I'm going to be in Argentina next week, and I was hoping to make it up to Iguzau.

I've got a room held at the Sheraton, but I've been pretty resolved that I don't really want to pay the full price for tickets to fly AEP-IGR (~$470 pp). I've been watching award availability with Lan Argentina, and I was hoping to use Avios. So far, I've not seen any seats open up.

Any thoughts as to whether there's any real likelihood of award inventory opening up? Ideally I'd get AEP-IGR flights for next Monday (3/25).

I know that there is also the option of the bus, but that seems like it would take a really long time, plus it's not substantially cheaper versus the airfare costs. When you factor in the absurdly long journey it seems that if you want to go you might as well fly.

This is my third trip to Argentina, and I've basically only done BA the last two trips (plus a trip across to Colonia). I'm not dead set on Iguazu for this trip, but I'd like to make it up there eventually. If I don't go up to Iguazu, then I'm looking for some other activities, and would welcome any/all suggestions.

The only constraints are that I arrive in BA on Saturday, March 23rd and fly back out of SCL on Sunday, March 31st. I would also like to avoid flying into SCL to avoid paying the reciprocity fee for Chile. I'd like to get to SCL by Saturday night. I love BA, but I'd like to see more of the country, plus I'll be back for a long weekend (3.5 days) in BA in about 3 weeks.

Cordoba has always seemed interesting, but I can't put my finger on why. Is it worth a visit, or are other places higher on the list? Mendoza would also be great (I canceled my 2 day Mendoza stop on the last trip due to really crappy weather), but my travelling companion isn't particularly into wine (much more of a beer person).

Bariloche seems cool too, but I also don't see award tickets available there. Same with Calafate. Plus, the season seems like it's getting a bit late for an ideal time to go to Calafate?

I've done a fair bit of Chile in the past (driving the entire route between Santiago and Puerto Montt, plus a good deal of the things that you'd want to see in between). I wouldn't be opposed to flying into another city in Chile, then driving/busing/flying to SCL. I've always wanted to go across the Andes in the Bariloche/Puerto Montt region, and to see the extreme south of Patagonia, arriving in Punta Arenas.

I know that this is a bit long/rambling, but I'm very open to lots of stuff. Argentina is a destination that I really like, so I don't feel the need to rush and cram it all in during a single trip, and there's lots of stuff that I'm excited about seeing in the country. There will always be future trips to see what I miss.

I'd appreciate any guidance/tips you might have. The "plan" at the moment (assuming no Iguazu) is to do 2 nights in BA, overnight bus to Cordoba, 1-2 nights in Cordoba, bus to Mendoza, 1-2 nights in Mendoza, bus to Santiago, 1 night in Santiago.