Scenic Argentina | Trip Itinerary

DAY 1- BUENOS AIRES
Arrival Buenos Aires Airport. Note there is currently a reciprocity fee of $140 for US citizens that needs to be paid before proceeding through immigration.  Our local guide will meet you and transfer you to your select hotel. Time to settle in and relax before a short afternoon walking tour of the city. This is a great introduction to your surroundings and we offer a selection of approaches for you to focus on history, cafes and bookstores, architecture, modern Buenos Aires, and nature. For those that prefer a little more adventure, we can arrange for a tour by bike.

This Cosmopolitan city can be a superlative introduction to an exploration of Argentina. European in appearance, Buenos Aires can keep any culture-oriented visitor busy indefinitely. Whatever the date of arrival there will be chances to participate in cultural events, or be delighted with the best polo in the world (the national team remains unbeaten for several decades), excellent football / soccer or discover the local gaucho game of “pato”, a sort of basketball on horseback.

DAY 2 – BUENOS AIRES
Morning visit of the city of Buenos Aires.
The Four Balconies of Buenos Aires is an exclusive visit in which a guide, professor of the University, uses four parks and plazas to introduce passengers to the city, its history, its everyday life and the peculiar psychology of the “porteño”, the inhabitants of Buenos Aires.

Evening transfer from the hotel to the Tango Venue to experience the glamorous dance complemented with a fine dinner. (B, D)

DAY 3 – BUENOS AIRES
Day at leisure to explore this delightful city and surroundings on your own. Optional tours available to explore the city further, or visits the Tigre Delta.  If today is a Sunday, you may wish to visit the famous San Telmo flea market, or handicraft fairs in the Recoleta district.  Or relax with a fine lunch on the river in the Puerto Madero area. (B)

DAY 4- BUENOS AIRES – EL CALAFATE
You’ll be picked up at your hotel at the pre-arranged time for the short transfer to the Aeroparque airport and your flights to El Calafate.   Afternoon arrival, where you are met and transferred to your select hotel.  Balance of the day at leisure to explore the town of El Calafate. If you have some free time, we suggest a visit to the the new Glaciarium (Glaciar) Museum located just outside of town.

One of the most beautiful landscapes in the Western Hemisphere is found in the Patagonian Andes. For this reason a chain of Argentine and Chilean National Parks protects this natural beauty. Numerous lakes fed by glacial run-off reflect the majesty of the snow-capped peaks. The mountainsides are covered by primeval forests of subantarctic beech trees many of which change color spectacularly in autumn.

Surrounded by this magnificent vegetation are the immense glaciers, most likely the highlight of any trip to this region. Between the 48 and 51 South parallels, the Andes Range is covered by a large extension of permafrost known as the Patagonian continental icecap, which stretches for 560 miles from north to south. So large it is that it is also called “the third pole” after its huge concentration of ice. It is the origin of 47 major glaciers, such as the famous Perito Moreno glacier. (B)

DAY 5- FULL DAY PERITO MORENO GLACIER.
Full day visit to the most amazing glacier in the Los Glaciares National Park: The Perito Moreno Glacier. A huge mass of ice of almost the same dimension of the city of Buenos Aires (200km2) mesmerizes every visitor with its huge blocks of ice calving thunderously into the water, the stunning vistas of the water splashing and the seemingly roaring of the ice caves and river running.  Includes transportation (group basis) from your El Calafate hotel, and park entrance fees.

Optional:  Ice Trekking--We will hike for about 2 hours on this mass of ice (no previous experience required). Time to explore the walkways and view the glacier from the viewpoint is also included before your return transfer to El Calafate. Surcharge of approximately $120 for this excursión. Please indicate your activity preference for this day at time of trip reservation.
Return to your El Calafate hotel in the late afternoon  (B)

DAY 6- EL CALAFATE
Day at leisure. We’ve included a full day in this scenic spot so you can select the style and location of touring you prefer. Some of the options included:

• RIOS de HIELO NAVIGATION – A full day navigation in a modern catamaran that crosses the Argentino lake approaching the huge icebergs on the way to visit the Upsala Glacier, once the largest glacier on the National Park; then the small and beautiful Onelli bay which leads the way to a small lagoon of the same name where various glaciers drain such as: Agassiz, Bolado, Onelli, etc.  Time permitting – on the way back – a visit to the Spegazzini glacier is part of the program.
• CERRO FRIAS HORSEBACK RIDE – A 6 hour fun horseback ride to reach the summit of Cerro Frias which grants a 360 view of the area allowing – on a clear day – to see the amazing Torres del Paine. Easy ride. Lunch included.
• BALCONES de CALAFATE – A 3 hour 4WD exploration of the surroundings of El Calafate climbing the Cerro Buenos Aires and having an aerial view of the small village and the lake beneath. A new perspective of the area not to be missed! 

(B)

DAY 7- EL CALAFATE- PUERTO IGUAZU
You’ll be picked up at your hotel at the pre-arranged time for the transfer to the the El Calafate airport. Check-in and departure for your flights to Iguazu Falls. 
Arrival in Puerto Iguazu, meet and greet and transfer to your selected hotel.
Balance of the day at leisure to explore the area and enjoy the nice coast of the Iguazu River. (B)

DAY 8- FULL DAY TOUR OF IGUAZU FALLS
Spend the whole day day exploring the amazing Iguazu falls with your private guide. After a first stop at the visitor´s center we will board a fun small train which connects the most interesting areas of the park: the Upper and lower trails and the Devil´s Throat.
Following your tour of the falls, you’ll board small speed boats for the vavigation up the Iguazu River to approach the amazing Devil´s Throat section of the falls—the most imposing view possible of Iguazu!  Return to your hotel in the late afternoon (B)

DAY 9 - Day at leisure until the time of the transfer to the airport to fly to the next destination. (B)

B=Breakfast; L=Lunch; D=Dinner