Tour Overview
| Duration | 14 Days / 13 Nights |
|---|---|
| Country | Argentina |
| Route | Buenos Aires → Iguazu Falls → El Calafate → Torres del Paine → Ushuaia |
| Tour Type | Group Tour — Comprehensive Argentina & Patagonia |
| Cross-Border | Chile (day trip to Torres del Paine) |
| Best Season | October-March (austral spring/summer) |
| Price | $4,190 USD per person |
Data source: patagonia-argentina.com + adventure-life.com — verified real itineraries
Argentina’s ultimate 14-day grand tour. From the Parisian elegance of Buenos Aires to the thundering Iguazu Falls, the colossal Perito Moreno Glacier, the granite spires of Chilean Patagonia’s Torres del Paine, and the end-of-the-world city of Ushuaia — this journey spans over 4,000km and captures the breathtaking diversity of Argentina and Patagonia. This is the trip of a lifetime for those who want to see it all.
Day 1: Arrival in Buenos Aires
- Welcome to Argentina — Arrive at Ezeiza Airport (EZE). Private transfer to your hotel in Recoleta, the city’s most distinguished neighborhood
- Evening Stroll — Accompanied orientation walk through Recoleta. Visit the magnificent Recoleta Cemetery — a city of the dead that’s more beautiful than most cities of the living. Eva Perón’s black granite tomb, covered in fresh flowers daily, is a pilgrimage site for Argentines
- Welcome Dinner & Tango — Experience the essence of Buenos Aires: a spectacular tango show at a historic venue, paired with a multi-course Argentine dinner and endless Malbec
Overnight in Buenos Aires.
Day 2: Buenos Aires — The South American Paris
- Plaza de Mayo & Surroundings — Buenos Aires’ political heart. The Casa Rosada (Pink House), Cabildo (colonial town hall, 1725), and the Metropolitan Cathedral housing the tomb of General José de San Martín — liberator of Argentina, Chile, and Peru. See the white headscarves painted on the plaza — the symbol of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo
- San Telmo — Buenos Aires’ oldest neighborhood. Cobblestone streets, antique shops, and the beautiful domed Mercado de San Telmo — a 1897 iron market bustling with food stalls, tango buskers, and vendor cries
- La Boca & Caminito — The riotously colorful immigrant quarter. The corrugated zinc houses painted in bright blues, yellows, and reds were built by Genoese dock workers from ship paint leftovers. Street tango dancers perform, artists sell their paintings, and the passion of Argentine football radiates from La Bombonera — Boca Juniors’ iconic stadium
- Puerto Madero — Buenos Aires’ docklands reborn. The redbrick warehouses now house some of the city’s finest restaurants. Walk the Puente de la Mujer, Calatrava’s striking white bridge
- Parrilla Dinner — Night at a traditional Argentine grill. The secrets: grass-fed beef, slow cooking over wood coals, and the simple seasoning of coarse salt. Learn the Argentine cuts: bife de chorizo, ojo de bife, entraña (skirt steak), and morcilla (blood sausage)
Overnight in Buenos Aires.
Day 3: Flight to Iguazu Falls
- Morning Flight — Fly 1.5 hours northeast to Puerto Iguazú, in the subtropical province of Misiones. The climate is immediately different — warm, humid, with red earth and dense jungle vegetation
- Iguazu Falls — Argentine Side (Upper & Lower Circuits) — Enter the Argentine side of Iguazu National Park in the afternoon. The light is golden, and the crowds are thinning. Walk the Upper Circuit for views from the brink of the falls, looking down as water cascades over moss-covered cliffs. Then descend to the Lower Circuit, where walkways bring you so close to Salto Bossetti that you’ll be drenched in spray. Coatis (quirky, long-nosed relatives of raccoons) patrol the trails, hoping for dropped snacks
- Ecological Jungle Train — The open-sided train through the jungle, with its distinctive whistle, is an experience in itself. Butterflies flutter through the carriages, and the anticipation builds with every tunnel
- Devil’s Throat (Garganta del Diablo) — The final train stop. Walk a kilometer along catwalks spanning the placid Iguazu River. The river suddenly disappears into a horseshoe-shaped abyss. The roar grows from a rumble to a thunderous crescendo as you approach the viewing balcony perched directly over the chasm where 14 falls converge. Water plunges 80m into mist. Rainbows arc across the spray. Swifts dart through the waterfall curtains to their nests behind the cascades. Standing here, on the rim of the greatest waterfall curtain on Earth, is a humbling experience
Overnight in Puerto Iguazú.
Day 4: Iguazu — Brazilian Side Panorama & Great Adventure Boat Ride
- Border Crossing to Brazil — Passport stamp at the border for the day trip to the Brazilian side
- Brazilian Side Panorama — The single 1,200m trail on the Brazilian side is legendary for its views. Rather than being beside individual falls, you face them — the entire 2.7km crescent of 275 cascades unfolds like a giant panoramic painting. Each bend in the trail reveals a new composition. The boardwalk extends into the middle of the river, where falls surround you on three sides and you surrender to the mist
- Macuco Safari — The Great Adventure (Gran Aventura) — Board a 4×4 truck for a 3km ride through the jungle, then transfer to twin-engine inflatable boats. Power up the Iguazu River through rapids, then brace yourself as the driver aims directly into the waterfall curtain. The boat literally enters the falls — one moment you’re in daylight, the next you’re in a white-out of thundering water. The boat repeats the charge on the Argentine side of the river. You emerge completely soaked, laughing, with a story for a lifetime
- Return to Argentina — Cross back to Puerto Iguazú. Evening free to reflect on two days of overwhelming natural beauty
Overnight in Puerto Iguazú.
Day 5: Fly South to El Calafate — Patagonia Begins
- Flight to El Calafate — Fly south (via Buenos Aires), crossing from the subtropical north to the windswept Patagonian south. The contrast is dramatic: red earth and jungle replaced by arid steppe, turquoise lakes, and jagged Andean peaks
- El Calafate Orientation — Explore this charming Patagonian outpost on the shore of Lago Argentino. The main street, Avenida del Libertador, offers chocolate shops, outdoor gear stores, and restaurants featuring Patagonian lamb. Try the calafate berry ice cream — according to legend, whoever eats it is destined to return
- Laguna Nimez — Gentle sunset walk to this lakeside bird sanctuary where flamingos, black-necked swans, and upland geese feed in the shallows with the Andes as a backdrop
Overnight in El Calafate.
Day 6: Perito Moreno Glacier
- Los Glaciares National Park — Full day at Perito Moreno Glacier, one of the most awe-inspiring sights in the world. The glacier’s face spans 5km, rising 60-70m above the milky turquoise water of Lago Argentino
- Catwalk Exploration (3-4 hours recommended) — The extensive system of balconies and catwalks allows you to view the glacier from multiple angles and elevations. The glacier constantly calves — massive slabs of ice detach with a sound like thunder, crashing into the lake and creating waves. Because Perito Moreno is one of only three Patagonian glaciers that is advancing (most are retreating due to climate change), this calving is constant and spectacular
- Nautical Safari (1-hour boat ride) — Cruise to within 200m of the glacier’s southern face. From water level, you grasp the true scale — 70m visible above water, another 130m below. The ice is an impossible shade of electric blue — light years of compression squeezing all air from the ancient ice
- Optional: Big Ice Trek — For the truly adventurous, a full-day expedition onto the glacier with crampons. Hike 3-4 hours across the glacier surface, navigating crevasses, seracs, and ice caves (advance booking required, approximately $270 supplement)
Overnight in El Calafate.
Day 7: Torres del Paine — Chilean Patagonia Day Trip
- Cross-Border Adventure — Early departure across the Patagonian steppe to the Chilean border. Pass through Cancha Carrera and Cerro Castillo border posts. The landscape becomes increasingly dramatic as the Paine Massif appears on the horizon
- Torres del Paine National Park — Enter one of the most stunning national parks on Earth. The three granite towers (torres) that give the park its name rise nearly 3,000m from the Patagonian plain — vertical needles of pink-gray granite flanked by the imposing Los Cuernos (the Horns), black sedimentary rock topped with lighter granite. This park is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and considered by many as the crown jewel of Patagonia
- Lago Nordenskjöld & Lago Pehoé — Visit the park’s most beautiful lakes. Pehoé, with its surreal turquoise color (from glacial flour — fine rock powder suspended in the water), reflects the Cuernos del Paine in perfect symmetry. This is one of the most photographed landscapes in South America
- Salto Grande Waterfall — A powerful waterfall connecting two lakes within the park. The thundering cascade, set against the Paine Massif, is a classic Patagonian scene
- Wildlife Spotting — Keep eyes open for guanacos (wild camelids related to llamas) grazing on the grasslands, Andean condors soaring on thermals, and the ñandú (Darwin’s rhea — a large flightless bird similar to an ostrich)
- Return to El Calafate — Evening return through the Patagonian steppe, with the setting sun painting the Andes in shades of pink and purple
Overnight in El Calafate.
Day 8: Fly to Ushuaia — The End of the World
- Scenic Flight — Fly over the Darwin Cordillera and the Beagle Channel to Ushuaia (54.8° S latitude). The approach is breathtaking — snow-capped peaks, glaciers, and the sea meeting in a landscape of raw beauty
- Ushuaia City Tour — Explore the southernmost city on Earth. Visit the landmark sign: “Ushuaia — Fin del Mundo.” Tour the Maritime and Prison Museum in the former Presidio (penal colony), whose inmates built the railway and much of the city’s early infrastructure under brutal conditions
- Sunset over the Beagle Channel — Walk the waterfront promenade. Across the channel lie Chilean islands, and on clear days, the distant peaks of the Darwin Range. The long Patagonian summer evenings (daylight until 10-11pm) offer extended golden hours
Overnight in Ushuaia.
Day 9: Tierra del Fuego National Park
- End of the World Train — Ride the narrow-gauge steam train on the historic Prisoners’ Railway route along the Pipo River. The commentary tells the story of the penal colony through the eyes of the prisoners, and the journey through ancient lenga forests, peat bogs, and past mountain vistas is beautiful
- Tierra del Fuego National Park — Full exploration of Argentina’s only coastal national park. The Andes meet the sea here in a labyrinth of bays, channels, and forested mountains:
✦ Lapataia Bay — Stand at the terminus of the Pan-American Highway (Km 3,063 of Ruta 3, which begins 17,848km north in Deadhorse, Alaska). The sign “Aquí Finaliza la Ruta Nacional N° 3” is the photo you’ll show everyone back home
✦ Ensenada Zaratiegui — Stunning viewpoint with the iconic “post office at the end of the world” — mail a postcard from the southernmost post office in the Americas
✦ Lago Roca — A beautiful glacial lake shared with Chile. Peaceful setting surrounded by lenga and ñire forests - Hiking or Canoeing — Choose between guided walks on the park’s well-marked trails (the Pampa Alta trail offers the best panoramic views) or canoeing on Lapataia Bay, paddling past waterfalls cascading directly into the sea
Overnight in Ushuaia.
Day 10: Beagle Channel & Penguin Colony
- Beagle Channel Catamaran Cruise (5-7 hours) — Full navigation of the historic channel named for HMS Beagle, which carried Charles Darwin through these waters in 1833:
✦ Isla de los Lobos — South American sea lion colony. Watch bulls fight, females nurse pups, and the chaotic social drama of the rookery
✦ Isla de los Pájaros — Imperial and Rock cormorant colonies
✦ Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse — The iconic red-and-white lighthouse — the symbol of Ushuaia
✦ Isla Martillo (Hammer Island) — The highlight: walk among a colony of Magellanic penguins (and a small number of Gentoo penguins). During breeding season (October-March), thousands of penguins nest here. Walk designated paths as penguins waddle past, some close enough to touch (but don’t — they’re protected). Watch them dig burrows, court with head-sky-pointing displays, feed chicks, and waddle into the sea to fish. The penguins are completely unconcerned by human visitors — a magical wildlife encounter
Overnight in Ushuaia.
Day 11: Free Day in Ushuaia — Choose Your Adventure
- Choose Your Own Activity — A full day to design your own end-of-the-world experience:
✦ Lago Escondido & Lago Fagnano 4×4 Expedition — Full-day off-road adventure through the Andes to hidden glacial lakes. Cross the Garibaldi Pass, visit a traditional Patagonian estancia, and enjoy an asado lunch cooked over an open fire (approximately $150)
✦ Martial Glacier Hike — Take the chairlift above Ushuaia, then hike to the shrinking Martial Glacier for panoramic views over the city, Beagle Channel, and surrounding mountains
✦ Helicopter Flight — Scenic flight over the Andes and Beagle Channel — the mountains are so inaccessible that flying is literally the only way to see them (approximately $250)
✦ Bike the End of the World — Mountain biking through Tierra del Fuego’s trails
✦ Relax — Visit Ushuaia’s museums, shop for Patagonian woolens and leather goods, or simply enjoy the atmosphere of the world’s southernmost city with its cafes and king crab restaurants
Overnight in Ushuaia.
Day 12: Fly to Buenos Aires — The Return
- Morning Flight — Fly back to Buenos Aires. The return to the warmth and sophistication of BA after the wilds of Patagonia is a welcome transition
- Afternoon at Leisure — Revisit your favorite spots or discover new ones:
✦ MALBA — Latin America’s finest modern art museum
✦ El Ateneo Grand Splendid — A 1919 theater converted into perhaps the world’s most beautiful bookstore — you can sit in an opera box and read!
✦ Palermo Soho — Boutique shopping, street art, and the city’s best cafes
✦ Feria de Mataderos (Sundays only) — An authentic gaucho fair in a working-class neighborhood, with folk music, traditional crafts, horse parades, and incredible street food far from the tourist track - Farewell Dinner — A special last night at one of Buenos Aires’ acclaimed restaurants. The city’s culinary scene ranks among the world’s best — innovative chefs reimagining Argentine classics. Toast your journey from Iguazu to Patagonia with a final glass of Mendoza Malbec
Overnight in Buenos Aires.
Day 13: Buenos Aires — Gaucho Day at an Estancia
- Full-Day Estancia Experience — Journey into the Pampas to a traditional Argentine ranch. The day includes:
✦ Welcome with empanadas and wine
✦ Horseback riding or carriage ride across the endless grasslands
✦ Gaucho demonstrations — ring sorting (sortija) competition, horse skills, boleadoras (throwing weapons)
✦ Massive asado lunch — beef, pork, chicken, chorizo grilled over open fire, accompanied by salads, bread, and flowing wine
✦ Folk music and dance show — the chamamé, zamba, and chacarera — traditional Argentine folk dances
✦ Mate ceremony — learn the ritual of sharing yerba mate, Argentina’s national drink, symbol of friendship and hospitality - Return to Buenos Aires — The contrast between the timeless Pampas and the modern city that awaits you is a perfect encapsulation of Argentina
Overnight in Buenos Aires.
Day 14: Departure & Tango Farewell
- Free Morning — Last chance for souvenir shopping (leather goods, dulce de leche, alfajores, Malbec wine), a final medialuna (Argentine croissant) and cafe con leche, or a walk through the Japanese Gardens — one of the largest outside Japan
- Transfer to Ezeiza Airport — Depart with memories of a journey that spanned the full breadth of Argentina: the thundering cataracts of Iguazu, the living ice wall of Perito Moreno, the granite spires of Torres del Paine, the penguin colonies of the Beagle Channel, and the eternal passion of Buenos Aires. Argentina — it steals your heart.
Inclusions
- ✅ 13 nights accommodation
- ✅ Professional bilingual guide throughout
- ✅ All transfers and transportation
- ✅ Buenos Aires city tours (2 half-days + evening tango show)
- ✅ Full-day estancia experience with asado lunch + horse riding
- ✅ Iguazu Falls: both Argentine and Brazilian sides
- ✅ Great Adventure boat ride (Gran Aventura)
- ✅ Perito Moreno Glacier (full day, catwalks + nautical safari)
- ✅ Torres del Paine day trip (Chile)
- ✅ Tierra del Fuego National Park
- ✅ End of the World Train
- ✅ Beagle Channel catamaran with penguin colony
- ✅ All park entrance fees
- ✅ Daily breakfast
- ✅ Airport transfers
Exclusions
- ❌ International & domestic flights
- ❌ Meals not specified
- ❌ Travel insurance (mandatory)
- ❌ Chile reciprocity fee (if applicable for your nationality)
- ❌ Optional: Big Ice Trek ($270), Lago Escondido 4×4 ($150), Helicopter flight ($250)
- ❌ Tips and gratuities
- ❌ Personal expenses
