| DAY | Day's Detail | 1 | Arrival in La Rioja, welcome transfer, and check-in at your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. |
2 | Full-day journey through La Costa Riojana and San Blas de Los Sauces. Departure at 8:00 a.m. to explore the residential area of La Rioja, La Quebrada and Los Sauces Dam, Villa Sanagasta, and the scenic Cuesta de Huaco. Continue through a chain of picturesque villages along the Velasco range, including Agua Blanca, Las Peñas, Chuquis, Pinchas, Aminga, and Anillaco, where you will discover local winemaking traditions and family-run producers. The route also includes Aimogasta, cradle of olive growing in the region, with its olive groves and the famous 400-year-old olive tree. Continue to Los Sauces, visit the archaeological site of Pucará de Hualco, and travel onward to Chañarmuyo, where you will visit the boutique wine estate and enjoy a tasting of its wines. Overnight in Chañarmuyo. |
3 | Explore the Chañarmuyo Village, including the Paimán winery and its vineyards, Chañarmuyo Dam, the nearby archaeological site of La Parrilla, the historic church of Campanas, the natural monument Cerro Las Campanitas, and the centuries-old walnut tree of Santo Domingo. The rest of the day is at leisure. |
4 | Excursion to Chilecito and Cuesta de Miranda. Depart in the morning along the eastern slopes of Cerro Famatina, visiting walnut estates, the church of Famatina, and its revered articulated Christ figure from Peru. Continue to Chilecito to visit Cooperativa La Riojana, where you will sample regional wines including the emblematic Torrontés Riojano. The day also includes the Cristo del Portezuelo, Samay Huasi, the historic cableway to La Mejicana Mine, the Mining Museum, Santa Florentina, and RÃo del Oro. In the afternoon, cross the spectacular Cuesta de Miranda before arriving in Villa Unión for overnight accommodation. |
5 | Excursion to Talampaya National Park. Depart from Villa Unión for the park’s visitor center, where guests may choose among several experiences. The most popular is the classic Talampaya Canyon circuit, a 2.5-hour journey in park vehicles through the dry riverbed and beneath the park’s towering red canyon walls. Highlights include petroglyphs, native flora and fauna, and impressive formations sculpted by erosion, such as the Faces, the Sentinel, the Wise King, the Gothic Cathedral, the Tower, and the Monk. Return to Villa Unión in the afternoon. |
6 | Excursion to Ischigualasto Provincial Park (Valle de la Luna). Depart from Villa Unión for the park’s unique 3-hour internal circuit in our own vehicles, with stops to admire extraordinary formations such as the Painted Valley, the Bowling Court, the Submarine, the Mushroom, and the Red Cliffs. In the afternoon, return to La Rioja city via La Torre and El Chiflón. Overnight stay at hotel with breakfast. |
7 | Breakfast and departure transfer to the airport or bus terminal. |
