Highlights
- Get an authentic taste of Argentina's cuisine and culture with a family cooking class
- Walk through rainforests and see crashing waterfalls at Iguazú Falls National Park
- Experience toucans and a flock of 100 macaws at the Parque das Aves aviary
- Bike through cool neighborhoods and a stunning rose garden in Buenos Aires
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Buenos Aires, Cooking Class & Dinner with a Local Family | Buenos Aires |
| Day 2 | Guided Tour of Buenos Aires | Buenos Aires |
| Day 3 | Fly to Puerto Iguazú, Explore | Puerto Iguazú |
| Day 4 | Tour Iguazú Falls (Argentina Side) | Puerto Iguazú |
| Day 5 | Tour Iguazú Falls (Brazil Side), Bird-Watching at Parque Das Aves | Puerto Iguazú |
| Day 6 | Fly to Buenos Aires, Bike Tour of Palermo & Recoleta | Buenos Aires |
| Day 7 | Depart Buenos Aires |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Buenos Aires, Cooking Class & Dinner with a Local Family
Welcome to Argentina! Your flight lands in Buenos Aires, the nation's vibrant capital. Originally founded in the 1500s, the city has a rich history and culture and is considered a significant epicenter for commerce, industry, politics, and technology. After your driver collects you from the airport and you check in at your hotel, give your family a head start on their immersion into life in Argentina with a cooking class and dinner with a local family!
Your guide will pick you up in the afternoon and transfer you to the neighborhood of Boedo, a non-touristy bohemian district with tons of restaurants and late-night tango shows. You'll tour the area, learning about the history of the area through the many murals painted along the city streets. After stopping for beverages at the famed Café Margot, one of Buenos Aires' most iconic restaurants, you'll head to your host family's house.
Here, you'll take a cooking workshop where you and the kids will prepare traditional main dishes while learning about the history behind individual recipes. Argentine cuisine uses many locally-grown products, including grains, fruits, vegetables, oils, and meat. At the end of class, sit down with your hosts to feast on your creations accompanied by delicious Malbec wine (for the adults).
Day 2: Guided Tour of Buenos Aires
After breakfast at your hotel, you and the family will get better acquainted with the city on a guided tour, starting at the Plaza de Mayo, where you can see the National Government Palace and Metropolitan Cathedral. Learn about the history of these important landmarks, then head to San Telmo, the oldest residential neighborhood, with its quaint cobblestone streets and cafés. If you happen to visit on a Sunday, stop at their weekly antique market in Plaza Dorrego, where you'll find antiques, souvenirs, food stalls, and street performers to entertain the kids.
Afterward, make your way to La Boca, an artsy district known for its brightly-painted houses. Soccer fans in the family will be thrilled to know that this is the location for the legendary Boca Juniors Football Club, where the great Diego Maradona played. La Boca is also famous for Caminito Street. In this open-air museum, you'll find beautiful art on display, created by popular local artists and reflecting the neighborhood's history and its residents. See artists selling their wares, enjoy a meal at one of the many restaurants, and watch tango dancers showcase their talents.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 3: Fly to Puerto Iguazú, Explore
Your next destination is Puerto Iguazú, home to Iguazú Falls National Park and the largest waterfall system in the world. The park spans both Argentina and Brazil, and you'll get the opportunity to visit both. At the appointed time, your driver will collect you from your Buenos Aires hotel and transport you to the airport for your two-hour flight. Upon arrival, take a private transfer to your hotel, and enjoy a free afternoon to explore some of the activities and excursions around Puerto Iguazú.
One option is to visit three countries at once at the Triple Frontier landmark—a tri-border area for Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. The three countries all meet at the mouth of the Río Iguazú, with a walkway and views over the river, as well as information on each country's proximity. There's also a family-friendly restaurant here and a children's play area.
If the kids are interested in seeing some of Argentina's wildlife, you can also visit Güirá Oga. In this wildlife rehabilitation center, you can tour the facility and learn more about local wildlife. The center conducts ongoing research on forest preservation and has a breeding program for endangered species. And for any birders in the family, a visit to the hummingbird aviary, El Jardin de los Picaflores, should not be missed! This small garden area is home to several varieties of hummingbirds and other local birds, with feeding areas and benches.
Day 4: Tour Iguazú Falls (Argentina Side)
The whole family will love today's adventure in Iguazú Falls National Park. Your driver will first take you to the park entrance, where you'll board a train, disembarking at the park's main trails. Walk the lower falls circuit—a somewhat splashy adventure that the kids are sure to find thrilling. Then head to the upper circuit and see panoramic views of the park's cascades, including the Garganta del Diablo (Devil's Throat), the park's largest waterfall. The Argentina side of the park lets you see this immense cascade from above, offering a unique view of the water rushing beneath you.
Day 5: Tour Iguazú Falls (Brazil Side), Bird-Watching at Parque Das Aves
Explore the Brazilian side of the park today, starting at the visitor's center, where you'll board a bus into the park. You'll disembark at a footbridge and continue on foot through a magical subtropical rainforest while the kids keep their eyes peeled for wildlife, such as toucans or even jaguars, eventually arriving at the Devil's Throat. Before returning to the bus, you'll have time to take in the beauty of the falls from this side of the park, with plenty of family photo ops.
On the way back to your hotel, make a stop at Parque das Aves, a 40-acre (16 ha) bird sanctuary in Brazil's Paraná province. The sanctuary provides care to more than 143 different species, with five immersive aviaries that house a total of more than 1,000 birds. See toucans and curassows up close, visit the parakeet nursery, and let the kids experience a flock of 100 macaws flying directly over their heads! The park also has resident butterflies, caimans, anacondas, and alligators.
Day 6: Fly to Buenos Aires, Bike Tour of Palermo & Recoleta
Your driver will pick you up from your hotel this morning and transfer you to the airport, where you'll catch a flight back to Buenos Aires. After you check in, take advantage of your last full day in Argentina with a bicycle tour. Meet up with your guide for a brief orientation, and then begin your ride through the city. This fun, family-friendly excursion is appropriate for all ages, but parents should keep in mind there may be limited bike sizes for younger children.
Start by cycling across the commercial district of Montserrat to Retiro, a small neighborhood with quaint cafés, shops, and art galleries. You'll see some of this area's major landmarks, which include the Kavanaugh skyscraper and the Torre Monumental clock tower. From here, you'll head to the neighborhood of Recoleta, where the star attraction is the Recoleta Cemetery. See the extravagant mausoleums where Argentina's most famous residents are buried, including actress and former first lady Eva "Evita" Perón.
Afterward, visit the Palermo Chico neighborhood and El Planetario Galileo Galilei, the house of million stars, then ride through El Rosedal to explore the famous garden of thousands of roses. The tour ends as you cycle back through the Paris-looking streets of Recoleta and past El Congreso, the lodge of the Argentine Congress. This evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant or perhaps take in a tango show before resting up for tomorrow's flight.
Day 7: Depart Buenos Aires
It's time for you and the family to say goodbye to Argentina! Enjoy any extra free time this morning to take a walk in Buenos Aires, relax at a café, or do some last-minute souvenir shopping with your kids. At the appointed hour, your driver will pick you up and transfer you to the airport for your flight home. Safe travels!
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