Complete Argentine Experience

21 Nights / 22 Days

Trip Highlights:

Polo, Empanadas, and Wine
The salt dunes, Salinas Grandes
The southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia

Day 1: Arrive at Ezeiza airport where you will be met by your driver and transferred to your Hotel. The first day will be at leisure.

Day 2: Today you will visit the city’s neighbourhoods such as historic San Telmo with its cobbled streets, arty La Boca, fashionable Palermo, and Puerto Madero. You will be able to taste true Argentine cuisine and see “Portenos” – daily life. You will see highlights such as the famous Plaza de Mayo square, Casa Rosada and Recoleta Cemetery. Visit local museums according to your interests, such as the Evita Museum or MALBA, a museum of Latin American art. In the evening, you will take a tour of the Palacio Barolo building. A guided visit and the experience of observing the City of Buenos Aires from high above: a view that is illuminated by the antique lighthouse, to finish the tour with a solo cello concerto. Complete Argentine Experience

Day 3: In the morning, you will head to Tigre to enjoy a relaxing cruise on the canals of this “rural Venice,” passing gardens and upscale vacation houses. You will catch some beautiful attractions, like the San Isidro barracks, Olivos Port, University City, and River Plate’s Stadium, called “the Monumental”. You will visit the Puerto de Frutos (Fruits Port), a traditional market filled with colors and friendly vendors. Later, we’ll go to Victorica Road, with its different museums and perspectives of the river. On our way back, we will see the Olivos presidential residence and the different areas of the North of Buenos Aires. Transfer back to your Hotel for some relaxed time. This evening, attend a dinner and tango show to witness a performance full of passion and sensuality.

Day 4: Often referred to as the “sport of kings”, polo is a unique and captivating display of horsemanship once enjoyed only by royalty. You will be met by your private driver and taken to our polo ranch 45 minutes away from the city of Buenos Aires. You begin the day with an informative talk about polo and its ponies while you taste some delicious empanadas and excellent argentine wine. You will visit the pony line to observe the polo horses that will be playing the polo match and our guide will explain to you how polo horses are selected for the sport, their blood lineages and how they are trained. You will learn about the rules of the game, the equipment used by the polo horse and the player and the different shooting techniques. You will attend a professional live polo match of 4 chukkas. With more than 30 horses in play, you will enjoy a fast-paced polo game!

For lunch, you will enjoy a complete barbeque that includes “Asado”, a grilled selection of meat and beef, accompanied by premium argentine wines. (there are also vegetarian options). After spending some time walking through the beautiful countryside, you will take a polo lesson where you will learn to ride a horse, hold the mallet and hit the ball. You will end up sharing a mini polo match that will make you feel like a professional player! At the end of the day, you will have a relaxing horse ride throughout our curated trails specially designed for you to enjoy the campo Argentino and its surroundings.

Day 5: Fly to Iguazu where you will be met by your driver and transferred to your hotel. The afternoon will be to relax at your hotel.

Day 6: Today, begin your exploration of Iguazu Falls, taking in different vistas from the Argentine side. Walk above the falls through paths surrounded by tropical flora, butterflies and exotic birds. Venture onto a boardwalk that extends two-thirds of a mile over the river to Devil’s Throat, a roiling cataract that marks the border between Argentina and Brazil. Later, move within a few steps of the thundering cascades, feeling the refreshing spray it casts up and observing the beauty of the surrounding forest. Next, after an informative stop at Iguazu National Park Visitors Center, depart for Devil’s Gorge, where you stroll along boardwalks that offer spectacular views of the gorge. After lunch, spend your afternoon viewing magnificent panoramas from a trail above the upper Iguazu River.

Day 7: Fly to Salta where you will be met by your driver and transferred to your hotel. See stunning mountain and desert landscapes, abundant wildlife, pre-Inca ruins, Spanish-colonial architecture, and Andean villages, and sample some of Argentina & most distinctive local food and wine. You will take a tour of the highlights of the historic city, such as plazas, churches, local markets and the acclaimed Museum of High-Altitude Archaeology, which is dedicated to the 500-year-old mummified remains of Inca children discovered atop a volcano in the Andes.

Day 8: Today you will visit one of Argentina’s most postcard-worthy towns, Purmamarca, which lies beneath the shadows of the spectacular Cerro de Los Siete Colores (Hill of Seven Colors). The area & collection of adobe houses and 17th-century Spanish colonial church are pretty in their own right, but the backdrop of jagged hills displaying layers of red, purple, yellow and orange makes for a particularly vivid sight in the early hours when the rising sun illuminates the natural tapestry. Within the town, itself sits one of Argentina’s oldest and prettiest churches, the centuries-old Iglesia de Santa Rosa de Lima, constructed from adobe and thistle wood and dating back to 1648. Spending a night in the pueblo also means you can take advantage of the dry air and high altitude by doing some stargazing.

Day 9: Today you will visit the impressive Salinas Grandes, a massive salt desert covering around 3,200 square miles. It used to be a lake but once it dried up, all the salt concentration in this area. If you’re wondering, yes, you may taste it! You will have time to take amazing pictures and stroll around the main plains before heading back to Salta.

Day 10: Fly to Mendoza where you will be met by your driver and transferred to your hotel. Visit major landmarks, plazas, and stadiums such as Alameda and General San Martin Park, and enjoy Mendoza & natural beauty and interesting architecture.

Day 11: Visit the most interesting and upscale local wineries, and sample Malbec, Torrontes, and other locally produced wines. Discover gourmet cuisine of Mendoza and indulge in expert-led wine tastings at three different wineries, visit local olive oil and chocolate factories, and dine on a delicious Argentine-style lunch.

Day 12: Fly to Ushuaia where you will be met by your driver and transferred to your hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.

Day 13: Explore unspoiled landscapes of Tierra del Fuego, the territory located on the extreme southern tip of Argentina, just 11km from Ushuaia city. Today you will learn about the local ecosystem, the geography of the area and its interesting history, while your soul is captivated by the beauty of the landscapes are you breathe in the pure Patagonian air. You will go on Route 3 to the foot of Mount Susana, where the train station of the Southern Fuegian Railway, or Ferrocarril Austral Fueguino, is located. This railway was arduously built by the prisoners of Presidio del Fin del Mundo. You will have the chance to ride the End of the World Train. Beyond the sad story that frames this rail service, the Southern Fuegian Railway is a unique experience with incredible views. You will continue to Ensenada Bay. After a short hike through the trails of the park, immersing you in the ecosystem, you’ll reach an observation point with spectacular views of Redonda and Estorbo Islands, the opposite coast of the Beagle Channel and the Snowy Mountains of Cadena Sampaio in Chile.

The second stop on this tour in Ushuaia is Lapataia Bay, the geographic point that marks the end of National Route 3, an important highway known as the Panamericana, which starts in Buenos Aires, exploring unforgettable roads surrounded by Magellanic forests and lakes surrounded by birds, marine mammals, and fish. At the same time, learn about the history of the Yámanas – the ancient indigenous people of the area – while observing the stunning sight of the end of the Andes, on the frontier with Chile.

Day 14: You will be able to enjoy the stunning scenery of the Beagle Channel and the majestic mountains that run along its shores. This nautical adventure, visiting Isla de Lobos (Sea Lion Island), will offer the perfect opportunity to see these sea mammals in their natural habitat, as well as to observe other typical Fuegian wildlife while enjoying an unforgettable experience exploring Ushuaia’s nature and marine life. You will embark on a boat to sail across Ushuaia Bay. As the boat moves away from the coast, enjoy amazing views of the city’s landmarks and the mountains that surround the island, such as Montes Olivia, Cinco Hermanos, Los Montes Escarpados, as well as Estancias Fique and Túnel and the Encajondado River. A few minutes later, it will turn into the Beagle Channel, until it reaches Isla de Los Cormoranes (Island of Cormorants) – home to the marine bird typical to this zone. Observe them hunting fish by diving into the water, before continuing your navigation to Isla de Lobos. Here you will get so see these amazing animals up close from a number of angles, and learn more about the habits of this colony of sea lions.

Finally, this maritime excursion will continue through the Beagle Channel to reach one of the most representative symbols of adventure travel: The Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, which in French means ‘enlighteners’ or ‘scouts’. This lighthouse is also known, incorrectly, as the Lighthouse at the End of the World – a reference to Jules Verne’s novel, which in turn refers to the San Juan Salvage. The Eclaireurs Lighthouse may not be the southernmost, but it is famous for its location and is the reference point for the channel. After visiting this famous landmark, return to Ushuaia.

Day 15: Fly to El Calafate where you will be met by your driver and transferred to your Hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore the small town of Calafate and relax at your Hotel.

Day 16: Leave El Calafate to visit the Perito Moreno Glacier stopping frequently to take photographs. Your guide approved by the National Park “Los Glaciares” will give you all the information about the surroundings, the history and the myth of this unique glacier. After entering the zone of Patagonian woods, we will stop in the curve of the sighs to enjoy the first view of Perito Moreno Glacier. We will continue towards the footbridge where you will have enough time to walk along with the balconies in front of the glacier and enjoy the magnificent view. See (and hear!) icebergs calving from the glacier, and perhaps enjoy a shared cruise or opt to take a guided trek on top of the Perito Moreno Glacier itself.

Optional experience: Trekking on the glacier!

You will be met by your driver and transferred to the port. Once at “Bajo de las Sombras” port you board on a boat to cross the Lago Rico and arrive at the opposite shore after approximately a 20-minute navigation in front of the southern wall of the Perito Moreno Glacier. Once you disembark, you will be greeted by mountain guides, who will lead you to a shelter with sanitary facilities. From there, you will begin a brief walk along the shore of the lake, which includes a talk on glaciology in general and the Perito Moreno Glacier in particular. Upon reaching the edge of the glacier, the guides will form subgroups of a maximum of 20 people each and will fit you with crampons and helmets. Once on the ice, you will receive a brief safety talk and will begin the walk.

Always with the help of our mountain guides, you’ll enjoy this natural ice paradise. The trekking difficulty is moderate, the route on the glacier lasts approximately one and a half hours, and in its course, you will be able to appreciate a variety of typical formations of glacier-like cracks, sumps, seracs, lagoons, etc. At the end of the walk, you’ll return to the shelter along a walkway crossing the lush Patagonian Andean forest. Shortly afterward, you’ll board the boat to return to the port and see the glacier walls. This experience includes a one-hour guided visit to the walkways of the Perito Moreno Glacier, which is 7 km from the port. There, you’ll enjoy the spectacular panoramic view of the glacier and walk along some of the self-guided paths.

This tour is oriented for people who enjoy nature, adventure and who want to live the experience of walking on the ice of the most beautiful glacier of the world!

Day 17: Fly to Bariloche where you will be met by your driver and transferred to your Hotel. Day at leisure to hike around the woodlands and take in views of streams and lakes.

Day 18: Today, you will sail for 30 minutes across the blue waters of Lake Nahuel Huapi, in a modern and comfortable boat and arrive at Puerto Anchorena, located in the central area of Victoria Island. You may wonder about various marked trails within the island. Onboard again the boat will take you towards Peninsula Quetrihue where you will see the world-famous Bosque de Arrayanes (Myrtle Woods), which is absolutely unique and is said that filmmaker Walt Disney has created Bambi after his inspiring visit to the area. In the afternoon, you may tour get through the most representative scenes of the mountain range landscape and the main commercial and recreational spots in Bariloche.

Day 19: Fly to Puerto Madryn where you will be welcomed by your driver and transferred to your Hotel. The City of Puerto Madryn is one of the most important and popular tourist destinations on the Patagonian coast. The main show in the area is put up by the famous whales that jump over the water surface with their upright tails to announce their longed-for presence.

Day 20: You will head to Peninsula de Valdes, to one side, the desolate scenery of the pure Patagonian steppe. To the other, the deep blue ocean. We will cross the entrance to the wildlife reserve and continue up to Puerto Pirámides. The highly coveted expeditions to go whale-watching set sail at this spot. Put on your waterproof cape to go out at sea… and be amazed by the splendid jumps of these magnificent animals in their true habitat.

Day 21: Fly to Buenos Aires where you will be met by your guide and transferred to your Hotel. Afternoon at leisure for final shopping and exploration of the city.

Day 22: Relax with special late check out before transferring to the airport for your flight home.

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