There is this...
 

If you feel even mildly adventurous, and have a bit more time, there are bus/hotel packages from various tour wholesalers that are quite inexpensive. For example, a 2 night package with transportation by a deluxe coche cama omnibus and including the 4* NH Cordillera (amongst a choice of many other 4* hotels) would cost about $480 ARS ($164 USD) (per person based on dbl. occ.) or $658 ARS ($224.40 USD) (sgl. occ.). These rates are from the Buquebus office at 879 Av. Cordoba (4576-7313) and are applicable to foreigners. Stays can be extended.

The journey by road is about 16 hours. Before you begin to groan, be aware that the buses and seats of a coche-cama are similar to a aircraft's first or business class cabin. Buses are fully air conditioned, modern double-decker vehicles with an on-board bathroom(s). Seats fully recline into sleepers and hot meals, refreshments, alcohol, movies (usually in English with Spanish sub-titles) are all included in the cost of your ticket. The buses plying this type of route use 2 drivers and predominately depart in the evening and continue driving untill their arrival the next morning. Basically you would leave BsAs at 19:30, arriving in Mendoza before noon the next day. The return would follow the same schedule. Similar idea for travel to Iguazu.

There are different types of buses, some with tighter pitch, semi-cama; less expensive, and some with more privacy, cama-suite; more expensive. Bus travel in Argentina doesn't have quite the same negative stigma it does in North America. For that reason, as well as economic concerns, it is used by many middle class porteños. The Retiro Omnibus station is a clean, modern multi-story complex easily reached by cab, bus and subte and is near the English Tower across from the BsAs Sheraton.

Great suggestion
 

No groans from me about the idea. I think it's a great one...but would likely be more realistic if I had a few more days to play with. But I wasn't aware they were overnighters, so my companions may be interested. I'll check it out.

Every other domestic tour packager within Arg. that I've seen does not include airfare in their packages to assorted cities. But I did find this one a short time ago. I'll probably email them to see if these prices still are good, particularly to Mendoza. Has anyone heard of them or used them?

Some links and a caveat...
 

I haven't heard of them, but by the looks of their slick website and numerous language options they should be geared towards the foreign tourist market.
One thing to avoid when researching paquetes that include airfare is the ominous:
"LAS TARIFAS SON APLICABLES PARA CIUDADANOS ARGENTINOS". One other caveat: Some travel agengies will add a surcharge for credit card use. I had a tedious episode with the local BsAs Asatej agency when I cancelled a trip to South Africa after they wanted to impose a whopping 7% surcharge to use a credit card. Then they balked at returning my 30% deposit after confirming a more expensive airfare with the airline than I had agreed to. Of course, I persisted and won, but in the meantime I lost about $20 USD in CC exchange fees between the debit and the credit.

That having been said, here are a few links to agencies that have packages including airfare. I personally would use them only as a price guide, and then book with a reputable agency in BsAs. I have been very satisfied with the Buquebus office on Cordoba. They are very professional and sell packages within Argentina that include transport via their ferries, omnibuses or planes.

Other sites include:

Despegar

Lega Tours

GoToLatin

Aerofertas

Yahoo's List of Argentinian Travel Agencies

For the most part, Retiro is nothing exotic or unique; some interesting architecture and a lively area to walk through during office hours, but that's mostly it. :D [That is not to say that there are not some places worth visiting there.]

I also don't think that my interest in the "exotic" requires preventing "development" as the local markets seem fit to support financially and legally (and hopefully environmentally not unhealthy). It'd be nice if more parts of the world were uniquely exotic, but I am not here to dictate to the world my opinion of who should not get fast food, mega-markets and malls. I actually find the world's variety of malls to be an amusing item in and of themselves (even as I truly am no fan of run-of-the-mill/mall shopping). After all, Argentina is historically a product of foreign imposition and domestic accpetance of the foreign. .... and that includes many of its peoples and most all of its present day architecture. :D

Not sure if this is "news" but this article states that LAN is looking at buying Southern Winds. The article is dated March 7:
http://news.airwise.com/story/view/1110225182.html

So there may be hope after all...

As for me, I'm not waiting around. The US travel agent I used to book my Southern Winds tickets apparently screwed up and cannot actually ticket SW flights. So I'm going to try Aerolineas roulette (what's a vacation without a little excitement!) and blame my BA travel agent if things go wrong...

I can confirm that LAN is working the usual chanells to see if they get the wink to buy up SW. This may be a way out, as LAN has been pouring $$$ into the regional airline industry for a while now. What is still unclear is whether they will be able to / allowed to step in before the mess hits the fan completely, or if they will wait until the carrier goes belly up (this may have some advantages from an acquisition stand point).

Southern Winds website not working
 

modified

SW update - some good news?
 

LAN has finally made its move. It has announced that it will 'purchase' the state owned LAFSA, and has entered into a 'cooperation agreement' with SW to help 'ensure' continued operations for 90 days. What is still unclear is if LAN will buy SW or not.... since this was the strongest rumour floating around EZE and AEP.

The weird thing is that 2 hours ago, the Argentine Transportation Ministry held a press conference with executives from LAN to announce the LAFSA purchase, and after the initial announcements, the press had a chance to place questions. When directly asked about LAN's interest in purchasing SW, the LAN executives said that they could only say that they are not after SW !!! :eek: ???!!!

I guess we all have to wait and see.....

Thank you for the information, Gaucho100K. It is greatly appreciated.

My trip to Buenos Aires will be sometime at the end of May.

Do these new developments mean that it may now be safe enough to purchase round-trip tickets between Buenos Aires and Iguazu on Southern Winds during this 90-day period?

Dear Gaucho 100K, You do so much for this thread...is there anything anyone can do for you? I'll be there 28/3/05-4/4/05...just let me know. [email protected]

edited

No, I cannot access their reservation system at this time either.

However, if you are located within the United States, they can be reached by telephone at 1-800-379-9179.

Glaciers & Colonia sidetrips from BA
 

I've been lurking on this site for the last week. What a great trove of info and friendly community.
We will be in Argentina for a couple of weeks and are planning a side trip to El Calafate from BA. I've found a pkg from www.fueraderuta.com that includes 3 nights hotel, 2 glacier excursions, and 3 days for us to do some independent travel. Price is US$860, for the 2 of us. Is anyone familiar with this agency..and does this seem like a reasonable price? I'm a little surprised that the cost is so low considering Aero Arg. is charging US$599/ea. for the flight only.
Also, on separate note, does anyone know where to find the cost/timetable for the hydrofoil from BA to Colonia, Uruguay? And can we get there and back in one day with sufficient time to see the town? I've tried buquebus.com, but their web page seems to be down.

You'll find lots of information here:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=405784

flyme2 posted great information there...

I would still be very cautious with SW. The latest from the rumour mill is that LAN is actually after Aerolineas Argentinas, not SW. This is turning out to be a thriller.... :p