ARGENTINA: Salta Classic Tour – 7 days

NATIVE PEOPLE

Quechua (deriving from "qhichwa runa", [gente de los valles, de la zona templada]) is a term used to define various ethnic groups in the Andes Mountain rangemainly those who speak Quechua. There are Quechua ethnic groups in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Brazil, Panama and Ecuador. 

SOUTH AMERICA´S CAMELIDS

Distant relatives of the African camelids, these are the largest land mammals of South America and unique to the continent. There are four species: the llama, the alpaca, the guanaco, and the vicuna.Of these, the llama and alpaca are domesticated, while the vicuña and guanaco remain essentially wild..

Llamas (Lama glama) were domesticated for transporting goods, and alpacas (Lama pacos)domesticated soon after, are prized for their fine wool. Llamas are the largest South American camelid, while alpacas are much smaller and woollier.

Among the wild species, guanacos (Lama guanicoe) are significantly larger than vicuñas, though still smaller than llamas. Guanacos are found throughout the Andes, in the Andean highlands, extending as far as Tierra del Fuego. In Patagonia you will only see guanacos! They thrive at high altitudes and can survive on minimal water.

Vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) is the smallest and most graceful camelid in the world, weighing around 50 kg. Despite their delicate appearance, vicuñas are the most resilient of the four species. They inhabit elevations up to 5,700 meters above sea level, living exclusively at high altitudes.

HIGH ALTITUDE VINEYARDS

Just to put this into perspective, Europe's highest vineyards, reaching up to about 1,200 meters, are in Alpine regions. Beyond this elevation, year-round snow would make winemaking impossible. However, in very hot climates and regions near the Tropics, grapevines can thrive at altitudes twice as high as the highest elevations in the Alps. Some of South America's premier winegrowing areas, such as Calchaquí Valley in Argentina and Elqui Valley in Chile, have vineyards situated above 2,000 meters,with some exceeding 3,000 meters. In these regions, altitude helps to moderate the climate.

Variation in temperature explains why vineyards can be planted from the Tropic of Capricorn all the way down to Patagonia in southern Argentina. As a general rule, for every 150 meters you ascend – although the exact number of metres changes at different latitudes – the average temperature drops by 1°C.
A vineyard planted at 1000 meters above sea level (masl) will have a significantly different average temperature compared to one planted at 1600 masl. The higher vineyard will be about 4°C colder. This means the lower vineyard will experience a moderately warm climate, while the higher vineyard will be in a much colder wine-producing zone. This difference in climate translates into distinct styles of wine: the warmer zone will produce fruity reds with structure and moderate freshness, whereas the cooler zone will produce wines with more floral aromas, firmer tannins, and sustained acidity. Cold nights help preserve acidity in grapes, often resulting in fresher wines.

Increase in Solar Radiation
As one might expect, the higher you are, the more solar radiation you receive. This increase in solar radiation has a significant effect on the vines. The grapes tend to respond to intense sunlight by developing thicker skins, which has the potential to provide more intense Flavors, deeper colors, and stronger tannins to the wine.
The extreme nature of high-altitude vineyards presents significant challenges. Summers can be especially hot in some of the world's mountainous wine-producing regions. There, irrigation is vital, but water is a luxury.

Calchaquíes Valleys. The wine route in Salta stands out for having one of the highest vineyards in the world. This privileged location offers a dry and temperate climate, with altitudes exceeding 3,000 meters above sea level. These unique conditions create the ideal environment for the cultivation of exceptional grapes, especially the emblematic Torrontés.

Uco Valley Mendoza is Argentina’s largest and oldest wine-growing region. The stunning, snow-covered peaks of the Andes, including Aconcagua at nearly 7,000 meters (23,000 feet), provide a breathtaking and dramatic backdrop to the local vineyards. In Mendoza, the average altitude of the vineyards is an impressive 900 meters, with many well above 1,000 meters. The Malbec variety is emblematic of the region’s winemaking industry. Although the grape originated in the French regions of Cahors and Bordeaux, it is in Mendoza that Malbec has truly achieved widespread success.

Les proponemos los siguientes programa para seguir descubriendo Argentina:

En la misma región:

• ARGENTINA: The highlands – 4 days : En la misma región, les proponemos adentrarse en la cordillera de los Andes fuera de los caminos clásicos para un recorrido pasando por el desierto del Diablo y el salar de Arizaro, hasta el Campo de Piedra Pómez …

Otros programas clásicos:

• Las Cataratas del Iguazú – 3 días :  Explorarás los dos Parques Nacionales, el argentino y el brasileño, para sumergirte por completo en esta exuberante biodiversidad, donde la selva exhala su magia.
  • • Conexión con vuelo directo posible.

Por mas acción! :

• Patagonia, escalofríos en grande! – 14 días : Para descubrir les dos mas hermosos parques de la Patagonia Argentina y Chilena a través de excursiones clásicas y caminatas de varios días.
  • Conexión con vuelos con escalas en Buenos Aires o Córdoba posible.
• Bicicleta en Bariloche – 5 días :Hermosos circuito en bicicleta en la región de los lagos entre Bariloche y San Martin de los Andes.
  • Conexión con vuelos con escalas en Buenos Aires o Córdoba posible.