Buenos Aires, Bariloche, & Iguazú falls - 8 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 is filled with beautiful Baroque architecture. Upon arrival at the airport, a driver will transfer you to your hotel. Once you've had the chance to rest, you can head out and explore. The city center is your best starting point.

Suggested activities include:

• Visit the Plaza de Mayo, the city's oldest square. This plaza is ringed with ornate government buildings, the Metropolitan Cathedral, City Hall, and the Casa Rosada (Presidential Palace).

• See the Obelisco, one of the most famous landmarks in the city. This iconic national monument sits in the middle of Avenida 9 de Julio, which boasts a whopping 16 lanes, making it the widest city street in the world.

• Discover the Teatro Colón, one of South America's premier opera houses. The horseshoe-shaped gallery features 2,487 seats and incredible acoustics. You can opt to take a tour or watch a show here. The Colón's neoclassical facade has been the face of one of the most handsome buildings in Buenos Aires since its opening in 1908.

• Take a walk in Puerto Madero, an upscale waterfront neighborhood adjacent to Buenos Aires' downtown. Here you can enjoy a romantic stroll over the canal on the Puente de la Mujer bridge at sunset. 

• Dine at an Argentine steakhouse or parilla. You should plan on eating late—since Buenos Aires' culture thrives after dark and it's common to have dinner after 9 pm—especially on weekends.

Day 2: Gaucho Experience at Estancia Santa Susana

Just as North Americans have their cowboys, Argentines have their gauchos. This frontier culture is strongest in the pampas (prairies) immediately surrounding the capital since this is where the country was first settled. Gauchos are national symbols in Argentina, whether it's the real-life horsemen who still exist today, or the folk heroes of epic Argentine poems, like Martín Fierro, whose stories are passed down over generations.

Today you'll get a real gaucho experience. You'll be picked up in the morning and whisked off to Santa Susana, a working Argentine estancia (ranch). Here you'll enjoy a welcome reception that includes wine, soft drinks, and empanadas. After a guided tour of the property, you'll do some horseback riding (or perhaps enjoy a carriage ride) before settling in for a traditional folkloric music performance—and everyone's invited to get up and dance.

Lunch will be an Argentine asado (mixed grill) paired with even more of the country's fantastic wine. Real gauchos will then showcase their prowess with the bolas—traditional throwing weapons comprised of round weights connected by cords. Their displays will demonstrate how these deceptively simple weapons, when used in the right hands, can be effective at bringing down horses, cows, and even people. 

After lunch, you'll be treated to more entertainment. The gauchos will continue to showcase their abilities, this time as they perform a series of feats known as carreras de sortijas (ring races). These are typical in gaucho equine competition and showcase the cowboys' great skills on horseback. You will end the day at the estancia with a late-afternoon serving of mate, the popular tea-like infusion that is an indispensable part of Argentine culture. 

By the time you transfer back to your hotel in the evening, you can be happy in the knowledge that you've enjoyed a traditional Argentine frontier experience.

Day 3: Fly from Buenos Aires 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 the 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 to the tour, you will be taken back to your hotel in Bariloche.

Day 4: 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 forty-five 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 jump into your kayak and begin paddling for Playa Leones, a beautiful pebble beach on Mascardi. Once you arrive at this tranquil beach, you'll be able to relax on shore and enjoy the surrounding wilderness.  

Afterward, you'll embark on a hike 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 5: 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 Lake 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 magical 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 a magical place and on a different dimension.

As the sun begins to set against the Andes mountains, you will sail back to shore and return to your hotel for the evening.

Day 6: Fly from Bariloche to Iguazú Falls

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 Purto 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 (temps here can top 90°F in the summer months). Also, be on the lookout for exotic animals that call the area home, such as monkeys and coatis. 

Note: special visas are required for certain countries. Please ask the specialist if it is necessary for your itinerary.

Day 7: 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 falls. 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 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 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 8: Buenos Aires Departure

This morning, transfer to the airport for your flight back home. Until next time!