Authentic Argentina: Tango, Gauchos & Vino

Welcome to Buenos Aires! Whether you arrive today or a day early, your driver will be waiting for you at the arrivals lounge, ready to whisk you off to the 5-star Hotel Palladio. 

Mid-afternoon, we'll stretch our legs as we explore the neighborhood with a private guide. We'll visit the El Ateneo Grand Splendid Bookstore, considered the world's most beautiful bookstore by National Geographic, and the eerily beautiful Recoleta Cemetery, Eva Peron's burial ground. 

Then, it's on to the Plaza Francia, the Floralis Generica sculpture, and Callao Avenue, known for its Belle Époque architecture and fascinating history.

After this walking introduction to the city, take some time to refresh and check into your hotel before we meet at 6:00 pm for drinks at the world-famous Presidente Bar, ranked among the top 50 bars in the world.

Dinner tonight is a truly comprehensive introduction to the world of Argentinian cuisine. Over the course of a 16-course tasting menu, we'll make our own empanadas, try 5 boutique wines, and participate in a traditional mate ritual. 

After a hearty breakfast, we'll meet our guide for our "Inspiring Women of Argentina" tour to explore the city from a new perspective. First, we'll learn about the founder of the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, a heartbreaking and captivating story. We'll also learn about the female captain who fought for Argentina's independence. 

We'll make a pit stop to refuel at the Gran Café Totoni, a well-known 1858 French art-nouveau café, for a coffee or hot chocolate and churros.

An essential ladies' tour would not be complete without mentioning Eva Perón, Argentina's former first lady, and subsequent political leaders like Estela Martínez de Perón, the country's first woman president. 

We'll continue to explore the city's historical center and its barrios (neighborhoods), like San Telmo, La Boca, and Puerto Madero, as we learn about these inspiring women. 

We'll take a break and enjoy lunch at El Gran Paradiso, a popular Italian spot in the vibrant La Boca neighborhood. This restaurant is located in a tenement building from 1890, making it feel like we've stepped back in time.

After a quick refresh at the hotel, we'll enjoy a unique Argentinian dinner and show at Michaelangelo Legend in the San Telmo neighborhood. We'll linger over a three-course meal with drinks and wine, then appreciate a spectacular tango show. You can even try your hand at a tango lesson before the show begins if you're up for it.

Today, we'll tour Buenos Aires' northern neighborhoods, including Retiro and Recoleta. We'll also explore the city's green lungs: the Palermo forests, the Rosedal Garden, and the Botanical Garden. The roses promise to be in full bloom at this time.

Our private guided experience will continue through Palermo's colorful and modern neighborhood, an open-air art gallery with cobblestone passages. 

Instead of a casual lunch, we'll enjoy a multi-course tasting of Argentine classics and wines that pair perfectly with iconic dishes, like spicy humita and empanadas, concluding with a maté tasting. Maté tea is made from an evergreen shrub and is perhaps Argentina's most iconic beverage.

We'll return to the hotel to relax before a short drive over to El Preferido de Palermo for dinner. This iconic Michelin-starred eatery has been serving up modest yet delicious plates in its iconic pink taverna since 1952. Try the sirloin milanesa, a perfectly tender sirloin paired with sweet tomato salsa. 

We're headed out of town to the Estancia El Ombú de Areco to learn all about the gaucho culture. The drive will take a little over one hour, but we’ll stop en route for a coffee or maté to break the journey up. 

At the estancia (Argentine ranch), we’ll take a horse-drawn carriage ride to explore the vast property, learn about the crops and animals they raise, and enjoy an authentic asado (South American BBQ). Sway to the music, dance a little bit with new friends, and take some time to relax in the tranquility of the ranch. Bring your swimsuit along, you'll be able to take a refreshing dip in their pool. 

Learning about the gaucho lifestyle is essential for truly understanding Argentina. The tradition reflects the country’s rich history and national identity, rooted in the skills of horsemanship, livestock management, and the spirit of freedom associated with the gaucho, these iconic cowboys of the Pampas.

We'll make our way back to Buenos Aires for our final night in the city. After indulging in all the delightful savory and sweet treats today, you'll be free to have dinner or a snack, either by yourself or with friends. 

After checking out of our Buenos Aires hotel, we’ll meet our driver in the lobby for a transfer to the city’s domestic airport in time for our 9 am flight to Mendoza.

We’ll arrive in Mendoza by 11 am and head out for a unique experience at Susana Balbo’s place, Mendoza's first female winemaker. We have something special for you: the chance to create your own wine blend in Balbo’s wine blending experience. This unique opportunity allows you to gain a deeper appreciation of the wine-making process. 

Next, we’ll visit Chandon, a sparkling wine pioneer in the region that has been part of LVMH since opening its cellar in 1959 and winning the Best Sparkling Wine award in 2023. Why? Well, because their chief winemaker, Paula Bartolucci, is female, of course! We’ll indulge in a picnic lunch on the grounds before our tour and tasting. 

Let's head back to Mendoza to check into our hotel for the next few days, the Park Hyatt Mendoza. Drop your bags and take a moment to relax before dinner. We'll meet in the lobby this evening for a short walk over to Azafran, a moody Michelin-recommended restaurant known as a "gastronomic paradise" of hyperlocal ingredients.  

Another day, another winery... life is good! 

After breakfast, we're headed to Bodega Diamandes for a cooking class and wine pairing. Located about an hour outside of town, once we arrive, we'll be welcomed with a glass of wine before touring the estate and taking in its architecture and surrounding landscape. 

From there, we'll gather fresh ingredients straight from the garden and step into the kitchen to create a seasonal menu during this immersive two-hour class. The signature chef will impart the secrets of local cuisine, infused with a refined French touch, and pair each dish with exceptional Diamandes wines. 

After a day of learning and tasting, we’ll return to the hotel. Enjoy time at the pool, hop into the jacuzzi, read a book, or perhaps spoil yourself with a massage.

Dinner is on your own tonight. Mendoza is teeming with restaurants and wine bars to choose from, and your trip leader would be happy to share a few recommendations.

Savor breakfast before we start our last full day in Mendoza. We'll spend the day immersed in the celebrated wines of Luján de Cuyo, beginning with a visit to Viña Cobos for their Descubrí Nuestros Viñedos experience, where we explore the vineyards and gain insight into what makes this region so exceptional. Surrounded by the Andes, we savor the landscape as much as the wine.

We continue on to Lagarde Winery for a relaxed, beautifully prepared lunch at Fogón, highlighting seasonal flavors and local ingredients. 

Back in Mendoza, the day wraps up with dinner at Soberana, where thoughtful cuisine and a warm atmosphere provide the perfect place for us to toast to the delightful days we’ve enjoyed together and the friendships we’ve made.

After breakfast, we’ll check out and head to the Mendoza airport together around midday. We’ll part ways with cherished memories and new friendships to last a lifetime. 

If you are ending your trip here, you have options for onward travel from Mendoza. You could hop on a short flight back to Buenos Aires if you've booked a round-trip ticket from there, but note that you would land in the domestic airport and would need to arrange transportation to the international airport that is about 1 hour away. 

Alternatively, you could fly to Santiago and depart from there without the need to switch airports. There are plenty of daily international flight options out of Santiago, including New York, Atlanta, and Dallas-Fort Worth, to name a few.