Travel ideas for Argentina's bicentenary year
As a colourful year draws to a close, we look ahead to 2010, Argentina’s Bicentenary. 2010 promises high profile events, starting on 1st January with the adrenaline filled Dakar Rally, and a varied programme of cultural activities for the Bicentenary on and around 25th May. The highlight of Argentina’s 200th birthday celebrations will be the much anticipated re-opening of Buenos Aires' iconic opera house, the "Teatro Colon".
There are also numerous new Argentine hotels, tourism products and destinations to watch next year. We have compiled an essential round-up.
Hotels and services that everyone´s talking about:
Algodon Wine Estates- the hottest property to come out of Mendoza this year. This vineyard estate, located at the foot of the Andes in Argentina’s best-known wine region, comes with exclusive lodge, winery, championship golf course and clubhouse. Golfers can play amongst the vineyards, and the guided vineyard tours and tastings encourage guests to enjoy the local produce or take part in a barrel ownership program.
Algodon Mansion - the opening of Algodon Wine Estates’ much awaited sister product, Algodon Mansion, in Recoleta, Buenos Aires, is forecast for January 2010. Expect opulence, luxury and glamour.
Magnolia Hotel Boutique – the latest boutique hotel to open in Buenos Aires’ vibrant Palermo district. Eight spacious rooms in a tastefully refurbished, early 20th century townhouse with roof terrace. Design features include original stained glass roof.
Helijets- In Argentina more and more top end travellers are choosing charter flights and private jets over commercial airlines for the reliability and flexibility they offer. Helijets is an Argentina based international online search and reservation system for the hire of private jets, helicopters or charter flights. www.helijetsonline.com pools together the world’s main private aviation companies and allows users to book flights anywhere in the world.
Play Patagonia- a tour operator run by professional rugby players, specializing in tailor-made tours for sports teams and groups. Play Patagonia offers tours all over the country with an emphasis on activities such as golf, skiing, rugby, fly fishing and ecotourism.
Kkala Boutique Hotel – an immaculately designed boutique “gem” in the hilly residential “Tres Cerritos” area of Salta city. Its stylish combination of Andean wood and stone, local crafts and luxurious linen and velvet finishings make Kkala a hot contender for 2010’s “Don´t Miss” lists.
Finca Valentina - Valentina and Fabrizio Ghilardi have opened the doors of their country home, located at the foot of the Andes in the province of Salta, to discerning travellers. This charming, four-bedroom finca has been completely refurbished. The local traditional architecture remains but the layout, furnishings and décor have been designed for modern living.
Destinations to watch:
Cordoba & San Luis - The central provinces of Cordoba and San Luis make up one of Argentina’s lesser visited but most appealing areas. Cordoba’s green valleys and rich archeological and cultural heritage compliment the vast, arid landscape of sprawling hills, red sandstone canyons and thermal springs of its virtually undiscovered neighbour, San Luis. New Andes flights connecting Cordoba with Salta, Iguazú and Buenos Aires have recently made this region significantly more accessible.
Cordoba is the place for finding one´s inner gaucho, staying on a traditional estancia such as Dos Lunas, and exploring the surrounding hills on horseback or by foot. The UNESCO protected Jesuit estancias of Cordoba are among Argentina´s cultural highlights. These well preserved buildings offer a fascinating insight into both Argentina’s colonial history and the unique Jesuit period of the 17th and 18th centuries.
To the west of Cordoba and bordered by Mendoza, San Luis is home to the remarkable Sierra de las Quijadas National Park. This 370,600 acre expanse of red sandstone is staggering in size and colour. Visitors can hike across the park to see remnants of a pre-Columbian indigenous settlement, dinosaur fossils and numerous bird species and reptiles. The best way to get around San Luis is by hiring a car and the most attractive place to stay is Hotel Spa Villa de Merlo. The town of Merlo is an ideal base for hiking and climbing, nestled in the hills with views across the valleys.
