Expert: Cintia - 9/2/2003

Question
Dear Cintia,

My wife and I plan to vacation in Argentina for 2 weeks.  We would like to visit the following places:  Salta (train to the clouds), Mendoza (wine country), Bariloche/Laola Laola/San de Martin (travel the bus/boat tour from Bariloche to Puerto Montt, Chile), and end our trip in Buenos Aires (eat, drink, shop, antiques, and tango).  As you see we would like to do a lot in just in only 12 days.  Do you have suggestions on what to do at these locations and how many days to allow at each city?  Someone told us about private tour boats that will take you from Bariloche to Puerto Montt, Chile, but we only found information on a ferry/bus combination bus trip that cost US$120 and takes 12 hours.  We could go in either October, November, or December... which is the best month for weather and activities?  Can you please give us your advice.

Thanks so much!
Patrick Wilbanks


Answer
Dear Patrick,

Thank you very much for your email.

First of all, I would like to introduce myself. I am a 27 y.o. woman, and together with my husband, we provide assistance to tourists coming to Argentina.  We aim to show Argentina "through the back door" and make people feel as if they were at home. I would like to make something clear: I am in the travel business but it doesnīt mean that you have to hire my services. I volunteer in this website because I love my country and I feel itīs got a great potential to become one of the top destinations in the world. So please feel free to ask me as many questions as you like and I will be glad to answer all of them.

In reply to your query, Iīd like to tell you that you have a very tight schedule and it will be hard to cover all the destinations of your interest.  Itīs important to point that there are very few direct flights within Argentina so in most cases you have to fly back to Buenos Aires and from here take a flight to another destination. This means that depending on the fligt availability, you may have to stay in Buenos Aires overnight before flying to another place.

Salta has a lot to see and visit, so I recommend a minimun stay of 2 nights, although 3 would be better. The same length of stay for Mendoza and Bariloche. In Salta you canīt miss an excursion to Humahuaca Gorge, and then you could also take the train to the clouds, which is a beautiful experience.
Mendoza is renown because of its vineyards, and you will need just one day to visit some wineries.  Then I suggest you take the excursion along the Andes, known as Alta Montaņa.

Regarding Bariloche, the lake crossing includes boat and bus, because this is the only way you can get from Bariloche to Puerto Montt. As you have found out, the excursion takes around 12 hours during summer.
If you take the lake crossing you have to stay in Puerto Montt overnight and then return to Bariloche the following day. There are some regular buses which offer  this service but there are many tourists who fly from Puerto Montt to Santiago and from there to Buenos Aires.

I strongly recommend you stay in Buenos Aires for AT LEAST 3 or 4 nights, because the city has a lot to offer and you will be able to fill your stay with many activities such as tango, countryside, cultural events and just walking.  This is a city where walking is the best way to get immersed with the authentic porteņo atmosphere.

I hope you find this information useful and I welcome your comments and questions.
Cintia

P.S. You can also email me at wow@fibertel.com.ar