Argentina for Adventurers: El Calafate, El Chaltén, Ushuaia & Iguazú Falls - 16 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Buenos Aires, Optional Activities

Welcome to Argentina! The second-largest country in South America marches to the beat of its own drum. While European influences define aspects of its culture, the spirit of this country and its people is pure Latin America. You'll see this dual identity firsthand when you arrive in the capital of Buenos Aires, renowned as the "Paris of South America." Upon arrival at the airport, a driver will be waiting at the terminal to transfer you to your hotel in the city.

BA is the economic and political heart of the country, and it boasts some of the most beautiful architecture and finest museums in Argentina. It's also the birthplace of the tango and home to the nation's most famous fútbol (soccer) teams. Make no mistake, this sport has earned the unyielding devotion of every Argentine, young and old. After checking into your hotel, you can dive into this rich culture on a self-guided tour.

Head to the city center and marvel at the impressive Baroque and neoclassical architecture. Highlight landmarks include 9 de Julio (the widest avenue in the world), the soaring Obelisco monument, and the Teatro Colón, which has consistently been ranked one of the great opera houses in the world since its opening in 1908. Later, when dinnertime arrives, head to a parrilla (steakhouse) and order a thick, juicy steak (Argentina has some of the best beef in the world) drizzled with chimichurri (a garlic, herb, and vinegar sauce).

Day 2: Buenos Aires City Tour, Dinner & Tango Show

After breakfast, you'll meet a local guide for a highlights tour of Buenos Aires. During this three-hour excursion, you'll walk amid the historic architecture of the Retiro neighborhood and Avenida 9 de Julio. Highlights include the Congress Building and Plaza de Mayo, home to the pink-hued Casa Rosada (Presidential Palace). Then, walk along the upscale waterfront promenades of Puerto Madero to the oldest neighborhood in the city, San Telmo. Afterward, stop by La Boca, the city's original port.

In the evening, you'll return to San Telmo. Here, in the late 19th century, a new style of music was born that merged the country dances of rural Spain with other influences from newly arriving immigrants. The music was called "tango," and by the early 20th century, it had become famous worldwide. You'll see the magic of this genre live when you sit down for dinner, wine, and a live performance with musicians and dancers at one of the premier tango venues in the city.

Day 3: Boat Trip to Tigre

In the morning, you'll leave Buenos Aires on a boat ride up the famous Río de la Plata. Relax on deck and enjoy the views of BA's skyline for about an hour until the waterway converges with the Paraña River Delta. Here, you'll enter a network of freshwater canals amid a series of islands. Eventually, you'll arrive at the port in Tigre, a Venetian-style village whose relaxed nature and small-town charm starkly contrast with Buenos Aires' bustling energy.

Spend the better part of the day here enjoying the sights. Highlights include Puerto de Frutos (a maze of craft markets, produce stalls, and artisanal goods) and the Museo de Arte, which features a grand collection of Argentine art spanning two centuries. The Naval Museum and the Museo de Maté are also worth a visit. The latter offers an overview and tasting of maté, an herb cultivated in the Paraná region of the country and used for tea.

Day 5: Perito Moreno Boat & Walking Tour

Meet your driver in the morning and head out on a tour of Los Glaciares National Park. The ride there takes about an hour, and as you enter the park, you'll catch your first glimpse of the majestic Perito Moreno. This expansive glacier flows down from the Andes over the turquoise waters of Lago Argentino, ending in a great wall that curves around the lake. Wait a bit, and you'll witness "calving," the awe-inspiring sight of ice breaking off the facade and crashing into the tranquil waters below.

While not the only glacier in the area, Perito Moreno is the star. It's unique in that it is one of the few advancing glaciers in the world, which results in the calving mentioned above. Upon arrival, you can admire Perito Moreno from several different vantage points via the network of wooden walkways strategically situated in front of it. Even better, you'll hop on a boat and get up close to its massive ice walls, which reach heights of 198 feet (60 m). After a day on the water and wandering the boardwalks around Perito Moreno, you'll transfer back to El Calafate.

Day 6: Free Day in El Calafate

Today is yours to enjoy El Calafate however you like. If you want, book a luxurious spa treatment and spend the day relaxing. Perhaps choose an active adventure like horseback riding on a nearby estancia (ranch), or grab a paddle and hit the water on a kayak trip around the lake. Or spend the day hanging out in the cafés in El Calafate.

If you're up for a nature hike, take a 15-minute walk just outside town to the Reserva Laguna Nimez ecological reserve. This protected area is a haven for many species of birds, including the Chilean flamingo. There's a boardwalk here that leads to some of the best viewpoints in the reserve.

Another cool museum option in El Calafate is the Centro de Interpretación Histórica. Covering the history of Patagonia since the ice age, it offers fascinating information/exhibits on geography, glaciers, Indigenous peoples, dinosaurs, and other features of the region.

Day 7: Transfer to El Chaltén

After breakfast, a vehicle will pick you up for the three-hour drive north to El Chaltén. This town lies right above Lago Viedma and is a major hub in Patagonia for mountain hikes. If the skies are clear on the drive in, you'll have incredible views of Mount Fitz Roy, the toothlike 11,020-foot (3,359 m) granite mountain that looms over the town. Once in town, your driver will drop you off at your hotel. You can then embark on short hikes or spend time relaxing at one of El Chaltén's many cafés and craft beer bars.

Day 9: Return to El Calafate

After breakfast, a driver will pick you up for the ride back to El Calafate. After checking into your hotel, you can enjoy a free day relaxing in town and giving your muscles a break after all that hiking. Take this time to browse the local shops and dine at some fine local restaurants. Be sure to sample the local cuisine, like roast Patagonian lamb, and Argentine staples like rib-eye steak and empanadas. You'll want to wash it down with a glass or two of malbec from the Mendoza wine region.

Day 10: Fly to Ushuaia, Optional Activities

Pack your bags once again because in the morning, you're off to the airport for the 1.5-hour flight to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. Located on a bay in the Patagonian region of Tierra del Fuego, the city lies between the jagged peaks of the Martial Mountains and the silver waters of the Beagle Channel. This is the waterway where Charles Darwin sailed the HMS Beagle almost 200 years ago. Upon arrival, a driver will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel.

After checking in, you can head out on a self-guided walking tour. You'll find the most activity in Ushuaia's colorful downtown area. There are cafés and restaurants where you can stop and try centolla (king crab), a regional specialty. If you like, stroll down the scenic waterfront and visit the Museo del Fin del Mundo (End of the World Museum). It's a small museum, but one that's packed with fine exhibits detailing the area's natural and Indigenous history.

Day 11: Hiking & Canoeing in Tierra del Fuego

In the morning, a shuttle will pick you up at your hotel in Ushuaia for the drive into Tierra del Fuego National Park. There are many wonders within this 155,000-acre (62,726-ha) protected area, including subantarctic forest, dramatic lakes, and rugged coastline. 

Upon arrival in Ensenada Bay, you'll have a spectacular view of the Beagle Channel. Then embark on a 4-mile (6 km) guided coastal walk in which you'll get to observe the surrounding flora and fauna of the region. Interesting animals you might spot include woodpeckers, guanacos, and foxes. In addition, you can see traces of the Yamana Indigenous settlements that once existed here.

After about three hours, you'll arrive at Lago Roca, where a picnic lunch will be served. Then hop in a canoe and paddle down the Río Lapataia until you reach the southern end of the Pan-American Highway, the world's longest drivable road. This transcontinental route begins in Alaska and covers the entire length of the Americas. Here, you'll board another shuttle and transfer back to Ushuaia. 

Day 12: Beagle Channel Cruise

After breakfast in Ushuaia, head to the pier to board a boat for a local cruise. Today's excursion sails through the Beagle Channel, one of the region's most important waterways. It was named after the HMS Beagle, a 19th-century British ship that once carried Charles Darwin to South America.

As you pass through the channel, you'll get breathtaking panoramic views of the city of Ushuaia and the entire bay. Be on the lookout for diverse marine wildlife, such as cormorants and sea lions, especially near the Lobo and De Los Pajaros islands. If the winds are calm, you can even hop ashore, collect giant shells, and look out to the opposite coast stretching across Chile and Argentina. Before returning to Ushuaia, see the famous Les Eclaireurs, the so-called "Lighthouse at the End of the World."

Day 13: Free Day in Ushuaia

Today is yours to enjoy Ushuaia however you see fit. You can spend more time seeing the sights in town or join an organized excursion. One of the best day trips here is a boat ride to Isla Martillo, a rocky islet populated by Magellanic penguins. Another highlight is the half-day trek to Laguna Esmeralda, a turquoise lagoon beneath a hanging glacier. 

Day 15: Iguazú Falls Tour (Argentine Side)

Today you'll come face to face with the grand spectacle of Mother Nature that is Iguazú. After breakfast, a driver will pick you up for the ride into Iguazú National Park, on the Argentine side of the falls. Here, you'll begin your full-day tour in the subtropical forest, home to many wildlife species. Your bilingual guide will point out some animals that live here, including coatis, capuchin monkeys, and various birds like antbirds, toucans, manakins, and parrots.

Continue the hike along both lower and upper walkways that weave around the cascades (prepare to get wet!). One highlight is traversing the boardwalk at the top of Iguazú to the famous Devil's Throat, one of the largest of Igauzu's falls. From a viewing area, you can peer over the edge and see the thundering falls plunge 262 feet (89 m) to the river below (an experience not for the faint of heart). At the end of the tour, a driver will pick you up and take you back to your hotel in Puerto Iguazú.

Day 16: Fly to Buenos Aires, Depart

You've seen the sights and enjoyed some incredible Patagonian adventures. Now it's time to pack up the memories and head home. In the morning, a driver will pick you up and transfer you to the airport, where you'll board a flight back to Buenos Aires in time to make your connecting flight home. Safe travels!

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