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[meeks]

Hello Past and Present Argentine Travellers,
I am going to be in Argentina for 18 days in January. I defintely want to spend 5-7 days in Buenos Aires, 3 in Mendoza, 2-3 Salta, 2 Iguazu Falls, 1 Tucuman (going through to get from Mendoza to Salta) I am looking for advice/opinions/guidance as my destinations are still up in the air.
Tucuman. Should I stay longer than 1 night?
I really want to go to Cafayate but it seems out of the way ---is it worth the 3-4 hour execursion?
Tafi del Valle? Doesn't look like alot goes on but seems beautiful, but out of the way too unless I go to Cafayate.
Tilcara? Same as Cafayate--out of the way from Salta with my limited time.
Thanks to anyone who can help me with this as I am torn on how long to stay at these places (don't want to be really rushed, but want to see the best there is!)
Thank you

[starlagurl]

I moved this to the Argentina forum.
I'm sure mmbcross will have something to say about this one. But until then, check out some blogs from Argentina if you haven't already:

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entri...45960/tpod.html

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entri...28980/tpod.html

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entri...05720/tpod.html

[mmbcross]

Yes Louise, here I am.

Hello Meeks,

Before I get engrossed in this I need one vital piece of information. How are you travelling? Surface (bus) or air. Most of these places are covered by overnight bus services, but keep in mind some enormous distances involved. Buenos Aires to Iguazu is a 20-hour bus ride, as is Tucuman back to BA.

As far as the days in each place are concerned, your plans are pretty good. I think you will need 7 days in BA. Try to include a night on the pampas. We rented a car for two days and went to Estancia La Bamba in San Antonio de Areco. http://www.la-bamba.com.ar/. Unfortunately it seems closed until March next year, but try this site for a list of all the estancias near BA. http://www.estanciasargentinas.com/eng/index.php

Salta is one of the nicest cities in Argentina. Check out the amazing "Tren a los Nubes", the Argentine portion of the international railway to Antofagasta, Chile. http://www.trenalasnubes.com.ar/en_tren_a_...nubes_home.html

When at Iguazu, make sure you cross the border to see the falls from the Brazilian side, which has a superior panorama than the Argentinean side. The last I heard, there is no visa needed if going for a day. Just take the bus from Puerto Iguazu to Foz do Iguaçu ( Brazil ).

In Mendoza we rented a car for the day to drive to Puente del Inca almost on the border with Chile near Mt. Aconcagua. A magnificent drive.

Let me know how you plan top travel and I'll try to assist you more

[meeks]

Thank you so much for your help. I will make my stay in BA longer as I had 5 nights and will make it 6 now.
Salta vs Mendoza? Should I spend equal time in each (3 nights).
I am taking a bus to Iguazu from BA and flying back to BA.
Bus from BA to Mendoza.
Bus from Mendoza to Tucuman and onto Salta.
Fly from Salta back to BA.
Do you think I should fly to Iguazu both ways as I am only spending one night there?
Was going to do an overnight bus, get there in the morning, do the falls that day spend the night and then fly back to BA the next afternoon.
Did you go to Cafayete?
Thanks again. Big help!

Yes Louise, here I am.

Hello Meeks,

Before I get engrossed in this I need one vital piece of information. How are you travelling? Surface (bus) or air. Most of these places are covered by overnight bus services, but keep in mind some enormous distances involved. Buenos Aires to Iguazu is a 20-hour bus ride, as is Tucuman back to BA.

As far as the days in each place are concerned, your plans are pretty good. I think you will need 7 days in BA. Try to include a night on the pampas. We rented a car for two days and went to Estancia La Bamba in San Antonio de Areco. http://www.la-bamba.com.ar/. Unfortunately it seems closed until March next year, but try this site for a list of all the estancias near BA. http://www.estanciasargentinas.com/eng/index.php

Salta is one of the nicest cities in Argentina. Check out the amazing "Tren a los Nubes", the Argentine portion of the international railway to Antofagasta, Chile. http://www.trenalasnubes.com.ar/en_tren_a_...nubes_home.html

When at Iguazu, make sure you cross the border to see the falls from the Brazilian side, which has a superior panorama than the Argentinean side. The last I heard, there is no visa needed if going for a day. Just take the bus from Puerto Iguazu to Foz do Iguaçu ( Brazil ).

In Mendoza we rented a car for the day to drive to Puente del Inca almost on the border with Chile near Mt. Aconcagua. A magnificent drive.

Let me know how you plan top travel and I'll try to assist you more

[mmbcross]

If airfares are the same in Argentina as they are elsewhere, I would really suggest you do round trip air to Iguazu. It probably won't cost much more. The bus trip is around 20 hours each way, and boring as Hell.

Definitely 3 nights in Mendoza and Salta. bus trips between these places are easy overnighters.

By all means take a day trip to Cafayate along spectaular Route 68. It's only about 120 miles, though the journey is probably more interesting than the town itself. Decide on that when you get to Salta.

Also look into Tren de los Nubes from Salta. It doesn't run daily and timetables are rather sketchy. Check on it at the Argentine tourist office in BA at Av. Santa Fe 883.

[meeks]

Thanks everyone for your advice! It was a great trip! Glad I flew to Iguazu as the bus would have been hell.

[mmbcross]

Glad to see you got back in one piece and enjoyed your visit. Are you going to tell us all about your trip in a travel blog? I hope so.