Luxury Wilderness Adventures in Argentina: Puerto Madryn & El Calafate - 7 Days

Highlights

• Enjoy dinner and a tango show in cosmopolitan Buenos Aires
• Visit Peninsula Valdés, one of the world's best places to see marine mammals
• Stay at a famed luxury ecolodge dedicated to wildlife experiences
• Journey to El Calafate to marvel at Perito Moreno and enjoy glacier hikes
• Experience elevated Patagonian cuisine and local wines at a closed-door restaurant

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Buenos Aires, Dinner & Tango Show

Welcome to Argentina! Featuring tropical jungles, deserts, and the wilds of southern Patagonia, this is the place to come to experience Mother Nature's highlights. It's also home to one of the world's great capitals: Buenos Aires. This city's charms are many and well-documented: the European-inspired architecture, the sprawling and elegant parks, the raucous nightlife, the passion for music, food, and futból (soccer)—the list goes on and on.

Upon arrival at Ezeiza Airport, you'll transfer to your accommodation: the Alvear Palace. This 5-star luxury hotel in the city's sophisticated 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 city style. The grand suites feature crystal chandeliers and Argentine art hanging on the walls, and 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.

Now that you're relaxed and reinvigorated, it's time to get dressed up for a night out. In the evening, you'll transfer by private car to Tango Rojo, located in the upscale Puerto Madero neighborhood. Here, you'll enjoy a three-hour, three-course dinner and dining experience with live tango performances. This musical/dance style originated in the ports of Buenos Aires, merging the country dances of rural Spain with other influences from newly arriving immigrants. By the early 20th century, it had become famous worldwide. Experience the passion and artistry of this iconic genre in a cabaret-style atmosphere. 

Day 2: Fly to Puerto Madryn, Optional Activities

It's time to say goodbye to Buenos Aires as you hop a flight south into Patagonia, the wild frontier comprising South America's southern cone. After two hours in the air, you'll touch down in Puerto Madryn. Located on the Golfo Nuevo on Patagonia's eastern coast, this pleasant seaside town is the gateway to Peninsula Valdés. Just across the gulf from Puerto Madryn, it's an otherwise unassuming peninsula that happens to be one of the best places to view marine life in the world. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it's home to seals, sea lions, penguins, southern right whales, and more.

The star of the show here is the wildlife, which is why you'll be staying outside of town, right on the peninsula. Your hotel is the Estancia Rincón Chico, a luxury ecolodge in every sense. This exclusive property occupies 10 miles (16 km) of unspoiled Valdés coastline, and right from your window, you can spot dolphins and whales frolicking offshore. It's also a ranch home where you'll receive personalized attention from the local owners/hosts. And with only eight well-appointed rooms, you can expect a tranquil stay in which to enjoy the surrounding nature while promoting conservation.

After checking in, you'll have the rest of the day free to enjoy activities around the ranch, like horseback riding, mountain biking, birding, and more. You can also feel free to take a stroll along the coastal dunes, but make sure to get to sleep at a reasonable hour—tomorrow, you've got a big day of wildlife spotting.

Day 3: Day Trip to Elephant Seal Colony

You didn't travel all this way not to marvel at Patagonian wildlife. In the morning, meet your private guide and embark on a full-day tour around the natural marine menagerie of Peninsula Valdés. Specifically, you'll travel to either Estancia San Lorenzo or Punta Ninfas—both ideal spots to witness elephant seals in their natural habitat.

When you arrive, you can get close enough to these enormous mammals to appreciate them, yet far enough you don't interfere with their activities. Around midday, you'll break for a Patagonian country brunch, and then do some more wildlife spotting.

Day 4: Peninsula Valdés Tour & Whale Watching

The spectacle of Mother Nature continues as you embark early on a guided tour to some of the best whale watching locales on Penisula Valdés. You'll first arrive in the coastal town of Puerto Pirámides and hop in a boat for a ride around the gulf. June through December is the best time to spot southern right whales breaching the surface, while South American sea lions and cormorants are common from January to March. 

After some time on the water, you'll return to Puerto Pirámedes and break for a leisurely lunch. After eating, you'll continue to the nearby Punta Pirámides and visit a sea lion colony. Finally, you'll travel to the peninsula's eastern coast and Caleta Valdés. This large inlet is home to a large colony of elephant seals. Later, on the drive back to your hotel, watch for other unique wildlife like wild rheas, tinamous, guanacos, foxes, cavies, and armadillos.

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

Transfer to the airport in the morning, where you'll board a two-hour flight farther south 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.

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 Mini-Trekking & Glacier Hike

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 mighty Perito Moreno. This expansive glacier is 97 square miles (250 sq km) and flows down from the Andes over the turquoise waters of Lago Argentino, ending in a great wall that curves around the lake.

The excursion begins at Bajo de las Sombras, a port near Perito Moreno. Board a boat for the 20-minute ride across the narrow southern arm of Lago Argentino to the opposite shore. There, you'll meet bilingual mountaineering guides for a mini-trek atop Perito Moreno. Strap on your crampons, grab an ice ax, and then embark with your group. You'll never forget the experience of traversing the surface of this massive ice flow, crossing over deep blue ice crevices, and hiking over meltwater streams. At the end of the excursion, you'll transfer back to El Calafate.

Day 7: South Glacier Tour, Fly to Buenos Aires, Depart 

Leave the hotel at 8 am and hop in a private car for the 37-mile (60 km) transfer to the pier at Los Pioneros, at the southern end of Los Glaciares National Park. There, you'll board a ferry for the hour ride farther down the southern arm of Lago Argentina. At the end of the ride, continue on foot for 1.2 miles (2 km) until you reach Laguna Fría. There, hop in a Zodiac-style boat for a zippy ride across the lagoon.

Upon disembarking on the opposite bank, the second trek begins. This 2.8-mile (4.5 km) hike will take you through centuries-old lenga forests and across an ancient glacial valley. The trail ends at an iceberg-dotted lake with prime views of three glaciers in the distance. After relaxing at the lakeshore, snapping pics, and enjoying a leisurely lunch, you'll begin the return to El Calafate. Back in town, transfer to the airport and board a flight north to Buenos Aires, where you'll catch your connecting flight home. See you next time!

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