Argentina 4-Week

The group flies together on an overnight flight into Buenos Aires, Argentina and meets their Global Works leader at the airport. Upon arrival, we settle into our centrally-located youth hostel. Our cozy and private youth hostel provides lodging and meals throughout our stay in Buenos Aires. In the first afternoon we will spend time with professional musicians and dancers who will demonstrate the mesmerizing rhythm and steps of the traditional Tango. The following day we will explore the vibrant capital city tracing the footsteps of famous Argentinian literary figures such as Jorge Luis Borges and Julio Cortazar. We will visit the famous Plaza de Mayo and the neighborhoods of Recoleta, San Telmo, and La Boca. The evenings we will dedicate to language and cultural activities in order to prepare for our upcoming homestays.

For the next week and a half, this small town in the Misiones province will be ‘home’ to our group. With a pleasant climate and warm, friendly people, Bonpland is an ideal place for homestays and community service projects. As many of the families do not speak English, your Spanish language skills will improve daily. With an expanding population, there are overcrowded schools that need our help assisting in the classroom with educational projects as well as constructing new classrooms. You’ll feel the sense of accomplishment working with the "Club de Jovenes" in pouring a cement floor for a school classroom or teaching English to young Argentinean students eager to learn. The community is teeming with youth excited to participate in cultural exchange and work projects together. We will also enjoy day excursions to the famous Misiones Jesuitas and the markets of Posadas.

From our homestay community, our group will take an overnight trip to one of the most spectacular and must-see sights in South America, Iguazú Falls. Made up of roughtly 270 falls along 1.67 miles of the Iguazú River, the power, size, and noise of the falls are truly an incredible experience! We'll enjoy a variety of eco-friendly excursions and adventure rides on water and land to fully interact with and experience the falls and the National Park. Lodging will be in eco-cabins close to the Park.

After a week and a half of some hard work, and with improved Spanish, we will bus to Malargüe for some of the country’s most exciting outdoor pursuits. Since it is winter in the “Land of Sun,” we’ll hit the beautiful peaks of the Andes for some recreation, relaxation, and more valuable service opportunities. The ski resort of Las Leñas, located outside of Malargüe, is home to some of the best powder in the world! With a backdrop of the breath-taking Andean peaks, we’ll take to the slopes with two full days of skiing and boarding in some of the driest powder in South America! For those who prefer less vertical pursuits, there are plenty of opportunities to try snow-shoeing, cross-country skiing, or sledding. We’ll enjoy an afternoon checking out some of the intense natural surroundings of Malargüe such as the Caverna de las Brujas (Witches Cavern) and the Laguna de Llancanello where it is common to see flamingos, wild goats, choique (a large bird related to the ostrich) and the world’s largest concentration of volcanoes. During our stay there will be time for participation in a variety of meaningful service projects with schools and other community organizations. We’ll leave the community of Malargüe feeling a further connection with the people and spectacular landscape surrounding them.

We will round out our trip with a few more days in this fantastic metropolis known as much for its connection to Europe as for its own romantic culture steeped in art, music, and fashion. Save your money for this last week, as Buenos Aires is renowned for its shopping! Buenos Aires is one of the best places to find high-end foods, fashionable clothing, and cutting edge accessories at the cheapest prices. A final celebratory dinner and show in Buenos Aires will provide us with an opportunity to exchange stories and laughter from the month gone by. Don’t miss this incredible adventure!