Loved Our Argentina Escapade
Argentina
|
Feb 12 - Feb 26, 2023
We just returned from a 15-day trip to Argentina that we planned through kimkim. We loved the door-to-door coverage knowing that all arrangements for transfers, lodging, domestic flights, and most excursions were handled. In addition, we had a team of guides and drivers, almost all of whom spoke English, to help us really find the best of this unique South American Country.
Our trip started in Buenos Aires, went to Salta, Cafayate, Mendoza, and then El Calafate in Patagonia. The 474 Buenos Aires Hotel was in a great location, a short stroll from the Obelisco and bustling Avenue Corrientes. A private sightseeing tour took us to the Recoleta Cemetery and the colorful La Boca neighborhood, among other sites. We really enjoyed the spectacular Gala Tango Show (which was a recommended option). The food and wine were stellar and this started our Argentina experience in good fashion.
We then traveled to the beautiful city of Salta, whose scenic square features the impressive Cathedral, built in 1865. Our hotel, Balcon de la Plaza, was beautiful and two blocks from the square. The square is loaded with shops and restaurants and is a perfect spot to take in the evening fun while dining at a cafe. We had an evening tour of Salta with the highlight being a visit to San Benando Hill, which gives a panoramic view of the city below.
A full-day tour the next day took us to the Heights and stops included San Antonio de los Cobres, a village on the Puna plateau, which featured a tasty restaurant (loved the empanadas), an ancient church, and a bustling craft marketplace. We also stopped at Alto El Morado, 13,681 feet in altitude, the highest spot in our journey, and the salt plains of Salinas Grandes.
The next day was travel to Cafayate, with spectacular scenery and a stop at luxury winery Colome. Special thanks to our guide Andres, who was outstanding during our swing into the high-elevation wine country. To get to Colome we had to drive through (not over) two rivers. The winery experience, which includes the James Turrell Museum, was spectacular.
Our lodging in Cafayate was the Patios De Cafayate, our favorite stay of the trip. This elegant hotel is in the style of a French country estate, with beautiful grounds, a pool, courtyards, and a fine dining restaurant. Just about perfect -- and even more so since the El Esteco winery is right next door. El Esteco is a world-class winery not to be missed. The Cafayate wine museum in town is also a wonderful attraction. Other wineries visited included Nanni, located downtown, and the impressive Piatelli.
We then ventured to Mendoza, the wine capital of the country. We stayed in the Bohemia Hotel. We found this to be sub-par but with an ideal location two blocks from Avenue Arístides, which had eateries and shops galore. Our first sip of wine in Mendoza was at a lovely outdoor table under the trees at Repulica Aristides. We also found a nice vegetarian restaurant just steps from the hotel.
We visited a total of six wineries in Mendoza, three through the kimkim arranged Wine & Flavors of Maipu tour and the others through another tour we found online. The famed Traipiche was everything you could hope for in a winery visit. Sin Fin, Vistandes, and Familia Checchin were also memorable.
The final leg of our trip took us the the breezy region of Patagonia and El Calafate. We again stayed at a fine hotel in the Esplendor by Wyndham El Calafate. The hotel had all the full-service amenities including a nice restaurant and pool. The culinary highlight of our trip was dinner at Rancho Aparte. This was an optional recommendation and turned into an unforgettable event. The restaurant is the home of Chef Gabo, who prepares meals for small groups, in our case seven people. Guests are seated around a common table and the conversation flows as the amazing dishes come out paired with the rare and unique wines of Patagonia. El Calafate is an appealing small town with plenty of great restaurants and shops with outdoor gear. The Glaciarium is another great stop.
The excitement continued as we visited the Perito Moreno Glacier at Los Glaciares National Park. We hiked the catwalks opposite the glacier, giving amazing views of this glacier -- one of the few in the world that isn't shrinking. Titanic formations of blue and white ice make it a photographer's dream. We then took a boat tour to get even closer to the glacier (an optional but inexpensive add-on). This gave us another perspective of the glacier and brought us up close to hear the cracking sounds as icebergs calved and fell to the water. Memorable in every way.
Our final activity (aside from return travel) was a Patagonia Ranch Day at Nibepo Alke, where we were able to watch gauchos in action (shearing lambs) and enjoy a tasty asado of lamb and Malbec. We hiked to a lake and enjoyed the impressive views of the Andes.
We packed a lot into our two weeks and kimkim helped make it happen.
Hotel Reviews
Outstanding location on San Martin right around the corner from the main street of Corrientes and a short distance from the Obelisco. It is also close to Florida street, which is lined with restaurants. We also discovered a great restaurant just steps away from the hotel, La Pipeta. 474 also had the best breakfast of the places we stayed on our two-week trip. It offers wide breakfast choices, plenty of space to spread out, and also an outdoor dining area. This is a nice, modern hotel that is unassuming on the outside but has nice rooms and good staff.
This was our favorite hotel on our trip to Argentina. With a French estate style, the hotel offers beautiful rooms and bedding, a fine-dining restaurant, evening wine for guests, beautiful grounds and pool, and picturesque courtyards. It has a relaxing upscale feel in a beautifully natural and landscaped setting. Add to this that it is next door to the superb El Esteco winery and you have everything you need for a wonderful stay in Cafayate.
On the positive side, the location is smashing, just two blocks from Avenue Aristides Villanueva. This street has bars, restaurants, and shops that can keep you entertained for weeks. There is a nice vegetarian restaurant a few steps away from the hotel. It's easy to enjoy a nice night on the town without a taxi. The hotel is also close to parks and other attractions. Don't be fooled by the photo of the sparkling pool. The pool hasn't been in operation for more than a year (based on reviews I've read). It was not operating when we were there. There is a nice lobby area and tables for breakfast. The selection of food was not good and a pitcher held curdled milk. The room is old and funky with a rickety door and old-style lock. Inside, the room has no amenities beyond a bed and television. The wiring for one of my lights was suspect. The bathroom was adequate, although the shower area is dark and unappealing. In short, the hotel made us want to spend most of our time at wineries or in town.
This is an excellent hotel, with a nice bar and restaurant, indoor swimming pool, spacious lobby, and a location just a few blocks from downtown El Calafate. There is a great breakfast buffet, just right to get you prepared for your excursion to the Perito Moreno glacier. The bar is a welcome attraction upon your return. The rooms are well-appointed and modern, something you would expect at a Hilton or Marriott. The hotel is on the hill, which provides a nice view of the area. Walking up and down the hill was a bit of a challenge since Patagonia, at least when we were there, has constantly blowing winds and a chill in the air. Nevertheless, this is a great hotel.
Hi David,
It has been great to receive your review and I am so glad you had a wonderful time with us in Argentina. It was always nice to work with you in building the trip to encompass many great destinations. You manged to see some much in your time with us and for sure we look forward to welcoming you back to discover more great destinations in Latin America.
Stay Well.
Regards,
Jason.