BEST OF ARGENTINA
Argentina tailor-made travel
This complete tailor-made Argentina trip shows you all the travel highlights and the great variety that the country has to offer. After starting in the vibrant Buenos Aires, you travel to the imposing Perito Moreno glaciers, walk through the Torres Del Paine National Park past spectacular nature, lakes, pampas and the Andes mountain range and travel to the most Southern tip of the world; Ushuaia. Then you fly to the wild West; Salta with gauchos, colonial influences, vineyards and rough cactus landscapes. You end your trip at the subtropical water spectacle of Iguazu falls.
Day 1 - Buenos Aires
Welcome in vibrant Buenos Aires. The city of the Tango, Maradona and Evita Peron. BA is often called the Paris of South America. More than 10 million inhabitants live in 40 different neighbourhoods, called ‘barrios’. From the 16th century onwards, a stream of immigrants from Italy, France and Spain came to BA. You can still experience the atmosphere of these countries in the different neighbourhoods.
The Argentinian culture is best experienced in San Telmo. Here you’ll see people dancing the tango in the streets and can browse through a host of wonderful antique shops.
Day 2 - Buenos Aires
Colourful Buenos Aires has something for everyone! You can explore the city in different ways. A great tour through the neighbourhoods can be enjoyed by bike. But there’s also plenty to see by foot. The free walking tours are very popular and are led by locals. If you like creativity, the street art tour is definitely worth it or a fan of antiques, then don’t skip the San Telmo neighbourhood! The neighbourhood of La Boca, boasts brightly coloured houses and the area of Palermo is highly recommended with its trendy vibe and wealth of luxurious boutiques and restaurants.
Day 3 - El Calefate
Transfer to airport and from airport to hotel.
Today, you fly to the town of El Calefate. The town is beautifully situated at the altiplano, just beside the azure blue ‘Lago Argentino’. The town is the starting point for a visit to the ‘Glaciares National Park’. In the north of the park, you experience the most beautiful hikes. This is also a paradise for mountain climbers. In the south, you view the icy glaciers, take ice hikes and can embark on a boat ride across lakes full of icebergs. El Calafate itself, is a small and quiet village where you can see a lot on foot. The lively main street of Avenida del Libertador General San Martin is full of bars, restaurants and stores.
Day 4 - Perito Moreno
Today, you’ll visit the imposing Perito Moreno Glacier! This is the greatest highlight of ‘Glaciares National Park’. This immense rock of ice is 4km in width and 60m in height. Because the ice has been compressed under huge pressure over the years, Perito Moreno gained its trademark bright blue colour. You can go on a spectacular boat ride past the glacier and witness how chunks of ice crumble off. This is nothing to be worried about, however, because of the constant supply of snow, the Perito Moreno grows every year.
Dag 5 - Torres del Paine
For those who want to, there’s the option for a spectacular hike across a glacier today. With suitable equipment, consisting of crampons, it’s possible to hike 1,5 hours to the starting point of the glacier. Then the real deal starts: during the tough trek of three and a half hours, you’re rewarded with breathtaking views on the ice plateau. Experienced guides will supervise your safety and you can eat lunch on the ice. Important to know: this excursion is for fit people between 18 and 50 years of age.
Day 6 - Torres del Paine
You’ve arrived in the Torres Del Paine National Park, the absolute highlight of Patagonia! During your trip to the NP, you’ll see various landscapes, from forests to steppes. Once arriving at the park, you will see the dramatic changes in the landscape, azure blue lakes, spectacular glaciers, waterfalls and fantastic fauna. You’ll make various stops so you can walk around on your own and completely submerge yourself in the various natural wonders, like the Salto Grande waterfalls, Lake Nordenskjold and the famous granite peaks of Torres Del Paine, from which the park derives its name.
Day 7 - Torres del Paine
Enjoy a second day in Torres Del Paine.
The Torres del Paine is excellent for treks to explore the exceptional natural beauty. Proclaimed as a biosphere reservation by UNESCO, Torres del Paine is internationally viewed as one of the most beautiful, unique and purest places on the planet. It is a place of lakes, rivers, waterfalls, glaciers, forest and amazing wildlife. The park’s vegetation changes in every zone you visit. There is a huge variety of animals that live in the park, such as guanacos, greater rheas, condors, cougars and a large variety of birds the most important of which, can be found near the lakes and lagoons.
Day 8 - Puerto Natales
You travel from the Torres del Pain park to Puerto Natales, which is located on the coast of the ‘Última Esperanza (Last Hope)’ fjord. The location is truly wonderful, close to the imposing Riesco mountain ranges with beautiful panoramic views. Puero Natales is the perfect base for various excursions in the environment.
Day 9 - Punta Arenas
Today, you’ll travel from Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas by bus. Before the Panama Canal was made, this was a very busy shipping route for ships from the east to the west coast. Punta Arenas is the most southern city of Chile. The town is lively and the centre of Chilean Patagonia where culture and industry are centred. This is also the access gate to the southern regions, also called the ‘World’s End’.
Day 10 - Ushuaia
Ushuaia is the most southern city in the world and is located in Tierra del Fuego or Land of Fire. The area was named by the Spaniards, who saw constant smoke above the land from their ships. It’s situated between the Andes mountain range and the Beagle Channel in a beautiful landscape. Ushuaia is surrounded by sea, forests, lakes and mountains. From the town, it’s possible to go on cruises to Antarctica, but you can also make great hikes to World’s End.
Day 11 - Ushuaia
Today, there’s an optional excursion to the Tierra del Fuego National Park. You’re taken on unexplored routes that show the hidden corners of the forest. We take National Route 3 from Ushuaia and stop at a panoramic point at the Beagle Channel. Once we’ve arrived at the park, the hike through this exceptional forest commences. Mountain ranges divide the park into valleys. As opposed to other Patagonian Andes parks, this part has splendid forests that lead to the sea.
Optional excursion 2: Sailing across the Beagle Channel
Sail to the islands off the coast of Ushuaia to see colonies of sea lion, seals and cormorants. You’re surrounded by rocky cliffs. You sail to the ‘Les Eclaireurs’ lighthouse, which was built in 1919 and is the symbol of the town. On Bridges Island, you take a short hike to observe the flora and fauna and view the archaeological heritage of the Yamanas Aboriginals, who lived here many years ago.
Day 12 - Salta
The sunny city of Salta lies in the north-west of Argentina and is surrounded by spectacular landscapes. Spanish colonial architecture dominates the street scene, on terraces you can enjoy a delicious empanada and see the charming population of highland natives come by in colourful ponchos. There’s much to do in the area. For example, you can visit the largest vineyards in Cafayate, enjoy the colourful mineral mountains and cactus landscapes around Humahuaca, visit salt flats and the environment also offers great opportunities to ride a horse in the Andes. The choice is yours! Some of the options are described below, though much more is possible, let us know what you want and we’ll customise your trip!
Day 13 - Humahuaca
Optional excursion 1: Humahuaca
Cactus landscapes, mineral mountains and native culture. Today, there’s an optional excursion to the UNESCO world heritage site of Humamuaca and environment, consisting of small villages, fascinating cultures and spectacular landscapes. You’ll drive to Purmamarca, where you visit the Seven Coloured Hill and a local market. On the way, you’ll see old ruins in the village of Tilcara surrounded by cactuses, the famous colourful La Pollera del Coya hill and paintings of the Arcabuceros angels. You also visit the villages of Humahuaca and San Salvador de Jujuy.
Optional excursion 2: Salt flats
Across the well-known Route 40, we continue to one of the most deserted areas in Argentina until we reach the Salt Flats. Immense, white salt flats offer optical illusions and a great opportunity to make some crazy perspective photos! On the way back, you drive past the famous Seven Coloured Hill of Purmamarca and San Salvador de Jujuy.
Day 14 - Cafayate
Wine tour
Following route 68, we drive to Quebrada de las Conchas, where wind and water erosion have formed unique rock formations (the amphitheatre, the devil’s throat, the castles etc.). In Cafayate, we visit the famous Torrontes vineyards, the museum of wine production and two vineyards to taste delicious wines.
Day 15 - Iguazu
Puerto Iguazu is known for its impressive waterfalls that form the natural border between Brazil and Argentina. The waterfalls are the widest in the world with 160m to 260m (it can vary depending on the water level) big and small waterfalls with a total width of 2,700 metres. At the banks of the Iguazu river, you can see the coastlines of Brazil and Paraguay and if there’s enough time, you can even visit these countries by boat!
Day 16 - Iguazu
Iguazu Argentinian side
You’re picked up at your hotel and will visit the Argentinian side of the Iguazu waterfalls today. A professional guide tells you everything you need to know about the history, flora and fauna of the National Park and the waterfalls. Experience the imposing views and sounds of the waterfalls. The National Park has easily accessible hiking trails that provide a spectacular view of the many waterfalls. Using the Upper and Lower Circuit, you walk past the forces of water.
Optional excursion – sail past the waterfalls
Additionally, you can participate in the forces of water! In a zodiac, you sail past the waterfalls as close as is possible. During this close-up, you experience how gigantic the waterfalls are, you feel the force and the mist hits you. You then sail across the Iguazu river and back to shore, after a short hike, you hop into the 4×2 jeep from which you explore the jungle! This excursion is for 12 years of age and up, not for pregnant woman or people with physical handicaps. Wear suitable clothes, you will get wet.
Day 17 - Iguazu
The Brazilian side of the waterfalls is on the programme today. Once again, you drive to the Iguazu park accompanied by a guide. Today’s hike gives you a fantastic panoramic view of the impressive waterfalls of Bozzetti, Two Sisters, San Martin and the three musketeers
Day 18 - Flight to Buenos Aires
End of an unforgettable tailor-made travel journey through Argentina.
Included:
* All accommodations with breakfast
* Mentioned meals
* Transport like mentioned in the program, except for domestic flights
* Excursions like mentioned in the program, unless stated otherwise
Not included:
* International and domestic flights
* Not mentioned meals
* Entry fees national parks, unless mentioned differently
* Optional and not mentioned services and excursions
