In Recommend’s February issue, our Latin America editor, Carla Hunt, gave you a glance at the region’s luxury hotel offerings and the beauty of Argentina’s northwest region. Today, many U.S. tour operators are already on the bandwagon with programs to the Argentine Northwest and some are packaged with special interests in mind.
Myths & Mountains has a new tour, the 10-night Argentina: Religions and Archaeology of the Northwest, available anytime, but with a special departure on Aug. 25 to include the Santa Rosa de Lima Festival. Starting in Buenos Aires, the tour moves north to highlight visits of small, traditional villages such as Tilcara and Yavi; learning from experts about traditions, cultures and archaeology in Pucara and beyond; and photographing colorful canyons and gorges in the high desert. Priced at $3,875 pp double. For more information, contact (800) 670-6984 or visit mythsandmountains.com.
Culture Xplorers offers a 9-night Argentina: True North itinerary, privately guided and starting in Buenos Aires with urban walks, a tasting menu at the home of a chef, an empanada lesson and a tangle lesson at a milonga. Fly to Salta for the start of a regional visit, highlighting stays in Salta, Cachi, Molinos and Califate, enriched with trekking and visits with winemakers, weavers and even a gaucho horse whisperer. Priced at $4,290 pp sharing. For more information, call (215) 870-3585 or visit culturexplorers.com.
Backroads has designed a dynamite new two-country, 7-night itinerary, Northern Argentina & A Taste of Brazil Bike Tour. Between Cafayate’s dramatic red cliffs and valleys to thundering Iguassu Falls, participants bike and hike, stay in top lodgings, taste the excellent vintages of high-altitude vineyards, visit captivating Salta, be captivated by Iguassu Falls, and visit the rainforest Mbaya people. Single departures are scheduled for June and July, with four departures in September. Depending on number of participants, the cost starts at $4,898 pp. For more information, call (800) 462-2848 or visit backroads.com.
