There's a great range of accommodation all over this fabulous country, but there are some places that have got something a bit special about them - whether its their location or the style of accommodation. I've selected just a few properties here (from bells and whistles hotels to simple lodges) that it would definitely be worth considering as part of your itinerary. But of course there are many more that I'd be able to recommend.
Estancia Rincon del Socorro, Iberos de Ibera. This is a 12,000-hectare former cattle ranch on the edge of the Iberá wetlands in northeastern Argentina that has been made into a nature reserve. It is a small, refined eco-tourist property with only 6 rooms in the main house and 3 bungalows within 50 metres of the house, all with private bathrooms. This place is very remote – you have to travel via a light aircraft to get here – but you’ll be plonk in the middle of the wetlands with the amazing range of wildlife.
El Manatial del Silencio, Purmamarca. Situated just above the village of Purmamarca and with a picture postcard view onto the Hill of Seven Colours, this hotel is an unexpected oasis of comfort and tranquillity in the heart of the spectacular Humahuaca Gorge. The design, both inside and out, is colonial and elegant; with long stone corridors, archways, and a predominance of white giving the whole place a fresh feel. The star of the show here is the hotel’s location – well worth considering a couple of days here rather than hurrying back to Salta after a day tour of the area.
Awasi, Iguazu. Nestled in the Atlantic rainforest, just 20 minutes from the renowned Iguazú Falls, Awasi consists of a main lodge and 14 private guest villas. The villas are set on stilts and scattered through the jungle, carefully spaced for privacy. Each lodge comes with its own outdoor shower, plunge pool and the services of a private guide as well as access to a 4x4 vehicle. This gives you the freedom to go beyond the falls at a pace that suits you. In addition to Iguazú Falls, you can also explore nearby ruins and trails through the rainforest.
Legado Mitico, Buenos Aires. I always stay at this lovely boutique hotel when I’m visiting Buenos Aires. You could easily miss the hotel's discreet entrance - in a great location on this cobbled street in fashionable Palermo. 11 rooms are all themed on great Argentines - each decorated to a high standard, with all mod cons that you would expect beautifully mixed with classic furniture. On the ground floor there’s a peaceful library which opens onto a small courtyard, a peaceful oasis well away from the hustle and bustle of the city, And on the top floor there’s an open air Jacuzzi. And all the staff here are friendly and very obliging. There’s a sister property in Salta in the country’s North West.
Cavas Wine Lodge, Mendoza. This unique hotel is designed to be the best in the region and certainly doesn't disappoint. It has an excellent reputation for a high level of service and a great selection of wines. Situated among the vines, it's a wonderful place to escape to for a few days to enjoy some fine wine and great food. The rooms are beautifully appointed, and the rooftops are a great place for a drink at sunset. If you like to be a bit more energetic there’s a wide range of activities (not all wine based) that the hotel can arrange for you, including trekking in the foothills of the Andes, horse riding, or even rafting.
El Casco Art Hotel, Lake District. 11 km from the centre of Bariloche, this hotel has 33 rooms with spectacular views across Nahuel Huapi Lake. The air conditioned and heated rooms are very well equipped with comfortable furnishings, plasma screens and CD player. Added to this are beautiful pieces of art, each room with different pieces by prestigious Argentinian artists. The health club provides an excellent range of facilities including a fantastic outdoor/indoor swimming pool and the restaurant offers sophisticated cuisine designed by a top Argentinian chef.
Explora, El Chalten. This is a superb all-inclusive luxury lodge in a stunning setting, surrounded by views of the Marconi Glacier and Electric Valley. There’s fabulous cuisine, beautifully appointed rooms, and a spa and outdoor jacuzzis. All your activities and excursions are included here and Explora’s expert local guides are eager to lead you into the surrounding mountains, valleys, glaciers and lagoons of the Argentinian Patagonia where you can safely embark on hiking, climbing, riding, kayaking and other activities.
Estancia Rincon Chico, Peninsula Valdes. With an incredible location in the heart of this wildlife and nature paradise, this simple lodge is a special place. With only 8 bedrooms, each with private bathroom, and cosy drawing and dining rooms, this converted farmhouse offers comfort in an isolated setting and undisturbed peace. There's a price to pay for such splendid isolation - there's only electricity between 7-10pm so you can only have hot showers at night. A stay at the estancia includes a visit to their beach and the population of elephant seals. You can also arrange trips to the penguin colonies or, if you're there between June and November, you can go whale watching as the southern right whales use these waters to breed.
Has this whet your appetite for a holiday in Argentina? If you're ready to start planning your trip, get in touch now and we can get the ball rolling.
FIVE REASONS TO BOOK YOUR ARGENTINA HOLIDAY WITH ME
Your holiday is protected. Although booking all the different elements of your holiday direct may be less expensive, your holiday won’t be protected if any of the elements fall down. South American airlines are notorious for re-scheduling and cancelling flights late in the day. Booking all your arrangements with one company means your holiday is protected legally and financially because of Package Travel Regulations.
You’ll save time and aggravation. Pulling together a complex itinerary is confusing and time-consuming. You’re going to spend hours online scanning hotel reviews on Trip Advisor and elsewhere from people you don’t know and whose standards may be different from yours. And you’ll need to negotiate the complicated Argentinian network of domestic flights. You can have a 30-minute conversation with me and then sit back and wait for me to come back to you with your perfect itinerary.
You’ll have peace of mind that your arrangements will work. Although Argentina is a sophisticated country with a good infrastructure it’s easy to be seduced by cheap tours. It’s essential that the ground arrangements and logistics are booked through a reputable operator – with transfers that you can feel comfortable will turn up, in vehicles that are roadworthy and with guides that speak good English.
Nothing trumps destination expertise. Although the web is a huge source of information on hotels, tours and places to visit, there’s really no substitute for specialist knowledge, based on up-to-date feedback. I will select the right supplier for your trip dependent on the style of holiday you’re looking for. What’s more, I’ve visited Argentina 7 times now and will bring my own extensive knowledge of the country into the process, to advise and recommend on the best itinerary for your needs – to make sure that the pace and rhythm of your holiday is right. Argentina is a huge country, and it’s quite easy to end up with a multi-centre itinerary where you’ll be spending many days just travelling on a plane from place to place.
One Point of Contact. I provide the highest levels of personal service - you’ll see that all my Google reviews are 5* - and I will look after you from our first phone call until the day you arrive back home in the UK. You can call me direct on my mobile – there’s no waiting on the phone to speak to someone at a call centre when you have a question.
Don’t just take my word for it. Here’s a recent review from one of my clients who visited Argentina and Chile earlier this year…
“We have recently returned from a three-week trip to South America, arranged for us by Sue. We wanted to start in Buenos Aires and end in Rio, visiting Patagonia and Iguazú in between. It took a lot of talking, emailing, thinking and planning. Not to mention a ton of patience from Sue in answering questions and coping with our changing thoughts and ideas to get everything perfect for our needs. We cannot fault the arrangements made in any way. At each point we were met by guides and drivers, all of whom were knowledgeable and helpful. Hotels were spot on. Excursions were great. Internal flights to and from Patagonia and Iguazu all booked for us. Car hire in Patagonia sorted. We had a personal issue meaning that we did not get to Rio as planned, but between Sue and the ground agents, they rearranged hotels, guides, flights etc for us. I dread to think how we would have coped without the help we had. It was invaluable and very reassuring. This was the second holiday Sue has arranged for us, and I’m sure it won’t be the last. She has the patience of a saint and is so approachable and available. We have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Sue Aitken - Travel Guru.” Fiona Macleay
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