacle of nature.
The Argentine side of the falls is filled with a myriad of paths walkways and stairways which allow you to have an experience from many different perspectives. You will have the chance to meet “The Devil’s Throat”: the largest of the falls and for many the most spellbinding. To get to the “Devil’s throat” you take the ecological train and then walk out along boardwalks. After walking and taking pictures of animals and plants, you will have some free time to eat lunch in this amazing environment. At the end of the experience, we will drive you back to your hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 7 – Iguazu Falls
After breakfast, enjoy a 4-hour excursion to the Brazilian side of Iguazú Falls. Don’t forget your passport! While Argentina has 80% of the falls on its side, Brazil has the best panoramic view. On the Argentine side you will have the sensation of being right inside the falls, but only by visiting the Brazilian side will you fully appreciate the immensity of Iguazú Falls.
Take your time to enjoy it and feel it, to stroll the different walkways and feel the spray of water on your face. Take the boardwalk over the Salto Santa María; it feels like walking on the water. Get closer to the “Devil’s Throat” and experience the power of water! We are sure this is a day you will never forget. At the appropriate time in the afternoon, you will be transferred back to Puerto Iguazú village.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 8 – Salta
Today, prepare to leave the jungle and fly to the incredible North of Argentina! At the appropriate time, we’ll pick you up from your hotel and drive you to the airport to take your flight to Salta, also called “La Linda” (the beautiful).
Salta is definitely one of the highlights in North of Argentina. From here, you can visit the most outstanding natural wonders of the area: the Humahuaca Gorge and the Seven Colors Hill in Jujuy.
Take the rest of the afternoon to explore the city. Bear in mind that this is a stress-free hub; la siesta (a midday nap) is kind of a religious ritual for locals, which means that between 1 pm and 5 pm, shops are usually closed.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 9 – Jujuy/Purmamarca
Today you’ll travel to the clouds—no exaggeration! We’ll pick you up at your hotel in a 4WD vehicle to start a two-day trip to Purmamarca and the Great Salt Flats, a white solid ocean, 13000 feet above sea level!
In this 10-hour trip, we’ll travel along the same route as the famous Train to the Clouds, zigzagging on lonely roads between the blue sky and the high desert plains. On our way, we will visit historic ruins and small scattered villages.
Our first destination is the small town of Campo Quijano, best known as the Gateway to the Puna. Later, we will visit the impressive Quebrada del Toro, a natural wonder where human-sized cacti stand in a backdrop of eroded peaks that emerge from the golden sand like giant fingers. Here we’ll stop for a refreshing coffee break.
We’ll keep on traveling to Santa Rosa de Tastil, a pre-Incan city of the XIII century, and right after, to San Antonio de los Cobres, the HQ of the Pachamama (Mother Earth) Celebration. The “salty” cherry on top will be the surreal landscape of the Great Salt Flats. The natural light and reflections provide perfect opportunities for endless photo fun. Test your creativity! And be careful of where you put your feet: there are artificial water pools in the area.
At the end of your adventure in the Great Salt Flats we’ll take you to your hotel in Purmamarca, located at the base of Jujuy’s famed Seven Color Hill.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 10 – Salta
We’ll pick you up early in the morning to begin your 13-hour trip exploring the Humahuaca Gorge, declared a UNESCO Heritage Site and one of the highlights of Northern Argentina. Humahuaca Gorge is home to a bunch of amazing natural monuments like the Seven Color Hill, the Pucará de Tilcara (a ramshackle yet well-restored fortress), and the Paleta del Pintor (Painter Palette) in Maimará village, an impressive multi-colored mountain range. Our adventurous path will then lead us through the Yungas, the green-tinted jungle of the North, past breathtaking natural monuments until ultimately reaching the picturesque town of Humahuaca. Wander amongst colonial houses and streets, get a feel for the old-world serenity that still survives in this setting, and grab some lunch (not included) in one of the typical taverns; the humita (a traditional corn-based dish) is something you definitely must try!
In the afternoon, we’ll keep on traveling until we get to the little Uquía Church, where you’ll see some peculiar paintings from the colonial period, called Pinturas Cuzqueñas. For the potential astrologists, we’ll pass by the famous Tropic of Capricorn milestone and finally arrive in the city of San Salvador de Jujuy, the second biggest capital of the Argentine North region, after Salta. We’ll visit the cathedral, the main square, and the presidential house of Jujuy, nicknamed Tacita de Plata (silver cup) after the wealthy city, Cadiz, in Spain.
At the end of the day, we’ll drive you back to your hotel in Salta. If you feel like having a particularly nice evening, walk Balcarce Street and choose the bar or peña that suits you the most!
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 11 – Cafayate
We’ll pick you up from your hotel in Salta with a 4WD vehicle and leave behind the Lerma Valley to visit Laures and Escoipe, the first two gorges of this 12-hour excursion. The landscapes will still remain green, but colors will definitely begin to change when we approach the Cuesta del Obispo, the windiest and most spectacular road in this area. We’ll climb up to 11,000 feet high—get prepared to see the world from above!
This is the connective road to get to the high valleys, where the Calchaqui Valley wine region sits. We’ll see enormous cacti while passing through Los Cardones National Park on our way to Cachi, a famous village where Spanish and native traditions combine to form the most beautiful architecture.
In the afternoon, continue with your exploration of the valleys and reach the towns of Molinos and Angastaco, just before visiting Las Flechas Gorge, a special rocky formation that creates a labyrinth of sharp, high peaks. After going down its mysterious passages, we’ll get to Cafayate where we’ll spend the night.
Cafayate is one of the most popular destinations of the Calchaqui Valley wine region. Cafayate wine is renowned in Argentina, especially because of the star product of the region: the Torrontes wine.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 12 – Salta
On the second day of this Calchaqui Valley adventure, you’ll leave Cafayate and be directly immersed into the forbidding universe of Las Conchas Gorge, where erosion has carved mysterious red shapes into the rocks. Get prepared to visit this Natural Reserve for about 5 hours, and enjoy the views of its colorful hills while you go down its red-tinted promontories and discover the most prominent rocky highlights: the Frog, the Obelisk, and the Castles.
The highlight of the day will be the Amphitheater and the famous Devil’s Throat. The amphitheater is a natural semicircular formation (65 feet high) and is home to intimate concerts performed by local artists. Get inside and check out the amazing acoustics by singing your favorite tune! Nearby, the Devil’s Throat awaits at the end of Las Conchas Gorge. Going down this particular rocky formation, you’ll feel as though you’re right in the belly of a giant!
At the end of the day, we’ll take you back to Salta. Enjoy the evening by eating an empanada salteña, a special variation of this classic Argentine dish.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 13 – Buenos Aires
This is the end of your northern trip, but the beginning of your urban exploration of Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. At the appropriate time, we’ll pick you up from your hotel and drive you to the airport to take your flight back to Buenos Aires.
Upon arrival, you be transferred to your hotel and enjoy a leisurely evening in the city that “never sleeps”.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 14 – Buenos Aires
It’s the last day of your Argentine journey… we hope to see you back here soon! At the appropriate time, we’ll pick you up from your hotel and drive you to the international airport to take your flight back home.
Meals included: Breakfast
Captivating Moments
Get captivated by a stunning collection of sample images from this trip.
Additional Information
This sample itinerary is meant to inspire your next trip. It is ready to be customized to suit your interests, tastes and budget so you can connect with local cultures and experience authentic travel on your own terms and departing whenever you choose. Itinerary details and availability are subject to change, please inquire for up-to-date information and pricing.
What’s Included
• A fully customized itinerary based on your interests and schedule
• 24/7 in-destination support from our local office
• All accommodation stays, tours and transfers for scheduled activities are covered, unless otherwise listed in the itinerary
• A private driver for tours and transfers (in some countries our local private guides also act as your driver – your Destination Expert will discuss with you if applicable)
• Local private guides or shared tours that take you through your itinerary highlights and experiences, your final itinerary will confirm the type of tour
• A greeting at the airport or at your accommodation from one of our representatives – your expert will confirm your meet and greet location with you
• One suitcase and one carry-on per person for trip transfers
What’s Not Included
• Your international airfare – please do let your expert know if you’d like to receive pricing from our Air Team
• Travel insurance, which we offer and can be purchased after you’ve booked your tour
• Visas (unless noted)
• Excess baggage charges, and where applicable, baggage not included in your fare
• Early check-in or late check-out from hotels (unless otherwise specified)
• Optional enhancements like room or flight upgrades, optional tours, or local camera or video fees
• Passport fees, immunization costs, and local departure taxes (when applicable)
Book This Trip
Love this sample itinerary? Reach out to us and make it your own! Gilded Travels can quickly offer you information about availability, customization, and pricing.