Discover Argentina: Culinary, Culture, and Adventure Awaits, Ole!

Our Latin America Team has just returned from one of my all-time favorite countries Argentina! We are keeping them busy with our multiple Mexico City and Oaxaca Journeys. I would return to Argentina in a heartbeat… extraordinary dining, striking Gauchos, delectable wine, art… a long list of compelling reasons to visit. When I first began this Professional Travel Journey, all of our clients visited Argentina, I’ll never forget a call from our VIP Team, on taking our Household Name client to the hospital when he sliced off part of his finger in a cooking class. I adore this client, he sends quick sweet notes and videos from their travel – he sent a brief note – finger fine, at hospital! Last week, he sent a video from his rooftop penthouse in Rome…it’s the little things! It’s always nice to be appreciated by clients or really, anyone!

Colome, Argentina

Argentina offers a wide range of diversity of experiences and locations. It isn’t just a country, it’s a continent’s worth of landscapes packed into one wild, beautiful place full of generous and warm people. One afternoon you can be sipping Malbec in Mendoza, the next you’re off-roading through otherworldly canyons in the northwest. We can organize perfectly civilized Journeys or go natural and visit funky family-owned wineries, neighborhood eateries, and smoky backyard asados.

Argentina  spans such a large area of the Southern hemisphere that a trip here could have you huddled up close to native penguins on Martillo island on the Southern tip, sipping on high-altitude wines in Mendoza or Salta, bamboo-bicycling through the busy streets of Buenos Aires, or staring in awe at the immense power of the Iguazu Falls, or for those with more time, all of the above. From the very north to the extreme south, Argentina delivers adventure and culture on every latitude. Each time I’ve visited, a Tango show is always on my dance card!

Most trips begin and end in Argentina’s stunning capital, Buenos Aires, but from there it’s up to you depending on your interests, travel style, and how long you’re able to travel.  A short list below of areas, possible combinations – with follow-up posts of unique itineraries, with interesting mixtures for longer trips, but if you’re limited to a week, we can still combine Buenos Aires with another amazing area of this one-of-a-kind destination.


You might agree that the best way to get to know a city is by eating your way around it. Dive deep into historic neighborhoods like Palermo and San Telmo with a local culinary guide, sampling an array of iconic and traditional dishes, as well as unexpected fare. Tear through sourdough Argentine-style pizza, corn-filled empanadas, and a chickpea-based dish called faina reflecting the influence of Italian immigrants.

Bear in mind, Buenos Aires is not just for carnivores. We try at least one new plant-forward restaurant, because even avid meat eaters need a green break! Contemplate a delectable mushroom Milanese, a vegetarian version of a popular Italian favorite. Save a few nights for a perfectly cooked grass-fed ribeye followed by thirst-quenching gelato. Working with locals guarantees that we identify the IYKYK places you will love sharing with your foodie friends!  

Shop Buenos Aires with Our Artisan Insider. One of the dear friends of our VIP Team is a stylist with serious local cred ready to take you straight to the good stuff. Think hand-stitched leather, designer fashion, textiles, jewelry, even expertly crafted knives to step up your asado game. These aren’t souvenir shops; they’re ateliers and studios where Argentina’s top designers are excelling at their craft. Return home with pieces you’ll not only use but cherish. I have a gorgeous set of chunky bone handled forks and knives in a leather case; they come out for an all-meat centric meal! I collect silver accessories and my small footed silver dishes are perfect for Chimichurri.

Mendoza Boutique & Wineries- You haven’t truly experienced Mendoza until you’ve tasted wine with the winemakers themselves, preferably while staring straight at the snowcapped Andes.

At SuperUco, Agustin and Matías Michelini pour bold, biodynamic wines that are as wild and honest as the land itself. It’s a tiny family project with big ideas and zero ego. And then there’s Finca El Paraíso, the Arizu family’s original estate, where guests wander the vineyards and olive groves before sitting down to a long, leisurely lunch cooked by their in-house chef. The wines are legendary, the setting’s serene, and the stories run deep.

Mixing it Up in Mendoza- If you also love spirits, we’ve tracked down a small-batch distillery that’s only just opened its doors to the public. They’re quietly producing some of the best whiskey and gin in Argentina. It’s tucked away, run by passionate locals, and the tasting room feels more like a secret club than a tourist stop. 

One of my romantic notions was to meet a Gaucho. There are few people in Argentina as romanticized as the Gaucho. The nomadic and colorful horseman and cowhand of the Argentine and Uruguayan Pampas who flourished from the mid-18th to the mid-19th century and has remained a folk hero similar to the cowboy in western North America.

Upcoming Journeys or call to inquire! Numerous itineraries can be curated in Argentina: Buenos Aires and Mendoza. Patagonia, Buenos Aires and Wild Patagonia. Buenos Aires, Iguazo Falls and Rio. Wine Tasting through Argentina.. Northwest Argentina Road Trip. Best of Argentina.

Summer (December-February): Ideal for Patagonia, but can be very hot in the north. 
Shoulder Seasons (September-November & March-May): Offer pleasant weather and fewer crowds in many areas. 
Winter (June-August): Good for skiing in Bariloche, but some Patagonian areas are snowed in. 

Highly Recommend!

Gauchos and Romantic Notions

Argentina is slowly opening the doors to travelers, reminding me of my unforgettable Journey years ago. Many of our clients followed our trail to Buenos Aires, Mendoza and Salta and the extraordinary countryside. Our winter is their summer, if you need enticement.

Discovering a story during my Journeys is an essential characteristic of my travel. One of my Argentine ambitions was to meet a Gaucho. There are few people in Argentina as romanticized as the Gaucho. The nomadic and colorful horseman and cowhand of the Argentine and Uruguayan Pampas who flourished from the mid-18th to the mid-19th century and has remained a folk hero similar to the cowboy in western North America. We stopped many times to catch the attention of a Gaucho galloping along the side of the road, they seemed intent on their Journey and ignored our greetings!

The Gaucho in some respects, resembled members of other nineteenth century pastoral, horse-based cultures. Among them, the Peruvian chalan or morochuco, the North American cowboy, vaquero in Spanish, the Chilean huaso, the Venezuelan or Colombian llanero, the Mexican charro or the Portuguese campino. Folk heroes and outlaws.

The Gaucho first began to appear during the War of Independence. Argentine patriot forces were constantly clashing with the Spanish in the country’s pastoral ranges, often outnumbered and outgunned. Like the cowboy, Gauchos were and remain proud masterful horse riders. Typically, a Gaucho’s horse constituted most of what he owned in the world. During the wars of the 19th century in the Southern Cone, the cavalries on all sides were composed almost entirely of Gauchos. In Argentina, Gaucho armies such as that of Martín Miguel de Güemes, slowed Spanish advances. Moreover, many caudillos relied on Gaucho armies to control the Argentine provinces.

Gauchos played a fundamental role in the war, which ended in 1818, and it was around that time that legend and lore of the Gaucho came to be a part of Argentine history and literature. After the war, they drifted to Argentina’s fertile lowland Pampas which would become their new working home. It was during this time that their distinct culture emerged. They found work marshaling cattle and accomplishing ranch tasks for the owners of prosperous Estancias. Gauchos are still prevalent in the pampas, herding cattle and employed by local Estancias, where travelers may stay.

In Salta, a Gaucho is traditionally dressed in a bright red cape, knee high black boots and loose fitting black trousers or bombachas, for horse riding, a poncho, which doubles as a saddle blanket and as sleeping gear, belted with a piece of cloth known as a tirador. Their large knife hangs from the trousers, Gaucho attire is topped off with a traditional broad rimmed leather hat. Gauchos dress quite distinctly from North American cowboys and used bolas or boleadoras – (three leather bound rocks tied together with approximately three feet long leather straps) in addition to the familiar North American lariat or riata.

One may first notice the distinctive hat from a distance as they trot along farmland roads. They still roam the countryside on horseback and many were in the avenues of Salta as well; mystery still travels with the gauchos. Similar to the lore of Western cowboys, Gauchos enjoy a reputation as silent and strong, honest and hardworking; however, certainly when provoked, capable of fierceness.

Classic Gaucho’s more likely benefit from romantic notions and idyllic prose than our Western cowboys, their myth and history is celebrated yearly and honored through the countryside. To woo the fairer sex, they composed a dance called Malambo, festivals are held every summer showcasing the dance which is incredibly fast and has complex footwork.

In Mendoza, Cecilia Diaz Chuit, the owner of Cavas Wine Lodge, introduced me to several local artists and I returned home with a treasured painting of the dancing Gauchos!

Nomadic in nature, they traveled for work from estancia to estancia. A simple diet of beef, which is plentiful in Argentina, red wine and the ubiquitous mate – a caffeine-packed beverage. Gaucho culture declined in the end of the 19th century, the rugged lifestyle was viewed as uncivilized and they were dismissed by the masses. Many continued their tradition of wandering and are employed as handymen, sheep shearers, or as I discovered in Colome, as ranch managers who ride with guests.

Gaucho Folklore is still prevalent and in Salta you will see the legendary Gauchos riding their steeds through the countryside. Hundreds of roadside shrines to Gaucho Gil are visible for miles, the red flags fluttering in a breeze. Gaucho Antonio Gil or El Gauchito who lived in the 19th century, deserted the Army; while evading capture, he robbed the rich and shared with the poor. Eventually he was captured and strung up by his feet in order to be beheaded. Gaucho Gil prophesied to his executioner: “When you return home you’ll discover that I have actually been pardoned and you’ll find your son gravely ill”. He pleaded to be properly buried, which was unusual in those days for a hoodlum, in exchange for which he would assure the recovery of the executioner’s mortally ill son. But his pleas didn’t work and Gaucho Gil was beheaded. When the executioner came home he found both prophecies to be true, he hastened to return to the execution place, in order to properly bury Gaucho Gil. Soon the executioner’s son recovered – a miracle had occurred, and a legend was born. Word spread, and the shrines were built and are still maintained; gifts are left at the roadside shrines in an offering of devotion and gratitude. The red scarves and flags characteristically waving in the breeze are thought to represent Gaucho Gil’s neck scarf soaked in his blood.

The Gaucho Gil shrines are a still tended to; he was a colorful figure admired and revered, a folk hero, inspiring music and fables, a mystical symbol of bravery in his native Argentina.

At Colome, I rode twice with my Gaucho, Ruben Belazquez, an afternoon ride across sweeping grasslands and an early sunrise trek up and down steep ravines. We traversed the pampas, negotiating streams and climbed a gigantic boulder on the gentle natured Peruvian Paso ponies – Ruben who didn’t speak much English, he carefully watched to ascertain my comfort and riding proficiency – and pronounced me to be: es muy bueno! I confidently navigated a few challenging bluffs – with a nudge and a command to my pony, I galloped upstream past Ruben, fluttering pampas grass swatting my chaps. It was a magnificent Gaucho morning! Es muy Bueno!

Gauchos are indeed a reality, whether they be on an estancia or tearing through the rugged hills on a country road. My Argentine Journey was a masterful success in so many ways and in particular, my jaunts with Ruben allowed me to say I had met a Gaucho. I trailed a couple of finely dressed Gauchos in Salta but didn’t have the courage to ask for a photo. Or, as I’ve oft mentioned, sometimes mystery is better than reality; don’t you sometimes find that to be true about people you meet?

“Challenging to find guides that appeal to three generations: teens, parents, grandparents; yet you did it, Gwen! Thanks. Buenos Aires with your guides was spectacular.”  Reed Hastings and Patty Quillin (Clients for over 18 years)