ARGENTINA

🚶 Welcome to the city of tango and wide boulevards. Start with the historic core—Plaza de Mayo: the Casa Rosada with the legendary Peronism balcony, the elegant Metropolitan Cathedral, and the old Cabildo create a cinematic setting. Walk along Defensa Street toward San Telmo—a neighborhood of cobblestone streets, antique shops, and cozy cafés. On Sundays the Feria de San Telmo flea market is in full swing here, but even on weekdays the atmosphere of “old Buenos Aires” is felt in every courtyard. In the evening, drop into a milonga to see (or try) real tango: in small halls, local couples dance close to the bandoneón—no gloss, but with a magnetism that can’t be faked.

🚶 Morning in Recoleta: marble mansions, Belle Époque shadows, and the country’s most famous necropolis—Recoleta Cemetery, a true “open-air museum” with marble mausoleums and Art Nouveau sculptures. Then head to MALBA, with a strong collection of 20th–21st century Latin American art (Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Antonio Berni, and others). Afterwards, take a leisurely walk through Palermo’s parks, where among rose gardens and lakes you can catch your breath from the city’s energy.

🚶 Today’s contrast is colorful La Boca. The conventillo houses are painted in vivid colors, artists sell paintings on Caminito, and street dancers invite you for photos. It’s a tourist area—keep an eye on your belongings and don’t wander far from busy streets. At sunset, head to Puerto Madero’s glass skyscrapers with promenades and Calatrava’s Woman’s Bridge: the perfect place to see the city light up.

✈️ Flight: Buenos Aires (AEP) → Puerto Iguazú (IGR) — about 1h 50m nonstop; several flights a day. On arrival, check in in Puerto Iguazú and take an easy walk to the “Hito Tres Fronteras” obelisk, where the borders of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay meet. Warm jungle air, the Iguazú and Paraná rivers, vivid sunsets—an excellent warm-up before meeting the falls.

🚶 A full day in Iguazú Park (Argentine side): built boardwalks lead along the Upper and Lower Circuits past dozens of cascades, rainbows, and foamy clouds. The climax is “Devil’s Throat”: an ecological train takes you to the path, then a boardwalk across islands to the viewing platform; when the roaring mass of water plunges into the abyss, the air vibrates and the spray creates a constant rainbow. Come at opening (8:00) for fewer people; the last train to the “Throat” leaves around midday, so plan your time.

✈️ Flight: Puerto Iguazú → Buenos Aires (AEP) → Salta (SLA). Pure flight time ~1h 50m + ~2h 15m; with the connection allow 5–7 hours for the journey. On arrival, stroll around Plaza 9 de Julio: the pearly facades of the cathedral, museum courtyards, street musicians. For dinner—locro, salteñas, and high-altitude northern wines.

🚶 Morning at MAAM (Museum of High Altitude Archaeology): one of the region’s most impressive exhibitions of Inca culture (the Llullaillaco Children, the capacocha ritual, Andean archaeology). Then take the cable car up San Bernardo Hill: the city and the Lerma Valley open up as a mosaic of rooftops, greenery, and mountain spurs; at the top—terraces, cascades, and easy paths for a walk.

🚐 Early start. The Salta → Purmamarca road (~180 km, ~2h 40m) runs through gorges to the town at the foot of the “Hill of Seven Colors.” Then RN52 climbs the Cuesta de Lipán switchbacks: a steep ascent to the Abra de Potrerillos pass (about 4170 m), views of cardón cacti and herds of vicuñas. Descend—and you’re in the endless white ocean of Salinas Grandes (≈3350 m): mirror-like salt pools, the geometry of cut slabs, and a cosmic sense of scale. Return to Salta by evening. Important: sun protection, water, a warm windbreaker—at altitude it’s cool even in summer.

✈️ Flight: Salta (SLA) → Mendoza (MDZ) — nonstop flights ~1h 45m. Check in and walk along the green avenues of the center and Plaza Independencia. In the evening—taste Malbec at one of the city wine bars or have a light dinner on a terrace.

🚐 A day of wine and views: Luján de Cuyo is the historic heart of Argentine Malbec. Visit 2–3 wineries with tastings and a terrace lunch with views of snow-capped peaks. Between estates—cypresses, irrigation canals, the scent of sun-warmed orchards. Take it slow: 60–90 minutes per tasting, 20–40 minutes for transfers.

🚶 Option 1: a trip to the high-altitude Uco Valley—futuristic wineries against the Andes, almond groves, and mineral wines. Option 2 (easier): a day in General San Martín Park—the city’s giant “green lung” with a lake, monuments, and shady avenues; a great break before Patagonia.

✈️ Flight: Mendoza (MDZ) → Bariloche (BRC) — nonstop flights ~1h 45m. During the day—“Circuito Chico”: the turquoise waters of Nahuel Huapi, panoramas from Cerro Campanario, centuries-old forests, and the legendary Llao Llao resort. The route combines short stops and viewpoints without requiring serious physical effort.

🚶 In the morning — a short hike in the Llao-Llao area (for example, to the Llao-Llao viewpoint or along the shores of Moreno): fir trees, the scent of pine needles, glints on the water. In the afternoon — the Patagonia Museum in Centro Cívico and chocolate workshops on Mitre Street: Patagonian chestnut honey, berries, and hot chocolate — a tasty finale to the lake stage.

✈️ Flight: Bariloche (BRC) → El Calafate (FTE) — ~1h 50m by direct flight (in season/as scheduled). After check-in — a walk along the shores of Lago Argentino and in the Laguna Nimez reserve: pink flamingos, steppe wind, and the first icebergs in the distance. Tomorrow — a meeting with the great glacier.

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