- The International Kitchen
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- Premier Argentina Food Tours: A Gastronomic Journey in the Northwest
Northwestern Argentina Foodie Experience
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A Culinary Adventure in Northwestern Argentina
Travel to beautiful Argentina with The International Kitchen and discover an endless array of gastronomic delights during this delightful food tour featuring Buenos Aires, Salta, Cafayate, and Purmamarca.
You will arrive in Argentina’s capital city of Buenos Aires, one of the most interesting metropolises in Latin America. This dynamic and cosmopolitan city is known for its rich and diverse cultural heritage. It’s known worldwide for Tango and football, but also for its cafés, bookstores and theaters. The city’s vibrant gastronomy is matched by its stunning architecture, which is where the French influence on the city is most apparent.
Afterward you will journey to the city of Salta, located in Argentina’s mountainous Northwestern region, where you will be surrounded by beautiful vistas. Salta is known for its Colonial Spanish architecture and rich Andean heritage. Salta is famous for its wine but there are many delightful gastronomic products you might try during your stay, such as empanadas salteña, bori bori, and locro.
During your time in the Salta provence, you will stay in Cafayate, known for its wineries and vibrant red rock formations. The Cafayate wine route is the highest altitude wine route in the world, located around 3500 yards above sea level. The cold climate and increased sun exposure means that the vineyards yield a larger crop and the grapes are especially high in tannins.
Following your stay in Cafayate, you will travel to the town of Purmamarca in the Jujuy region. Set at the base of a stunning, multicolored mountain called the Seven Colors Hill, Purmamarca is lined with adobe houses and hosts a famous handicraft market.
There will never be a dull moment when you are exploring Argentine gastronomy, and this Northwestern foodie adventure will fascinate even the most avid travelers.
Northwestern Foodie Adventure
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Day 1 - Buenos Aires
- Private transfer from Ezeiza Airport (EZE) to your hotel.
- Drop off your bags at the hotel and perhaps have lunch at one of the surrounding eateries (cost of lunch paid locally).
- This afternoon you will enjoy a 4-hour city tour in which you will discover the highlights of Buenos Aires. The city is known as the “Paris of South America” and one can easily identify why by looking at its architecture. You will start at May Square, where the Government House, the Cathedral and the old Town Hall are located. Then you will continue to the ancient neighborhood of San Telmo until you reach La Boca, famous for its colorful and picturesque houses on Caminito Street. Finally, you will head north to visit Recoleta, the most elegant district with wide avenues, lovely parks and magnificent residences. There is the option for an additional stop at Recoleta Cemetary, priced on request.
- During the city tour there will be a stop at a typical café to enjoy a quick snack. The exact location will depend on the tour and time of the day, but could be café & medialunas at La Ideal or Vermouth & tapas at Los Galgos.
- After your city tour, you will enjoy a private cooking class at Montecarlo Restaurant
- Learn about classic Argentine delicacies during this cooking class focusing on empanadas. You will prepare four different fillings and learn different clipping repulgues. Next you will learn the different methods of cooking the empanadas and prepare rocoto spicy sauce. Afterward enjoy a dinner featuring the prepared empanadas, as well as pastries.
- Your 3-course dinner will include a wine pairing that features several major wine-producing regions in Argentina.
- Afterward, return to the hotel and overnight.
Day 2 - Salta
- After breakfast, take a private transfer from your hotel to J. Newbery Airport (AEP) for your flight to Salta (cost of flight not included).
- Salta is a colonial city that lies at 1190 m in a mountainous and strikingly beautiful district. Situated approximately 995 miles away from Buenos Aires, it is the perfect starting place for tours in the Northwest region. Founded in 1582, visitors can easily absorb the colonial atmosphere only by walking around. There are many buildings with great historic and architectural value such as the Cabildo, built in 1783, the Cathedral –one of the most beautiful ones in Argentina- and the San Francisco church with its magnificent façade and its colored tower, which is one of the tallest ones in South America.
- Private transfer from the Salta Airport to your hotel.
- Enjoy a quick lunch on your own, either at the hotel, or in one of the nearby restaurants.
- After lunch, assemble for a private walking tour of Salta. During this half-day tour, we will see the most important landmarks of the city: the Cathedral, the Americas, Cultural Center, the Historic Museum of the North (former Town Hall), the San Francisco Basilica, the San Bernardo Convent, the Güemes Monument.
- Afterward, enjoy dinner on your own. Your guide can suggest a restaurant within walking distance, or you can eat at your hotel.
- Overnight.
Day 3 - Cafayate
- After breakfast, check out of your hotel and meet in the lobby for your private transfer to Cafayate. This transfer will last approximately 3 hours.
- Cafayate, located in the heart of the Calchaqui Valley, is home to picturesque colonial-style architecture and stands out for its world-class wine production. Cafayate is 117 miles away from Salta city via the National Route 68, and passes by the majestic “Quebrada de las Conchas” (Shell’s Gorge) which is famous for its striking, colorful rock formations.
- Arrive and check into your hotel. There will be time to get lunch on your own at your hotel before your winery visit.
- After you have settled in, you will depart for a shared guided tour of El Esteco winery, followed by a wine tasting from their “Extremes Selection.” In the heart of The Calchaquí Valleys lies one of those destinations that deserves to be admired more than understood, El Esteco. With nearly 1,000 acres of vineyards, the spirit of the region comes alive through its verdant landscapes and ripe, juicy fruit. Standing at an ideal altitude of just over 5,500 feet above sea level, with its ever-present sunshine and arid climate, the environment is perfect for the production of high-end wines. The extreme wine selection might include the following vintages:
– Old Vines 1946 Malbex 1700 MASL (Meters Above Sea Level)
– Fincas Notables Merlot 2000 MASL
– Altimus Blend 1700 MASL
-Chañarpunco Blend 2000 MASL - After the tasting, you will head back to your hotel for dinner, paid locally.
- Overnight.
Day 4 - Salta
- Breakfast and check out.
- Meet in the lobby for your private transfer to Finca Santa Elena.
- Santa Elena is a farm dedicated to the production and manufacture of goat cheese. Surrounded by the majestic landscape of Cafayate, they carry out the entire process, from milking to packaging. You will visit the cheese factory where you will taste part of the production paired with local wines. Finally, you will enjoy a typical Argentinian asado for lunch with salads and vegetables harvested in the farm.
- Transfer to Salta and check-in for a second night at your luxurious boutique hotel.
- Enjoy dinner on your own, either at your hotel or one of the restaurants nearby.
- Overnight.
Day 5 - Purmamarca
- Breakfast and check out.
- Private transfer to Flor Del Pago restaurant in Jujuy for your cooking class with Chef Daniel Hansen followed by lunch. Your drive to Flor Del Pago will be approximately 2 hours long.
- Born in Jujuy, Daniel Hansen gained certifications in the culinary arts from Buenos Aire’s Istitute of gastronomy and the New York Culinary institute. Flor del Pago is known as a place that offers a unique gastronomic experience, specializing in blending Italian cuisine with regional colonial specialties.
- After lunch, transfer to Purmamarca (40 minutes to 1 hour from Flor Del Pago). Purmamarca is a charming small town with pre-Hispanic origins, situated at 2192 m above sea level. It was founded at the beginning of the 17th Century and the name means “Village of Virgin Land” in Aymara language. Stationed at the foot of the famous Hill of Seven Colors, it has typical adobe houses, a crafts market in the main square and a nice old church that dates from 1648. For all these reasons it is a must visit destination for any trip in the northwest region.
- Check in to your hotel.
- Dinner on your own at your accommodations and overnight.
Day 6 - Purmamarca
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Assemble for a full day, private tour across the Humahuaca Gorge and its picturesque little towns, which were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. You will have the opportunity to learn about ancient traditions and experience the perfect combination of culture and nature.
- Stop for lunch at Yacoraite Winery, which will feature a very special 4-course menu with wine pairings.
- This high-altitude vineyard is located in Humahuaca Gorge, in the valley of Yacoraite River. They are dedicated to ecological production methods, the vines are cultivated with organic techniques and include Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Chardonnay, Torrontés and Riesling.
- Chef Florencia Rodríguez is in charge of the on site restaurant, Inkillay, which offers a menu that pairs perfectly with the landscape, using a variety of local and seasonal ingredients.
- After lunch, return to your hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure.
- Dinner on your own at the hotel, overnight.
Day 7 - Buenos Aires
- Breakfast at the hotel and check out.
- Private transfer from Purmamarca to the Jujuy Airport for your flight to Buenos Aires (cost of flight not included).
- Private transfer from the J. Newbery Airport (AEP) to your hotel in Buenos Aires.
- Free time to enjoy lunch on your own and enjoy the city.
- This evening, enjoy a tango dinner Show at Rojo Tango. Tango remains Argentina’s premier musical art form and Rojo Tango dancers, singers and musicians have been acclaimed as some of Argentina’s best. Located inside the exclusive Hotel Faena, El Cabaret –inspired in the tango clubs from the beginning of the 20th Century- is an effervescent and ethereal vibrant temple that crowns the day to the rhythm of the award-winning show. Rojo Tango is a fascinating spectacle that conquers all the senses, combining sounds, aromas, colors, movement and flavors.
- Dinner included during the show.
- Overnight.
Day 8 - Buenos Aires
- Breakfast at the hotel and check out. (Leave your bags with the hotel.)
- Transfer back to the restaurant Montecarlo, where you will have your third cooking class, featuring Mate and Argentine Pastries. You will learn about the mate ritual, its uses, and Argentine customs surrounding mate. You will use the Cebado and Tereré techniques while you make classic Argentine sweets such as pastelitos, vigilantes, flan and alfajores.
- If you would like, and depending on your flight departure time, you can participate in an optional Asado Cooking Experience from 12:30-3:30pm (pending availablity, cost not included. Transfers to/from the class can also be arranged).
- Transfer to airport for flight home. Please note that participants in the optional Asado experience will need to book evening flights.
Premier Food Tours in Northwest Argentina Trip Details
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Included in the 7-Night Northwestern Foodie Experience
Accommodations7 nights in 4* and 5* hotels (nights 1 and 7 Buenos Aires, nights 2 and 4 in Salta, night 3 in Cafayate, nights 5 and 6 in Purmamarca)
Food & Beverages- Daily Breakfast
- 3 lunches
- 1 dinner
Classes & InstructorsYour 2 cooking classes in Buenos Aires will be taught by Chef Paula Comparatore. Paula is an executive chef and gastronomic consultant in Argentina, Canada, Mexico and Chile. She has extensive experience in creating menus and gastronomic proposals and she teaches her classes in the centenarian notable bar, Montecarlo in Palermo. Montecarlo was completely remodeled and reopened in 2021, making it an ideal location for cooking classes. Cooking classes are held in the basement of Bar Montecarlo, which is only accessible by stairs.
Your second cooking class will take place at the Flor Del Pago restaurant in Jujuy, and will be taught be Chef Daniel Hanson. A native to the Jujuy region, Chef Daniel initially went to medical school, although his passion had always been cooking. This passion began at only 14 years old, and he eventually studied at the IAG (Argentine Institute of Gastronomy) in Buenos Aires. He continued his culinary studies at the New York Culinary Institute, where he specialized in Italian cuisine. After working at Sette Momma in NYC, he returned to Argentina, where he opened 3 very successful restaurants in Buenos Aires. After a family visit during the pandemic, he felt charmed by his birthplace and decided to open Flor del Pago, a place that offers a unique gastronomic experience surrounded by the magical northwestern landscape. This restaurant pays tribute to the rich biodiversity and culture of the region, and specializes in blending Italian cuisine with regional colonial specialties.
You have the option to participate in an asado cooking experience, in which you will learn the Argentine methods for cooking premium meat on an open fire. This class takes place at the chef’s personal residence in Buenos Aires’ Belgrano R neighborhood. You will learn the ritual for starting the fire and prepare chimichurri sauce using the chef’s family recipe.
Excursions- Half Day Buenos Aires City Tour (4 hours) – Private Service Guide & snack included
- 3 Cooking Classes
- Esteco Winery Tour and Tasting
- Half Day Walking City Tour of Salta
- Visit to a Cheese Producer
- Full Day Tour of Humahuaca Gorge
- Tango Show at Rojo Tango
Transfer Details- Private arrival transfer from Buenos Aires airport to your hotel
- Private transfer to and from the Salta airport
- Private transfer to Jujuy airport and from the Buenos Aires airport on your return to Buenos Aires
- Private departure transfer to Buenos Aires airport on departure day
Miscellaneous- Sales Tax
Not Included
- Flights to Salta and from San Salvador de Jujuy
- Suggested flight to Salta departing Buenos Aires around 10:00 am, arriving around 12:00 pm
- Suggest flight Jujuy to Buenos Aires departing around 10:30 am, arriving around 12:45 pm
- Tickets are approximately $90-$100 per person, each way
Price given as reference, subject to change without prior notice until ticketing.
Accommodation Information
Faena Hotel (Buenos Aires)
Days 1 and 7
In the heart of spicy Puerto Madero in Buenos Aires, you will find the Hotel Faena–a colorful, exciting, and eclectic luxury hotel that has even been voted one of the top five hotels in Argentina by Condé Nast readers. From the moment you enter the hotel, you will be stunned by its magical atmosphere that borders on the outlandish. Fittingly, the Faena is also the location of your Tango Experience. Lavish rooms and suites, delectable dining experiences, and a world of art, culture, and conversation awaits.
Your hotel room in Buenos Aires.
Spa at the Hotel Faena
Fabulous restaurant inside the hotel
Library lounge in your hotel.
Pool bar at the hotel.
Faena Hotel
Pool and bar area at Hotel Faena
Singer performing during Tango experience.
El Cabaret Club
Tango performance
Venue for the Tango performance.
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Design Suites Salta (Salta)
Days 2 and 4
Located in the historic quarter, right in front of Plaza Belgrano, Design Suites is a place where classic and modern blend together with a touch of local flair. With only 51 rooms, this boutique hotel guarantees comfort and coziness for our travelers.
Relax in the pool area
Interior of your room in Salta
Details inside your Design Salta hotel room
Lobby of Design Suites Salta
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Patios de Cafayate Wine Hotel (Cafayate)
Day 3
Patios de Cafayate Wine Hotel is a unique accommodation surrounded by vineyards. The manor house was built in 1892, and it is located at the heart of this Spanish-colonial-style property, against the backdrop of the Calchaqui Valley in the distance. The Patios consist of 32 spacious and comfortable rooms, with a restaurant on the premises.
Patios de Cafayate Wine Hotel
Patios de Cafayate Wine Hotel entrance
Bathroom at the hotel
Interior of your bedroom in Cafayate
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El Manantial del Silencio (Purmamarca)
Days 5 and 6
Framed by the unique landscape, Manantial del Silencio offers charming colonial-style rooms with impressive views of the majestic hills that surround it. The hotel features a spa, an outside pool, and a restaurant that serves gourmet Andean cuisine.
Manantial del Silencio
Hotel room in Purmamarca
Your home away from home in Jujuy
Wine and dine at the hotel restaurant
Relax in the spa or jacuzzi
Hotel lounge
Cool off in the pool
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Northwestern Foodie Experience Trip Details and Tour Dates
Find pricing and dates for our culinary vacation in Argentina below, and contact us to book your trip.
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Northwestern Gastronomic Experience Tour Dates Pricing
(excluding holidays)See moreUS$5675 per person based on double occupancy
30% deposit due to confirm booking.
Balance payment due 60 days prior to tour start date. Questions? Please contact us!
Single occupancy supplement: please inquire.
Cost of flights not included, estimated at $90-$100 per person, per flight.
2025 Northwestern Foodie Experience Tour Dates
See moreThe Northwestern Argentina Foodie Tour is available on request year-round for a minimum of 2 people.
2025-2026
Please inquire for available dates!
We Can Help Plan The Best Argentina Food Tour
We are ready and available to help you plan your perfect Argentine cooking vacation, whether that means booking extra nights and excursions or helping you navigate the culture.
Although we can't pack your bags for you, we can assist in planning everything from your packing list and beyond.
