I just got back from an amazing trip to Argentina, where I had the chance to visit Buenos Aires, the Mendoza wine region and one of the oldest estancias in Argentina, La Bamba de Areco, located about an hour or so outside of Buenos Aires.
In Buenos Aires, I stayed at the Park Hyatt situated in the area of Recoleta. This beautiful, five-star hotel is stretched between a historical Neoclassical Palace and a contemporary building. Connecting the two sections are an underground art gallery and a vibrant garden, giving this hotel a classic city feel. The garden is structured with terraces and a long fountain making it the perfect location for one of the hotels restaurants. Park Hyatt has great restaurants, exquisite decor and exceptional service, which all create a perfect Argentinian atmosphere. While staying in Argentina's capital, I ventured on a few tours of the city, where I saw most the various and dynamic neighborhoods, took part in some shopping, saw a quintessential tango show and had the most amazing meals - including one special meal at a neighborhood spot - Cor-te where we dined on the most amazing meats, salads and Argentinian delicacies amongst the locals.
After departing from Buenos Aires, I flew to Mendoza, the wine country known for its Malbec. I stayed at the Casa De Uco Vineyards & Wine Resort. Located in the Andes Mountains, this resort is a wine lovers paradise! This picture perfect hotel shows majestic views of both the mountains and the vineyards that are a must see. Here, I experienced Argentinian cuisine, and got to partake in some super fun activities such as horseback riding, hiking, biking cooking classes and relaxing. For wine lovers or travelers who have done the wine regions of California, Italy, France or South Africa - this is a must for your bucket list. And to be there in February on the eve of their harvest was so special. Highly recommend a march visit when you can participate in the harvest and go to the local harvest festivals and parties.
Our next stop was La Bamba de Areco estancia. This colonial, boutique hotel is located about 120 km outside of Buenos Aires, and is the oldest estancia (which is another way of saying a cattle ranch) in Argentina, giving it a rustic, historical atmosphere. As a multiple building complex filled with a variety of amenities, this hotel never had a boring moment. During our stay, we ate nightly in the ranch's formal dining room after an intimate cocktail reception. We were able to watch the gauchos put on one of their traditional "gaucho game" shows, rode horses, had high tea poolside and spent the morning in the most beautiful village of San Antonio de Areco...filled with small shops filled with artisan crafts, cafes and restaurants..the perfect place to feel you are doing something off the grid.
On our last day, since most of the flights out of Argentina are later in the day, we recommend getting a day pass at a hotel in Buenos Aires, to enjoy and relax before the flight home. We got ours at the Faena Hotel in Buenos Aires. A beautifully designed hotel, with a gorgeous lively pool and fantastic food and drink. The prefect footnote to a wonderful week in Argentina.
