The Magic of the Mythical Route 40

Transfer with an English-speaking guide. Visit Buenos Aires (half day, walking tour). Buenos Aires, a cosmopolitan city with European features, is among the 10 most active cities in the world. City of arts, cultures, theaters, traditions ... The variety satisfies the most demanding visitor.   You visit the 9 de Julio Avenue, the widest in the world, dominated by the Obelisk, a symbol of Buenos Aires. You will pass the Colon Theatre, one of the jewels of the Argentine architecture. Then you arrive to the famous or central Plaza de Mayo, next to buildings such as the Casa Rosada or Casa de Gobierno, the Cabildo and the Cathedral.   You end your day with the picturesque neighborhood of La Boca, and specifically the alley El Caminito, the spot for painters, tango dancers and singers.   Return to your hotel after the visit.   Night at the Bel Air hotel in standard room. Included: arrival transfer with english-speaking guide, english speaking guide, public transport, room & breakfast

Transfer from the hotel to the Buenos Aires Domestic Airport in a private vehicle. Domestic flight Buenos Aires* - Salta.   *National o international airport depending on time schedule and availability. Welcoming at Salta's Airport and transfer to the hotel in private vehicle.   Half-day walking tour of the city. Salta, capital of the province of the same name is located at 1187m above sea level at the foot of the San Bernardo peak. The capital of Salta was founded on 16 April 1582 by Hernando de Lerma. The houses of colonial style rub shoulders with modern buildings. From the historical buildings, you will visit the cathedral dating from the 19th century and the Cabildo which houses the picturesque Historical Museum of the North.   You climb to the Cerro San Bernardo to enjoy a panoramic view of Salta.   Excursion performed with an english speaking guide. Night at the Hotel Inkai in "Superior" room. Included: departure transfer, airport tax, domestic flight, arrival transfer, entrance fees mentioned in the program, english speaking guide, guide expenses, room & breakfast

Taking charge of your rental vehicle type 4x2 Duster or Ecosport or similar (category E) Free km. Compulsory Insurance Included. Pick up at your hotel Itinerary given as an indication: Departure in a rented vehicle to reach the small colonial village of Cachi situated at 2200 m altitude, about 150 km from Salta by the RN33 road. We cross spectacular landscapes: the Piedra del Molino pass at 3600 m, the Quebrada de Escoipe, a large deep gorge where the green forests contrast with the ochre colour of the earth, the peeled mountains of the Cuesta del Obispo, and then the Los Cardones Regional Park, arid lands bristling with candelabra cacti...   Cachi is a peaceful Indian village with low whitewashed houses, where the 18th century church of San José with its carved cactus wood roof is enthroned.   We visit the small archaeological museum which presents beautiful collections of ceramics from the pre-Inca and Inca periods and especially from the Santa Maria culture. The museum is closed on Mondays.   We take our vehicle for a short excursion 6 km from the village towards Cachi Adentro. We explore the most beautiful landscapes of Cachi by getting closer to the snowy peaks of Nevado de Cachi.   We also recommend a visit to the Bodegas Puna, Mira Luna and Isasmendi, where you can enjoy a high altitude wine tasting.   157 km, of which 70 km is on a track, about 3.5 hours drive. Overnight at Hotel Miraluna in cabaña "chica". Included: car rental, insurance, drop off, room & breakfast

Itinerary given as an indication: Departure by hire car to the small village of Molinos, which dates back to 1659 and has a majestic church with a cardoon (cactus) roof, San Pedro Nolasco de los Molinos, and the elegant farmhouse La Hacienda de Molinos, which dates back to the last governor of the city of Salta.   We leave Molinos to reach Cafayate by crossing the majestic "Quebrada de las Flechas", surrounded by a mysterious lunar landscape.   White dunes announce the proximity of Cafayate, the most important town in the Calchaquies valleys, whose economy is based on the wine industry. We recommend that you enjoy a glass of local wine.   165 km, 138 km of which are on the track, about 4h00 hours drive. Night at the Vieja Posada Hotel in superior room. Included: car rental, insurance, room & breakfast

Half day dedicated to visit the city of Cafayate: We suggest to visit:   You can start your tour by visiting the artisan markets, the most important is in front of the cathedral in the city center and there you can buy local crafts of all kinds. The most important is the production of handcrafted ceramics, but we can also see textiles, silverware,   Here you will learn how all the elements have their role in the elaboration of a good wine. You start with the history of wine, how the cultivation in this area began and you will know which are the wines cultivated at the highest altitude in the world.   After the Museum of the Vine and the Wine of Cafayate, you will want to taste a high altitude wine, a Torrontés or one of the other varieties. What better than to do it in a cellar? We recommend Bodega Nanni, Vasija Secreta and Porvenir... and a little outside Cafayate, taking a taxi you can visit and have lunch at Bodega Las Nubes.     Suggested itinerary : Today you will cross the "Quebrada de las Conchas" also known as the "Quebrada de Cafayate" which offers probably the most spectacular landscapes of the Argentine Northwest: imposing and semi-desert mountains with multicoloured rocks sculpted by erosion.   A spectacle that nature has prepared for you for centuries and that will surprise you!   Return road to Cafayate.   Note: 3h30 - 170 kms. Night at the Vieja Posada Hotel in superior room. Included: car rental, insurance, room & breakfast

Suggested itinerary: Departure from Cafayate to reach the archaeological site of Quilmes, an ancient fortified bastion of the Inca period that sheltered up to 3000 people, resistant to Spanish evangelization and then to military conquest. The city, with its labyrinthine structure, was built in stages on the sides of a hill. Visit of the site.   You then continue on your way which follows a desolate and arid landscape, dotted with cactus called "cardones". You leave the province of Tucuman to enter the province of Catamarca. Today, you cross a desolate landscape with in the background the peaks El Fraile (4100 mts) El Mojon (4630 mts), Cerro Alto del Volcan (4811 mts).   You arrive in Santa Maria, after 90 km of road. Santa Maria is a picturesque village of 20,000 inhabitants, which is considered the national capital of archaeology. It was one of the main bases of the Yokavil Indians. Today, Santa Maria is an important craft centre in the Catamarca region. In the village, you can buy ponchos and carpets of sheep or alpaca, semi precious stones and regional wines.   You take back your asphalted road for 70 km to continue then by a track along the Rio Belen for 80 km to La Cienaga then Belen, pretty small village capital of the poncho.   Continue to Chañarmuyo to spend the night.   413 km, about 6 hours of travel.   Arrival at the hotel and Bodega Chañarmuyo where you will be welcomed with a warm snack.   Planned visit to the bodega accompanied by a wine tasting.   Dinner included at the hotel.   Overnight at the Chañarmuyo Hotel in standard room "Superior". Included: car rental, insurance, dinner, room & breakfast

Suggested itinerary: Early morning departure to Chilecito, located at the foot of the Famatina massif, which rises to 6250 m. Chilecito is known nationally due to its important mining centre. Its name "Chilecito" means "little chili" and comes from the large number of Chileans who arrived at the end of the 19th century to work in the mines.   The visit of the "cable carril" (cable car) built in 1903 is really exciting and instructive. This cable car is one of the greatest engineering works of the time, it is 36 km long and reaches an altitude of more than 4600 m... the journey took about 4 hours to reach the mine.   We take the road again and cross eroded and grandiose landscapes, 119 km of track by taking the cuesta de Miranda, a mountain path built between 1918 and 1928. Its winding curves offer us views of the pink valleys. The highest point is at an altitude of 2020 m where we can stop to contemplate these pristine expanses.   We arrive to Villa Union.   194 km, about 3 hours of travel.   Suggested itinerary: Departure to reach the magnificent Talampaya Park located 120 kilometres away, 58 of which are by track. Talampaya Park, with an area of 215,000 hectares, was created in 1975 to safeguard the archaeological and paleontological remains present in a beautiful environment.   The canyon of the Talampaya River, with its gigantic walls that house condors' nests in their peaks, is one of Argentina's natural wonders. Grey foxes or southern minks hide behind the century-old carob trees and arums.   With an official guide and an authorized vehicle of the park, you leave for a tour of about 3 hours to make a loop in a fairy-like frame where the ochre colours contrast with the sky of an intense blue colour.   Return journey to Villa Union.   1h15 of road - 105 kms. Night at the Cañon de Talampaya hotel in standard room. Included: car rental, insurance, room & breakfast

Suggested itinerary: Departing in the afternoon, you take your vehicle to enjoy a good light to reach the Ischigalasto Park, better known as valle de la luna.   Two hundred and twenty five million years ago, the valley of the moon was a paradise of gigantic ferns, inhabited by colossal vertebrates. Inert under a blue sky, natural sculptures: the mushroom, the submarine or the sphinx, and traces of reptiles are among the many treasures locked up in this region. This park is one of the only areas on the planet where all the stages of the Triassic era (between 248 and 206 million years ago) are represented. This is why this 60,000 hectare park was declared a Natural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2000. Visit of the site by car with an official guide (about 2 hours 30) and of the small museum that exhibits reconstructions of dinosaurs living in this area.   Drive back to Villa Union.   Note 1: The tour of the Valley of the Moon must be accompanied by an official park guide - this tour is done in our vehicle.   Note 2: Ishigalasto Park is open from 8am to 5pm (October to April) and from 9am to 4pm (May to September) - tours start every hour. Night at the Cañon de Talampaya hotel in standard room. Included: car rental, insurance, room & breakfast

Suggested itinerary : You leave in the direction of Barreal by taking a magnificent road in the heart of the Cordillera.   If you wish, you can leave the road 40 to reach the town of Rodeo and continue to the lake of the "Crête des Vents", and the Huaco slope, where the mountain scenery is surprising!   In Calingasta, you will find the main road that runs along the river "Rio de los Patos".   Arrival at the end of the day in Barreal.   401 km, about 6 hours drive.   Night at the Posada Paso de los Patos in standard room. Included: car rental, insurance, room & breakfast

Suggested itinerary : You leave Barreal early in the morning to discover the Leoncito National Park. This ancient dried-up lake lies on high plateaus and enjoys one of the clearest skies on earth. You then descend towards Uspallata and head west through the Aconcagua Park. The landscape now changes drastically as you gradually approach a new mountain range with higher peaks.   Arrival in Upsallata, heading west towards Chile, to reach Puente del Inca - the Inca Bridge. At the beginning of the 20th century, this small town was home to one of the most important thermal hotels in the world (Hotel du Pont de l'Inca). Since then, an avalanche has almost completely destroyed the hotel, with the exception of the chapel and halls. The chapel is very well preserved, and the thermal water continues to flow on the cobblestones of the old halls. A unique landscape!   You then continue on to the Aconcagua Provincial Park. You are only 40 km from the base of the "Stone Sentinel" from where you enjoy a breathtaking view of the highest peak in America, Europe and Africa! Depending on the weather conditions, you can walk (30 to 45 min) to the Horcones Lake to reach the high mountain lake. From here you will have a complete and striking view of the Aconcagua (6962 m above sea level).   Return road to Upsallata - you follow route 7 to Mendoza and soon you will find the vineyards - crossing Chacras de Coria, which is home to many wineries.   Note: 376 km, about 5 hours drive. Night at the Argentino Hotel in standard room. Included: car rental, insurance, room & breakfast

Suggested itinerary: Departure from the hotel to travel through the Mendoza region and especially the towns of Lujan de Cuyo and Maipu. This day in the middle of the vineyards will be an opportunity to observe how man has succeeded in transforming the desert into an oasis, by means of canals and drip irrigation systems, allowing Argentina to be one of the main wine producers in the world today. This day will include visits to wineries and wine tasting.     Note: We recommend a visit to Bodega Catena Zapata, Bodega Familia Zuccardi where lunch is highly recommended, Bodega Alta Vista, etc. Night at the Argentino Hotel in standard room. Included: car rental, insurance, room & breakfast

Return your vehicle to the airport. Domestic flight Mendoza - Buenos Aires*.   *National o international airport depending on time schedule and availability. Welcoming at Buenos Aires domestic airport and transfer to the hotel in private vehicle. Night at the Bel Air hotel in standard room. Included: airport tax, domestic flight, arrival transfer, room & breakfast

Transfer from the hotel to Ezeiza International Airport in a private vehicle. Included: departure transfer