Adventure Tours in Argentina

I recently finished the four-week cooking course with Mente Argentina, and it exceeded my expectations in every way. This course stood out because it felt personal and genuine. The instructors shared technique their love of Argentine food and culture in an engaging manner. I left with more confidence in the kitchen and a real appreciation for Argentine hospitality and friendship. If you want something meaningful, hands-on, and unforgettable, Mente delivers exactly that.

The location was incredible, the access to amazing climbing and hiking areas. Plus easy access to glaciers. Being trusted to use the skills we were taught was very rewarding. The way we were taught skills and then got to keep building on them was very empowering.

The best part was the group of students I got to do this program with. Each person was unique and special and taught me something about friendship, overcoming challenges, appreciating each other's differences, managing stress and fear, the importance of communication, being a good leader, and building confidence to take on new challenges. I definitely couldn't have gotten through as much of the program as I did without their support and friendship. I also would say the level of challenge was excellent and exceeded my expectations, and forced me out of my comfort zone nearly every day and pushed me to grow personally and in my confidence in the outdoors. Also the location of the program in El Chalten, it became like home to us and is truly a trekking and nature lovers paradise.

Getting to learn rock climbing from some of the best climbers in Patagonia, was an invaluable and inspiring experience. Not only did we spend a bunch of time outdoors learning new skills and visiting cool places, we also built a community along the way that really impacted my overall experience in Patagonia.

The location, the best part of this program was getting to spend three months is this amazing town. Our local guides were incredible and I came away from the course with more than just experience, I made amazing friends and got to feel like a part of the El Chaltén community.

The best part of the program for me in particular would be the final expedition. During this time, I realized how much we have all learned individually and as a group to be able to come together and perform the way we did. It solidified that all of our skills (technical and social) came into place

The best part about the Patagonia Adventure Guide Program for me was the community building of our group. Working to our individual and collective goals, and helping push each other in the direction people wanted to go.

Week after week I was faced with challenges I had never dreamed of taking on prior. I carried on despite my self-doubt and I realised I achieved a lot of personal growth by the final week. Too much to begin to narrow down. And the things I got to experience… wow! Thank you.

The people, instructors, guides and practical skills taught made me feel empowered throughout the Pure Exploration program. The instructors were invested and passionate and wanted to teach us new skills.

Amazing time in Argentina. The host family was lovely and made me feel very comfortable. And they gave us a lot of freedom, but helped us out when we needed it. They made sure we were happy with our placement, and it was a very eye-opening experience to go to some of the placements and volunteer

I volunteered at Nakavango in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, as part of the IVHQ Wildlife Conservation Project. It truly was one of the highlights of my life. And I’ve had some pretty remarkable experiences so that says a lot. The staff a Nakavango was incredible and extremely knowledgeable. They create the perfect balance of hard work and joyous moments playing with the children at Masuwe School, observing wildlife in the bush, and taking in the sights of one of the seven wonders of the world. We each had our own room, were provided three yummy meals a day with great care to accommodate those who have special diets. Highlights of my stay included morning and evening game drives, sitting around the fire pit under the stars, camping out in the bush, and completing a work task feeling that we had made progress on a project. Yet, the most outstanding aspect of this experience for me, was bonding with my fellow volunteers. Prior to arriving at Nakavango, I thought I’d be the senior member of the crew so I was a bit apprehensive even though I had worked for weeks to get in shape physically so I could contribute equally. Well, I wasn’t the most senior. In fact, we had a wonderful range of ages, nationalities, and personalities. We became a family, caring for and respectful of all. That truly blew me away. And now, we continue to stay in touch. I am so grateful for the IVHQ program at Nakavango. It changed my life!

I volunteered in Bali- Ubud, through IVHQ. Bali was an incredible experience. I made life long friends, taught a class of 6th graders, and got to experience a beautiful new culture. The staff were amazing, and helped out all the volunteers with whatever needs they had. The location was beautiful, we were situated in a village 20 minutes outside the town of Ubud. This allowed us to integrate in a real Balinese community. The people (the volunteers, locals & staff) were second to none. I volunteered for five weeks- by the end of those 5 weeks I was wishing I had 5 more! The only downside to this programme is missing the children you taught and the friends you made after you leave! A member of the IVHQ team was on hand from the minute I booked the trip. She answered any questions I had, and checked in with m to make sure everything was going well during the volunteer programme. Volunteering with IVHQ in Bali was absolutely the best thing I ever done. I thoroughly recommend anyone interested in volunteering abroad to consider IVHQ Bali. You wont regret it.

This was the best experience of my life! I have always wanted to travel and volunteer abroad and IVHQ made this so fun and easy. During the week we were able to volunteer and take in the experiences we wanted while leaving plenty of time to explore the country for the weekend. Highly highly recommend this organization if you want a new way to travel and give back.

International Volunteer HQ [IVHQ] responded to this reviewJuly 03, 2018

Hi Deanna. Thanks for such an awesome review! It's fantastic to hear our program offered you one of the best experiences in your life and that we made the process of volunteering easy and fun for you. Thanks for being a great volunteer and please join us on another program soon. ^Claire - IVHQ South Africa Program Manager

Hi, I’m Alp, I’m from Turkey, and I was with Mente Argentina for two weeks to take Spanish courses, tango courses, and cooking classes. Before I left I felt that two weeks was going to be a really long time but now I feel that it isn’t even enough. When I first came here I realized that it’s really important that you know Spanish so that you can really speak with the people. Buenos Aires is just a beautiful city, all of the barrios, all of the places you can go, both touristic and local. I really loved the city and I hope that more people can come to Buenos Aires with Mente Argentina to enjoy the city and this entire experience.

Hi, my name is Madlyn Hatch, I’m from Austin, Texas, and I did the wine program through Mente and took some Spanish classes as well. The wine program is incredible, I learned an incredible amount in just a short amount of time. In only two months I have expanded my knowledge. They arranged all of my classes, my private professor is just wonderful, he has taught me so much. My Spanish classes were just a wonderful experience where I’ve met so many new friends, I’ve really brushed up on my Spanish. It’s just been a really incredible experience just to live in a different country and I couldn’t have done it without Mente’s help.

Hi, my name is Will, I’m from England, I was in Buenos Aires with Mente doing a wine program. I would really recommend coming to Argentina, and if you’re interested in learning about the local culture, studying Spanish, and learning about wine, I’d definitely recommend going with Mente. The thing that I like most about Mente Argentina is their willingness to help you with any problems that you have. They are very friendly and approachable. Regarding the course, I learned so much about the wine from Argentina. The quality of teaching is extremely high, so I would definitely recommend doing a program with Mente.

My name is Katherine, I’m from Chicago, and I did the two-week intensive wine course here in Buenos Aires. I stayed in a homestay with a woman in Recoleta. I had another girl from Mente who was living with me so we got to explore the city together and have a great time. Every night I did wine tastings with Porteños where I learned a lot about Argentinian wines and how to taste wine in general. I also took one-on-one classes with a guy named Jorge where I learned a lot about the science of wine and got to do one-on-one tutoring lessons. The class schedule also gave me a lot of time to explore the city with other international travelers and locals. So I got to know Buenos Aires and have a lot of free time while also taking these really cool classes.

Hi, my name is Brigitte, I’m from Australia, and I’ve just completed a four-month program of learning tango with Mente Argentina. It has really been such an incredible, amazing experience, so I would just like to share a few things as to why I really recommend Mente Argentina. The reason I sought out the program in the first place when I wanted to study tango in Buenos Aires is because I wanted to stay in a private apartment and to organize that as a foreigner in Buenos Aires on your own, it is not an easy thing to do. Through the Mente program they find you accommodation according to what your preferences and needs are and find a perfect place for you. They made sure that my needs were met regarding my living space, and I’m really thankful for that. That enabled me to pursue my tango studies in a good headspace being that I felt comfortable and relaxed in my home environment. I had never studied tango before I came here, I had never danced tango before, so I really had no idea what it was all about. Now, having gone through four months of this process, I would say that it really is an incredible journey of self-discovery. If you feel that you’d like to learn tango, I really don’t think that you can go wrong with Mente Argentina. I would encourage anyone who is thinking about it to really come here and do it and learn at this school because not only is the tango process itself very beautiful and amazing, but all of the teachers at the school are not only dance teachers but also quite exceptional human beings. I am very thankful to both Mente Argentina and the tango school for supporting me on this journey during my four months and I look forward to continuing this journey in the future.

Hi my name is Martina, I am from the Czech Republic and I came to Argentina to do the intensive Sommelier Program with Mente. The program was really excellent, it exceeded all of my expectations, I learned everything that I wanted to learn . I like that you can select the courses that you like, so you can really learn what interests you. So I highly recommend this program for whoever is interested and wants to explore the Argentine wines.

I went to Cusco in June-July, for 5 weeks! I volunteered 3 weeks in a school with kids and 2 weeks in the zoo of the University. Both of programs was so much fun ! Just a little warning : don't accept the food at the school , the kid and the teacher can put some pression but it's important to say NO! I said yes and i've made an indigestion 2 hours after, for 5 days... nice ! Additionally, the staff is really amazing and always there if you need help! My host-family was really cool and we were 13 volunteers in the same house , so its easy to make activity with them during the evening! In perou, I've discover some wonderful people, amazing places, good food and a different culture! My best memories was to visit Plaza del Armas, the Macchu Picchu, rainbow mountain, moray, salt mines and the lake Titicaca during the weekend. The organisation American Inca Trail is a great staff to organize your tour! Finally, Just do it !

International Volunteer HQ [IVHQ] responded to this reviewMay 21, 2018

Hi Florence, It's nice to hear from you! It sounds like you had a wonderful experience across your projects and exploring the wonders of Peru. Thanks for your feedback and for being a wonderful volunteer. We hope you'll join us again in the future. ^Andrea - IVHQ Peru - Cusco Program Manager