WHY IT RATES: Avanti Destinations' sales indicate that Argentina is growing in popularity and travelers are increasingly interested in traveling beyond the capital. -Janeen Christoff, TravelPulse Senior Writer
An increasing number of independent travelers to Argentina are going beyond the capital city of Buenos Aires to hike, trek or horseback ride in Patagonia, taste the wines of Mendoza and sail around the scenic lake district of Bariloche, according to FIT specialist Avanti Destinations, which sells exclusively through travel agents.
"More and more agents are booking their independent travel clients to Argentina," said Paul Barry, Avanti's executive chairman.
"And while the capital continues to be our best-selling South American capital with steady increases from year to year, there is a definite trend for FITs to continue on to Patagonia, particularly El Calafate and El Chalten, or to Mendoza or Bariloche. Combining Argentina with one or more of the neighboring countries of Chile, Brazil and Uruguay is another trend.
"Whether clients are looking for a short pre-/post-cruise extension or a complete vacation, Argentina is a great destination no matter what their activity level. You can just relax and enjoy the scenery, you can have soft adventure experiences, or you can be super active and trek among the glaciers and mountains," Barry noted.
Among the wide range of accommodation options are several new hotels in Argentina: the Alvear Icon in the hip Puerto Madero neighborhood of Buenos Aires, featuring a rooftop bar with a spectacular view; an Awasi property in Iguazu, another popular destination; and Casa de Uco Wine Resort in the Mendoza countryside.
New Activities and Experiences
With the growth in demand, Avanti has introduced new activities and experiences which may be added to any custom-built Argentina itinerary:
Mendoza Shared Biking & Tasting Tour with lunch - 7 hours cycling in the vineyards of three wineries, learning about and sampling the wines, ending with a light lunch.
Mendoza Private Horseback Riding and Vineyards Tour - 5 hours including a 1.5-hour ride through the vineyards with a guide to explain wine cultivation, followed by local lunch featuring empanadas and a complete asado plus different varieties of wine.
Bariloche Victoria Island and Arrayanes Forest Tour - 7 hours starting with a 1.5-hour sail on Lake Nahuel Huapi and then a guided walk through the Arrayanes Forest, a national monument created to preserve the rare cinnamon-colored arrayan tree. A boat then takes travelers to Victoria Island where lunch will be served, followed by a walk through a forest of diverse conifers, including Sequoia.
El Calafate Shared Glaciers Boat & Private Perito Moreno Glacier Tour - Full-day tour by boat to the Spegazzini Glacier (walls up to 420 feet high) and Upsala Glacier. Proceed to the 19-mile long Perito Moreno Glacier for a private tour walking on paths on the front of the glacier. Includes box lunch.
El Calafate Private Glaciarium Ice Museum Tour - 3.5-hour tour of this modern (opened 2011) interpretive center, with high-tech dioramas, interactive and multimedia exhibits, and 3D models, all dedicated to explaining how glaciers were created and how global warming threatens them.
To book custom-built, multi-destination FIT vacations to Argentina or anywhere in Central and South America, Europe, and Asia, log onto avantidestinations.com or call 800-422-5053 to speak with an expert travel specialist
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