Best of Buenos Aires & Argentine Patagonia - 16 Days

Highlights

• Enjoy city tours of Buenos Aires and see a sultry tango show
• Ride a boat to Tigre, one of Argentina's most charming river towns
• Visit Peninsula Valdés in Puerto Madryn and snorkel with sea lions
• Enjoy a coastal hike and canoe ride in Tierra del Fuego National Park
• Check out Perito Moreno, one of the world's most impressive glaciers

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Buenos Aires, Optional Activities

Welcome to Argentina! The second-largest country in South America boasts incredible highlights and endless natural wonders. You'll experience the best on tours and activities that will take you from cities into the untamed wilds of legendary Patagonia. Speaking of which, this grand adventure immediately kicks off with your arrival in Buenos Aires. At the airport terminal, a driver will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel in the city.

Argentina's capital is a dynamic metropolis known as the "Paris of South America" due to its wide boulevards, sprawling parks, and abundance of Baroque and neoclassical architecture. If you like, leave your hotel and discover some of BA's highlights on foot. Famous landmarks in Centro (downtown) include 9 de Julio (the widest avenue in the world), the soaring Obelisco monument, and the Teatro Colón, which has been ranked one of the great opera houses in the world since its opening in 1908.

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, Plaza de Mayo, and the pink-hued Casa Rosada (Presidential Palace). Then, walk along the upscale waterfront promenades of Puerto Madero before heading to the oldest neighborhood in the city, San Telmo. Afterward, you'll stop by La Boca, the city's original port.

In the evening, you'll return to San Telmo. It was here in the late 19th century that 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 Excursion to Tigre

In the morning, you'll leave Buenos Aires on a boat ride up the famous Río de la Plata. Relax on the 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 4: Buenos Aires Free Day

You'll have the day free to wander the city on your own. Perhaps start with a traditional porteño breakfast of coffee and medialunas (half-moon-shaped pastries). Then explore some of Buenos Aires' famous barrios (neighborhoods).

You can browse the famous street market in San Telmo or head over to Palermo, a trendy district known for its excellent restaurant scene and expansive city parks. Recoleta is an old-money enclave defined by its Baroque buildings and famous cemetery. It's the final resting place of some of the country's most prominent historical figures, including Eva Perón.

Day 5: Fly to Puerto Madryn, Golfo Nuevo Tour

It's an action-packed day as you jet off to legendary Patagonia. In the morning, a driver will pick you up at your hotel, and you'll transfer to the airport to catch a two-hour flight south to Trelew. Upon arrival, you'll hop in another car for the hour ride north to Puerto Madryn, an eastern Patagonian coastal city famous as the jumping-off point for nearby Península Valdés. Sitting on the Golfo Nuevo (New Gulf), this UNESCO World Heritage Site is known for its exceptional biodiversity, as it's a natural habitat for various marine animals, including sea lions, penguins, guanacos, whales, and orcas. 

After exploring some of Península Valdés independently, you can link up with a local guide for a three-hour around the gulf. The first stop is Cerro Avanzado, where your guide will explain the geological highlights of the area, including the 35-million-year-old sea fossils found here. Then head to seaside cliffs and a secluded beach, which offers wonderful photo opportunities of the vast Patagonian coastline. Finally, you will stop at Punta Lomas, home to sea lions and cormorants.

Afterward, return to Puerto Madryn, where you'll have the rest of the afternoon and evening to spend at your leisure. Feel free to stretch your legs and stroll around this tranquil city. It's a safe, walkable community, and the charming waterfront promenade is lined with cafés and restaurants.

Day 6:  Day Trip to Punta Tombo Penguin Colony

Get ready for another fun boat tour, this time down the Atlantic coast, ending at one of the most incredible destinations in Patagonia: Punta Tombo. A driver will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to Puerto Rawson, a fishing village located about 31 miles (50 km) south of Puerto Madryn. From here, you'll board a ship and start the tour. As you head down the coast, keep an eye out for spectacular black-and-white Commerson dolphins, believed to be the smallest dolphin species in the world.

Eventually, you'll arrive at the famous penguin colony at Punta Tombo. This tiny protected area is less than a square mile, yet it's home to the largest colony of Magellanic penguins in Latin America. The colony was once home to over a million such penguins, although today, exact estimates vary. You'll explore the area on foot via a network of marked paths, strolling side by side with dozens of these waddling critters. Know that touching the penguins is prohibited, although photos are welcome. At the end of the day, you'll return to your hotel in Puerto Madryn.

Day 7: Península Valdés Whale Watching Tour

After breakfast, a driver will pick you up at your hotel for a full-day tour on land and sea. It starts in Península Valdés at the Istmo Ameghino Interpretation Center. Through various educational exhibits, you'll gain insight into the different types of fauna that call this peninsula home. There's even a lookout tower featuring stunning views of both the Golfo Nuevo and Golfo San José.

After visiting the interpretation center, continue to Puerto Pirámides. This is the starting point for today's oceanic wildlife excursion. Once aboard the ship, you'll sail along the coast and do some wildlife spotting. Keep your eyes peeled for sea lions and (if you're lucky) right whales and orcas. You'll also pass a historic lighthouse that epitomizes the seafaring splendor of coastal Patagonia.

Your day isn't over after the boat ride. On the way back to Puerto Madryn, you'll stop at some salt flats and Isla de Pájaros, an island abounding with different birds, including cormorants, egrets, rheas, and flamingoes. The tour ends in the late afternoon with the return to your hotel.

Day 8: Snorkeling with Sea Lions Excursion

There are only a few places in South America where you can swim with sea lions in their natural habitat. Puerto Madryn is one. A guide will pick you up at your hotel in the morning and transport you to Puerto Pirámides, where you'll change into your swimwear. Then board a boat and depart for a nearby bay full of sea lions.

When you arrive, it will be time to hop in the water (wetsuits and equipment provided). No need to feel apprehensive, as sea lions are curious by nature and will swim up and offer a friendly hello. Also, a guide will be there every step of the way to offer specific instructions about what to do when a sea lion approaches. After this unforgettable experience, you'll return to Puerto Madryn and have the rest of the day free.

Day 9: Fly to Ushuaia, Self-Guided Tour

Get an early start with a transfer to the airport in Trelew, where you'll catch a two-hour flight south to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. Upon arrival, a driver will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel, where you'll have the rest of the day to explore the city.

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. Be sure to take a stroll along the waterfront for the best views of the mountains and channel.

Day 10: Hiking Tierra del Fuego National Park

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 forests, dramatic lakes, and a 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 11: Boat Tour to Isla Gable & Nature Hike

Today's excursion is a scenic journey to a remote locale. Your destination is Herberton Ranch, one of the oldest estancias (ranches) in Tierra del Fuego (it dates to 1886). There, you'll visit the Marine Mammal Museum and enjoy the surroundings of one of the first foreign settlements in Tierra del Fuego.

Next, board a motorboat and head to Isla Martillo, where you'll see Magellanic penguins in their natural habitat. The boat tour continues to the main attraction, the enormous Isla Gable. Here, lunch will be served, along with Patagonian wine.

After the meal, you can explore more of this gorgeous island on a hike. The walk includes crossing over beaver dams and passing through forests on your way to the shores of the Beagle Channel. There, a boat will return you to Harberton Ranch, from where you'll hop on a bus back to your hotel.

Day 12: 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 highlight of the area is the half-day trek to Laguna Esmeralda, a turquoise lagoon sitting beneath a hanging glacier. 

Day 13: Fly to El Calafate

After breakfast, a driver will pick you up and transfer you to the airport in Ushuaia for your flight north to El Calafate. Known as the gateway to Argentina's glaciers, the city is located on the shores of Lago Argentino, the nation's biggest freshwater lake. If possible, select a window seat to enjoy the stunning views of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field as you fly over it. 

Upon arrival at El Calafate, another transfer will take you to your hotel. You can spend the rest of the day relaxing or wander around and enjoy the quaint cafés and souvenir shops in town. Perhaps learn about nearby glaciers on a visit to the Glaciarium, a multimedia center with an ice museum, interactive displays, educational info regarding glaciers, and even an ice bar. If you like, consider stopping by Laguna Nimez Reserve. In this wetland sanctuary, you can admire various endemic birds, like flamingoes and black-necked swans, and enjoy a beautiful sunset over Lago Argentino.

Day 14: Los Glaciares National Park Tour

Meet your driver this 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 get up close and personal with its massive ice wall on a boat tour. After a day on the water and wandering the boardwalks around Perito Moreno, you'll return to El Calafate.

Day 15: 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, or grab a paddle and hit the water on a kayak trip around the lake. Or simply spend the day hanging out in the cafés in El Calafate.

Another museum option in El Calafate is the history museum: 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 16: Fly to Buenos Aires, Depart

Today marks the end of your grand north-south tour of Argentina. In the morning, your driver will pick you up and transfer you to the airport in El Calafate. There you'll board a three-hour flight to Buenos Aires and catch your connecting flight home. ¡Adiós!

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