Gastronomic & Cultural Tour in San Telmo

The experience we’re about to tell you promises the best of Buenos Aires history and gastronomy in only 4 hours, so you better keep up!

There’s something about the porteños and their local markets, food, wine and coffee. Many corners in Buenos Aires meet these three relevant elements but one place puts them all together within a special environment: San Telmo, a historic and gastronomic neighborhood by excellence. A spot where immigration, architecture and antiques tell a story and merge with contemporary design and colorful street artists and artisans.

The tour begins at the traditional San Telmo Market, which opened in 1897 to provide the new European immigrants with the necessary provisions. The building still preserves its original inner structure, made by metal beams, arches and columns and glass and sheet ceilings. In the year 200 the market was declared Historic National Monument by the city’s government.

Nowadays, visiting the San Telmo Market is an adventure into Buenos Aires’ past; an eclectic experience where unalike options and shops are the main attraction: antiques, old toys, exotic fruits and spices, fresh vegetables and meat, patagonian products…one picture isn’t enough to cover the many shops and secrets inside this market!

After learning about the history of this unique place and walking around a bit, we stop at Coffee Town. It is known that porteños love to spend their time in coffee shops reading the newspaper, working with their laptops, catching up with friends or just relaxing with a hot cup of coffee in their hands. That is why -after years learning everything there was to know and becoming coffee experts- the Coffee Town team decided to settle at this market, being the first specialty coffee shop in Argentina. Their philosophy: to offer the best coffee in the world at the right price and to propose a journey along the sensorial route with every taste.

At this cute little shop we have a coffee tasting along with a talk about the coffee transformation process -from the green bean to the moment where it gains its aromatic and flavor characteristics- and the different forms of preparation.

Later, we leave the market and walk along the streets of San Telmo towards Sagardi, a Basque restaurant. Here, a professional sommelier will take us through a tasting of a selected variety of excellent and unique boutique wines paired with pintxos (bite-size appetizers served in the bars and taverns of the Basque Country).

With a wine reminiscent taste in our palates, we continue our way to the final stop of the tour: the Pulpería Quilapán. In the old days of the Río de La Plata region, the pulperías were a place that combined a grocery store, a bar and a spot where gauchos, natives, peasants, creole and black people reunited to drink, eat and have fun. Today, Argentine people still take our time to gather with friends and family around the famous mate, a picada, the traditional asado or with a glass of wine.

Pulpería Quilapán is a restaurant, bar, social club and grocery store that uses and sells national, natural and organic products, all of them specially selected. With a country flair, in an ancient refurbished house with rustic environment, fresh patios, an organic vegetable garden, an urban small farm and flower garden, the countryside is reflected recreating a nice and relaxed ambience for people to get together.

We have a guided tour of this historic house and -to end the soiree- the Pulpería delights us with an exquisite traditional creole barbecue with drinks and dessert, while enjoying a live folklore show. Definitely a “back to the countryside roots” experience!

For more information about this tour, please contact your Kallpa Tour executive.

 

Posada Los Juncos in Bariloche

Posada Los Juncos is a classic alpine house fully restored. Located in one of the most peaceful corners of Bariloche, surrounded by an ancient forest, facing Lake Nahuel Huapi. We offer a unique concept in accommodation in the town of San Carlos de Bariloche combining comfort with contents such as film festivals, cultural and gastronomic events, to make your stay in this part of the world, an unforgettable experience.

Ideal for couples, families, friends and travelers looking for different experiences and connection with nature and culture. We have five rooms with place for twelve people. This allows us to offer a personalized service and excellence. Feel welcome to come and enjoy what makes you feel better! Rediscover your favourite place in Patagonia!

 

A Mountain Refuge in El Chlatén

Imagine yourself in the middle of the Patagonian nature with amazing mountain views, the sound of silence and time at your expense to connect with this surreal environment.

Laguna Cóndor Mountain Refuge provides this experience to anyone willing to unplug from everyday life and technology.

This exclusive refuge is located on the west bank of the Río de las Vueltas, 17 km north of El Chaltén. Surrounded by an imposing scenery, this new lodging alternative combines the wild beauty of a nearly explored place with the facilities of a luxury camp.

The proposal is to enjoy the peace and quiet of the surroundings without the interference of technology, Hence, there is no mobile phone signal, Wi-Fi or TV available. Although there is permanent electricity provided by a hydroelectric turbine that uses the natural river torrent, reducing any impact or pollution that may be produced by a power generator.

Wood is the main element of the refuge. There is a main cabin that works as a common living room with a fireplace where you can sit and read a book, a breakfast room and a restaurant; all with beautiful views of the northern face of the mythical Mt. Fitz Roy.

Laguna Cóndor has eight small cabins located in the best spots of the property. Each one has two beds, a salamander and a deck; offering a complete privacy and comfort experience, an intermediate between a campsite and a hotel. There are also spacious locker rooms with toilets and hot showers; a multipurpose room with a fireplace and view to the mythical Fitz Roy.

The refuge offers different activities and excursions with the objective of providing and intimate contact with nature and the possibility to enjoy the peace of the place. There are many hiking trails and places to go over, from classic full day treks (such as Laguna Torre) to longer and more difficult options.

One of the preferred treks is the ascent to Loma del Diablo; a demanding but rewarding one, given the spectacular view from above of Mt. Fitz Roy. Its top is at 1800 meters, providing a great panoramic view of the whole area.

It is also possible to kayak across the waters of the Laguna Cóndor itself or to ride a mountain bike along the paths crossing the andean patagonian forest and lakes on a self-guided circuit that borders the Río de las Vueltas, including a few stops to contemplate cascades and the local flora and fauna that may come across.

Overall, Laguna Cóndor grants an unusual and reserved experience deep in the patagonian forest, where nature and relax are the protagonists.

Please, do not hesitate to contact our Kallpa Executives to learn more about this lodging option in El Chaltén.

 

Mountain, Vineyards & Blue skies at the Uco Valley

An intimate and relaxing gourmet & wine experience awaits in the Uco Valley.

Finca La Azul represents the story of a family business venture well taken care of. Francisco Hinojosa arrived to the Uco Valley in Mendoza almost 100 years ago, to find cheap, arid and stony unoccupied grounds. The Hinojosa family believes that he was the visionary man that started the winemaking culture in this area, given that today is one of the most coveted zones in Mendoza for the growth of special quality grapes destined to fine wine production. The thermal amplitude of the Uco Valley makes a perfect terroir for these grapevines.

Nowadays, Francisco´s heirs run the business and it was his daughter Shirley who decided to open the House of Guests almost three years ago. Finca La Azul´s main house was originally her home for more than 20 years. After taking care of the wine family business, she thought that she wanted to have interesting people to talk to once she grew old and to share her time, cooking and life anecdotes.

For this matter, the 50 mt2 main house was remodeled and expanded to reach 1000 mt2 and host six rooms. Keeping in mind sustainable details, it was decided to protect the house both from cold and heat by building thick stone and sand walls (materials from the very own finca), installing double glass windows and convection heating with wood stoves.

The ranch also works with sustainable agriculture, controlling the use of water and using eco-friendly products to grow peaches, plums and grapes for refined and sparkling wines.

In the very words of Tomás, one of Shirley´s sons, the same soil that in 1991 was an empty open field, today is a long grown land inhabited by plants, families and technological elements and tools (such as an avant-garde irrigation system) for an intensive care of the crops, a handy aid for the finca staff´s daily work.

As for the House of Guests, Shirley´s idea is for the visitors to feel pampered and at home. To share and cook for them and show how the Argentine people life is.

Within an intimate environment between vineyards and fruit trees, right next to the Hinojosa family home, any of the six rooms provide breathtaking views of the Andes and coziness. All rooms are equipped with a private bathroom with bath tub and views, hi-tech TV, Netflix and the best wines.

Being a multicultural family, the gastronomic proposal is a mixture of aromas and flavours. Spanish, Italian and Arabian influences originate intense and traditional creole dishes prepared with seasonal fresh ingredients grown in their very own garden. Of course, always perfectly paired with the wines of this land.

Depending on the season, Finca La Azul offers different activities such as harvesting or cooking. Wine tastings at the wine cellar are always present and a vast collection of classical literature books is available for guests to read and relax at the library. Enjoy cocktails at sunset watching the mountains, a romantic dinner at the vines under the starry sky or a summer lunch at the quincho.

At this homey and friendly space, Shirley and her family will be waiting for you to talk about wine, taste and drink it, show you around this wonderful scenery and enjoy with you its tranquility, gladly offering you their home.

For more information about this marvelous House of Guests, please contact your Kallpa Executive.