Service & Adventure in Argentina – 11 Days
Immerse yourself in Argentine culture during your visits to Mendoza, Valle Grande & Buenos Aires.
Program Summary
This journey promises a perfect blend of cultural enrichment, outdoor exploration, and community engagement, making it an inspiring and transformative educational experience for students.
Program Highlights & Inclusions
- Professional ETA Tour Manager throughout your trip
- Transportation throughout your trip
- Community Service project in San Rafael City
- Engage in activities with the local children
- Visit to Embalse Valle Grande
- Hike through the area of Co-Chico”
- Take a catamaran across the lake to the beach
- Free time at the Valle Grande Beach
- Hike through the area of Las Tinajas
- Participate in a canopy tour in Las Tinajas
- Raft on the Atuel River
- Free time in Mendoza
- Guided city tour of Mendoza
- Free time at San Martin Park
- Visit the Microcenter, Florida & Lavalle Streets in Buenos Aires
- Visit the San Telmo and La Boca neighborhoods
Daily Itinerary
Departure
Depart the U.S. on your flight for Buenos Aires, Argentina
Arrival in Argentina
Upon arrival at Ezeiza International Airport, you’ll be welcomed by your Tour Manager. Your private transport will take you to Aeroparque, the national airport within the city of Buenos Aires.
Depending on your flight time you will have lunch before the flight in Buenos Aires, a packed lunch, or upon arrival in Mendoza.
Your flight to Mendoza will take approximately 2 hours. From the airport in Mendoza, you’ll take a van to a district near San Rafael City, about 4 hours away. Once you arrive, you’ll be received by the community members and have a briefing about their work. (Accommodations will be at a local hostel or cabins. There is also a possibility of homestays with local families.)
Host Community and Service Project
After breakfast, you will walk to the project site and spend the day doing community service and engaging in activities with the children. You will have your daily lunch there, together with the children. You will have dinner at your lodging or homestays each evening.
The foundation that you’ll work with was founded as an initiative of local professionals dedicated to research and work with horses. The foundation is a therapeutic and research center for equine-assisted therapy and special sports dedicated to the care of children, teenagers and adults with disabilities and their families.
Specific service projects depend upon the specific needs and requests of the host community at the time of your program. Details will be confirmed prior to your trip departure. Possible service projects include:
- Help in construction of infrastructure at the foundation to allow for games and sports to be played there.
- Assist professionals with equine-assisted therapy.
- Assist professionals with sports activities while interacting with children and teenagers who receive treatment.
Host Community and Service Project
After breakfast, you will walk to the project site and spend the day doing community service and engaging in activities with the children. You will have your daily lunch there, together with the children. You will have dinner at your lodging or homestays each evening.
See day 3 for additional information
Host Community and Service Project
After breakfast, you will walk to the project site and spend the day doing community service and engaging in activities with the children. You will have your daily lunch there, together with the children. You will have dinner at your lodging or homestays each evening.
See day 3 for additional information
Host Community and Service Project
After breakfast, you will walk to the project site and spend the day doing community service and engaging in activities with the children. You will have your daily lunch there, together with the children. You will have dinner at your lodging or homestays each evening.
See day 3 for additional information
Travel to Valle Grande: Trekking, Catamaran Trip, and Beach Time at the Lake
Today you’ll say farewell to your new friends and drive towards Valle Grande.
After settling into your cabins by the river, your local guides will take you to Embalse Valle Grande (Valle Grande Dam), an emerald green lake surrounded by mountains. You will start your trekking in the area of Co-Chico. Along the canyon you’ll find waterfalls, rock formations and great views of the high mountains. You will then head down towards the lake and take a catamaran across the lake to the beach. At the beach you will have time to relax, play games or enjoy rafts and canoes on the lake.
Rappelling and Canopy + Rafting (class II)
Today will be filled with adventure activities!
First you’ll trek in the area of Las Tinajas and enjoy some adventure activities at altitude, such as rappelling. You’ll get to participate in a canopy tour, which consists of sliding along cables from rock to rock.
Your local guides will take you back to their base camp to enjoy lunch and relax before your next activity.
After lunch you’ll be rafting on the Atuel River. Your experienced guides will take you down the river for approximately one hour and a half. Swimming next to the rafts is also possible, once you’ve cleared the rapids.
In the evening, you will return to Mendoza and dine at a local restaurant.
Mendoza and Travel to Buenos Aires
Today you’ll explore the city of Mendoza on a guided walking tour. You’ll have time for shopping and a visit the San Martin Park, the largest city park in Argentina.
In the afternoon, your private transport will take you to the airport for your flight back to Buenos Aires.
Buenos Aires Half-Day City Tour & Departure
On your final day, you will have the chance to explore several neighborhoods in Buenos Aires with a private van. You will visit the Microcenter, Florida & Lavalle streets for souvenir shopping, and then head to San Telmo and La Boca neighborhoods, the two most well-known places in Buenos Aires. You will depart the city in time to catch your flight back to the U.S.
Return to the U.S.
You will arrive in your home city after your overnight flight.
