Best of Argentina: Patagonia & Iguazú - 11 Days

Day 1: Arrival in Buenos Aires - Explore

Welcome to Argentina! The capital city of Buenos Aires is known as the "Paris of South America" and the "Queen of El Plata." Famous for its mix of European ambiance and Latin American culture, it's the birthplace of the tango and abounds with cobbled streets and beautiful Baroque architecture.

Upon arrival at the airport, a driver will transfer you to your hotel for check-in. Once you've had the chance to rest, you can head out and explore. The city center is your best starting point.

Day 2: Walking Tour of Buenos Aires

After breakfast, you'll take an organized tour of Buenos Aires. During this three-hour walking excursion, you'll visit the neighborhood of Retiro plus stroll Avenida 9 de Julio—South America’s widest avenue. You'll pass through the historic city center, home to the Teatro Colón opera house, National Congress, Plaza de Mayo, and the Casa Rosada (Presidential Palace). Then, visit the oldest neighborhood in the city, San Telmo. Afterward, you'll stop by B.A.'s original port, La Boca.

In the evening, enjoy a delicious meal accompanied by a tango performance—one of Argentina's most famous cultural highlights.

Day 3: Fly from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia

After enjoying city life in Buenos Aires, it's time to venture further south—to the end of the continent. In the morning, you'll transfer to the airport and catch a flight to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. Upon arrival, a driver will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. After checking in and unwinding, you can spend the remainder of the day exploring the city on foot.

Located on a bay in the Patagonian region of Tierra del Fuego, Ushuaia sits between the jagged peaks of the Martial Mountains and the silver waters of the Beagle Channel. This is the same waterway where Charles Darwin found himself when he was riding the HMS Beagle almost 200 years ago. Getting out and walking along the waterfront allows you a glimpse of these majestic mountains and the impressive channel.

Day 4: Hiking and Canoeing in Tierra del Fuego National Park

In the morning, a shuttle will pick you up at your hotel in Ushuaia and drive you to Tierra del Fuego National Park. Located in one of the most notable ecological zones in the Americas, Tierra del Fuego is known for its subantarctic forest, dramatic scenery, and rugged coastline. 

Upon arrival in Ensenada Bay, you'll be treated to a spectacular view of the Beagle Channel. You'll then embark on a four-mile (six-kilometer) coastal walk in which you'll get to observe the surrounding flora and fauna of the region. Interesting animals you can spot include woodpeckers, guanacos, and foxes. In addition, you will be able to see traces of the Yamana indigenous settlements that once existed here.

After three hours, you will arrive at Lake Roca, where a picnic lunch will be served. Afterward, you'll hop in a canoe and paddle down the Lapataia River until you reach the southern end of the Pan-American Highway, the world's longest drivable road. This important trans-continental route begins in Alaska and covers the entire length of the Americas.

Day 5: 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, which stretches across both Chile and Argentina. Before making your way back to Ushuaia, see the famous Les Eclaireurs, the so-called "Lighthouse at the End of the World."

Day 6: Fly from Ushuaia to El Calafate

After breakfast, your driver will transfer you to the airport in Ushuaia for your flight to El Calafate. This regional hub is home to the stunning glaciers of southern Patagonia, including the world-famous Perito Moreno Glacier.

After arriving in El Calafate, your driver will transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to rest or explore this charming city. In the evening, consider stopping by the Laguna Nimez Reserve, where you can admire a diverse array of endemic birds in the sanctuary and watch the sunset over Lago Argentino.

Day 7: Perito Moreno Glacier Tour

After breakfast, you'll depart your hotel for a full-day excursion to Perito Moreno Glacier. Comprised of over 96 square miles of solid ice, Perito Moreno is one of the world's most impressive glaciers.

As you head east from El Calafate into Los Glaciares National Park, you'll catch your first glimpse of Perito Moreno. Extending from the Andes, it ends in a great wall that curves around the lake. Three miles of wooden walkways carry visitors all around the glacier and feature many lookout points. As you stand at one of these viewing areas, you're likely to witness "calving," an event where great chunks of ice break off from the glacier wall and crash into the waters below.

But we know you'll be eager to get an even closer view. So this day's itinerary also includes a short cruise across the lake, where you'll get right alongside Perito Moreno's massive ice wall, which reaches heights of 240 feet (74 meters) in places. In the evening, you'll return to your hotel in El Calafate where you can relax and enjoy a lovely dinner.

Day 8: Fly from El Calafate to Puerto Iguazú

After breakfast, you'll transfer to the airport for your flight to Puerto Iguazú, located in the far north of the country at the border with Brazil. This city is home to the Argentinian side of Iguazú falls, the world's second-largest waterfall system after Victoria Falls, in Africa. Upon arrival in Puerto Iguazú, you will transfer to your hotel.

After check-in, you'll have the rest of the day free to relax. Should you choose, you can visit the Three Borders Landmark at the tri-border area between Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. The landmark is situated at the confluence of the Iguazú and Parana rivers and there are three obelisks representing the three countries that meet here.

Day 9: Explore Iguazú Falls (Argentine Side)

After breakfast at your hotel, a driver will pick you up and drop you off at the entrance of Iguazú National Park, the Argentine side of the falls. This is where you will begin the day's adventure, a full-day tour that involves walking the three circuits that weave around the waterfall. Each of these offers different vantage points from which to view the water. 

The three circuits 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 cascades.

• 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 waterfall from 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 take you back to your hotel.

Day 10: Explore Iguazú Falls (Brazilian Side) - Fly to Buenos Aires

In the morning you'll embark on a half-day excursion to Foz do Iguaçu, where you can appreciate Iguazú Falls from the Brazilian side. Here, you'll enjoy panoramic views of the entire waterfall system. It offers the ideal vantage point to take in the full scope of the massive falls, so you'll want to snap plenty of photos. 

Afterward, in the afternoon, you'll transfer to the airport for your flight to Buenos Aires. Upon arrival, a private car will take you to your downtown hotel. 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 11: Depart Buenos Aires

Enjoy one last breakfast in Buenos Aires. When it's time to leave, a driver will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the airport for your flight home. Buen viaje!