Andean crossing to Santiago 14 days, 11 nightsBuenos Aires 2 nights, Iguazú 2n, Buenos Aires 1n, Mendoza 2n, Santiago 2n, Valparaíso 1n, Matetic winery 1n.Day 1 Fly from the UK to Buenos Aires. Accommodation at the central Caesar Park Silver. Days 2&3 At leisure to explore, with a guided tour of the historic centre. Tango show with dinner. Days 4&5 Fly to Puerto Iguazú and explore the walkways which meander around the vast network of waterfalls that cascade over the plateau edge. Excursion to the Brazilian side of the falls. Accommodation at recently-refurbished, hill-top Hotel Panoramic, with stunning forest views. Day 6 Fly back to Buenos Aires. Days 7&8 Fly to Mendoza; 2 nights at Hotel Lares de Chacras. Tour of local wineries included. Day 9 Cross the Andes through the picturesque mountain pass and on to Santiago, Chile. Accommodation in Hotel Atton el Bosque for two nights. Day 10 At leisure in the capital. Optional city tour or excursion to Santa Rita winery. Day 11 By road to the Pacific coast and the port of Valparaíso with one night at lovely Casa Higueras, a converted mansion on one of the hills overlooking the city. Day 12 Transfer through fertile farmland to the vineyards of the boutique Matetic winery. Dine and spend the night at the friendly guesthouse La Casona (p140). Day 13 Transfer to Santiago airport and fly to the UK arriving day 14. Prices from £2,062pp based on two sharing, excluding transatlantic flights. Daily departures from the UK how about?» Expanding this itinerary to visit the canyon country and wine routes around Salta (pp154-155). » Riding or relaxing on one of the estancias near Buenos Aires or Córdoba (pp152-153). » Continuing on into Chile with a visit south to the lake district (p141) or north to the Atacama desert (pp138-139) or even to Easter Island (p147).ARGENTINAURUGUAYBRAZILIguazú FallsMendozaSantiagoBuenos Aires...ValparaísoCHILE. calchaquíes valley wine route See yourself as a bit of a wine buff? Or just want to explore glorious scenery speckled with vineyards? The Calchaquíes Valleys loop is one of Argentina's finest road trips with frequent, dramatic changes in scenery. You'll savour both the landscapes and the wines of the region, with an overnight stay in vineyard-neckleted Cafayate, and 2 nights at the prestigious colonial-style Estancia Colomé (left), which has vines of French Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon and a variety of leisure amenities and activities. Return to Salta via the blood-red Obispo Gorge with a night at the remote 17th century village of Cachi en route. 020 8747 8315 / journeylatinamerica.co.uk bookings, consultant advice and additional information 157 Cavas Wine Lodge is a superb hotel. It should be strongly recommended to anyone travelling near Mendoza. The best hotel we have ever stayed in! JN, Milton Keynesestancia colomÉCAVAS WINE LODGE

ISTOCKPHOTO.COM158 ArgentinaThe Atlantic coast of northern Patagonia is a desolate place of steep tawny cliffs with a hinterland of rough grasslands. But it is far from lifeless: The Valdés Peninsula, a spur of land jutting into the ocean, is a world-renowned reserve of wildlife to which species flock in their thousands and hundreds of thousands.There is something to enjoy almost year-round: elephant seals, dolphins and seabirds are permanent residents; the Southern Right whale arrives to breed from August to November and a million Magellanic penguins flock to the beaches at Punta Tombo from November to March. Doughty Welsh immigrants established frontier settlements in the valleys; Trelew, Puerto Madryn and Gaimán all retain architectural and gastronomic vestiges of this Celtic heritage. Puerto Madryn, the main base for excursions, has a wide range of accommodation. Several rustic estancias enjoy isolated settings on the Peninsula itself, such as Estancia Rincón Chico.Well off the beaten track, the seaweed-harvesting community of Bahía Bustamante is emerging as Patagonia's newest wildlife destination, attracting visitors to its seabird and sea lion colonies between August and March. Stay in one of the village's simple cottages and get a feel for the local way of life on a working Patagonian estancia. Beyond the yawning steppes, Southern Patagonia erupts into a landscape of immense glaciers, sheer granite rock walls with soaring pinnacles and minty lakes dotted with icebergs.El Calafate, on the shore of Lago Argentino, is the closest town to the Perito Moreno glacier and within a few hours' drive of El Chaltén in the Fitz Roy massif, a magnet for walkers.In addition to a range of hotels within these towns there are several inviting estancias and lodges in remote settings where you'll get a real wilderness feel. Alta Vista, between El Calafate and Perito Moreno is cosy estancia house with just 7 guest rooms and an elegant, almost English ambience. Meanwhile, rooms at Los Notros enjoy views of the Perito Moreno glacier itself. From El Calafate, it's a scenic day's drive to Torres del Paine National Park, in Chile (pp144-5).Patagonia: Valdés Peninsula and Los Glaciares National Park