08 Nov 2026
Twin share
£3,710pp
Single from £4,525
Escorted tour
Wine & Landscapes of Argentina’s Northwest: Mendoza to Salta – 14 Days
Mendoza's Malbec, Aconcagua, the red canyons of Talampaya and Ischigualasto, Cafayate's Torrontés and the Humahuaca Gorge.
14 days
From £3,595
Tour overview
This 14-day small-group journey follows the Andes north through Argentina's wine regions and some of its most dramatic desert landscapes, ending in Buenos Aires. A tour leader travels with the group throughout, and you travel overland by private vehicle, with a domestic flight from Salta to Buenos Aires. You stay 13 nights in comfortable small hotels, with breakfast daily and one dinner, leaving plenty of evenings to enjoy local restaurants and Argentine steak and wine. A local guide joins for tastings and park visits.
The trip begins in Mendoza, the heart of Argentine wine country, with a guided tasting at wineries in Luján de Cuyo, famous for Malbec. A day trip into the high Andes takes you to Aconcagua Provincial Park for a 90-minute hike to Laguna de Horcones, with views of the highest mountain outside Asia, and to the natural rock bridge of Puente del Inca.
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Heading north, you visit El Leoncito National Park, known for its clear skies and observatories, with night-sky viewing if conditions allow, and drive through the Las Burras gorge to Villa Unión. A full day explores the UNESCO-listed parks of Talampaya, with its towering red cliffs, and Ischigualasto, the Valley of the Moon, with its strange eroded shapes and dinosaur fossils. In Belén you visit a women's weaving co-operative to learn about traditional textiles. The scenery changes constantly along the way.
Cafayate brings another wine tasting, this time of the aromatic Torrontés white wine grown at high altitude, and a visit to the ruins of Quilmes, a fortified indigenous settlement. You drive through the Broken Arrow Gorge to the colonial village of Cachi and over the Bishop's Hill Road to Salta, with a day trip to the colourful Humahuaca Gorge. A flight takes you to Buenos Aires for a walking tour of La Boca and the Plaza de Mayo.
The physical rating is medium, with short hikes, long drives and some altitude in the north. This trip suits travellers who love wine, landscapes and photography, and want to see a side of Argentina few visitors reach. Spring and autumn bring the most comfortable temperatures for exploring the deserts.
Trip highlights
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Wine tasting in Mendoza's Luján de Cuyo (Day 2)
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A hike in Aconcagua Provincial Park and Puente del Inca (Day 3)
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El Leoncito National Park and its night skies (Day 4)
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Talampaya and Ischigualasto National Parks (Day 6)
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Torrontés wine in Cafayate and the Quilmes ruins (Day 8)
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The Humahuaca Gorge (Day 11)
Your route
12 stops from Mendoza to Buenos Aires
- Mendoza Days 1–3
- Puente del Inca Day 3
- Barreal Day 4
- Villa Union Days 5–6
- Ischigualasto Day 6
- Belén Day 7
- Quilmes Ruins Day 8
- Cafayate Day 8
- Cachi Day 9
- Salta Days 10–11
- Humahuaca Gorge Day 11
- Buenos Aires Days 12–14
Why choose this tour
Two of Argentina's great wine regions and its most dramatic desert landscapes in one journey. A route few visitors take, with a tour leader and a flight back to Buenos Aires.
Best suited to
- Wine lovers
- Photographers and landscape enthusiasts
- Return visitors to Argentina
- Travellers who enjoy road trips
Day-by-day itinerary
14 days from Mendoza, Argentina to Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Day 1 · Mendoza Arrive in Mendoza
Arrive in the capital of Argentine wine country and meet your group.
- Hotel
- Fuente Mayor Hotel or similar
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Day 2 · Luján de Cuyo Mendoza wineries
A guided wine tasting at wineries in Luján de Cuyo, famous for Malbec.
- Hotel
- Fuente Mayor Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 3 · Aconcagua Provincial Park, Puente del Inca Aconcagua
Hike to Laguna de Horcones beneath Aconcagua and visit the Puente del Inca rock bridge.
- Hotel
- Fuente Mayor Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 4 · El Leoncito National Park, Barreal El Leoncito
Drive to Barreal and visit El Leoncito, with night-sky viewing if conditions allow.
- Hotel
- Acrux Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 5 · Las Burras gorge, Villa Unión To Villa Unión
Drive through the Las Burras gorge to Villa Unión.
- Hotel
- Hotel Pircas Negras or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 6 · Talampaya, Ischigualasto Talampaya and Ischigualasto
A full day exploring the red cliffs of Talampaya and the eroded shapes of the Valley of the Moon.
- Hotel
- Hotel Pircas Negras or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 7 · Belén To Belén
Drive to Belén and visit a women's weaving co-operative.
- Hotel
- Belén Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 8 · Quilmes, Cafayate Cafayate and Quilmes
Visit the Quilmes ruins and taste Torrontés wine in Cafayate.
- Hotel
- Los Sauces or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 9 · Broken Arrow Gorge, Cachi To Cachi
Drive through the Broken Arrow Gorge to the colonial village of Cachi.
- Hotel
- ACA Cachi or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 10 · Bishop's Hill Road, Salta To Salta
Cross the Bishop's Hill Road from cactus deserts to green forests and Salta.
- Hotel
- Hotel Caseros or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 11 · Humahuaca Gorge Humahuaca Gorge
A day trip to the multicoloured Humahuaca Gorge and its villages.
- Hotel
- Hotel Caseros or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 12 · Buenos Aires Fly to Buenos Aires
Fly from Salta to Buenos Aires, with the evening free.
- Hotel
- Hotel Principado or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 13 · La Boca, Plaza de Mayo Buenos Aires
A walking tour of La Boca and the Plaza de Mayo, then a free afternoon.
- Hotel
- Hotel Principado or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 14 · Buenos Aires Trip ends in Buenos Aires
The trip ends after breakfast.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Mendoza (3 nights) Fuente Mayor Hotel or similar
- Barreal (1 night) Acrux Hotel or similar
- Villa Unión (2 nights) Hotel Pircas Negras or similar
- Belén (1 night) Belén Hotel or similar
- Cafayate (1 night) Los Sauces or similar
- Cachi (1 night) ACA Cachi or similar
- Salta (2 nights) Hotel Caseros or similar
- Buenos Aires (2 nights) Hotel Principado or similar
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 13 nights in hotels
- Meals 13 breakfasts and 1 dinner
- Transport overland by private vehicle, plus a flight from Salta to Buenos Aires
- Wine tastings in Luján de Cuyo and Cafayate
- Aconcagua Provincial Park hike and Puente del Inca
- El Leoncito, Talampaya and Ischigualasto National Parks
- A women's weaving co-operative in Belén and the Quilmes ruins
- Humahuaca Gorge day trip and a Buenos Aires walking tour
- Tour leader throughout
Not included
- International flights
- Meals not listed
- Optional activities
- Tips, travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You want to see Patagonia — this trip covers the northwest
- You dislike long drives — distances are large
- You want most meals included — breakfasts and one dinner
- You want international flights included — they are not
Good to know
FCDO advice
UK FCDO travel advice for Argentina
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £3,595 per person, twin share, tour only. 6 upcoming departures.
28 Mar 2027
Twin share
£3,595pp
Single from £4,425
09 May 2027
Twin share
£3,595pp
Single from £4,425
13 Jun 2027
Twin share
£3,595pp
Single from £4,425
26 Sep 2027
Twin share
£3,595pp
Single from £4,425
07 Nov 2027
Twin share
£3,595pp
Single from £4,425
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
How much wine tasting is there?
Two guided tastings, in Mendoza and Cafayate, plus plenty of chances to try local wines in restaurants.
How long are the drives?
Some are long, as distances in the northwest are large, but the scenery is spectacular.
Will the altitude affect me?
Parts of the north and the Aconcagua area are high. Take it easy and drink plenty of water.
Is the flight included?
Yes, the flight from Salta to Buenos Aires is included. International flights are not.
Do I need a visa?
UK visitors do not need a visa for Argentina for tourist stays. Check the latest FCDO advice.
What is the minimum age?
The minimum age is 16.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
ATOL protected
100% financially protected in a Trust bank account
PTS 6035
4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary