Argentina Travel: A Quick Guide to Salta

Take an Argentina vacation, and travel through the lovely Patagonia, wine country, and bustling cities. Argentina has so much to offer it is difficult for many travelers to decide where to spend their time. Learn everything you need to know about Salta with this Salta Quick Guide, and decide if Salta is the perfect destination for your Argentina vacation.

Location, Location, Location!

Located at the foothills of the Andean mountains in northwest Argentina, Salta offers diverse terrain. From the famous salt flats of Las Salinas Grandes to the fertile Gran Chaco region, the landscapes of the Salta region can vary significantly. Temperatures can also range to the extremes, with summers ranging from 73-104F to winter temperatures that can drop below freezing. However with these varied climates and landscapes, creates a beautiful and ever changing environment, making Salta a great destination on your Argentina trip.

What to See and Do:

The landscapes of the area provide for some perfect picture taking opportunities especially when taking the teleferico or cable car up Cerro San Bernadino. The breathtaking views over the city as the cable car ascends to the summit are worth the mere $3.50 fee to make the ride up.

Another great activity for epic scenery is to take the route of the Tren a las Nubes, or train to the clouds, which is one of the highest railroads in the world. The route will take you through mountain passes and to the edge of the valleys so that you will have expansive views of the surrounding scenery. Those who want to take the actual train can take the 16 hour journey to the salt flats, but many just drive the route to view the area. Most stop at the Salinas Grandes as they are a must for any Salta vacation. On the route back into Salta a stop at Purnamarca which allows travelers to enjoy some of the local culture and crafts, as well as indulge in some of the local cuisine.

Within the city there are also many great activities, for example head to the Plaza 9 de Julio where a mixture of baroque, neo-classical, and Spanish colonial architectures are present, again providing striking views. The plaza is also filled with galleries, cafes, and gazebos, perfect for a relaxing stroll to experience all the charm that the city offers.

The city offers many cultural activities as well; specific months have big festivals which are sure to create a unique experience for your trip to Argentina. If you are visiting in January visit the Festival y Fiesta Artesanal de los Valles Calchaquies, an amazing folklore festival or in April when the city celebrates its Founding Day, or in December when Salta is converted into the City of Christmas.

Transportation:

Flying to Salta is simple as it can be accessed from connections with Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Tucuman and Jujuy. The General Martin Miguel de Guemes International Airport is centrally located and is serviced by Austral, LAB< American Falcon, Aeorlineas Argentinas, SW, Lapa and Dinar. Arrival by bus is also feasible with connections with Santiago del Estero, Mendoza, Jujuy, Cordoba, and Buenos Aires, among other cities.

Salta is a beautiful area full of culture and should be included on your Argentina travel itinerary.

This article about Salta was written by a travel expert at Argentina For Less, specialist in great value and fully customizable Argentina travel packages for your Argentina holiday.

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Amazing Australian Cycle Hot Spots

Tasmania

This isn't the easiest cycling route as there are one or two hills (that is a large understatement) which can be quite strenuous. However you probably won't care as you see the wonderfully diverse scenery of this island. A good place to start your cycling experience is in the capital city of Hobart. Ride around at your own pace discovering various buildings of historical value in Battery Point. There is also a challenging hill ride on Mount Wellington but it is definitely worth the effort for the view you see at the summit.

For those feeling a bit lazy you can also use a cycling firm to drive up to the top then you cycle all the way down. Particularly appealing are the views of the east coast including a ferry trip to the Maria Island which is perfect for a day's break from cycling with kayaking and plenty of trekking routes. Another location in Tasmania which is worth visiting is the North West coast which is perfect for cycling particularly on coastal route around Devonport. Port Sorrel makes a great destination to cycle to with its fishing, kayaking and water skiing.

Victoria

There are plenty of locations which are ideal for bike riding in Victoria. There are some of my personal choices.

Bright

This location gives the opportunity to view some stunning countryside. If you have time then a visit to Mount Buffalo is recommend for the views and also the riding decent.

Melbourne

The Melbourne area has one of the best views around the coastal roads. You can also take a break with a day at some beautiful beaches. Spend some time finding the right beach for you as some of them can be quite busy.

Whittlesea

Not so far from Melbourne, the Whittlesea area provides amazing views of the Kinglake National Park.

Marysville Lake

I only recommend this for the more advanced cyclist as the ride is very demanding but as long as you have backup and are willing to take things slowly, it is very much worth doing. There is also plenty to do there including golf courses, salmon farms, the Buxton Ridge winery and the popular Gallipoli Park with its state of the art children's playground.

Baw Baw

This is another challenging bike ride with hilly roads running through many towns such as Willow Grove and Noojee but again well worth the effort. Spend another day there climbing Mount Baw Baw and be rewarded with spectacular views.

If you want to cycle with an established touring firm who run cycling tours in Australia you can try Pedaltours who have been offering bike tours since 1985.

Their Australian tour information can be found at the http://www.pedaltours.co.nz/australia-bike-tours page.

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WARSAW 'The Phoenix City'

Poland's capital Warsaw is the largest city of the country. It is located on the Vistula River, near the Baltic Sea and the Carpathian Mountains.

Warsaw is one of the leading international tourist destinations and a significant economic hub of Europe. It is known as the "phoenix city" as it literally rose from the ashes. It was rebuilt after surviving the Second World War, when it lay in ruins; its buildings destroyed, and 800,000 of its population perished.

The climate of Warsaw is humid continental, with cold winters and mild summers. July is the month with maximum rainfall. Spring and autumn are usually beautiful seasons, the former crisp and sunny and full of blooms and the latter alternately sunny and misty, and cool but not cold and autumn being the best time to travel.

All cheap flights to Warsaw lands at the Frederic Chopin Airport 10km south of the city centre, which handles all domestic and international flights.

Terminal 1 handles all international arrivals. For the convenience of travelers this terminal has a tourist information desk, currency-exchange counters (24hr), half dozen ATM's, several car-hire agencies and a left-luggage office. The upper level of Terminal 1 caters to international departures, which has airline offices, a bank and a post office.

To buy cheap tickets to Warsaw there are budget airlines, like German wings, Sky Europe, Easy jet, etc.

Cheap plane tickets can be booked by many leading carriers as well as most travel agencies. The LOT gives schedules of international flights to Warsaw on various airlines, along with Lot's own international and domestic flights.

There are many sightseeing attractions in the Centrum area, consisting of seven districts. Srodmiescie is considered to be the best district. One can also go on a walking tour of the Old Town and see the Royal Castle and the picture perfect palaces of Wilanow and Lazienki. Other fascinating things in Warsaw are the Polish National Opera theatre and various musical programs for music lovers.

There are lots of festivals in Warsaw like the Warsaw Film Festival, Warsaw Summer jazz and the famous Noc Muzeow (Long night of Museums). During Noc Muzeow thousands of people visit all Varsovian museums and galleries for free and roam around having ice cream with friends from a lot of small cafes which are open all night long. This festival occurs in mid May, and all galleries and museums are open late at night.

Eating in Warsaw can be fun and entertaining; there are many kebab shops, which offer decent and cheap food. Other cheap alternatives are milk bars, and fast food chains like McDonald's, KFC, Pizza Hut, Subway sandwich and Burger King.

Warsaw has a dynamic energy which not only extends to construction but has made it an epitome of success and progressive growth. A city which pulses with bars, clubbing, and a yearly calendar boasting of film premieres operas and theatre productions, truly full of cultural activity!

It is a shopper's delight for handmade products and has modern malls for shopping. Diners can satisfy their hunger with quality Polish cuisine and an ever-increasing array of food from around the world.

William Scarlet is an associate editor with Farebuzz.com. The website offers exclusive information related to cheap airfares. We also provide online reservation for international tickets, Business flights, Cheap hotels and Car Rental.

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