Highlights
- Visit Buenos Aires' highlights, from historic San Telmo to the Presidential Palace
- Explore the hidden corners of Patagonia's Lake District by boat, kayak, and on foot
- Sample craft beers as you learn about Bariloche's thriving brewery scene
- Learn about life as a gaúcho with a day spent on a working estancia
- Follow your private guide on rugged treks through Los Glaciares National Park
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Buenos Aires, South Side City Tour | Buenos Aires |
| Day 2 | Fly to Bariloche, Brewery Beer Tasting | Bariloche |
| Day 3 | Kayaking & Hiking Around Nahuel Huapi | Bariloche |
| Day 4 | Day Trip to Barrio Tristeza: Boating & Picnic | Bariloche |
| Day 5 | Fly to El Calafate, Dinner at Rancho Aparte | El Calafate |
| Day 6 | Day Trip to Perito Moreno & Nautical Safari | El Calafate |
| Day 7 | Day Trip to Estancia Nibepo Aike & Horseback Ride | El Calafate |
| Day 8 | Transfer to El Chaltén, Laguna Torre Trek | El Chaltén |
| Day 9 | Full-Day Hike to Laguna de los Tres | El Chaltén |
| Day 10 | Trek to Loma Pliegue de Tumbado, Fly to Buenos Aires, Depart |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Buenos Aires, South Side City Tour
Welcome to Argentina! For fun and wilderness adventures in South America, it's hard to beat this gem of a country. It's one of the two nations on the continent encompassing the Patagonia region, which you'll experience in all its glory over the course of 10 days. First, though, enjoy some decadent city fun in Buenos Aires, the grand capital of Argentina, known for equal parts culture and nightlife.
Your personal driver will pick you up at the airport for the ride to the Alvear Palace. This 5-star luxury hotel in the city's old-money Recoleta district enjoys a central location close to historic landmarks (like the famous cemetery where Evita is buried). It's also the model of timeless elegance, mixing classic French opulence with modern urban style. The grand suites feature crystal chandeliers and Argentine art hanging on the walls, while luxurious amenities include a rooftop heated pool and afternoon tea service. If you're tense after the flight, head to the spa for a massage and/or body exfoliation.
After checking in, meet a local guide for a private tour. It begins in the south around San Telmo and La Boca, the two oldest neighborhoods in the city. The latter is the site of Buenos Aires' original port and the birthplace of tango music. Continue along San Telmo's cobbled streets on your way to Plaza de Mayo. This historic square is where the city was founded in the 16th century and is the site of the Casa Rosada (Presidential Palace). After snapping photos, you'll finish the walking tour in the upscale waterfront neighborhood of Puerto Madero and then return to your hotel.
Day 2: Fly to Bariloche, Brewery Beer Tasting
Rise and shine because you're off to Patagonia! Return to the airport this morning for the two-hour flight south to San Carlos de Bariloche, located in Argentina's Lake District. Called "Bariloche" for short (the name, which means "Jaguar Island," comes from the Mapuche Indigenous people who once inhabited the area), the city was founded in 1902 on the shores of Lago Nahuel Huapi. It's part of Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi, whose majesty you'll experience on nature hikes and excursions.
From the airport, you'll transfer outside the city to Hotel Llao Llao. Sitting on a small peninsula overlooking the lake, the 5-star Llao Llao is not only the finest hotel in the Lake District but also one of the finest hotels in all of Argentina. The luxurious Swiss-chalet-inspired architecture is matched only by its interior layout, featuring elegant rooms and suites with lake views. The hotel offers two restaurants serving gourmet Patagonian and Argentine cuisine, and when you arrive, you can take advantage of Llao Llao's famously opulent afternoon tea service or play a round at its 18-hole golf course.
After settling in, you'll kick off your time in the Lake District with a private visit to a local microbrewery. Patagonia is fast becoming famous for its craft beer scene, and during a tasting, you'll see why this mountainous region claims some of the best brews in the nation. There's also a full menu of snacks and mains to nibble on during the tasting tour.
Day 3: Kayaking & Hiking Around Nahuel Huapi
Today's privately guided adventure begins early with a transfer to López Bay. There, you'll grab a paddle and hop in a kayak for a ride around Nahuel Huapi. Marvel at views of snowcapped peaks as you glide across the lake's glassy waters. After about an hour and a half, you'll disembark at a secluded spot to enjoy a delicious picnic lunch accompanied by Argentine wine and a tasty dessert.
After eating, continue paddling to another destination on the lakeshore, where you'll find a trailhead. Then begin a brisk 2.5-hour hike up to the Brazo Tristeza viewpoint, which features Instragrammable vistas over the lake, its islands, and the peak of Cerro Tronador. Spend some time admiring the views before hiking back to the trailhead and returning to Bariloche.
Day 4: Day Trip to Barrio Tristeza: Boating & Picnic
You're in for a treat, as this morning, you'll get to explore a beautiful corner of Nahuel Huapi. After breakfast, meet your private driver and transfer about 30 minutes outside of Bariloche to the Brazo Tristeza region. This deep glacial fjord occupies an arm of the southwest area of Nahuel Huapi and features all the dazzling scenery that defines the Lake District: snowcapped peaks, dense forests, and glassy waters.
You'll arrive at Lopez Bay, and from the pier, you'll hop on a private boat for the one-hour ride cruise along the calm, glassy waters of Brazo Tristeza. It's a scenic trip during which you'll pass Valdivian forests on the lakeshore. It's also a great place for birding, as the area is home to exotic avian species like thrushes, woodpeckers, and the Andean condor.
The boat will stop at a secluded area in Brazo Tristeza, and from a trailhead, you'll set off on a brisk hike to the elegant Arroyo Frey waterfall. Break here for a rustic picnic lunch amid the wilderness and waterfall scenery before hiking back down the trail to the boat. After returning to Lopez Bay, you'll transfer back to your hotel.
Day 5: Fly to El Calafate, Dinner at Rancho Aparte
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the two-hour flight deeper into Patagonia and El Calafate. Sitting on the shores of Lago Argentino, El Calafate is the main base for trips into the famous Los Glaciares National Park and one of its star attractions, Perito Moreno Glacier.
Your driver will take you to the eastern outskirts of town and Xelena Hotel & Suites. This 5-star hotel sits right on the lakeshore and features comfortable, quiet, and well-equipped rooms overlooking the water. Other welcome amenities include an indoor pool and a heated outdoor pool with lake views, plus a Jacuzzi, sauna, and a luxury spa offering beauty treatments and aromatic therapies to rejuvenate the body and mind.
Later, return to town for a dining experience that celebrates rustic, gourmet Patagonian cuisine. Take a seat at Rancho Aparte, a ranch home converted into a closed-door restaurant serving home-cooked meals from fixed menus. Highlights include regional specialties like roast Patagonian lamb and goulash with gnocchi pasta, all prepared with organic ingredients from local farms. Of course, the menu is paired with some of the finest wines in Patagonia and throughout Argentina.
Day 6: Day Trip to Perito Moreno & Nautical Safari
The time has arrived for a memorable, privately guided adventure into Los Glaciares National Park. Meet your driver in the morning and transfer about west to Perito Moreno. It's a scenic 1.5-hour drive during which you'll pass natural landmarks like Redonda Bay, home to a variety of exotic waterbirds, including black-necked swans and flamingoes.
Continue cruising across the vast Patagonian steppe until you reach the national park's entrance, surrounded by beech and oak forests. Here, amid a network of boardwalks and viewpoints, you'll be treated to your first glimpses of 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. At points, these walls reach 230 feet (70 m) high.
After marveling at the glacier from the boardwalks, you'll hop on a boat to see it up close. This nautical safari departs from the Puerto Bajo Las Sombras on the Rico arm of Lago Argentino. As you cruise toward the southern side of the glacier, you'll pass by icebergs floating in the water. Keep your camera ready, as once you get near the walls, you might see a chunk of ice breaking off and crashing into the water below (a process known as "calving"). At the end of the day, you'll transfer back to your lakeside hotel.
Day 7: Day Trip to Estancia Nibepo Aike & Horseback Ride
Day 8: Transfer to El Chaltén, Laguna Torre Trek
Leave El Calafate this morning on a three-hour drive north to El Chaltén. Nicknamed "the trekking capital of Argentina," this town lies on the Río Las Vueltas. Like El Calafate, it's a gateway to Los Glaciares National Park, with towering peaks rising 10,000 feet (3,048 m) above the windswept landscape. If the skies are clear during the drive, you'll have incredible views of the granite massif of Mount Fitz Roy. And though it's filled with cool cafés and craft beer bars, El Chaltén often feels overcrowded with travelers and trekkers. That's why you'll stay 23 miles (37 km) north of town at Aguas Arriba.
This expansive lodge sits on Lago del Desierto and occupies 1,700 acres (688 ha) of pristine Patagonian wilderness. The cozy rooms with lake views are spacious and well-equipped, but the real star is its proximity to Los Glaciares National Park, featuring southern beech forests that are ideal for nature hikes. The lodge serves gourmet meals in its elegant dining room with wraparound windows overlooking the water, and when the sun is out, you can also dine on the lakefront terrace.
With several trailheads just outside of town, El Chaltén is the perfect starting point for treks into the Fitz Roy range. Speaking of which, after check-in, you'll leave right from town on your maiden trek up to Laguna Torre. The 4.3-mile (7 km) private hike takes you through bright green lenga forests and around lagoons until you reach the glacial waters of Laguna Torre. This lagoon sits at the foot of the sharp granite peak of Cerro Torre, and here, you'll find the glacier that feeds the lake as well. After spending some time snapping pics and admiring the views, you'll return to El Chaltén along the same path.
Day 9: Full-Day Hike to Laguna de los Tres
Day 10: Trek to Loma Pliegue de Tumbado, Fly to Buenos Aires, Depart
Wake up early and squeeze in one more thrilling mountain hike before beginning the journey home. Today's privately guided hike is a big one, too, as it follows a 12.4-mile (20 km) route to Loma del Pliegue Tumbado. The trek takes around seven hours and features excellent views over the valleys of Cerro Fitz Roy and Torre, the Patagonian steppe, and the vast Lago Viedma. Get ready for memorable Patagonian postcard views! You'll begin by leaving El Chaltén on the footpath that heads toward Laguna Toro. Ascend for about an hour, crossing over small streams and passing through forests.
Then, you'll start to walk across an alpine terrain where delicate flowers grow. It's also possible to spot the remains of marine fossils that are about 100 million years old. Know that you may experience Patagonian wind and snow up here, even in summer, so dress in layers! You'll finally arrive at the viewpoint to take unique photos of the Torre and Fitz Roy massifs. After breaking for lunch with a magnificent view, return to El Chaltén. There, you'll hop in a car for the ride back to El Calafate and the airport, where you'll board a plane to Buenos Aires and meet your connecting flight home. Safe travels!
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