Classic Argentina: Patagonia, Mendoza & Iguazú - 10 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Buenos Aires, Explore 

Welcome to Argentina! Renowned as the "Paris of South America" and the "Queen of El Plata," the capital city of Buenos Aires is defined by passion. This is exemplified in the rich tango heritage and its citizens' limitless enthusiasm for fútbol (soccer), which is far and away the country's most popular sport. 

When you arrive at the airport, your driver will be waiting to take you in a private car to your hotel, where you can relax after a long flight. But make no mistake: the city will beckon you. So after a quick recharge, be sure to venture out into the welcoming arms of Buenos Aires and explore. The best starting point would be the city center.

Suggested activities include:

• Visit the Obelisco, which might be the most famous icon of the city. This obelisk (which even Argentines admit is a little too reminiscent of the Washington Monument) is worth a visit for its location alone. It sits right in the middle of Avenida 9 de Julio, which boasts a whopping 16 lanes, making it the widest city street in the world.
• Stop by the Teatro Colon, one of South America's premier opera houses. The horseshoe-shaped gallery features 2,487 seats and incredible acoustics. Even if you plan on taking a tour or catching a show here on another day, it's always breathtaking to pass by its exterior. The Colon's neoclassical facade has been the face of one of the most handsome buildings in Buenos Aires since its opening in 1908.
• Stroll Puerto Madero, an upscale waterfront neighborhood adjacent to downtown. Puerto Madero may be the "new money" finance center of Buenos Aires, but it's also one of the most pleasant walks in a city famous for its walking areas. A romantic stroll involves walking over the canal on the Puente de Mujer ("Woman's Bridge") at sunset.
• Dine at an Argentine steakhouse or parilla. When night falls and dinnertime arrives, do like the locals and enjoy a thick, juicy steak (Argentina has some of the best beef in the world) drizzled with the nation's famous chimichurri (a garlic, herb, and vinegar sauce). Know that Buenos Aires is a culture that thrives after dark, and it's not uncommon for locals to have dinner well past nine in the evening, especially on weekends. 

Day 2: Fly to Bariloche, Private Tour

This morning, after breakfast at your hotel in Buenos Aires, you'll transfer to the airport for your flight to Bariloche. At the terminal, you will be picked up and taken to your hotel in the village center.

Once you've had time to settle in your room, a private guide will pick you up for a half-day tour of the area, where you'll discover the breathtaking scenery around the Lakes District. You'll view all of Bariloche's most important mountain landmarks and learn about the area as you pass through meadows, forests, and mountains of this beautiful region. The tour covers about 40 miles (65 km) and explores the best spots around Nahuel Huapi Lake. 

First, you'll skirt the shores of this lake toward Cerro Campanario and disembark to take pictures. Next, you'll head toward the calm landscape of the Llao Llao Peninsula and then Puerto Panuelo—the starting point of many excursions. Continue toward Lopez Bay, Lopez Hill, and the beautiful El Trebol Lagoon. while your private guide shares the history of the area.

In the evening, you will head to a local brewery for a beer tasting and a snack typical from the region. The brewery is located along a natural viewpoint facing Moreno Lake and surrounded by the forest for a spectacular view. After this fun finale of the tour, you will be taken back to your hotel in Bariloche.

Day 3: Kayaking & Trekking on Mascardi Lake

Today is a special day with a combined excursion that mixes kayaking on Lago Mascardi with a nature trek through the forest. The adventure begins with a pickup at your hotel, followed by a 45-minute drive south of Bariloche along the famed Ruta 40 to get to the lake.

Your first destination is a lakeshore campsite owned by the local indigenous community. Here you'll hop into your kayak and begin paddling for Playa Leones, the most beautiful beach on Mascardi. Once you arrive at this tranquil pebble beach, you'll be able to relax on shore and enjoy the surrounding wilderness.  

Afterward, you'll embark on a nature trek through native coihue forests until you reach a secluded lagoon. Then it's time to head back to Playa Leones, where you'll enjoy lunch while relaxing on the shore. Finally, you'll kayak back to the starting point and return to Bariloche in the late afternoon.

Day 4: Catamaran Tour of Victoria Island & Myrtle Forest

Today, you'll take part in another guided tour in the area, this time by boat. In the morning or in the early afternoon, you will be picked up from your hotel and taken to Puerto Pañuelo. This is where you begin a catamaran ride on the clear waters of Lago Nahuel Huapi to get to Victoria Island, surrounded by snowy mountains and lush forests. Disembark the boat and walk into the pine forests and birch coihues to get a sense of the stories and legends of this unique place. Keep an eye out for the native residents, including exotic red deer and golden pheasants, as well as a ranger school and warm lodge—all of which give life to the island.

Once you're back on the boat, the tour continues up to Quetrihue Peninsula, where the famous Myrtle Forest (consisting of an Andean tree species) is located—unique in the world because of its size, density, and development. Covered with white flowers or snow, the forest is undeniably an amazing place and on a different dimension. As the sun begins to set against the Andes mountains, you'll sail back to shore and return to your hotel for the evening.

Day 5: Fly to Mendoza, Explore

It is time to say goodbye to Bariloche! This morning, you'll head to the airport for your domestic flight to Mendoza, where a wine experience is waiting for you. Once you arrive in Mendoza, you will be picked up at the airport and taken to your hotel.

This relatively sleepy city of about a million people is more than the sum of its parts, as it sits in the heart of Argentina's world-famous wine region. This is ground zero for viticulture in the nation, and it's home to Argentina's flagship wine: malbec. There are also impressive landscapes and interesting sights all around the city, from the high peak of Aconcagua to the Mendoza River to the little villages that dot the countryside, like Uspallata, which date back to prehispanic times.

You'll have free time to explore the city as you see fit. Or maybe, you'd just like to lounge by the swimming pool and make reservations for dinner at one of Mendoza's best restaurants. Whatever you decide to do, enjoy your day in Argentina's wine capital.

Day 6: Mendoza Full-Day Wine Tour

Today you'll enjoy a full-day Argentine wine experience. You'll travel to several wineries to learn all about how the wine is produced and, more importantly, how it tastes. 

After breakfast at your hotel in Mendoza, you'll head to the region of Luján de Cuyo, located at the base of the imposing Andes mountains. Boasting many centuries-old vineyards, this area is known as the cradle of malbec. Over the course of six hours, you'll visit three different wineries accompanied by a multilingual guide. Note that the proposed wineries change according to the season, so we can't give a specific list here. 

Regardless of what season and which specific vineyards you visit, today, you'll enjoy a delicious three-course meal paired with a selection of delectable wines right at the winery. And looking out over the grapevines to the Andes mountains beyond is the perfect way to enjoy your meal.

Day 7: Fly to Iguazú Falls, Explore

This morning a driver will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your flight to northern Argentina's Misiones Province. Here you'll find the jewel in the crown: Iguazú Falls, the largest waterfall system in the world.

Upon arrival to the city of Puerto Iguazú, you'll check into your hotel and then have the option for a half-day tour of the Brazilian side of Iguazú Falls (as opposed to the Argentine side) beginning in the afternoon. This is a good introduction to the falls, as the Brazilian side offers what amounts to a couple of easily accessible viewpoints. So you'll be able to enjoy the majesty of this natural wonder without the extensive walking that accompanies a visit to the Argentine side (don't worry, because you'll experience that tomorrow). 

So enjoy the falls as you acclimate to the warmer weather. Also, be on the lookout for exotic animals that call the area home, such as monkeys and coatis. 

Day 8: Explore Iguazú Falls (Argentine Side)

After breakfast at your hotel, a driver will pick you up and transfer you to the entrance of Iguazú National Park on the Argentine side of the falls. This is where you will begin the day's adventure. It's a full-day excursion that involves traversing three circuit routes around the falls, each offering exceptional vantage points from which to view this magnificent natural wonder.

The three circuit routes include:

• The upper circuit (1 hour) is made up of 2,624 feet (800 m) of walkways elevated above the jungle floor to avoid disrupting the natural paths of indigenous fauna. On this route, you'll see the upper portion of Iguazú, including countless panoramic vistas of the surrounding falls.
• The lower circuit (2 hours) is 5,250 feet (1,600 m) long and is also made up of elevated walkways, which go directly below and around the falls. This circuit takes you near the base of the falls and right up to the crashing torrents of water. You'll be able to feel the magnitude of the falls up close.
• The Devil's Throat (2 hours) is the star of the show. A small tourist train leaves from the Cataratas Station and travels 18 minutes to Garganta Station, where you'll find restrooms, a snack bar, and the start of the path. You'll walk 3,937 feet (1200 m) over the river until you reach the viewing platform. From there, you'll be able to peer 269 feet (82 m) down into the water as the highest of Iguazu's falls thunders all around you.

At the end of the tour, the driver will pick you up and transfer you back to the hotel.

Day 9: Explore Iguazú Falls (Brazilian Side), Return to Buenos Aires

Now that you have seen the Argentine side of the Iguazú Falls, it's time to see the Brazilian side through a half-day excursion to Foz do Iguacu. Here, you'll admire a sweeping panoramic view of the entire waterfall complex that you visited yesterday for an overall sense of its vastness.

In the afternoon, you'll transfer to the airport for your flight to Buenos Aires. Once you arrive, you'll be transferred by a private driver to your hotel downtown. Enjoy the rest of the evening on your own, perhaps taking advantage of any restaurants or lounges you may have missed at the beginning of the trip.

Day 10: Depart Buenos Aires

Eat one last breakfast in Buenos Aires, and at the appropriate time, drive to the airport for your departing flight and head home after an unforgettable trip.

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