3 weeks in Argentina
Itinerary
Days 1-3 – Buenos Aires: Romance and Tango
Explore sexy and sophisticated Buenos Aires, a city of steamy tango, sizzling steaks and a nightlife that never stops. Take an eye-opening tour with a local Porteño (resident of the city) for an edgy glimpse into behind-the-scenes life and soak up the seductive atmosphere. You’ll stay in the happening Palermo district, one of the most popular barrios in Buenos Aires.
Days 3-6 – Gateway to the South Pole – Ushuaia
Next, you’ll be collected from your hotel and transferred to the airport to hop on a flight south to Ushuaia. Direct flights from Buenos Aires usually take around 3 and a half hours. Your Travel Specialist can book all your domestic and international flights.
Stay in the southernmost town on the planet, trek through National Parks and sail through the icy Beagle Channel. Ushuaia, the gateway to the South Pole, tumbles down a hill between mountains into the wild, thrashing sea. During this trip, you’ll trek into the Tierra del Fuego National Park and take a boat trip along the isolated Beagle Channel, passing colonies of penguins and following in Darwin’s footsteps.
Days 6-9 – Sailing Amongst the Glaciers
After breakfast, you’ll check out and make your own way to the airport for a flight to El Calafate, a popular base for visiting Argentina’s glaciers. Direct flights from Ushuaia usually take around 90 minutes. Get glacial in Patagonia, sailing between icebergs and exploring a frozen world of endless mountains, piercing winds, lakes and cool blue glaciers bigger than the entire city of Buenos Aires. It’s a surreal, silent place that has to be seen to be believed. This trip will take you into the frozen heart of Patagonia, a land of dazzling white snow, deep sapphire skies and cool blue glaciers.
Days 9-11 – Lace up your Boots for El Chalten
Next you’ll take a bus from El Calafate to El Chalten for some beautiful scenery and trekking. You should expect the bus ride to take about 3 hours. Hike between mountains shrouded in cloud, marvel at views around every bend and find hidden waterfalls. During this trip, you’ll spend two nights in El Chalten, a colourful trekking village with a welcoming vibe. By day, you can head out into the wilderness on foot and in the evening, you can curl up around the fire with a hot mug of tea or swap trekking stories over a glass of wine (or two).
Days 11-14 – The Seven Lakes of the Andes – Bariloche
Today, you’ll travel back by bus from El Chalten to El Calafate, where you’ll spend a night in the same hosteria as before. The next morning, you’ll make your own way to the airport in time for a flight to Bariloche. The flight is usually just under 2 hours and when you arrive, you’ll be greeted at the airport and transferred to your next hotel.
Kayak across glacier lakes and gaze up at snow-tipped peaks in Bariloche, penned in by pine forests and dotted with fjord-like lakes. It’s Patagonia at its most picturesque. Sit back and soak up the gorgeous alpine scenery with a glass of local wine. Bariloche has a holiday atmosphere, drawing skiers and snowboarders to its slopes every year. The landscape that lies beyond the streets is just staggering, so lace up your walking boots and start to explore.
Days 14-17 – Whale Tails & Tyre Tracks
In the early evening, you’ll head to the bus station for the overnight bus journey to Puerto Madryn. It’s a comfortable 15 hour trip with on-board movies, a meal and fully reclining seats so you should be able to get some real rest. You’ll arrive at Trelew, near Puerto Madryn, early the next morning and arrange your own transport to the car hire company at the airport. Here you’ll pick up your wheels and set out for the Valdes Peninsula, which is about 2 and a half hours drive.
Drive across a rugged wilderness packed with wildlife, spot killer whales and visit huge penguin colonies. Argentina’s Peninsula Valdes is over run by animal life, from ostrich-like nandoos darting across the plains to humpbacks breaching in the waves. This is a really wild road trip along the northern coastline of Patagonia. The richness of the wildlife is simply staggering and seeing it on your own four wheels doubles up the adventure.
Days 17-20 – Iguazu Falls in the Rainforest
After breakfast, you’ll begin making your way back to Trelew airport where you’ll drop off your rental car. From the airport, you’ll take a flight to Buenos Aires and then on to Puerto Iguazu. Your flying time today comes to about 4 hours. When you arrive, you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel in the rainforest, which takes about half an hour, for a tropical finale to your trip.
Feel the spray of roaring Iguazu Falls and explore the surrounding rainforest, where raccoon-like coatis play. A cluster of cascades set within rich National Park, Iguazu Falls will leave you deafened and utterly speechless. You’ll visit both the Argentinean and Brazilian side of the Falls, the latter with a guide, you’ll spend two nights on the Argentina side and the third night on the Brazilian side.
Today, your adventure comes to an end and you’ll be transferred to the airport to begin your journey home.
Accommodation
For this itinerary we offer the following options
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For the locations included in this itinerary we have alternative options available in terms of comfort. Our In Style options can be more luxurious, offer something unique or offer a more comfortable transport option – all with that local flavour! If you would like to upgrade your itinerary select our In Style option below.
