Argentina Packages: Classic Patagonia

You'll be picked up at the airport and transferred to your comfortable Buenos Aires hotel. Learn more about the Buenos Aires hotels we recommend.

Read our blog on what lies Beneath Buenos Aires or our Buenos Aires Travel Guide for ideas on what to see, where to eat, and what to do in Buenos Aires.

A professionally guided Buenos Aires tour is the best way to familiarize yourself with this fun and exciting capital city. You will first pass by the impressive National Congress (The Parliament), the civic center including the Plaza de Mayo (May Square) surrounded by the Government House (Casa Rosada), the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Cabildo (City Hall during the Spanish colonial period). Along 9th of July Avenue, you will see the famous Colon Theatre, considered one of the best opera houses in the world.

You will then head to the traditional San Telmo neighborhood in which you will be taken back in history (on Sunday visits there’s some free time to visit the Flea Market). A bit further south is one of the oldest neighborhoods, La Boca, the settlement for the first Italian immigrants, where you will have time to enjoy the colorful and unique architecture. The Buenos Aires tour will continue through Puerto Madero and Retiro on the way to Palermo, the largest residential area of the city where you will find the enjoyable Palermo Parks, City Zoo and Planetarium. Your last spot is the elegant Recoleta, famous for its cemetery, boutiques, gourmet restaurants and sidewalk cafes under ficus and jacaranda trees.

In the evening you will be taken to enjoy a “porteña” in one of the most exclusive Buenos Aires tango houses, Esquina Carlos Gardel. The club is located in Abasto, a neighborhood where the singer Carlos Gardel spent several years of his life. During dinner, the Orchestra will play a tango repertoire while several couples dance this amazing and sensual dance. Our recommended dinner and tango show was selected for having the best quality, gourmet meals and truly exceptional dancing. If you prefer any other recommended places, just let our Argentina Travel Advisor know and we can make arrangements according to your requests.

You will be met at the airport and transferred to your comfortable Puerto Madryn hotel.  See our recommended Puerto Madryn hotels. You will have the afternoon and the evening to enjoy Puerto Madryn at your leisure.

After an early breakfast in your hotel, you will be transferred to the village of Puerto Piramides on the Valdes Peninsula reserve. You can spend the day strolling the reserve, taking guided nature walks, making sure to see the Istmo Ameghino Interpretation Center, the sea lion colony on Punto Piramides, the salt lakes, the sea elephant colonies in Punta Delgada, Caleta Valdes, and Punta Cantor, and the Puerto Madryn lighthouse. Be sure to pack a lunch, as this is a full day tour. If you visit between June and December, you can also take an optional whale watching tour.

Ushuaia Guide Ushuaia restaurants.

In the morning you’ll be transferred to airport for a flight to Ushuaia. You will be met at the airport by one of our Argentina travel representatives, and transported to your comfortable hotel. Enjoy an evening at your leisure.

Read our Ushuaia newsletter article or our Ushuaia Travel Guide for ideas on what to see and do in Ushuaia.

After breakfast, you will start your tour exploring the Tierra del Fuego National Park. From the Tierra del Fuego Train Line, you can take in the breathtaking views of this 240 acre park and its snow covered mountains, rivers, lakes and vast natural forests. The flora here is spectacular – the land is covered in fire bushes, beech trees, box-leafed barberries, and orchids and violets. You’ll cross the Lapataia River and stop in Laguna Verde, where geese and ibis migrate during the summer. You can talk a delightful walk up Laguna Negra, or the Beaver’s Path, to see the Beaver dams. In Lapataia Bay, you can visit the ruins of the Yamana people. You’ll pass Lago Roca before returning to Ushuaia for the next part of the tour.

After exploring the Tierra del Fuego Park, you will take a boat cruise along the famous Beagle Channel.  You will gain panoramas of Ushuaia Bay and see the diverse marine wildlife, such as cormorants and fur seals, on De los Lobos and De los Pajaros Islands. On one of the Bridges Isles, you can explore the island for concheros, or giant shells, and enjoy the views of Chile and Argentina. You will also see the Les Eclaireurs lighthouse. During the cruise, you can enjoy snacks and favorite Argentine drink, mate. In the afternoon, you will be taken back to your Ushuaia hotel.

After breakfast in your hotel, you’ll be transferred from the El Calafate airport to your comfortable El Calafate hotel. Enjoy the evening at your own leisure, strolling the streets lined with restaurants, bars, and handicraft markets. Along Libertador Street, you’ll find restaurants serving the popular dish cordero patagónico, or Patagonia lamb, plus empanadas, asado sandwiches, and brochettes. Make sure to save room for a glass of wine, as Argentina has some of the finest vineyards. Visit the Nimes Lagoon at sunset to watch the birds preparing for the night.

Enjoy an early breakfast in your hotel before departing for the famous Perito Moreno Glacier. You will see the southern bank of the glistening blue Lago Argentino, populated by colorful flamingoes, black-necked swans, and coots. You’ll pass nearby berry farms and estancias en route to Los Glaciares National Park. At the Curva de los Suspiros, you’ll catch your first sight of the nearly 200 feet tall glacier wall.

At the foot of the glacier, you will be free to spend the rest of the tour walking along the trails and footpaths of the glacier, appreciating its beauty and immensity from several angles. You may catch sight of a plethora of wildlife, such as condors and eagles, armadillos, and gray foxes. For lunch you can dine in view of the glacier at the restaurant in the park.

For those who would like to take an additional tour of the Perito Moreno Glacier, a boat tour along the Lago Rico is an excellent way to appreciate the grandeur of the glacier from its most imposing edge.

In the late afternoon or evening, you will return to your comfortable El Calafate hotel. For dinner, there are many excellent options in El Calafate, but make sure to order the delicious dish cordero al asador, barbeque lamb.

Read our newsletter article to find out more about the Perito Moreno Glacier.

After breakfast, you have the opportunity to take an additional tour, or you can be transferred to the airport or bus station for your journey home or to the next destination on your Argentina vacation.

*Prices listed are seasonal; please consult a Travel Advisor for further details

PLEASE NOTE:
As of 1 January 2010, an entrance fee (Reciprocity Fee) is chargeable for citizens of the United States, Canada and Australia visiting Argentina. For further details, please read this article on the Latin America For Less Travel Blog.

• Argentina Hotels based on US standards.
• All tours stated in the itinerary.
• 2 hotel nights in Buenos Aires, 2 in Puerto Madryn; 2 in Ushuaia; 2 in El Calafate
• All transfers and entrance fees.
• All breakfasts.
• English speaking Argentina tour guides.

*Ask a Travel Advisor for cheaper bus options.

Argentines are passionate about futbol, and porteños are no different. When afootballgame is under way in the La Bombonera stadium, the whole city – almost the whole country – stops to watch the game. The stadium, named “The Chocolate Box” because of its box-like shape, is home to the Boca Juniors, one of Argentina’s most famous football teams. Tours of the famous La Bombonera stadium depend on the league schedule. If a game is scheduled, you can book round trip transfers from your hotel, reserved stadium seating, and a bilingual guide. 

Just north of the thriving bustle of the Argentine capital lies the tranquil town of Tigre nestled on the banks of the Tigre River Delta. The summer home for Buenos Aires’s porteño elite in the 19th century, Tigre retains its posh flair. Stately mansions decorate the delta, many of them only accessible by boat. You will take a tour from the heart of Buenos Aires to its northern outskirts and then follow the Tigre River to where the river flows into a delta and the town of Tigre reveals a world permeated by graceful waters and canals. On this tour, you will visit the Rio Plata stadium, the Presidential Residence Olivos, the San Isidro Cathedral. You will also take a boat cruise, during which you can glimpse the mansions and homes along the delta. 

The tour leaves everyday at 9:00 hrs. Length varies between 4 – 6 hours depending on time for lunch.

Where the sprawling Argentine capital meets its outer fringes, the pampas, or grasslands, dominate nearly a quarter of the country’s landscape. On these pampas, the legendary Argentine gauchos first roamed, herding the beef cattle for which the country has become so famous. Dotting this vast landscape that stretches from the eastern grasslands outside Buenos Aires all the way to the eastern edges of southern Patagonia, are estancias, or ranches where the gauchos work the land. Many of these estancias are still working ranches and farms, and many of them have also expanded to offer lodging, day trips, and home-cooked, authentic Argentine meals to guests.

Buenos Aires is home to the largest Jewish population in Latin America, with approximately a quarter million Jewish citizens in its metropolitan area. During the early and mid 20th century, many Russian and European Jewish immigrants made their home in Buenos Aires, since Argentina’s immigration policy was one of the most accepting at the time. The Buenos Aires Jewish community retains many of the cultural traditions of their people. Synagogues are the heart of Jewish culture, where worship services and other community activities are held. During your tour, a knowledgeable guide will take you to an Ashkenazi or Sephardic synagogue, where you can appreciate the remarkable architecture and design of this beautiful place of worship. You will also see the Jewish neighborhood Once (pronounced “OWN-say”), one of the hubs of Jewish culture. This used to be the place where folk would grab a Yiddish paper and snack in one of the delis or cafes. Now, the area is more known for as the garment district, where wholesalers and tailors bargain over passerby. The IFT Theatre, founded in 1932 as a Yiddish theatre but now a secular one, is also in this neighborhood. Next you will visit the newly-restored AMIA building, the center of Jewish headquarters. The building was bombed in 1994, and ever since, security here and at other major Jewish sites has been vigilant. You will also visit the Israeli Embassy Square, where the embassy used to stand prior to the 1992 bombing. In the late afternoon, you will return to your Buenos Aires hotel.
Note: For security reasons, it is necessary that we get passport numbers of each visitor in advance in order to book this tour. Also, we suggest donating to the synagogues for opening their doors (5 USD per person per synagogue).
Tour lasts 3 hours and leaves every morning from Monday to Friday

Biking tours of Buenos Aires are fast becoming popular, as the city is relatively flat and easy to navigate. There are several biking trails or circuits that lead bikers through the city’s parks and plazas, or head along the outskirts to nearby towns, estancias, the pampas, and the Tigre River delta. All guided cycling tours include bike rental, helmet, traveler’s insurance, and refreshments including traditional Argentine mate, an energy-boosting tea. Only in the event of pouring rain will biking trips be cancelled or delayed. All biking tours are easy-going and relaxing. All you need is to wear sports clothing and to bring a thirst for exploring the unknown.

Find out about more of our recommended additional Buenos Aires tours.

Prices Valid April- August

Prices Valid September- March

This whale watching cruise departs from Puerto Piramides as a compliment to the Peninsula Valdes excursion. The tour starts along the coast, giving you the chance to spot sea lions, elephant seals, and penguins. Then you’ll head out to sea, and you may see dolphins, orcas, and of course, the highlight of the tour, southern right whales. If you’re lucky, you’ll glimpse whales cavorting, breaching, lob tailing, and spy hopping. Peninsula Valdes has the largest population of southern right whales, and whales come within 700 feet of the shore.

*Price does not include transfers

This full day Punta Tombo tour takes you to the largest reserve of Magellan penguins in the continent. You’ll leave early in the morning and drive along 120km (75 miles), where you may see armadillos, guanacos, choiques, and grey foxes. You’ll arrive at the Punto Tombo Provincial Reserve, and you’ll spend the day surrounded by more than 200,000 penguins. During your two hour walking tour of the reserve, your guide will explain the behavior of these fascinating flightless birds, such as their mating and migratory patterns.

You will end the day by visiting the Welsh town of Gaiman, where you can taste typical Welsh tea and choose from the delicious variety of cakes and homemade candies. You may also visit the city of Trelew, where you can tour the fascinating Egidio Feruglio Paleontology Museum.

*Price does not include entrance fees or food
**Tour of Punto Tombo Provincial Reserve available September to April; tour of Gaiman and Trelew available year-round

This half day sea kayak expedition takes you approximately 4 km (2.5 miles) along the beautiful coastline of Gulfo Nuevo. This expedition is geared towards nature lovers, and your guide will tell you in-depth about all the flora and fauna of the land and sea around Gulfo Nuevo. For those who have never been kayaking, including children, this is a terrific experience, as the waters of Gulfo Nuevo are calm and the wildlife watching is superb. Glide along the gulf, enjoying the sun, sights, and sea. 

*This tour is available year-round

Puerto Madryn is considered the capital of diving in Argentina and is visited all year round by local and international divers attracted to its clear waters and varied sea-fauna. In this Puerto Madryn tour, you will meet your professional scuba diving instructor; who will brief you on scuba diving safety measures. You’ll get outfitted in your full neoprene wetsuit and ride a boat out to the crystal clear and calm waters of the Golfo Nuevo. Your instructor will then give you a scuba diving “baptism,” a beginner’s plunge into the water. You’ll submerge about 5 meters (16 feet) with your instructor, and you will discover the colorful and diverse submarine flora and fauna such as snails, starfish, seaweed, coral, and sea anemones. The length of the tour is about 2 hours. No previous experience is needed (you don’t even have to know how to swim).

*This tour is available year-round

Find out about more of our recommended additional Puerto Madryn tours.

Prices Valid May- September

Prices Valid October- April

This two hour Ushuaia tour of the city plumbs the depths of Ushuaia’s history, taking you to the historic center of town, the port, and the hilly streets where you can see the lay of the land. The Ushuaia tour finishes at the Museum of the End of the World, where the guides can spin long yarns about the city’s history – mixed in with legendary pirates, adventurers, and Indians.  You can also visit the prison, where you can learn about the convicts who once rode the Convict Train into Ushuaia, as well as the Maritime Museum.

This full day tour takes you to the Gable Island, the largest island in the Beagle Channel. Wild, isolated and uninhabited, the island features an old sheep-shearing storehouse and some traces of the native Yamana Indians. While enjoying a warm and healthy breakfast in a comfortable hut, you’ll prepare for the 2-hour hike crossing the south of the island to reach the Beagle Channel. On the island, you’ll hike through some old native settlements and see many birds such as gulls, steamer ducks, petrels, cormorants, albatrosses and Magellan Penguins. After lunch your cruise continues to the Penguin Rockery at Martillo Island, home of a colony of Magellan Penguins and some Gentoo Penguins. You will return to Harberton Ranch and an estancia which belongs to the descendants of the first British Missionaries that reached Tierra del Fuego, and was managed for many years by Ms. Natalie Goodall, one of the area’s foremost naturalists. After a short visit you’ll return to Ushuaia.

*This tour is available from November to March.

This full day tour of Fagnano and Escondido Lakes takes you in a 4x4 vehicle excursion from Ushuaia to the beautiful, rugged landscape of the bottom of the world. From Ushuaia, you’ll take National Route 3 heading about 60km north, where you’ll be able to enjoy the landscape of the Carabajal and Tierra Mayor Valleys. At Tierra Mayor you will have free time to try snow shoe hiking, Nordic skiing, dog sledding, or simply enjoy the views from the toasty warm hostel. A Fueguian lamb barbeque (included) will be served. You’ll continue up to Paso Garibaldi, a panoramic spot with an impressive view of the Escondido and Fagnano Lakes. You’ll then arrive at the shores of Fagnano Lake from where the tour will continue offroad along the coast for about 10km. After skirting the Bombilla Lagoon the vehicle goes back into the woods and following a secondary road eventually rejoins Route 3, where you’ll head back to Ushuaia.

*Optional kayaking at Escondido and Fanano Lake for an additional price.

This five hour Tierra Mayor dog sledding and snowshoeing trek is a thrilling way to tour Ushuaia. Depart in the morning for Tierra Mayor, where you will get hitched up to a dog sled pulled by a pack of Huskies. You will mush your dogs along old logging trails until you reach a woodcutter’s shelter, a small log cabin with a cozy fireplace. After your sled ride, you can enjoy a cup of hot chocolate in the shelter. Then gear up for the next part of the adventure, a one and a half hour snowshoe trek through the snowy hills of Tierra Mayor. Gliding across snow a meter deep, you will arrive at the Alvear icefalls and enjoy terrific views of the Tierra Mayor valley. Return to the shelter, warm up with more hot chocolate, then strap on the snowshoes and descend down the logging trails to the Tierra Mayor entrance. You will then transfer back to your Ushuaia hotel.

*The trek is moderately challenging. 
*This excursion is available June-September 

This full day trek takes you to Laguna Esmeralda, or Emerald Lagoon. You will transfer from Ushuaia to Tierra Mayor, where you will start your trek. You will cross peat bog areas and lenga (tall deciduous beech) and cohiue (evergreen beech) forests which have been standing for hundreds of years. You may be lucky enough to see foxes, condors and beavers. You will enter into the heart of the Fueguian Natural and Landscape reserve when we reach the Emerald Lagoon. The color of the water, the surrounding landscape and its position; surrounded by the Fueguian Andes, is an invitation to stop for lunch on the shores of the lake.  Finally we’ll start our way back to the shelter and later to the hotel.

Beavers are herbivorous mammals living on twigs, bark and leaves (to which they add grass in spring and summer). They build dams for protection and as a winter reserve of food. The departure from Ushuaia for this tour takes place during the summer evenings entering a private ranch and crossing the Andean Range in a comfortable Land Rover. After a 25 minute ride, you’ll be deep inside the Sub-Antarctic Beech Forest and the home of the beaver’s dams. You’ll be able to see the beavers at work as, due to a lack of predators, they have become extraordinarily abundant. Late evening return to Ushuaia after a dinner consisting of a healthy stew, with wonderful views of the city at night.

Prices Valid April 10- August

Prices Valid September- March

This approximately one hour boat cruise in Lago Rico is an excellent way to appreciate the grandeur of the glacier from its most imposing edge. You will board at the Bajo de las Sombras Bay dock, where cruise ships depart twice daily. Once on board, you will glide along the Lago Rico to the Icebergs Channel until you reach the glacier’s southern wall. The wall looms above the cruise ship, immense and breathtaking, and calving ice sheets are a common sight. 

This full day boat cruise and mini-trekking experience begins at the dock at Bajo de las Sombras, where you will board the cruise ship for a short boat ride to the southern edge of Lago Rico. You will disembark on the glacier-side of the lake, where knowledgeable guides will welcome you and lead you to a shelter. There they will orient you on the park rules and trekking safety. Groups of 10 or fewer trekkers will set out for the glacier, and at the edge, trekkers will put on their crampons. Trekkers will then enjoy a 2 hour walk along the glacier. You will pass lagoons, crevasses, and a vast array of ice formations that glow in varying shades of blue. Guides will point out the flora and fauna along the way, and will explain the fascinating science of glaciology, tracing the recorded history of the Perito Moreno Glacier many expansions and ruptures. You will return to the shelter, where you can have lunch (you can take your own box lunch or request it as an additional service), before returning in the boat cruise to Bajo de las Sombras, and from there to your El Calafate hotel.

*Please note that this trek is recommended for people 10-60 years old. Several hours of walking through diverse terrains requires both good physical shape and a sense of adventure. Wear sports clothing (sweaters, rain jacket, sunglasses, trekking shoes or tennis shoes, and gloves) and bring UV sunblock, a small backpack, and water bottle.

This full day boat cruise begins early. After rising early and having a hearty breakfast in your hotel, you will travel to Punta Bandera, where you will board the cruise ship. You'll cruise along Lago Argentino past drifting icebergs to the Upsala Glacier, one of the region's largest ice masses (approximately three times the size of Buenos Aires). It’s walls range from 197 to 262 ft (60-80m) and it is 37 miles (60km) long, and 3-4 miles (5-7km) wide. You will continue on to Onelli Bay, where you will disembark at the port and take a short trek to reach Onelli Lagoon. At this remarkable lagoon the glaciers Onelli, Bolados and Agassiz converge. The Patagonia forest is filled with lenga and guindo trees, as well as lichen called “old man's beard.” Here visitors can enjoy lunch in the restaurant, or can bring a box lunch. Afterwards, you will set sail again, this time passing the Spegazzini and Seco glaciers, before returning to the El Calafate port in the late afternoon.

*Please note that due to sudden shifts in the weather, the precise nature of this cruise can change. At times alternative glaciers and/or routes may be required. If this cruise is unavailable, a similar excursion is the full day Perito Moreno Glacier Boat Cruise and Mini-Trekking adventure.

Once the watering hole for ranchers of the now-deserted estancias scattered around the El Calafate region, El Calafate is now a bustling town that serves travelers eager to visit the nearby glaciers. But the deserted estancias are destinations in themselves, as they tell of the endurance of bygone ranchers who braved the elements and solitude to preserve their way of life.

Estancia Cristina, the most remote estancia in the region and perhaps in all of Patagonia, is only accessible by boat or by a several day trek. On this full day boat cruise and trekking experience, you will begin with a boat cruise from Puerto Banderas along Lago Argentino, heading north towards the Upsala Glacier, where the estancia lies completely isolated and remote in a pristine forest valley. This 85,000 acre ranch was once the land of an Englishman who raised cattle, sheep, and horses. It is now a lodge where you can enjoy a full Patagonian lunch (included in the tour) and guided walks and hikes to the Upsala Glacier lookout point. In the evening you will return via cruise boat to Puerto Banderas. 

Just 12 miles from El Calafate, the El Galpon estancia is a working ranch where traditional sheep shearing methods are practiced. During this half day excursion, you will take a drive to the ranch, and will be greeted with a host of delicious jams, cookies, scones, breads, and tea or coffee fresh and hot from the ranch kitchen. Then you´ll begin a leisurely walking tour of the ranch, heading toward Laguna de los Pajaros. There you’ll enjoy terrific bird watching of over 40 migrating species. Next you’ll head to a former Native America camping ground for migratory hunter-gatherers. Then you’ll head back to the ranch, where you’ll watch Kelpis shepherding dogs hard at work. Then, heading into the shearing shed, you can witness a sheep shearing demonstration, learning how wool is shorn and baled. The tour ends with a delicious Patagonian lamb barbecue, fresh salads, and homemade desserts at the cozy restaurant overlooking Lago Argentino and the Cordillera de Los Andes.

On this full day "Big Ice" trekking adventure, you will hike into the heart of the immense, awe-inspiring Pierto Moreno glacier. Starting out early, you will take a short boat cruise along Lago Rico to the glacier side of the lake, where guides will welcome you to Perito Moreno. After a safety and equipment briefing, you will walk to the foot of the glacier, get outfitted in your crampons, and head into the icy blue wilderness. An hour’s trek will take you to a breathtaking view of the immense ice plateau. You will see crevasses, ice caves, moulins, and all sorts of fascinating ice formations. Enjoy a lunch and rest, before heading back to terra firma. You will have hiked a total of about 3 hours, with expert guides leading you every step of the way. You will reach the boat by mid-afternoon, and head back to El Calafate.  

*Please note that this trek is recommended for people 18-45 years old. Several hours of walking through diverse terrains requires both good physical shape and a sense of adventure. Wear sports clothing (sweaters, rain jacket, sunglasses, trekking shoes or tennis shoes, and gloves) and bring UV sunblock, a 40-liter backpack, and water bottle.

**Please also note that the park entrance fee, lunch, and clothing are not included.

Find out about more of our recommended El Calafate tours.