Day 1 Buenos Aires

For those travelling from NZ you can travel on LATAM Airlines direct to Santiago with a connection to Buenos Aires 

On arrival you will be transferred to your hotel.

Day 2 Buenos Aires (B, L)

The Ultimate Buenos Aires Day Bike Tour

There are many stops for historical information from our expert guides as well plenty of time for photos and exploration. A fantastic way to get to know the city in one day, the tour starts in historic San Telmo before going to La Boca, Caminito, Puerto Madero, the Women's Bridge, the Ecological Reserve, Retiro, Recoleta Cemetery, the Metal Flower, Plaza San Martín, and Plaza de Mayo. The tour includes bicycle, guide, helmet, water bottle, lunch and other extras this is a easy biking day , flat terrain

Optional dinner & tango show at El Querandi

Day 3 Buenos Aires -Mendoza (B)

You will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Mendoza

On arrival you will be transferred to your hotel.

Mendoza, nestled in the foothills of the Andes Mountain Range,famous for nearby Mount Aconcagua, for its Malbec wines and for being the cradle of the heroic deeds of Liberator General San Martín, Father of this nation, it is one of the most beautiful and neat cities in the country. The climate in Mendoza is moderate-temperate, though its mountains provide a certain degree of aridity. Argentina is the fifth largest wine producing country in the world and the city of Mendoza itself is the hub of the Argentinean wine industry. The city life and busy plazas are surrounded by thousands of bodegas (wineries) that lie on the outskirts of town with over 350,000 acres of vines.

Enjoy a leisurely walk around Mendoza and some wine tasting this afternoon

Day 4 Mendoza (B, L)

This is a full day excursion into the mountainous landscape of Mendoza Province. The journey begins along route Nº7 going by Potrerillos Dam, Uspallata, las Bovedas, Mt Tunduqueral and the Ghost City of Paramillos. After arrival at Cruz de Paramillos and after our guide gives technical and security explanations, mount your bike for some uphill then a 29 km descent through the historical 365 curved road down to the Villavicencio Hotel, which opened its gates in 1940 and closed again in 1978. Affluent families from all round the country and from abroad would stay at the hotel to spend an entire season and enjoy the hot springs and their healing properties. Board our vehicle to begin the way back to Mendoza.

29 km of dirt & paved roads

Day 5 Mendoza - Salta (B, L)

A late morning start to tour around some of the bodegas (wineries) by bike. First stop the Nieto y Sentiner Winery which produces superb Malbecs. Then by bike to the Chacueta area, enjoying the scenery of the Andes riding along the Mendoza River Canyon. Enjoy a late leisurely lunch of Argentinian specialities then bike back to our lodge.

25 km of dirt & paved roads

This evening transfer to the bus station for an overnight journey by comfy sleeper bus to Salta

Day 6 Salta (B)

Arrive Salta early afternoon and transfer to your hotel

The Hispanic architecture of the city makes it stand out from the other cities in the country. The colonial spirit from its inception is evident in its houses, streets, hundred-year-old monuments and narrow sidewalks surrounded by the mountains nearby. Winter is warm and dry, with records of an annual average temperature of 22ºC.

Day 7 Salta (B)

Half day bike excursion to the Quebrada El Toro. For thousands of years, this 'corridor' was used by groups of people to move from place to place; hence, there are many archaeological sites. This circuit begins in the village of Campo Quijano known as The Andes Portal, the starting point of the excursion. The circuit runs the first part of the gorge, an area with deep canyons and lush vegetation in summer.

We cross a bridge, part of the route of the famous Train to the Clouds and marvel at the engineering work. Explore the now abandoned stations, Rio Blanco and El Alisal. Arrive at a beautiful waterfall called "Chorro Blanco" then continue downhill for 6 km to meet the vehicle for our return to Salta.

35km of paved and dirt roads

This afternoon explore Salta at your leisure. The Museum in the main plaza is excellent!

Day 8 Salta- Cachi (B, L)

Travel to the south of the city to the village that produces Virginia tobacco, El Carril. From there, we enter the Escoipe Gorge. After climbing the Cuesta del Obispo (Bishop Slope), we reach the Piedra Del Molino (3,348 m).After admiring the views at the top, we mount our bikes and descend through the wonderful Camino de los Colorados (the Red Road), the name indicative of the slopes surrounding us, a painter's palette of all the shades of red, a fantastic sight! We cycle through the Cardones National Park, the name given to the huge cacti that grow in the region. The cardones are protected. We arrive in Cachi, sleeping in a cozy hosteria.

30-50 km of dirt roads. Elevation gain: 230m Uphill 1390m downhill

Day 9 Cachi – Molinos (B, L)

After breakfast, we ride 1 or 2 circuits in the environs of Cachi.

1. The Pailas Inside: We head towards the highest mountain in the area, the Nevado de Cachi (6380 mts), we reach "Cachi Adentro", then cross to the archeological site of Las Pailas.

2. Airport and Cemetery Circuit, where the short excursions end. We prepare for the ride to Molinos.

We transit the right side of the Calchaqui River, visiting places such as La Paya and El Colte, to the birthplace of the handcrafts of Salta, called 'The Way of the Artisans'.

In Seclantas, we stop to gather the troops and tackle the hill to Molinos together, where we spend another night in the magical Calchaqui Valley, in a beautifully restored hacienda.

25-55 km of dirt roads.

Day 10 Molinos – Cafayate (B, L)

After breakfast, we make a city tour of Molinos by bike, then travel by bus, 40 km to the village of Angastaco, along the legendary Route 40 which stretches the length of Argentina along the spine of the Andes, from the border with Bolivia down to Ushuaia, on the southern edge of the continent. This part of the journey gives us the opportunity to see the best examples of agricultural production in the Calchaqui Valley. The silence in the Valley and the spectacular scenery will captivate.

In Angastaco we start pedaling through the narrow Gorge of the Arrows (Quebrada de Las Flechas),one of the most amazing sites in the Argentine Northwest. The eroded cliffs and slopes, with the high Andes off in the distance; create an almost surreal landscape, dazzling all that come through here.

We arrive in San Carlos and continue by bus to the desert oasis of Cafayate, famous for its high altitude vineyards. The town of Cafayate is another highlight, the friendly inhabitants will make you welcome, as is the tradition of the Northwestern culture. Accomodation is a comfortable hotel

30-53 km of dirt & paved roads.

Day 11 Cafayate (B, L)

This morning an optional ride to the ruins of Quilmes. The ruins were inhabited by the Calchaquí natives who settled on the hillsides and on the mountain range called Calchaquí, from which the tribes got their name: Quilmes and Calchaquí.

This indigenous fortress is surprising, as the Quilmes Indians resisted the Inca and Spanish invaders for many years, from this location.

This afternoon we explore the town and visit some of the wineries by bike.

10 km of dirt & paved road.

Day 12 Cafayate - Purmarmarca (B, L)

Cycle through the Quebrada de las Conchas, another magical canyon offering enchanting landscapes of strange rock formations and eroded slopes exposing innumerable bands of colors. Similar to the US Western deserts, there are many rock formations to discover and the colours will change as the sun arches over and behind the canyon.

We then continue by bus through the Lermas Valley and bypass Salta north, experiencing many changes in vegetation, to ascend into the Humahuaca Gorge region. Overnight in the picturesque small town of Purmamarca in a nice hosteria.

30-40 km of paved roads

Day 13 Purmarmarca -Tilcara -Salta (B, L)

Another stunning day – we take an early morning ride around the 7 Colours Gorge with its amazing rock formations and explore the town by bike. Then by bus to Tilcara for another ride and a visit to the archaeological museum and Indian fortess. Tilcara lies at 2,465 ml on the banks of the Grande River. Its main square pays homage to Colonel Manuel Álvarez Prado and is the meeting point for all the inhabitants of town. It is also the venue for a permanent market of local craftsmen from the entire Humahuaca Ravine.

Visitors will find a wide variety of products and souvenirs. Surrounded by small restaurants, coffee-shops and handicraft workshops, the square is the congregation point where concerts and peñas are often held. This afternoon we return to Salta.

25km of dirt roads - 12km circuit Purmamarca easy,13km Tilcara medium uphill

Day 14 Salta - Buenos Aires (B)

You will be transferred to the airport for your flight back to Buenos Aires.