Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Argentina - Buenos Aires - Ushuaia - El Calafate
100% customisable for you
This evening, catch your overnight flight, which will arrive the next day.
Private transfer and accommodation for three nights in the heart of the Palermo neighbourhood, a leafy area and one of the most pleasant 'barrios' (districts) in Buenos Aires. The hotel grounds are planted with trees and the trendy and cultured atmosphere encourages exploration. The decor has quite a Seventies feel, but with a beautifully simple design. The rooms exude clean, urban comfort. In the restaurant, you can choose between curries, fresh salads and light sandwiches. The large, outdoor swimming pool is a great place to relax. The spa also offers a wide range of massages and beauty treatments. The itinerary includes a private guided tour to a few hotspots in Buenos Aires. You'll start off with the streets that the city centre is centred around: Avenida 9 de Julio, Avenida Corrientes and Avenida de Mayo. Then it's off to La Boca, a small, colourful and picturesque neighbourhood, the elegant Recoleta with its very distinguished cemetery, and finally the old San Telmo, with its rich architecture and numerous antique shops and dealers. This walking tour provides a true picture of the variety that makes Argentina's capital so special.
Then take two days to explore the Argentine capital at your own pace. In the morning, you might like to sip a cortado or a latte as you watch the merry-go-round of passers-by, and dog walkers pounding the pavements. Stroll around Recoleta, or in the centre in the Plaza de Mayo (stopping at the Gran Café Tortoni in the Avenida de Mayo is a must). Shopping in Calle Florida and Palermo Soho. And you'll head out to explore the city's newest neighbourhood, which has recently been renovated: Puerto Madero, a symbol of Argentinian nightlife, where lofts with large windows overlook trendy bars. The itinerary includes immersing yourself in the Argentine tango scene with a local guide. Passionate about the tango, your guide frequents the best milongas and tango clubs. On your journey with them, you will embark on an evening dedicated to tango, first in a class with an Argentinian teacher, followed by dinner in an authentic setting watching a tango show, and then spend the evening in a milonga. Other options include a one-day idyllic getaway to Tigre, north of Buenos Aires, where 'Portenos' (the capital's residents) come to recharge.
The avenues that cut through the city centre - Avenida 9 de Julio, Avenida Corrientes and Avenida de Mayo - are good starting points for exploring the city. Then head to La Boca, a colourful and picturesque barrio, or the elegant Recoleta and its well-known cemetery. The neighbourhood of San Telmo is known for its old streets and antique shops and the flea market that’s held on Sundays in Plaza Dorrego and Calle Defensa. Popular musicians also perform here, while tango dancers demonstrate the city’s dance traditions. The Argentine capital can be approached in multiple ways and if you’re interested in the culinary side, the city is known for its steak restaurants, as well as its fresh fish and pasta dishes.
Private airport transfer and flight to Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego. Another private transfer to the port. The itinerary includes a cruise on the Beagle Channel, which connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. You'll head down the Strait, reconnecting with the great tradition of sailing the Southern Ocean. The following is all part of the trip: pretty views of Ushuaia Bay, sailing around Bridges Island to see very rare plants, which grow only in this part of the world, then Bird Island, habitat of the Magellanic and imperial cormorants, and finally Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, located in the archipelago of the same name, where the ship Monte Cervantes - now a popular dive site - ran aground in 1930. You'll then return to Ushuaia via Paso Chico. After the cruise, you'll take a transfer to the airport to pick up your rental car. Accommodation for three nights in a small hotel perched high up in the hills of Ushuaia. It's simple and understated but you'll enjoy stunning views of the Beagle Channel.
Take two days to explore the wild with a car and GPS to take you wherever your heart desires. Tierra del Fuego National Park, on the border with Chile, is a must-see. This is the end of the Earth. You can take a leisurely drive around the park (the maximum speed is 25 mph), and there are several car parks available. The entrance to the National Park can be accessed via National Route 3. There are many well-signposted hiking trails that vary in length and difficulty. Take a walk in the heart of the southern forest, over the rocks and along the beaches; this is where you may encounter beavers, foxes, seabirds, dams, and the Rio Pipo river. In addition to the national park, there are also the Fagnano and Escondido lakes around 60 miles from Ushuaia, which can be accessed via the Garibaldi Pass. These are real inland seas, whose deep blue hues contrast with the severity of the surrounding landscapes and the snow-capped peaks of the foothills of the Andes.
The itinerary includes a trip to De Punta Bandera port (30 miles from El Calafate), from where you'll embark on a cruise on the Lago Argentino, which is home to the large Andean glaciers. You'll head north to see Upsala, the largest of the glaciers, the front face of which is currently in rapid decline. Heading north, you'll sail among the icebergs that crash off the glaciers. Then it's off towards the Cristina Channel to get to the Cristina Ranch, where you can immerse yourself in the daily life of the Patagonian gauchos (cowboys). Learn about the history of their farming and lifestyles, and visit the small museum. You'll then take a 4x4 to the Upsala Lookout, from where you can enjoy breath-taking views overlooking the Upsala Glacier, Guillermo Lake and the Andes.
The itinerary includes a trip to De Punta Bandera port (30 miles from El Calafate), from where you'll embark on a cruise on the Lago Argentino, which is home to the large Andean glaciers. You'll head north to see Upsala, the largest of the glaciers, the front face of which is currently in rapid decline. Heading north, you'll sail among the icebergs that crash off the glaciers. Then it's off towards the Cristina Channel to get to the Cristina Ranch, where you can immerse yourself in the daily life of the Patagonian gauchos (cowboys). Learn about the history of their farming and lifestyles, and visit the small museum. You'll then take a 4x4 to the Upsala Lookout, from where you can enjoy breath-taking views overlooking the Upsala Glacier, Guillermo Lake and the Andes.
The itinerary includes a rental car with GPS for the day, which you can use to explore Perito Moreno, an icon of Los Glaciares National Park and a wonder of nature; it's a huge 197ft glacier that stretches for three miles along Lago Argentino. As you traverse the forest, you'll walk along various walkways offering astounding views of the glacier. Lunch is included. You'll have a typical Argentinean picnic called a picada, which is a popular way of eating in Argentina because it's so an enjoyable shared experience. You'll have a picnic, explore and, above all, enjoy the view. During the day, a one-hour cruise is also planned. The boat reaches about 620ft from where the glacier meets the Magellan Peninsular and circles around the south wall for around two miles, giving you a chance to see the blocks of ice that break away so regularly - it's absolutely perfect for a photographer to get that killer shot. Another option is riding around the Lago Argentino area to make the gaucho experience last a little bit longer.
Private transfer to the airport and return flight to Buenos Aires, where you'll stay for one last night in the chic Recoleta district. The hotel combines beautifully contemporary design with raw materials, such as wood and concrete. Although modern features really take centre stage here, this doesn't mean that such a futuristic hotel lacks charm; in fact, it's the complete opposite. Enjoy admiring the artwork here, and appreciate that Argentina's wine cellars deserve their reputation. The facilities, a warm reception and the geographical location complete this enticing combination. You’ll have the option to spend your last evening in Buenos Aires with locals.
Today you will be privately transferred to the airport to catch your flight home. Your direct overnight flight will arrive back in the UK the next day.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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