Private flights to San Juan

San Juan is the second wine province in Argentina and one of the territories with the highest concentration of world-class mining projects: gold, silver, copper and uranium in the Andean foothills. The capital city, with 450,000 inhabitants, combines the infrastructure of a consolidated industrial hub with the proximity to the Valley of the Moon – a UNESCO Heritage Site – and the dramatic Calingasta Valley, one of the most spectacular mountain landscapes on the continent.

Experiences

Private visit to Ischigualasto—Valley of the Moon—with an exclusive geologist guide and access to the full moon night circuit, an experience with few places and very high demand. Wine tours through the Zonda Valley and Calingasta with tasting of high-altitude Syrah, Viognier and Malbec. Trekking and horseback riding in Calingasta with views of the 6,000-meter Andes. Visit to the archaeological site of Cerro Mercedario and the historical mines of the foothills. Astronomical sightseeing tours in high mountains under skies without light pollution.

Accommodation

Superior category hotels in the capital with complete executive offers. In the Calingasta Valley, high-end mountain lodges with views of the snow-capped hills and access to private vineyards. For more exclusive stays, Argentina Fly coordinates accommodation options on privately owned estates in the high valleys.

Gastronomy

Cuisine cuisine with Spanish and Arabic roots: meat empanadas with raisins and olives, goats roasted in a clay oven, fresh corn humitas and the inevitable fried cake. San Juan olive oil—from the Arauco variety, the oldest in the country—and wines from high terroirs are the natural complement to any quality table. Signature restaurants in the city are beginning to enhance local products with contemporary techniques.

Why fly private

Domingo Faustino Sarmiento Airport (UAQ) operates with full capacity for private aviation. The flight from Buenos Aires takes between 1 h 25 min and 1 h 50 min, avoiding the stopovers in Mendoza that characterize most commercial connections. For managers in the mining and wine sector who manage agendas in multiple locations in the province—from the capital to Calingasta or Iglesia—, direct arrival at UAQ and transfer by helicopter or private vehicle is the usual high-performance scheme.

Best time

Spring (September–November) and autumn (March–April, during the harvest) are the ideal times: temperatures between 15 °C and 26 °C, clear skies and full winegrowing activity. Summer (December–February) is very hot in the valley, although high altitude valleys such as Calingasta offer moderate temperatures. Winter is cold and dry, with snow at altitude and wineries in a dormant period.