Photo: Angela White A Taste of Argentina Highlights:
Includes:
Trip Number: 09805A Price: Deposit: $200 Capacity: 15 Leader: Angela White
The Trip Unfortunately, this trip has been cancelled. If you have questions, please contact us. Photo: Angela White Argentina is a country of rich contrasts and scenic splendors. Our adventure will take us from the jungle to the desert, to the Andes and glaciers then the sophisticated, vibrant capital of Buenos Aires. We will taste the country’s finest wines, experience the power of thundering waterfalls, marvel at the unique and sultry tango, take a boat ride to see glaciers calving and much more. In Buenos Aires, we’ll explore the city’s history, culture and
politics through its various districts, markets and parks. Every area has different
sights and sounds, its own story to tell, not the least of which is that of
Eva Peron (Evita). We’ll visit all the well known places such as the
Casa Rosada on the Plaza de Mayo, the brightly colored houses and cobbled streets
of la Boca, the antique center of San Telmo and the newest upscale barrio Puerto
Madero. As we stroll through the tree lined streets, marveling at the “dog
walkers” with their dozen canines in tow, we could taste the excellent
ice cream or maybe drink an afternoon coffee or mate (South American bitter
green tea) while watching the world go by, a local pastime which we will happily
share. And of course, there will be a tango show to experience! Our next stop is Iguazu National Park, north of Buenos Aires. The Park (550 sq.km) is pristine and a diverse habitat with thousands of species of flora and fauna. The falls (all 276 of them) are collectively the largest in the world and they are breathtaking in their size, beauty and power. The noise of the falling water is deafening and awe inspiring. On a clear day, rainbows and butterflies abound. We will spend a day walking the trails around the falls but the following day, we will escape the tourists and hike a lesser known trail in the Park to another falls. Our final destination is the beautiful provincial town of Mendoza, to the west of Buenos Aires, and at the edge of the foothills of the Andes. The streets are lined with giant sycamore trees, forming a green canopy overhead, and there are small canals (acequias) carrying water from Andean snow melt to the city’s water system. Mendoza has outstanding architecture and delightful central plazas with plentiful outdoor cafes. Here, 70% of the country’s wine is produced and bottled. Wine production here started five hundred years ago with the Spanish colonists and was greatly expanded in the 19th century when settlers brought their best grapes to grow. The hot climate here favors red wines which encourages production of Malbec, the wine for which Argentina is internationally known and acclaimed. We will spend our time here exploring the mountains and gaucho culture with an afternoon on a guided tour of the bodegas(wineries).
 Photo: Angela White Day 1: As all flights arrive at Buenos Aires late morning, we will meet you at the airport at midday and take you to a lovely restaurant for a delicious lunch and trip orientation. Then the afternoon will be spent exploring San Telmo market with its street musicians, colorful vendors and tango dancers. Day 2: A full day in Buenos Aires, with a guided city tour to see the city’s historical buildings then a tour around all the beautiful areas of Recoleta with its famous cemetery, Palermo, Belgrano, Retiro and La Boca. After seeing the sights we’ll have some free time in the late afternoon. Then we spend the evening at a tango show with dancers and singers of Argentina’s traditional music. Day 3: Our flight to El Calafate in Patagonia leaves early in the morning. El Calafate is a bustling little tourist town and the gateway to the Parque Nacional los Glaciares and the spectacular Perito Moreno Glacier, 50 miles away. After lunch, you are free to explore the area. Day 4: Today, we take the bus and drive to the National Park through stunning mountain scenery and around Lago de Argentina, to see the impressive Perito Moreno Glacier. Maybe we will see guanaos, rheas and foxes plus flamingos on the lake and condors in the skies.Our bus will stop at scenic viewpoints and then we’ll get on a boat and watch the glacier calving close to, with huge blocks of ice thundering down into the water. Day 5: This will be a long but rewarding day. After a bus ride to El Chatlen, we take off on our exciting hike. Expect to see plenty of Andean wild life and spectacular scenery with snow capped peaks spiraling up into the sky. The great glaciers spilling into the Torre lagoon, our final destination, are one of the most gorgeous sights in the world.  Photo: Angela White Day 6: We leave beautiful Patagonia and fly, via Buenos Aires, to the jungle and Iguazu Falls National Park. You will notice quite a difference in both the scenery and the temperature here! We are back at sea level and the weather is much warmer - perfect for a dip in the hotel pool. Everywhere is much greener, surrounded by trees and flowering plants. Our hotel is close to the entrance of the Park in a delightful setting. Day 7: Today we will spend exploring Iguazu Falls. This National Park is well organized to protect its wildlife and jungle so we have to take a small train to access the trail system and myriad of waterfalls. First, we will hike to the Fall “Garganta del Diablo” (Devils Throat),an experience of a lifetime to see deafening cascades plunging straight down into the gorge. Then we’ll continue down the gorge, marveling at the spectacle of hundreds of falls. You will be overwhelmed by the size and power of the water as the spray and mist touches your face and rainbows dance around through the cascades. In the afternoon, we will take a power boat to the actual edge of the falls! Day 8: This morning we will hike the Makuko trail (6 miles round trip) through the jungle to a hidden waterfall where you can swim and relax. In the afternoon, we will visit a nearby Animal and Bird Rehabilitation center to see their work and the different indigenous species.  Photo: Angela White Day 9: Leaving the jungle, we fly to Mendoza, once more through Buenos Aires. Now we are in the desert and the foothills of the Andes, surrounded by farms and vineyards! You have a free afternoon to wander through the tree lined streets, taste some empanadas and maybe do a little shopping. Day 10: In the morning, we will have a city tour of local sights and in the afternoon, a winery tour with tasting. We will visit some bodegas and on experience the best regional wines from Mendoza, specializing in Malbec, Argentina’s signature wine. Day 11: Today we are going horseback riding on a private ranch outside of Mendoza. The horses are gentle and well trained and our guide will be a gaucho dressed in traditional apparel. We will stop and take a break to share mate, the daily custom of all Argentineans. After our ride, the ranch hands will make a special asado criollo (grilled meats) on the ranch parrillada (barbecue) by traditional methods of preparation and cooking. Day 12: There are two options for today. You can take a bus tour from Mendoza up through the mountains, crossing the Potrerillos valley, visiting an Inca bridge then a short hike to see Laguna Los Horcones and Cerro Aconcagua, the western hemisphere’s highest summit. This tour ends at the Argentinean/Chilean border. The second option is to take a hike in the Andes. We will start at a lodge and follow a pristine stream up hill through a mountain valley to a glacial lake. The views all around will be outstanding. We will be surrounded by snow capped mountain peaks of the mountain range, alpine streams and wildflowers.  Photo: Angela White Day 13: On our final day, we fly back to Buenos Aires and you can spend the
afternoon as you wish. We will all have a final lunch together then you have
the afternoon
free- a final visit to La Boca, a last glance at the tango dancers or a visit
to one of the wonderful museums or parks. Then we will all meet and bid farewell
to this fabulous city. In the early evening we will transfer to the international
airport for our overnight flights home Getting There You will fly (overnight) to and from Buenos Aires international airport. No visa or compulsory immunizations are needed to enter the country.
As always, trip participants should be fit and healthy. Regardless of the trip difficulty, overall fitness means that you will enjoy the trip more as you will find it easier to cope with time, food and cultural changes. Our hikes will be moderate (4-7 miles) but two will be at higher altitudes (5,000 – 9,000 feet).
Conservation Argentina is a developed, sophisticated country and has the environmental issues associated with this. Buenos Aires is a huge, sprawling city and has serious air pollution issues due to the heavy traffic. Outside of the city, different areas face different issues. Deforestation in the rain forests and jungles, mining in desert areas, growth of monocultures and use of pesticides in agricultural areas - the list goes on and on and in fact, is very similar to the problems faced in North America. We will have opportunities to assess if Argentina is addressing them in a different way to the US.
This trip requires a $200 per-person deposit. An additional payment of $300 per person is due six months prior to trip departure. International trip prices are subject to change and are based on double-occupancy or group accommodations as described above. Single rooms may not be available or may cost more than the listed price. If you have any questions regarding double occupancy, please contact the trip leader. See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy. The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner. The Sierra Club accurately and fairly budgets and prices our trips. However, unforeseen costs such as devaluation of the dollar compared to other currencies and fuel surcharges assessed by our international providers, may necessitate adjustment in trip price. We will make every effort to mitigate and absorb these fees. If a price increase is necessary, however, you will have 14 days after announcement to cancel without penalty.
 General Notes About Sierra Club Trips
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