experience Argentina

notes from the road

The Great Northwest
BY PAOLA SARTORI

The natural beauty of my country, Argentina, is world famous, from the calving glaciers of Patagonia to the sweeping vineyards of the Mendoza district. Yet unbeknownst to the world at large is our great northwest, an awesome region of stunning landscapes and deep cultural heritage. Here the crest of the Andes rises to some of the highest peaks in the Americas. To the east of the mountains is the puna, a windswept, stony, treeless plain, where extensive salt flats create a barren beauty. A little farther along vineyards flourish in the mild climate and low humidity, while in northernmost Jujuy province, strata of brightly coloured rock enliven the hillsides, seemingly splashed there by some sort of geological Jackson Pollock. Nowhere in Argentina is the long history of human presence more evident or better preserved. The entire area was one of the most important preHispanic settlements, inhabited by tribes like the Quilmes and even the Incas. Later, the Spanish settled here as they arrived from Cuzco, making the region a key trading link between Buenos Aires and Bolivia/Peru. The wonderful biking is a bonus, but its the landscapes and people that are unforgettable. This is our heartland, and to see it is to more profoundly understand Argentina.
PAOLA SARTORI IS AN ARGENTINEAN WHO HAS BEEN SHARING HER LOVE OF HER HOMELAND WITH B&R TRAVELLERS FOR SEVERAL YEARS. SHE IS CURRENTLY THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR PATAGONIA.

Far from the elegance, fast pace, and European lure of Buenos Aires, our northwest has safeguarded native traditions, religious beliefs and festivities, typical Andean cuisine, and customs that resemble their folksy Peruvian and Bolivian counterparts. And eager to share its patrimony with others, the northwest has embarked on a massive road-building project that now makes it, along with everything else, a great destination for cycling.

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ARGENTINA BIKING - 2008 AUG 19, 2008

experience our Argentina

above & beyond

FINAL CHECK
We do a dress rehearsal before every departure. This way the only surprises are those great ones that make your trip.

only B&R
What makes our trips truly unique? To start, it isnt just one thing. Insider access, unparalleled service and inspired trip planning are just some of the differences that help create the magic that is a B&R trip.
WHERE NO ONE HAS YET VENTURED
Innovation is a B&R hallmark. From Morocco to Vietnam, weve been the first to bring active travel to compelling corners of the globe. And northern Argentina is no exception. We have had an eye on this region for years: the virgin landscape that displays more colours that you can imagine exist in nature; the mix of strong Inca and Catholic traditions still alive in the rural communities, the flavours that have fed generations of Altiplano people; the exposure to rhythms passed through centuries.

LOCAL FRIENDS
Nothing enhances visiting a new country more than spending time with someone who lives there. Our local experts and friends bring out the best of their hometownswith enthusiasm.

REGIONAL EXPERTISE
Weve spent years getting to know these regions inside out so that nothing is lost in translation during your tripunless thats part of the fun.

NO BAGGAGE
Above all our guides should be great hosts. Impossible, if they spend the day transferring luggage to your next hotel. Unlike other companies, we hire someone else for that job.

IN GOOD COMPANY
Any region is best understood through its people. To complement the role of the B&R guides, each day of the trip features a local personality. Biking with us, this local flavour enhances enormously the depth of our experience as we travel through these magical landscapes.

ITS ALL IN!

From the moment we pick you up to the moment we say good-bye, all on-trip transportation is included. Planes, trains, helicopters or camelswe cover them all.

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ARGENTINA BIKING - 2008 AUG 19, 2008

Argentina Biking - 2008

the journey
Days 1 & 2 Tucumn to Cafayate
We begin our journey in Argentina with a beautiful drive out of Tucumn past sugar cane and citrus plantations toward Taf del Valle. The arrival in Taf is unforgettable: nestled in the foothills of the Andes (the town sits at an altitude of 2,014 metres/6,610 feet), the entire area is known as the holy valley of the pre-Columbian peoples. We stop for lunch at a homey spot not far from the Jesuit ruins before the short drive to El Infiernillo (3,000 m/9,840 ft.) to mount our bikes for our afternoon ride. The road is not flat, but the short uphill efforts are compensated by exhilarating downhills, and there are some sections of easygoing riding. As we approach the town of Amaicha del Valle, we will no doubt be amazed as the landscape around us transforms from dense rainforest to stony, cactuscrowded terrain on the other side of the hills. Arriving later in Cafayate, we enjoy some time to relax at the hotel before an introduction to some of the surprising regional wines. Dinner tonight will be at the Patios restaurant within the intimate confines of our hotel. The next day, we pedal through San Carlos which, before the growth of Cafayate, was the most important town in the valley. Lunch will be a casual affair in one of the many renowned wineries of the area, after which there are options aplenty: visit colourful artisans workshops and craft markets; head out for a challenging hike by a river; return to Cafayate to explore its colonial streets and numerous wine cellars; or spend the afternoon relaxing in the Patios outdoor swimming pool or wine spa. Tonight, an intimate dinner of local flavours awaits us.

HOTEL: Patios de Cafayate, Cafayate

This charming 30-room boutique hotel is situated on the property of the El Esteco winery. Manicured grounds hug the hotels colonial architecture, while vineyards drape the surrounding hills. Temptations include the innovative and modern wine spa and the outdoor pool.

The Biking:
Day 1 - A 28 km (17 mi.) afternoon ride from Cuesta del Infiernillo to Amaicha; option to extend ride by 12 km (7 mi.) to Quilmes. Day 2 - A 34 km (21 mi.) ride to the town of San Carlos in the morning. Options in the afternoon include a 30 km (19 mi.) ride to the ruins of Quilmes and a 4 km (2 mi.) hike by the Ro Colorado.

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ARGENTINA BIKING - 2008 AUG 19, 2008

Argentina Biking - 2008

the journey
Days 3 & 4 Salta, Colonial Gem of the North
Biking directly from the hotel, we bid farewell to Cafayate and begin our journey north with panoramic views of the Quebrada de las Conchas, a polychrome landscape of hills where a portion of the Inca Trail has been discovered. The finish line to this splendid ride is the charming Parador de las Cabras, where we will regain our energy over a hearty local meal before the two-hour drive to Salta. The largest city in the Argentine northwest, Salta is the capital of the province that shares its name, and perhaps the best-preserved colonial city in the country. Long popular with Argentinesits nickname is La Linda, The Beautifulit is only now being discovered by foreign travellers, and after the last few days of quietude and relative isolation in rural areas, the size and energy of this city will be a welcome contrast. Arriving late in the afternoon at our hotel on the hillside of Cerro San Bernardo, well have time to relax and plunge into the hotels outdoor pool with a spectacular view of the city. With the days exercise to savour, we will leave you on your own for dinner tonight among the citys innumerable great restaurants. The next morning, we shuttle just outside the city to San Lorenzo where we will meet up with our bikes for a leisurely ride through the surrounding countryside to the gaucho town of La Caldera, where we will have lunch in an elegant 250-year-old house. Returning to the city centre this afternoon, we will then set out to explore Salta proper with our local expert. We will discover all things of interest, seen and unseen: colonial buildings, the predominance of religion in the north, the importance of the caudillos, the difference between portea (from Buenos Aires) and nortea (northern) aristocracy, and the unique High Altitude Museum, dedicated to the three Inca mummies uncovered in the area. Dinner this evening will take place in an exquisite restaurant where we'll be welcomed as friends by its owner, Gonzalo, a talented cook who loves to share his creativity.

HOTEL: Sheraton Hotel, Salta

The Sheraton Salta is located just a few blocks from the centre of the city in a quiet area on the hillside of Cerro San Bernardo. The hotel has amongst its many services a heated outdoor swimming pool and Jacuzzi with a great view of the city, fitness centre, spa and Internet access.

The Biking:
Day 3 - An 88 km (55 mi.) ride along Quebrada de las Conchas, with the option to shorten the biking to 47 km (29 mi.) or extend it to a 100 km (62 mi.) Century Ride. Day 4 - A 17 km (11 mi.) morning ride through the quiet surroundings of Salta.

Days 3 & 4 Salta, Colonial Gem of the North contd

Next morning we shuttle to just outside the city where we will meet up with our bikes for a leisurely ride through the surrounding countryside, with lunch in the area. Returning to the city centre, this afternoon we set out to discover Salta proper with our local expert. We will discover all things of interest, seen and unseen: colonial buildings, the predominance of religion in the north, the importance of the caudillos, the difference between portea (from Buenos Aires) and nortea (northern) aristocracy, and the unique High Altitude Museum, dedicated to the three Inca mummies uncovered in the area. With the days exercise, both physical and historical, to savour, we leave you on your own for dinner among the citys innumerable restaurants.

HOTEL: Sheraton Hotel, Salta

The Sheraton Salta is located just a few blocks from the centre of the city in a quiet area on the hillside of Cerro San Bernardo. The hotel has amongst its many services a heated outdoor swimming pool and Jacuzzi with a great view of the
ARGENTINA BIKING - 2008 AUG 19, 2008

Argentina Biking - 2008

the journey
Days 5 & 6 Cloud Forests and Canyons
A short drive this morning takes us out of Salta to La Caldera where we begin our amazing ride through the Cloud Forest. From the saddles of our bikes we will seek, over the next few hours, to illustrate this areas incredible diversity as we move from rich jungle to the spectacular colours of the Humahuaca Canyon. This breathtaking area offers wave after wave of colour in its geological formations, the grey rock slashed with greens, purples, blues and rich reds. The spectacle is such that the canyonalong with the towns and ruins it containswas declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003. We pause for lunch in Estancia Los Lapachos before our vans whisk us the one-and-a-half hours to Purmamarca, the Town of the Seven Colours, in time to freshen up before dinner. This evening, we meet at Los Morteros, a restaurant in town where we will enjoy the fusion between both contemporary and traditional cooking in a quiet atmosphere embracing the same architectural concept. The next day, we ride from Abra de Lipn (4,100 m/13,451 ft. above sea level) where we will be driven by van down to Salinas Grandes, a magical white salt flat extension at an altitude of 3,500 m (11,482 ft.) featuring typical Puna landscape and surrounded by the high sentinels of the Andes Cordillera and its foothills. We will stop to ride or walk around on the salt fields and have lunch at a dining hall made completely of salt bricks: walls, tables, benches... the whole thing! Our trip to the great northwest culminates with a splendid final-night dinner, complete with music, at a superlative hidden gem.

HOTEL: El Manantial del Silencio, Purmamarca

This stylish hotel, built with local materials, is infused with the traditional colonial spirit of this area: antique tapestries, sofas buried under cushions, and gourmet Andean cuisine by a famed Argentinean chef. The outdoor pool is immersed in the oasis of green that surrounds the hotel.

The Biking:
Day 5 - A 39 km (24 mi.) ride through a cloud forest, with the option to extend the ride to 60 km (37 mi.) by biking to the lunch stop at Los Lapachos. Day 6 - A 31 km (19 mi.) ride.

Day 7 Adios in Buenos Aires

A relaxing morning is followed by an early lunch before we catch our flight to Buenos Aires, arriving around 4:30pm. We leave you to your onward travels at the capitals domestic airport, Jorge Newbery, just 20 minutes from downtown. For those spending a few extra days in Buenos Airesand we highly recommend ityour guides will assist with suggestions.

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ARGENTINA BIKING - 2008 AUG 19, 2008

Argentina Biking

more info
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FALL DATES:
Oct 19 - 25 Nov 3 - 9

LEVEL OF ACTIVITY:
This trip is rated Moderate. The daily bike rides will average roughly 40 km (25 mi.). There is also the option of a Century Ride, and your guides always have some extra optional rides if youre wanting more. Some optional afternoon hiking is offered as a way to explore the coloured canyons.

IF YOURE INTO FANTASTIC BIKING, CONSIDER:

New Zealand Namibia South Africa

DURATION:
7 days / 6 nights

OUR LATEST ADDITIONS:

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START:
San Miguel de Tucumn Hotel Tucumn Center 9:00am WHAT'S INCLUDED: All accommodation All breakfasts, six lunches and five dinners, including wine Services of B&R guide(s) and support vehicle All special events, private tours, guest experts and entrance fees Use of a bicycle and helmet Detailed maps, route suggestions and water bottle All transportation from rendezvous to drop-off, including internal flight(s) All gratuities for baggage, porters and hotel service

IF YOUD LIKE YOUR TRIP TAILORMADE, CONSIDER BESPOKE:

Private trips made to fit. Choose your own dates, travel companions and itinerary Call our dedicated Bespoke team at 1-800-387-1147

FINISH:
Buenos Aires Jorge Newbery National Airport 4:30pm

2008 PRICE:
US$ 4995 ($800 Single Supplement)

The itinerary information may vary slightly for your specific departure as we continuously research and develop each trip. Inclement weather may also necessitate minor alterations. 2008 Butterfield & Robinson Management Services Inc.

www.butterfield.com 1.800.678.1147
ARGENTINA BIKING - 2008 AUG 19, 2008