Highlights
- Start with a guided walking tour through the colorful capital: Buenos Aires
- Cruise to the stunning Perito Moreno Glacier on a full-day nautical safari
- Get amazing views of the UNESCO-listed Iguazú Falls while looking for toucans
- Cross another country off your list by stepping into Brazil for more waterfall views
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Buenos Aires, Walking Tour | Buenos Aires |
| Day 2 | Morning City Tour, Free Afternoon | Buenos Aires |
| Day 3 | Fly to El Calafate, Free Afternoon | El Calafate |
| Day 4 | Nautical Safari & Hike to Perito Moreno Glacier | El Calafate |
| Day 5 | Fly to Puerto Iguazú, Free Afternoon | Iguazú Falls |
| Day 6 | Tour of Iguazú National Park (Argentina Side) | Iguazú Falls |
| Day 7 | Explore Iguazú National Park (Brazil Side), Fly to Buenos Aires, Depart |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Buenos Aires, Walking Tour
Welcome to Argentina! Upon your arrival at the airport in Buenos Aires, your driver will meet you and transfer you to your hotel in the city. If you and your kids have energy left after your flight, you might want to hit the ground running with a two-hour walking tour of the city accompanied by a fun English-speaking guide.
Depending on your location and interests, you can choose to explore either the aristocratic northern area of the city, with its magnificent architecture, or the green spaces and bohemian culture of the trendy modern areas. Your guide will adjust the tour to meet your preferences. No doubt your kids will want to stop for ice cream, and luckily, Buenos Aires is famous for just that.Day 2: Morning City Tour, Free Afternoon
After a good night's sleep and a hearty breakfast at your hotel, learn more about Buenos Aires's history and culture and what makes it tick on a five-hour tour of the city by car. Sometimes called the "Paris of South America," Buenos Aires proudly embraces this title while showing off its own culture.
Kids will enjoy learning fun facts about Buenos Aires along the way, such as why the Presidential Palace is pink or why the houses in La Boca are so colorful. You'll also visit San Telmo, the city's oldest residential neighborhood, and Caminito Street, a street museum known for tango dancing. If you or your kids are sports enthusiasts, you can learn more about Argentina's favorite fútbol (soccer) teams and why Argentines have such a passion for soccer.
After the tour, you might want to head back to the hotel for some rest or continue exploring on your own. Argentines are usually eager to host visitors: if you walk the streets with a map, someone will surely stop and ask if you need directions. Wander the cobblestone streets lined with outdoor cafés, enjoy the mouthwatering aroma of Argentine beef sizzling on an open parrilla (barbecue), and browse the antique and artisan markets that offer plenty of bargains.Day 3: Fly to El Calafate, Free Afternoon
Say goodbye to the big city today and head to the airport for a domestic flight to El Calafate in Southern Patagonia. El Calafate is located on the Patagonian steppe, an extreme and deserted place with an amazing landscape, only helped by its position on the border of Lago Argentino (Argentina's biggest lake). El Calafate is also the gateway to the world-renowned Perito Moreno Glacier, one of the only glaciers in the world that is still advancing. Your family will get to see the glacier up close tomorrow, but first, enjoy a free afternoon exploring the town center, which might seem a world away from Buenos Aires.
Day 4: Nautical Safari & Hike to Perito Moreno Glacier
Travel into the spectacular Patagonian wilderness today on a full-day tour that will surprise and delight every member of the family. First, transfer to Puerto Bandera, west of El Calafate, to embark on a nine-hour nautical safari. You'll then spot the secluded glaciers and waterfalls of Glacier National Park that can only be reached by boat. If your kids have never seen glaciers before, this will be an amazing experience for them—and you get to travel by boat!
Next, sail through the Mayo Channel and disembark at Toro Bay to begin a hike through the Patagonian forest. Your guide will tell you and your kids about the flora and fauna of this area, which is very different from elsewhere in the park, and show you the ancient cherry tree with trunks of up to 10 feet (3 m) in diameter. Tell your kids they can call it el abuelo (grandpa), as the locals have nicknamed it.
Set sail again toward Cerro Negro, where you'll take a short walk to admire the massive Black Glacier. Spend some free time exploring this place that few travelers have seen before departing for your third destination, the famous Perito Moreno Glacier. As the boat passes the immense icy wall, grab your camera and tell the youngsters to put on their beanies because you may see a piece of ice breaking off and crashing into the water below. Finally, you'll disembark at Puerto Moreno, where you can stroll along the catwalk circuit that surrounds the glacier.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 5: Fly to Puerto Iguazú, Free Afternoon
Day 6: Tour of Iguazú National Park (Argentina Side)
Today you'll get a close-up look at Iguazú Falls with a guided tour of Iguazú National Park on the Argentine side. The falls are surrounded by a humid subtropical forest that's home to many different species of wildlife. Your guide will help you spot some of it: toucans, parrots, and coatis, to name a few. Kids will love looking for these exotic species they've never seen before.
Explore the walkways that meander around the falls, allowing for plenty of up-close and personal experiences (prepare to get a little wet!) with this enormous spectacle of nature. You'll also get the chance to visit Devil's Throat, the largest of the falls and, for many, the most spellbinding. To reach the Devil's Throat, take an eco-friendly train and then walk along the boardwalks. You'll have earned your picnic lunch by the end of all this.Day 7: Explore Iguazú National Park (Brazil Side), Fly to Buenos Aires, Depart
This morning you'll get the chance to cross the border to explore the Brazilian side of the falls for the ultimate bragging rights. Don't forget your family's passports! While 80% of the falls are in Argentina, the Brazilian side offers the best panoramic views allowing you to fully appreciate the immensity of Iguazú Falls. Take the boardwalk over the Salto Santa Maria, which feels like walking on water, then get closer to the Devil's Throat and feel the power of the water.
After this exciting excursion, it's time to return to the airport for your flight back to Buenos Aires. Catch your connecting flight home or to your next South American destination. ¡Buen viaje!More Great Argentina Itineraries
Map
