HISTORIC NORTHERN ESTATE IN TUCUMAN

At Las Trancas, Tucumán Province, we find a traditional northern Estancia where adventure, culture, and history unite to create a unique experience.

As we get deeper into Tucuman northern valley, passing the thickness of the yunga’s jungle and its overwhelming contrast with the surrounding mountain ranges, we reach this quiet place that waits to offer rest and relax to travelers.

Nevertheless, Estancia Zárate isn’t just a picturesque place to retire but also a passage throughout history. Its historical records date from the early 18th century. The main residence was a shelter for those brave men who traversed the valleys and needed refuge for the night; and hosted under its roof governors, caudillos, and messengers from the turbulent times that forged this country.

The historic residence still preserves its colonial style and some details from the original structure, such as doors, window frames, pieces of furniture that remained intact over the years, the classic galleries and its columns, and the old well, just to mention some. The rooms also preserve the colonial identity with high ceilings, wooden beds, and antique wardrobes with elegant walnut root details.

Nowadays, the estate is an active stockbreeder, specialized in Bradford livestock and polo horses, and it has recently opened its doors to travelers who wish to witness part of the northern history and learn how an agricultural and breeding system works in such peculiar area. The project was born with the intention of preserving the environment and providing the local community with sustainable work.

As part of this integration program, all the activities and services will be in the hands of the locals who will proudly share their stories, culture, and flavors. During our stay, we will be able to see men working the fields or grouping the cattle. We can also learn how they train the polo horses with an innovating method called joined-up, based on developing a relationship with the horse with no violence involved.

Among other activities that this place offers, there are of course horseback rides, trekking paths, and an exclusive program for the brave ones, which consists of an 8-hour ride towards Las Queñuas, nature reserve accessible only by horse or foot. Also, those who are interested in polo will be able to enjoy the beautiful ground to either play, learn or watch a friendly game.

Besides the mentioned options, Estancia Zárate also counts with an indoor playroom that invites guests to relax, watch TV, enjoy several board games, or even try talent with the old snooker table, one of the surviving pieces of furniture found in the house.

All in all, this estate is an excellent option for those who want to visit the Argentinean Northwest. Due to its privileged location, it is a perfect stop point for those who want to connect the valleys of Tucuman and Salta, both top northern destinations.

If you wish more information on this or other programs, please contact us at Kallpa Tour!

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Open all year
  • Special fees for Christmas and New Year
  • Activities are planned locally with visitors, according to their interest and subject to weather conditions.

SERVICES INCLUDED

  • Full board
  • Activities: Horseback riding, cattle grouping, trekking

SERVICES NOT INCLUDED

  • Drinks outside meals
  • Transfers in/out
  • Laundry service
  • Tips
  • Other guided excursions not included in the main program
  • Polo classes and clinics
  • Horseback ride to las Queñuas

4×4 EXPLORERS IN PENÍNSULA VALDÉS

Explore the coasts of Península Valdés in 4×4 vehicles, mountain bikes, and kayak canoes. Scout the recondite corners of this wildlife sanctuary with a new full day tour.

Península Valdés is one of Argentina’s top destinations for wildlife lovers. This important nature reserve that was declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999 hosts an immense variety of marine life, including the biggest population of baleen whales in the planet, that come to the shores every year for mating and giving birth. Among other marine species that choose this coasts, there are sea lions, elephant seals, fur seals, and a wide variety of bird species.

And what a better way to grasp all this wilderness than with this new experience? The excursion starts on 4×4 Overland vehicles that will drive up to Riacho San Jose to start the first mountain bike stage of the circuit, which traverses the marine inlet in Gulf San José. At this point, we will scout the Gulf and appreciate the richness of its biodiversity. It is important to remark that, during the mountain bike stages, half the passengers will use the bikes while the rest crosses the area on the overland vehicles, and later in the day they switch activities.

For the second mountain bike stage, we will visit the bird island, inhabited by ten different species, such as herons, ducks, seagulls and Magellanic penguins, just to mention a few.  Then, the tour continues at the Carlos Ameghino interpretation center, the perfect place to learn about the animals that we will find along our way. Leaving Ameghino, we reach our next destination: beaches Larralde and Villarino, where we will go kayaking along the coasts joined by the local marine life.

Kayaking along this surreal environment is the most intense moment in the whole itinerary, the connection that you will experience with the surrounding nature is something beyond words. After this mind-blowing experience, we will have time to enjoy a nice picnic on the beach while contemplating the beautiful scenery that spreads around us.

Last but not least, the final stage of this tour leads us to the sea lion rookery, where we will get the chance to observe and interpret the behavior of this amusing animals. From the rookery, we set back to Puerto Madryn, passing by the beach areas El Doradillo and Las Canteras. The views along the way are something spectacular.

This is definitely a complete experience that will allow you to know all there is to know of this virgin territory where wildlife has found its refuge. The scenery will leave you speechless, the quietness will ease your mind and soul. Let yourself be surprised by nature and connect with your wildest side in this Patagonian adventure.

If you wish to have more information on this or other programs, please contact us at Kallpa Tour!

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Feasible from September to march
  • Duration: 8/9 hours
  • Distance: 220 km
  • Not indicated for: overweight people, people with heart conditions, pregnant women, people with mental or physical disabilities affecting their coordination, and people with respiratory conditions.
  • Minimum and maximum ages: 15 to 60
  • Note: In case of bad weather at San José Gulf, the activities might be changed to Nuevo Gulf.

SERVICES INCLUDED:

  • Transfer on a 2015 Mercedes Benz Atego 1725 4WD vehicle
  • Bilingual nature tour guide
  • Mountain bike expert guide
  • Sea-kayak expert guide
  • All guides have a WFR certificate (Wilderness First Responder)
  • Visit to fishing settlements
  • All activities described above
  • Country lunch, including Cold cuts and seafood starter, Pan-fried steak in bread, Layer cake dessert (Alfajor), Cereal bars, Mineral water + sugarless flavored water, Afternoon Tea/Coffee

SERVICES NOT INCLUDED

  • Entrance to wildlife reserve Peninsula Valdes
  • Sunset whale watching tour not included

Learning to cook empanadas at House of Jasmines

Today’s special: A private class from a master of traditional cooking and the secrets of the famous empanada Salteña

When visitors come to the Argentinian north, there is one dish that everybody loves, and that is the empanada. In this opportunity, you will be able to learn the secrets of this delicious and traditional meal and delight your guests when they come to dinner. The main idea is to provide not only a cooking class but a whole experience that you will enjoy to the fullest.

The appointment is at House of Jasmines, a Maison de Charme located in the outskirts of Salta. Now an inn, this place used to be the residence of actor Robert Duvall until it was purchased and turned into what it is today. The place itself is an invitation to all bon vivant lovers. Surrounded by green hills and eucalyptus trees, House of Jasmines is a true refuge just a few miles away from the city.

Once in the residence, the chef welcomes you in the kitchen and shows you the ingredients that will be used in the preparation, such as flour, grease, meat, potato, onion sprouts, and spices. Then, the action begins with the making of the dough; there are some that say that here is where the true secret of a good empanada lays. When the dough is ready, you will continue with the filling and then, the traditional `repulgue´ (the technique that consists in pinching the edge, crimping, and sealing it). Expert tip: the perfect empanada should have thirteen repulgues (crimps).


The class ends with the cooking of the empanadas and its degustation with a cup of wine from the Salta Valleys in the beautiful La Table (the restaurant of the Inn). Located next to the main house, La Table of House of Jasmines has a view to the hills and a warm atmosphere that invites friends to relax and enjoy good conversation.

If you want to make the best of this visit, you can combine the cooking class with some other activities, such as walking through the garden, horseback riding, or enjoy a massage in the SPA. The fees do not include transfer services. If you wish more information on this experience, please do not hesitate to contact us at  Kallpa Tour operator.

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • The experience length is 1.30 to 2.00hs.
  • Private cooking class
  • Minimum 2 pax to max 10 pax.
  • Roundtrip Transfers to/from House of Jasmines are not included.
  • Difficulty: Low

INCLUDES

  • Cooking gear and materials.
  • English /Spanish speaking chef
  • Cup of Wine for the empanadas tasting

 

Bike Tour & Kayak in Tigre

An adventure day: riding a train, biking and kayaking in Tigre and the Delta.

32 kilometers to the northwest of Buenos Aires we find Tigre town and the Delta of the Paraná river, a special place where nature invites to a unique experience. A cycling tour of Tigre and kayak rowing into the Delta offer a wide range of possibilities to combine both sport and culture in a beautiful setting.

You can pick the kind of bike and maybe choose a bamboo one!

This tour starts at the meeting point at the Botanic Garden in Palermo, where after picking up our bikes and helmets from the shop we have a technical and safety briefing. Then we start pedaling towards the green parks of Palermo until Lisandro de la Torre train station. Here we take the public train and soon we are out of the city of Buenos Aires and into the northern suburbs. The change of scenery is very noticeable along the way!

We get off in La Lucila and ride our bikes to Tigre. On the way we make a few stops to learn about the surroundings such as San Isidro, San Fernando and the Río de la Plata itself.

According to tradition, a jaguar (yaguareté, popularly called tigre) used to live nearby a stream, which later was named Tigre after the local people killed the animal to preserve their homes and lives. This zone used to be inhabited by jaguars but with the forward move of human population they became extinct. Nowadays just a few remain only in the Misiones’ jungle.

The Tigre Delta is one of the largest in the world and also one that doesn’t flows into the ocean but into the Río de la Plata, which separates Argentina and Uruguay. With its islands and canals, Tigre is usually called the “Venice of South America”. Also, during colonial times, this area was used as a smuggling port, where the portuguese passed through their merchandise.

Going over Tigre town, we pass by two classic spots. First, the Puerto de Frutos, which used to be a fruit market in the old days but nowadays is a place where the traditional values and new design concept coexist. This is one of the main attractions in Tigre and can be visited every day. An open air colorful market and shopping mall with diverse and eclectic shops such as antiques, furniture and decoration, artisanal products in leather and wicker, candles, garden centers, fruit shops, pickles and cold cuts.

Then we ride along the Paseo Victorica, a picturesque short street along the edge of the Luján river that provides different gastronomic options, museums and rowing clubs. At one of these clubs we leave our bikes and get into the kayaks for the paddling adventure. After a short briefing and instructions, we get into the Delta waters and row slowly, enjoying the drift, towards an island.

At the island, a tasty asado is waiting for us. We share this Argentine ritual by excellence within a natural environment, at a table by the river. We try different meat cuts, have a drink, relax and enjoy the quietness of the Delta while we rest for a while.

Before getting too comfy, we grab our oars again and return to the kayaks to row back to the club where we left our bikes. With the sun going down, we ride again towards the Tigre train station, where we take the train again towards Lisandro de la Torre station. The bike tour is not over yet! We have a last stretch back to the meeting point in Palermo.

Biking and kayaking are two sporting activities that complement each other perfectly for an active tourism trip. The town of Tigre and the islands of the Paraná river are an oasis of natural landscapes and beautiful scenery unparalleled by other Buenos Aires sightseeing tours.

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Full day regular excursion (9 hs).
  • Departs Monday to Friday at 9 am from meeting point in Palermo.
  • Roundtrip Transfers to/from the meeting point not included.
  • Difficulty: Low / Medium, but the activities are done at a peaceful and relaxing pace.
  • Total biking time: 2-3 hs
  • Total paddling time: 1.5 hs
  • Private service available upon request.
  • Weather: Only in the event of pouring rain will biking trips be cancelled or delayed
  • Minimum Age Requirement: 12 years and older. Ages 18 and under accompanied by an adult.

INCLUDES

  • Bike, helmet & Kayak.
  • Mate and snacks.
  • Lunch in Tigre (asado).
  • Bottle of water.
  • Roundtrip train tickets.
  • Insurance.
  • English speaking guide (ask for other languages).