Argentina Adventure

Upon arrival (flight not included), you’ll meet your Exeter Latin America driver and English-speaking guide just outside baggage claim (holding a sign with your name on it) for your private transfer to your accommodations. For a boutique property in the heart of Recoleta, our favorite is Hub Porteño, but we also love Park Hyatt Palacio Duhau nearby for a full-service luxury hotel. Your Exeter Latin America travel planner can help you pick the best option.

This morning you’ll meet your guide in front of your hotel and hop on your bambucicleta (a very eco-friendly bicycle made out of bamboo) for your bike tour throughout the city. You’ll be able to leisurely view the city from a more active perspective, and is low to medium difficulty. Helmets and bottled water are included.

Starting off your tour, you’ll visit Puerto Madero, the current business and financial center of the city. Within this neighborhood lies a large, 865-acre ecological reserve that you’ll bike through partially with a stop for a taste of the delicious and iconic national tea, yerba mate. Continue on to visit the neighborhoods of La Boca and La Bombonera before heading to the uniquely colorful Caminito Street.

Next you’ll visit San Telmo and have time for a tasty and authentic Argentinian lunch (cost not included) before continuing on to Plaza de Mayo for a better understanding of the cultural and historical side of the city. Further on you’ll visit the Retiro neighborhood which is famous for its baroque architecture, and the Recoleta Cemetery wherein rests renowned political and cultural figures like the past presidents of Argentina and former first lady Eva “Evita” Peron.

Before the end of the tour, you’ll visit the popular neighborhood of Palermo that is home to many delicious restaurants and spacious parks.

For a perfect evening of great food and cultural entertainment, tonight you’ll dine at the Tango Rojo at the Cabaret of the Faena Hotel in Puerto Madero. Here you’ll enjoy an intimate show featuring skilled dancers, vocalists, and musicians. (Dinner and transfers included)

Today you’ll head out away from the city for an equestrian-filled day. Polo is very commonly practiced in the Argentine countryside and in today’s visit to a polo club you’ll learn about this unique sport by watching practice drills, meeting some of the horses and learning about their bloodlines and training regimens.

After a delicious asado (Argentina barbecue) lunch and watching a game of polo alongside bilingual commentators, you’ll try your hand at a practice game of your own with a small group! Later, enjoy a leisurely horseback ride through the countryside. This experience is available year-round, and is just 50 minutes outside Buenos Aires.

Please note that while you’ll have your own private guide and driver throughout the day, the activities at the polo club are in small groups.

Meet your driver and guide for your transfer to the airport for your flight to San Carlos de Bariloche. (Flight not included.)

Upon arrival (flight not included), you’ll meet your Exeter Latin America driver and English-speaking guide just outside baggage claim (holding a sign with your name on it) for your private transfer to your accommodations.

San Carlos de Bariloche is a small mountain village that has garnered fame for its picturesque surroundings in the Lake District of northern Patagonia. The nearby lake, Nahuel Huapi, is a large glacial lake that can be traversed by private boat for a closer look at the natural landscape. Complete with waterfalls, dense rainforests, and delicious local microbrewed drinks, Bariloche is a must-see for visitors.

This morning after breakfast, you’ll get to experience the town of Bariloche with a guided walking tour that will take you to the most important areas of town including the view from Campanario Hill. Bariloche is located within the Nahuel Huapi National Park and while it looks like a small mountain village on the surface, it’s one of the most visited cities in Argentina’s Patagonia. Enjoy a walk through nature in the Llao-llao Nature Park and take in the breathtaking views of the nearby lakes and mountains. You’ll cap off with a visit to a local microbrewery for beer tasting and lunch, or to continue enjoying the outdoors we can arrange for a picnic lunch instead.

Rest of the afternoon at leisure.

This morning after breakfast, you’ll head out with your guide and driver to the nearby port to board a private motorboat boat (upgraded boat options such as mini-yacht are possible for an additional cost) to explore the waters of Brazo Tristeza, the less visited branch of Nahuel Huapi lake. Navigate the bright blue waters and enjoy the views of the mountainous landscape dotted with waterfalls. You’ll disembark for a nature walk through the rainforest along a creek before reaching the fascinating Arroyo Frey waterfall. On your walk back to the boat, you’ll stop along the shore for a delicious and peaceful picnic lunch before boarding and returning back to port. (Lunch can also be onboard the boat, if you prefer.) Arrival back to your hotel by mid-afternoon, as this tour lasts approx. 5.5 hours.

Today you’ll head out from the main center of Bariloche to visit Valle Encantado (Enchanted Valley), which borders the Limay River and is home to the Amphitheater, a natural formation of strange rocky figures. You’ll continue walking along a winding path which will bring you to Villa Traful, a small province inside the national park with only 400 inhabitants whose livelihood relies heavily on sport fishing and hiking.

Later, you’ll also visit Villa La Angostura, a mountain village with over 11,000 inhabitants that is bordered by two pristine lakes connected by a flowing river. Both villages are constructed in an Alpine-Andean style with an emphasis on wood and stone. A gourmet box picnic lunch is included today, unless you’d prefer we simply make a reservation for you at a nice restaurant in Villa La Angostura.

Meet your driver and guide for your transfer to the airport for your flight to El Calafate. (Flight not included.)

El Calafate is known as the gateway to southern Patagonia and the world famous Los Glaciares National Park. Within Calafate, you can hike along glaciers, boat along the pristine blue waters around large icebergs, and off-road along scenic mountain trails. For those who really want to hike and have enough time, we can also include a couple nights at Estancia Cristina or further north near El Chaltén at deluxe properties such as Explora or Aguas Arriba Lodge. Upon arrival (flight not included), you’ll meet your Exeter Latin America driver and English-speaking guide just outside baggage claim (holding a sign with your name on it) for your private transfer to your luxury accommodations about an hour west of El Calafate.

Today you’ll head out from your hotel to make your way to the famous Perito Moreno Glacier in Los Glaciares National Park. Here you’ll enjoy sailing around the south wall of the glacier before hiking along the lakeshore. After this short hike, you’ll don the appropriate hiking gear and learn about the basic techniques of walking on ice from trained guides. You’ll walk for about 2 hours on top of the glacier, at a comfortably moderate speed, and learn about the typical formations within the glacier. (Please note this is a group activity, and the national park limits this glacier hike to those 65 and under. If hiking on the glacier itself is not a priority and you prefer to have a private tour, we can arrange this as a half day from Eolo) A box lunch from your hotel is included for this full-day excursion.

This morning you’ll head out with your guide for your full day journey to Estancia Cristina and the Upsala Glacier. You’ll depart to Punta Banderas to board your comfortable and modern boat to begin sailing around Lake Argentino. (The boat and all activites are shared.) Throughout your journey you’ll see icebergs along the water and snow-covered peaks along the skies. After about three hours you’ll come to Upsala Glacier before entering the Cristina channel where you’ll disembark and visit Estancia Cristina.

Originally built by the English immigrant Masters family in 1914, the vast and remote estancia sits right in the middle of Los Glaciares National Park. Here you’ll hike around the landscape with a local guide who will introduce you to the sheep and cattle that live off of and provide for the land. You’ll also visit a local museum and a shearing shed, which tells the rich history of the Masters family and their love for the valley. Shortly after, you’ll enjoy a delicious lunch before heading off on board 4×4 vehicles through the nearby mountain trails with a stop at a high peak for a pictureque view of the Continental Ice Sheet and the Andes Mountains. (Views are weather dependent in this rugged region of changing conditions.)

For those with time, we suggest at least a night here (though we have samples for up to 3 nights), for a truly remote and away from the crowds experience. With only 20 guest rooms, you’ll be able to enjoy much small guided hikes, 4×4 excursions, horseback riding or fishing and then have the estancia to yourselves after the day visitors depart in the afternoon.

Meet your driver and guide for your transfer to the airport for your flight to Ushuaia. (Flight not included.)

Upon arrival (flight not included), you’ll meet your Exeter Latin America driver and English-speaking guide just outside baggage claim (holding a sign with your name on it) for your private transfer to your accommodations.

Just about as far south as possible on land, is Ushuaia. Situated along the Beagle Channel, Ushuaia is home to many unique sea animals year-round, but for travelers it’s best to go between November and March for a more welcoming climate. Canoeing around Tierra del Fuego and walking side by side with the local penguins are some of the most common activities here, and its also a common gateway for those continuing on for a cruise to Antarctica.

This morning you’ll head out from your accommodation in Ushuaia and go to Tierra del Fuego National Park. Within the park you’ll walk along the Ensenada Bay coastal path (roughly 4 miles) along which you’ll see archaeological sites, different land and sea animals, and ruins of an ancient Yamana population.

After the hike, you’ll enjoy a packed lunch before boarding canoes to paddle down Lapataria River. Along your canoe trip (roughly 90 min) you’ll see wildlife all along the river, especially water birds like swans and grebes. Eventually you’ll reach Cormorant’s Archipelago wherein lies the Beagle Channel with many islands that have unique species like penguins and sea lions. Private land transfer back to your hotel.

Today you’ll get to experience southern Argentina up-close and personal as you sail the Beagle Channel. Throughout your excursion today you’ll come into contact with many different animals like sea lions and imperial cormorants. Later you’ll board a smaller vessel that will take you to Martillo Island, the natural habitat of the Papuan penguins. Alongside your guide you’ll be able to safely interact with the penguins and learn about this unique species. Today you’ll also visit the southernmont lighthouse in Argentina, Les Eclaireurs, and the Acatashun Biology Museum.

Please note that you’ll have a private guide and driver today, but the boat portions are shared with other passengers. For larger groups, private boats are possible at an additional cost.

Meet your driver and guide for your transfer to the airport for your flight back to Buenos Aires, connecting onward to the U.S. (Flights not included.)