From the jungle mist of Iguazu to the ochre canyons of the Andean Northwest and the vineyards beneath Aconcagua, few itineraries capture the sheer range of Argentina like this one. This Argentina explorer tour is a 12-day grand loop across the capital, the northern forests, the high-altitude Northwest, and Mendoza’s wine country — a route for travelers who want landscapes that keep reinventing themselves. It trades the classic Patagonia circuit for something less expected: red-rock deserts, colonial towns, and some of the most dramatic mountain scenery on the continent. Below is a day-by-day plan across Buenos Aires, Iguazu, Salta, Cafayate, and Mendoza, with the flight connections that make it flow, notes on pacing and altitude, and guidance on the best time to travel. Treat it as a canvas we tailor to you.
By Pablo, Senior Travel Planner at 01Argentina Travel Agency
In this guide
- What “Argentina Explorer” Really Means
- Highlights of This Explorer Route at a Glance
- Days 1–2: Buenos Aires
- Days 3–4: Iguazu Falls and the Northern Forests
- Days 5–7: Salta and Cafayate, the Andean Northwest
- Days 8–10: Mendoza and the High Andes
- Days 11–12: Back to Buenos Aires
- Flights, Altitude, and Best Time to Travel
- Why Plan This Trip with Local Experts
What “Argentina Explorer” Really Means
This is the itinerary for travelers who have seen the postcards and want the country behind them. Instead of repeating the standard highlights, it strings together Argentina’s most contrasting landscapes, from subtropical rainforest to painted desert to snow-capped Andes. Each region has its own architecture, cuisine, music, and pace, so the trip feels less like a single holiday and more like four holidays woven into one. The country’s astonishing variety is the whole point — our overview of Argentina’s geographic diversity shows just how many worlds fit inside one nation, and this route lets you feel that range firsthand across a single, well-paced trip.
Highlights of This Explorer Route at a Glance
If you are short on time, here is what this grand tour delivers at a glance:
- The cosmopolitan culture, tango, and cuisine of Buenos Aires.
- The thundering, wildlife-rich rainforest of Iguazu Falls.
- Colonial Salta and the red-rock canyons of the Andean Northwest.
- High-altitude Torrontes wine in the vineyards of Cafayate.
- The multicolored hills of Purmamarca and the vast Salinas Grandes salt flats.
- World-famous Malbec beneath Aconcagua in Mendoza’s wine country.
Days 1–2: Buenos Aires
Begin in the capital to settle in and soak up the culture. Two days cover the essentials — historic Plaza de Mayo, elegant Recoleta, colorful La Boca, and the restaurants of Palermo — plus a tango evening and a classic asado dinner. Starting here also eases the transition from a long-haul flight before the more remote legs of the journey begin.
- Day 1: arrival, a gentle walking tour, and an early dinner.
- Day 2: a full city tour with free time for museums or shopping.
Our Buenos Aires tours balance guided sightseeing with the free time to explore on your own.
Days 3–4: Iguazu Falls and the Northern Forests
Fly north to Iguazu, where subtropical rainforest frames one of the planet’s great waterfalls. Two days let you experience both perspectives and the wildlife-rich jungle around them, a world away from the elegance of the capital.
- Spend a full day on the Argentine side, walking the upper and lower circuits and the Devil’s Throat.
- Add the Brazilian panorama and, if you like, a boat ride into the spray.
- Watch for toucans, coatis, and clouds of butterflies along the jungle trails.
For first-time planning, our Iguazu Falls travel tips cover timing and what to pack, and our Iguazu Falls tours handle transfers and guiding.
Days 5–7: Salta and Cafayate, the Andean Northwest
Now for the region most travelers miss. Fly to Salta, a graceful colonial city, and use it as the springboard for the Andean Northwest — a land of red-rock gorges, cactus-studded highlands, and villages that feel centuries removed from the capital. This is where the explorer route earns its name.
- Wander Salta’s colonial plazas and historic churches, among the best preserved in the country.
- Drive the dramatic Quebrada de Cafayate, a canyon of wind-sculpted red rock.
- Taste the crisp, aromatic Torrontes whites in the high-altitude vineyards of Cafayate.
- Wind up the Quebrada de Humahuaca to see the multicolored hills of Purmamarca and the vast Salinas Grandes salt flats.
This region’s landscapes are among the most photogenic in the country. Our Northwest Argentina tours combine Salta, Cafayate, and Jujuy into an unforgettable Andean loop.
Days 8–10: Mendoza and the High Andes
Fly south to Mendoza, where the Northwest’s rustic charm gives way to polished wine country at the foot of the highest peaks in the Americas. Three days let you explore its vineyards and mountains at a relaxed pace, a fitting reward after the adventures of the north.
- Tour the classic bodegas of Lujan de Cuyo and the boutique wineries of the Uco Valley.
- Take a high-mountain drive toward Aconcagua for staggering Andean views.
- Balance tastings with a bike-and-wine afternoon or a long vineyard lunch.
Our Mendoza wine tours can range from casual tastings to in-depth sessions with sommeliers.
Days 11–12: Back to Buenos Aires
Loop back to the capital for a relaxed finale. Use these final days for what you saved — a Sunday market in San Telmo, a farewell steak dinner, or shopping for leather and wine. It is a fitting decompression after a trip that has crossed jungle, desert, and mountains, and a chance to see the city with fresh eyes.
Flights, Altitude, and Best Time to Travel
This explorer route relies on internal flights, most connecting through Buenos Aires, which is why the capital bookends the trip. A comfortable sequence is Buenos Aires to Iguazu, then to Salta, then to Mendoza, and finally back to the capital. Because the Northwest reaches high altitudes, take the first day there gently and stay hydrated. A few practical notes:
- The Northwest and Mendoza are most comfortable in spring and autumn, avoiding the summer heat and rains.
- Iguazu is warm year-round, so the north and Northwest set your ideal window.
- Pack layers: the desert highlands are hot by day and cold at night, while Iguazu is humid.
Sequencing this many regions is exactly where a local agency proves its worth, holding your flights, transfers, and hotels together into one smooth journey.
Why Plan This Trip with Local Experts
An itinerary this ambitious depends on details that are easy to miss from afar: which domestic flights connect cleanly, how many nights each region really needs, and which hotels put you in the right place at the right time. With more than two decades arranging journeys across Argentina, our team sequences every leg, secures your transfers and confirmations, and pairs you with professional bilingual guides. You get a best-price guarantee focused on value rather than cutting corners, fast booking confirmation typically within 24 hours, and direct support by WhatsApp throughout your trip — so a single delay never unravels the plan and your attention stays on the landscapes.
Plan Your Argentina Explorer Tour
Capital, jungle, desert, and wine country in a single trip — this 12-day route shows Argentina at its most surprising and diverse. With the logistics handled, all you do is take it in. Tell us what draws you most and we will shape the itinerary around it.
Plan your grand tour with our local team and explore tailor-made Argentina tours and itineraries at www.01argentina.com — WhatsApp available for a fast response, typically within 24 hours.