LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL ITINERARY INFORMATION
Itinerary: Grand Loop
12 WEEKS/ GRAND LOOP SIX TO HUMAHUACA TO TIERRA DEL FUEGO
Argentina is huge, and to squeeze the best sights into a short amount of time, you’ll have to budget for some flights. If you only have a week, combine Buenos Aires with a roundtrip flight to see a mind-bender like Iguazú Falls or the Perito Moreno Glacier.
This is it, the journey of journeys, trip of trips, the Pacha Mama of Argentine adventure. From Buenos Aires, head to Reserva Faunística Península Valdés for some whale watching before journeying down to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. From here, follow the Southern National Parks Circuit before winding your way up the Andes to the beloved Lake District , being certain to stop for chocolate in Bariloche. Bump down the lake-studded Ruta de los Siete Lagos (Seven Lakes Route) to the leafy little resort of San Martín de los Andes before exploring the Valdivian forests and glistening lakes of Parque Nacional Lanín.
Pop over to Neuquén for some serious paleontological appreciation and continue north to roam the volcanic landscapes around Malargüe . Then on to Mendoza for wine tasting and high Andean scenery around Parque Provincial Aconcagua. Journey north to wander the willow-clad dirt roads of Barreal and head downhill to bustling San Juan and the glowing desert rock formations of Parque Provincial Ischigualasto .
From La Rioja , journey north to lively Tucumán and onward to explore the hallucinatory canyons of the Quebrada de Cafayate . Then head to colonial Salta to begin your journey through the desolate multicolored mountains and traditional villages of the Quebrada de Humahuaca . Drag yourself across the endless Chaco, visiting the wildlife heaven of Reserva Provincial Esteros del Iberá en route. Continue east to see the Jesuit missions and finish off your trip beneath the massive falls of Parque Nacional Iguazú. Fly, don’t bus (you’re too tired), back to Buenos Aires and party till your plane leaves.
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