Luxury Tour of Argentina's Natural Wonders: Iguazú & El Calafate - 7 Days

Highlights

• Uncover the highlights of Buenos Aires, including the Recoleta Cemetery
• Dine at world-famous restaurants and steakhouses like Don Julio
• Watch the mists of Iguazú Falls from your 5-star retreat's infinity pool
• Escape into the Patagonian steppe at a secluded luxury ranch
• See the vast ice fields of the Perito Moreno Glacier up close

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Buenos Aires, City Tour, Dinner at Don Julio 

Welcome to Buenos Aires! Argentina's grand capital is known as the "Paris of South America" for good reason. Its metropolitan charm will captivate you, its boundless energy will inspire you, and its idiosyncratic culture and passion for all things fútbol (soccer) will charm you. The same goes for the scenery and cuisine, which includes stately Baroque and neoclassical architecture and some of the best beef in the world.

Your personal driver will meet you at Ezeiza Airport for the 45-minute ride to your hotel, Algodon Mansion. Located in Recoleta (the city's most sophisticated neighborhood), this 5-star boutique hotel occupies a former aristocratic manor with rooms converted into impeccably designed suites. The bathrooms (which feature Calacatta marble) are equipped with French tubs perfect for a long soak to take the edge off the flight. Or, if the weather is nice, head to the rooftop pool and bar for a dip and to sample fine wines from their sister winery in Mendoza, Argentina's premier viticulture region.

Later, meet a local guide for a private walking tour. Within a relatively small area, you'll travel to some major highlights, starting in Retiro, which is famous for its historic plazas. Do some window shopping as you stroll the boutiques on Avenida Alvear back to Recoleta and its world-famous cemetery. Amid the grand mausoleums, which house some of Argentina's most noteworthy historical figures, one grave stands out: Eva (Evita) Peron's. Later, see for yourself what makes Argentine beef the best in the world with dinner at Don Julio, one of the finest parrillas (steakhouses) in the country. 

Day 2: Boat Trip to Tigre, Lunch at Il Novo, Tango Lesson

Rise and shine! Meet your private guide and transfer to the pier for a boat ride up the mighty Río de la Plata to the point it converges with the Paraña River Delta. This region, located about an hour north of Buenos Aires, is comprised of a series of islands and waterfront communities.

There, you'll enter a network of freshwater canals, eventually arriving at Tigre, a Venetian-style village whose small-town atmosphere stands in stark contrast to Buenos Aires' bustling energy. During a day tour, you'll stroll the waterfront, stop in at the cafés and bistros, visit the museums, and experience this riverside gem any way you like. Lunch will be at Il Novo Maria del Luján, a white-tablecloth restaurant overlooking the river that serves seafood and steaks. The restaurant's opulent building is a historic landmark that also houses Tigre's Museum of Fine Arts.

Return to Buenos Aires in the afternoon, just in time for a private tango lesson. It takes place in historic La Boca, one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city. This port district is actually where the tango originated during the late 19th century when recently arriving immigrants merged the country dances of rural Spain with other influences. After strolling down colorful Caminito Street, you'll stop in at an original conventillo—a historic tenement tenant house. There, you'll discover the culture and passion of tango and the guidance of an expert instructor.

Day 3: Fly to Puerto Iguazú, Helicopter Tour & Brazilian Dinner

Say goodbye to BA because, this morning, you're off to Argentina's tropical north. It's a two-hour flight from Buenos Aires to the town of Puerto Iguazú in Misiones Province. The city is primarily a hub for excursions to nearby Iguazú Falls, located at the tri-borders of Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina. Apart from Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, this is the largest waterfall system in the world. 

You'll stay close to the action, as upon arrival, you'll meet your private driver for the ride into Iguazú Falls National Park and your hotel, Gran Meliá Iguazú. Surrounded by lush tropical forest with panoramic views of the falls, this 5-star hotel offers more than just a prime location. The tastefully decorated rooms feature king beds with 300 thread-count sheets, and the Merkado restaurant offers a globe-trotting menu of haute cuisine celebrating everything from Argentine beef to Mediterranean pasta. Don't miss the hotel's infinity pool, which is large enough to accommodate a small army. 

After checking in, transfer to a launchpad for an adventurous introduction to Iguazú. On a 10-minute helicopter flight, you'll soar directly over the falls, enjoying prime vantage points to appreciate this natural wonder. A bird's-eye view is the best way to see the falls, as they span an impressive 1.7 miles (2.7 km) and are 269 feet (82 m) at their highest. Later in the evening, hop across the border to the Brazilian city of Foz do Iguaçu. Here, you'll enjoy a special six-course dinner prepared by a private chef that celebrates regional Brazilian cuisine—caipirinha cocktail included!

Day 4: Iguazú Waterfall Tour (Argentine Side)

Iguazú Falls straddles both Argentina and Brazil and this morning, you'll embark on a scenic tour of the Argentine side. Meet your bilingual guide and transfer to a forest trail, which you'll hike until you reach the falls. As you go, the guide will point out some exotic animals in the park, including coatis, capuchin monkeys, and various birds like antbirds, toucans, manakins, and parrots.

Continue hiking along two-tiered circuit trails by the falls. The lower trail runs approximately 0.6 miles (1.3 km) and will take you closest to the falls on the Argentine side (prepare to get wet!). One highlight is traversing the boardwalk at the top of Iguazú to the famous Garganta del Diablo (Devil's Throat), one of the largest of Iguazú's cascades. From a viewing area, you can peer over the edge and see the thundering falls plunge 269 feet (82 m) to the river below (an experience not for the faint of heart). At the end of the tour, a driver will pick you up and take you back to your hotel.

Day 5: Fly to El Calafate & Patagonia, Dinner at Rancho Aparte Restaurant

You've got a full day of traveling ahead, starting with a morning transfer to the airport in Puerto Iguazú. There, board a flight south to El Calafate, connecting in Buenos Aires. 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. 

Upon arrival at the airport, your driver will transfer you west of town to EOLO. Also known as "Patagonia's Spirit," this 4-star ranch-style accommodation enjoys a privileged location on the wild Patagonian frontier. EOLO is the place to come to experience Patagonia in a secluded setting, as it focuses on understated luxury and excursions/adventures into the surrounding wilderness. Rugged country aside, guests here can enjoy gourmet dining amid panoramic views and sublimely restful sleep in elegant rooms decorated with antique furniture.

After dropping off your bags, you'll return to town for a dining experience celebrating rustic yet gourmet Patagonian cuisine in all its glory. Take a seat at Rancho Aparte, a Patagonian ranch home converted into a closed-door restaurant where guests are treated to 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: Perito Moreno Glacier Tour

Get ready for a memorable, full-day adventure into Los Glaciares National Park. Meet your driver in the morning and transfer 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.

Spend 1-3 hours exploring the boardwalks and snapping photos of the glacier from different vantage points. If you're lucky, you'll witness "calving"—an event where massive portions of the glacier wall break off and crash into the icy waters below. After lunch, you'll have some more time at Perito Moreno (including an optional boat ride to its southern face) before transferring back to El Calafate.

Day 7: Patagonian Steppe Safari, Fly to Buenos Aires, Depart 

Pack even more fun into this weeklong itinerary with one last memorable adventure. After an early breakfast, hop in a private 4WD vehicle for a half-day safari on the famous Patagonian steppe. This vast, arid expanse of flatlands has seen its fair share of travelers, artists, adventurers, and tourists over the centuries. They're drawn to this region's quiet emptiness and rugged peacefulness, and you might get hooked, too. Besides cruising the scenic desert terrain, you'll also spot regional wildlife, like condors, foxes, and guanacos (a type of camelid similar to a llama).

The excursion culminates with a drive through a nature reserve, after which you'll return to El Calafate. There, you'll board a plane for the flight back to Buenos Aires in time to catch your connecting flight home. Adiós!

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