A true one-of-a-kind experience! Fly Tour Argentina

Flying over the Salta region is an invitation to feel, at least for a while, like a Condor over the wonderful Andes Range.

You can choose from three fixed experiences that will allow you to connect different locations in a very short period of time.Buckle up as we take off from Salta City  Enjoy the wonderful views as you climb up heading towards the Calchaqui Valleys or The Puna. 

On this occasion, we present one of the Jewels of Northwest of Argentina. 

Calchaqui Valley Program – Cachi & Cafayate – Route 40. Covering in one day amazing Northwest highlights.You will take off from Salta heading west enjoying the breathtaking view of the Quebrada de Escoipe as we approach Cachi. We will descend on Cachi Colonial Town and you will have some free time to discover this charming and peaceful town. Its cobblestone streets,  its main square, the church declared a national monument, the archaeological museum at your own pace.Then we head back to Cachi’s airfield and fly to our next destination, Cafayate. We head on south flying above the memorable Route 40, over the towns of Molinos,  Seclantás, Angastaco and San  Carlos. The surreal  Quebrada de las Flechas with its white sedimentary rock formations and their tips rising to the sky will undoubtedly stand out in this stretch.Once we arrive in Cafayate, there will be a car waiting to take you to the village for a short visit of the main square. Later you will be taken to Piattelli Vineyard where you will enjoy one of the best views of the Cafayate Valley vineyards while having lunch, enjoying young, fresh, aromatic and floral wines of varietals grown in the estates located in Cafayate and Mendoza. After lunch, the same vehicle will take us back to the airport and then on to Salta City, arriving at 3 pm at Salta Airport.

Further details of the tour: 

Departs from Salta 9:30 hours 

10:00 hs arrival to Cachi. 1.30 hs permanence in Cachi.

12:00 hs Arrival to Cafayate. 2.30hs permanence in Cafayate for Lunch. Lunch is included in Piatelly or El Esteco winery.

15:00 hs Arrival to Salta

Contact us for prices (Min 4 travelers required)

Total flight time: 1 hr

Distance covered: 400km

** We have other programs available which will include lunch in Cafayate or Cachi with the overflight the Cono de Arita or Volcan Galan in the Puna **

Experience a true nature immersion at Bahia Bustamante!

Bahia Bustamante is a Patagonian seaside Lodge and town surrounded by pure nature well known for its biological biodiversity. Few places in the world can offer such a number and diversity of seabirds and marine mammals. You will find yourself surrounded by magnificent white sandy beaches with  crystal clear water, framed by red rocks reaching inland and the lunar landscapes of the great desert.

Bahia Bustamante was founded in the 1950s as a seaweed settlement, inhabited by more than 400 seaweed workers and their families with everything this small “town” needed. The old houses which used to belong to the first inhabitants are now renovated to receive guests and nowadays Bahia Bustamante offers:


4  spacious and cozy Superior Sea Cabins and 2 standard Sea Cabins. Both Sea Cabins categories offer Ocean front view terraces. Each Cabin has 2 double bedrooms with capacity for max 4 adults, a living room and 1 fully equipped bathroom, Minibar, full board (except beverages) & activities inside the property – coordinated the night before. Mountain bikes are available and the living room features a small window overlooking the sea.

5 Steppe Cabins located just behind the Sea Cabins, these are much simpler. Steppe Cabins have 1 double room with maximum capacity for 3 people, a dining room, a small living room with a single bed, a bathroom and a kitchen with cook top & basic tableware. This option does not include activities or meals.

The Main Lodge Located where the town had its old General Store, today holds the common areas of the Lodge, preserving a typical Patagonia atmosphere. The Restaurant serves local food in a menu based on seaweed, lamb meat, fish & other sea products, and fruits & vegetables from the organic garden.

The Bar & Living Room is the perfect place to relax with a view to the sea through the immense windows. 

In the library it is possible to find books, bird guides and magazines. 

The Memorial Room is where you can find an introduction to the early days of the town in the 60s & the daily life of more than 400 workers. 

The Club: A game room with Pool, ping-pong, table-football & board games.

What activities can be done at Bahia Bustamante?

Bahia Bustamante offers exploration activities proposed on a day-to-day basis (operation is subject to tides and weather conditions). Guests can choose from half day to full day explorations from:

  • Navigations visiting Sea Lions, Magellan Penguin and Seabirds colonies.
  • Biking, trekking or touring on 4×4 trucks to discover wonderful beaches, great archaeological and geological sites and petrified forests
  • Self guided trekking and biking trails are available to discover the place at guests’ own pace.

What species can be found at Bahia Bustamante?

  • Magellanic Penguin colony (spheniscus magellanicus), which reaches up to 100.000 individuals. 
  • Significant colonies of Blue-eyed Cormorant (Phalacrocorax atriceps), . 
  • 2 endemic species: The Chubut Steamer Duck (Tachyeres leucocephalus) and the Olrog´s Gull (Larus Atlanticus). Red knot (Calidris canutus), the White-rumped sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis) and the Hudsonian godwit (Limosa haemastica)  
  • The Sea Lions colony on the islands (Otaria Flavescens) reaches up to 4.000 individuals. 
  • The richness of the area also attracts the presence of killer whales, dolphins and Commerson’s dolphin. 
  • With a little bit of luck, on their way from or to Valdes Peninsula, a Right Whale or an Elephant Seal may visit Bahia Bustamante shores as well.
  • Regarding Steppe wildlife, you will be surprised to see all kinds of native animals that live in this part of Patagonia: Patagonian Cavy, lesser rheas, guanacos are easy to spot and, occasionally, some restless armadillo or skunk may lean out of a thorny bush. 

Due to its biodiversity richness it has been included in ´Patagonia Austral´ National Park & ´Blue Patagonia´ UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and listed as an IBAs (Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas)

Staying in Bahia Bustamante Lodge also means taking a journey to the past, to discover the amazing life of the pioneers of this truly remote place in Patagonia. Don’t miss the opportunity to discover Bahia Bustamante in your next Patagonian Adventure!

TASTING NORTHERN WINE IN SALTA

A special location and terroir makes of this winery the first to harvest in the Calchaquí Valleys.

The winery Estancia Los Cardones is located in Tolombón, province of Salta. This is the northernmost wine-growing area in Argentina, located south of the city of Cafayate at 1,700 masl, located at the top of the eastern slope of the Calchaquí Valleys.

The facility, inaugurated in early 2017, was built entirely of stone extracted from the quarries of the same estate. In fact, if you look at the drawing of the walls in the cellar you can easily have a notion of the soil that makes up the vineyard.

We propose you to visit this particular winery taking a guided tour following the path that makes the grape until it becomes a wine that reflects the unique characteristics of this terroir of Tolombón.

Starting with the vineyards, we will learn everything about this peculiar soil. The terroir of Estancia Los Cardones is unique in the valleys as it is rocky, very shallow, with abundant chipped slate stone on the surface and full of disintegrated mica.

The mostly planted strain is the Malbec, however you can also find lots with Petit Verdot, Grenache, Cabernet and Marsanne.

Another curious fact that makes this winery special is that the orientation of the vineyards, the intense sun and the stony soil favour the earliest maturity of the grape, being the first farm to harvest in all the Calchaquí Valleys.

We will continue into the winery to learn about the production process and end up in the cellar, where we will take in how the wine is aged to become the exquisite final product.

To finish the visit, we will go to the tasting room to taste three wines from the winery and check on our own the characteristic flavor of this special terroir from the north.

The golden clasp, it is possible to enjoy a lunch with empanadas, barbecue and a regional dessert!

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Duration: 2-2.30 hours
  • Operates: Wednesday to Saturday from 10 to 18 hs (last tour at 17 hs). Sunday from 9 to 13 hs (last tour at 12 hs). Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
  • Includes: guided tour of the vineyard and winery facilities, wine tasting and lunch as described.
  • Not included: transfers.

 

PATAGONIAN RANCH EXPERIENCE IN EL CALAFATE

Experience the rural life of an authentic Patagonian estancia in the lands of the Perito Moreno Glacier.

Far from mass tourism and 55 km from El Calafate, we find the historic ranch Estancia Nibepo Aike. Initially called La Jerónima, Nibepo Aike covers an area of ​​more than 12,000 hectares, delimited by the South Arm of Lake Argentino and the border with Chile, framed by the Andes Mountains. Dedicated to bovine and sheep production as livestock activities, it is an ideal place to immerse yourself in rural life.

Nowadays you may spend the day visiting the ranch, to experience the life of an authentic estancia located in one of the most impressive settings in Argentina.

Every morning and afternoon, it is possible to enjoy the traditional countryside day. Upon arrival, the host guide will receive and take you to the quincho for a hot drink (tea, coffee or mate) and homemade pastry.

Then, we will set forth on an easy walk to tour the facilities of the farm, which was formerly dedicated to sheep production only, and which today has been transformed into the most prestigious Hereford cabin of these latitudes that also maintains a sheep herd.

The hike will take us to excellent views of the South Arm of Lake Argentino, discovering various rocky outcrops eroded by glacial action and changes in lake levels. Through trails, we will discover a forest of lenga and ñir trees, where caranchos, cachañas, hares, woodpeckers, eagles and an abundant variety of native flora and fauna live.

We will arrive at the shearing shed and current historical museum of the stay. Here we will learn about this peculiar rural work, from the shearing of the animal to the assembly of the bundle of wool; the way in which the wool is stowed and transported.

Next, a “reins test” of riders will be carried out or, depending on the rural activities of the day, farm work will be done in the pens near the main house. In the morning, visitors can also participate in the milking and sheep grazing, concluding with a typical day of work in the ranch.

On the way back, the guide will reveal the history of the place, telling anecdotes and stories of the first settlers. Crossing through the orchard where most of the vegetables in the ranch come from, we will arrive to the quincho, where they will wait for us with an exquisite barbecue, ready to delight us with a delicious Patagonian lamb while enjoying the imposing view of the Cordillera.

For those who choose the extended countryside day option, after lunch or before dinner and rural activities, will take a three hour guided horseback ride on different paths that will allow you to learn more about the corners of Nibepo Aike.

And for those who do not have enough time for a full day experience, you may visit the estancia only for lunch or dinner at the quincho. Taste the homemade delicacies, a barbecue of Patagonian lamb, beef steaks and sausages, with various salads, homemade dessert and one drink per person. This culinary experience is ideal before or after the Perito Moreno Glacier excursion, if you rented a car. It is important to clarify that this option does not include other rural activities.

Another brief but more adventurous option to not miss this incredible Patagonian ranch is to only take a guided three-hour horseback ride, touring the coast of the lake and ascending to the Cerro de los Cristales hill. With its 1282 meters, despite not being the highest in the area, its privileged view allows you to appreciate Lake Argentino, the Perito Moreno Glacier and Torres del Paine, from a single point.

Returning to El Calafate, having experienced the life of a typical Patagonian estancia will give you a new perspective, finding more meaning in the immense Patagonian landscapes characterized by the infinite and the remote.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Countryside Day, morning or afternoon: Traditional option to visit the ranch. 

  • Schedule: AM Pick up 8.30 – Drop off 15:30 / PM Pick up 16.30 – Drop off 23.30. The schedules are estimates and subject to modification. 
  • Includes: Welcome reception with tea/coffee/mate and fried cakes/homemade puddings. Walk around the old main house. Stories of the first settlers of the Estancia and the cattle ranching. Brief historical review on the breakdowns of the Perito Moreno Glacier and their consequences in the area. Milking in the morning (depending on the time of calving of the animals), feeding of lambs or calves with a bottle and sheep herding. Demonstration of shearing and test of reins. Visit to the orchard. Lunch/Dinner: Roast Lamb with salads and dessert. A glass of wine or a non-alcoholic drink per person during meal. Bilingual English/Spanish guide during rural activities. 
  • Not included: Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks during the meal, outside the stipulated. Transfers. Tips. Horseback ride. Bilingual guide for the horseback ride.

Extended Countryside Day: a 3 hours horseback ride is added to the traditional Countryside day.

  • Schedule: AM Pick up 8.30 – Drop off 19:30 – Horseback ride after Countryside day and lunch /  PM Pick up 13.30 – Drop off 23.30 – Horseback ride before Countryside day and dinner. The schedules are estimates and subject to modification. 
  • Includes: Welcome reception with tea/coffee/mate and fried cakes/homemade puddings. Walk around the old main house. Stories of the first settlers of the Estancia and the cattle ranching. Brief historical review on the breakdowns of the Perito Moreno Glacier and their consequences in the area. Milking in the morning (depending on the time of calving of the animals), feeding of lambs or calves with a bottle and sheep herding. Demonstration of shearing and test of reins. Visit to the orchard. Lunch/Dinner: Roast Lamb with salads and dessert. A glass of wine or a non-alcoholic drink per person during meal. Bilingual English/Spanish guide during rural activities. Horseback riding of approximately 3 hours duration. 
  • Not included: Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks during the meal, outside the stipulated. Transfers. Tips. Bilingual guide for the ride

Patagonian barbecue: Lunch or dinner at the quincho. 

  • Schedules: Lunch at 12 pm. Dinner at 8 pm. 
  • Includes: Lunch/Dinner at the quincho: Roast Lamb with various salads and homemade dessert. A glass of wine or a non-alcoholic drink per person during the meal. Ask for alternative menu. 
  • Not included: Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks during the meal, outside the stipulated. Transfers. Tips.

Horseback ride: 3 hours to explore the corners of Nibepo Aike in more depth, crossing the coast of the lake and ascending to the Cerro de los Cristales. 

  • Schedules: From 3 to 6 pm. Please check in 30 minutes in advance. 
  • Includes: Horseback riding with guide authorized by National Parks. 
  • Not included: Transfers. Bilingual guide.