• Buenos Aires, Tierra Del Fuego & Argentine Patagonia

Discover spectacular Southern Argentina

Days: 13 | From: $6,990/per person

  • Includes accommodations at first class hotels that reflect the best of local culture
  • Includes excursions and tours with superb private guides

After a few days in the vibrant metropolis of Buenos Aires, head south to Tierra del Fuego, “land of fire,” and discover Patagonia's stark, sweeping vistas and unique wildlife.

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Talk to a Vaya Travel
Specialist

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We tailor itineraries to your dates and interests, adjusting hotels, excursions and length as desired.

We consistently receive 5 star reviews from our discerning clients.

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At a glance

  • Buenos Aires
    3 nights: explore Argentina's bustling capital city
  • Ushuaia
    3 nights: discover the world's southernmost city, gateway to Tierra del Fuego National Park
  • El Chalten
    3 nights: hike the land of legendary climbing peaks Fitzroy and Cerro Torre
  • El Calafate
    3 nights: stay in a unique estancia in picturesque Los Glaciares National Park

  • All itineraries are fully customizable. We will send you a personalized variation that reflects your interests and travel dates at no extra cost. Call to discuss your travel plans with one of our Specialists who know this region firsthand.

Customize this trip
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Sample itinerary

Day 1:

Welcome to Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires - city view through window

Arrive to Buenos Aires, Argentina’s colorful capital, where your private guide will take you to your boutique hotel in the fashionable Palermo district. This is one of the best areas of town for walking around, with charming boutiques and top restaurants.

Accommodations: Mine Hotel

This small, modern boutique hotel has an excellent location in the vibrant Palermo SoHo neighborhood, with many cafes and restaurants right outside the front door. The 20-room hotel offers a restaurant and a private green space with a garden and small pool; most rooms overlook this quaint backyard area.

Upgrades available: Legado Mitico, Alvear Palace, Palacio Duhau Park Hyatt, and others
Day 2:

Get to Know Vibrant Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires - Colored Buildings

Explore Buenos Aires with your private guide, an engaging bilingual local who will take you through the city’s unique neighborhoods and help you get to know this fascinating metropolis. Discover the charms of Palermo, the Recoleta, the Teatro Colon, the Plaza de Mayo, San Telmo, and La Boca. With your private guide, you have the flexibility to explore at your own pace and make detours and stops along the way.

After your tour, you are free to spend the rest of the day exploring on your own, trying out one of the city’s excellent restaurants and taking in a tango show (we are happy to arrange tango shows and can help you choose the best one based on your interests).

Accommodations: Mine Hotel

*Includes: Breakfast

Day 3:

Relax and Explore the City

Buenos Aires - National Congress building

Enjoy a day at leisure to delve into the city’s offerings; we’ll give you some of our favorite suggestions for things to see and do. We can also arrange additional privately guided tours, such as half day tours of the famous bodegones (classic old cafes and bars), or private tours focused on tango, art, architecture, Jewish history, soccer (including a visit to the Boca Junior stadium), polo, and more.

Accommodations: Mine Hotel

*Includes: Breakfast

Day 4:

Tierra del Fuego, the “Land of Fire”

Tierra del Fuego - Ushuaia

Fly to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. The city is located in Tierra del Fuego, so named by European sailors in the 1500s for their sighting of innumerable bonfires built by the native Yaghan people. Windswept Ushuaia is surrounded by the snowcapped Martial Mountains, and your charming boutique hotel offers views out over the Beagle Channel.

Accommodations: Tierra de Leyendas

Enjoy amazing views of Ushuaia, the Andes Range, and the Beagle Channel from this seven-bedroom, boutique hotel with onsite restaurant and library. Taxis are easily arranged from this property located next to the channel, midway between Tierra del Fuego National Park and the city of Ushuaia.

*Includes: Breakfast

Upgrades and alternatives: Los Cauquenes, Alto Andino
Day 5:

Hike Tierra del Fuego National Park with Your Private Guide

Enjoy a a private visit to Tierra del Fuego National Park with your local guide. Hike the coastal trail along the shoreline, with views of the surrounding mountains, forests, and bays. Your guide will help you make the most of your time: taking you to the best highlight areas of the park, identifying plant and animal life, and explaining the history and culture of the region. The hiking can be as active or relaxed as you like.

Accommodations: Tierra de Leyendas

*Includes: Breakfast

Day 6:

Visit Historic Estancia Harberton and Boat Out to Beautiful Gable Island

Enjoy a small group excursion to Estancia Harberton, a historic hacienda located on the southeastern part of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago. The estancia was founded in 1886 by missionary/pioneer Thomas Bridges, whose descendants continue to operate the estancia. Continue by boat out to nearby Gable Island, a lovely place with great views of the Beagle Channel, for some light hiking. On your return you will pass Martillo Island, home to a Magellanic penguin colony and a variety of other marine and birdlife.

Please note: On this excursion you will travel by boat close to the Martillo Island penguin colony and will be able to observe the penguins from the boat. If you prefer an excursion where you disembark at the penguin colony and where there is less hiking involved, we can also arrange that. There are various options for exploring this area, including sea kayaking and more relaxed canoeing. If you are interested in learning about the different options in this area, just let us know!

Accommodations: Tierra de Leyendas

*Includes: Breakfast

Day 7:

Fly to El Calafate and Transfer to El Chalten, on the Edge of Los Glaciares National Park

Road leading to Los Glaciares

Fly north to El Calafate and take a scenic private drive to El Chalten, located on the northern end of Los Glaciares National Park. This is the home of legendary climbing peaks Fitzroy and Cerro Torre. A visit to this part of Patagonia is a chance to hike and explore in the midst of some of the most extraordinary mountain scenery on earth.

Accommodations: Hosteria Senderos

Hosteria Los Senderos sits within Los Glaciares National Park in the mountain town of El Chalten, and is just a few minutes' walk to trail heads for some of the continent's most magnificent day hikes. The rooms here are on the small side (about 190 sq. ft.), but this is one of the better small boutique style hotel options in town.

*Includes: Breakfast

Upgrade available: Hotel Destino Sur
Day 8:

Hike Los Glaciares National Park with Your Private Guide

Spend the day hiking with your knowledgeable private guide, a local who will help you get a deeper understanding and appreciate of this remarkable area. There are plenty of hiking options in this area, most notably the strenuous and rewarding hikes to Fitzroy and Cerro Torre. There is also a shorter hike to scenic Lake Capri. You can discuss your preference with your guide and tailor the day to your interests and preferring activity level.

Accommodations: Hosteria Senderos

Hosteria Los Senderos sits within Los Glaciares National Park in the mountain town of El Chalten, and is just a few minutes' walk to trail heads for some of the continent's most magnificent day hikes. The rooms here are on the small side (about 190 sq. ft.), but this is one of the better small boutique style hotel options in town.

*Includes: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 9:

Time to Hike and Explore More of El Chalten

Fitz Roy Mountain at sunset

Take advantage of another day to hike and discover this spectacular area. Hiking trails are well-marked and easy to follow, so you have the option of self-guided exploration or arranging another day with your private guide.

Accommodations: Hosteria Senderos

*Includes: Breakfast

Day 10:

Transfer to El Calafate, Land of Towering Glaciers

Argentina_El Calafate_Nibepo Aike hiking (photo credit Nibepo Aike and Daniel Wagner)

Drive to El Calafate and head deep into the scenic countryside to your traditional estancia, a favorite among our travelers. Bordering the national park, this estancia offers a view into traditional Patagonian life and access to some rarely-visited and beautiful areas of Argentine Patagonia.

Accommodations: Estancia Nibepo Aike

Nibepo Aike was established as a functioning ranch at the beginning of the 20th century. Located on the southern bank of Lake Argentino, it has a privileged location inside Los Glaciares National Park. The estancia offers easy access, on horseback or via hiking or biking, to places with magnificent, off the beaten path views of the surrounding glaciers and mountains. The estancia has 10 guest rooms: eight double rooms and two triple rooms, all with private bathrooms. The dining room serves traditional meat and vegetable dishes made mostly from home produce.

*Includes: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Alternative lodging options: Estancia Helsingfors, Eolo
Day 11:

Up Close and Personal on Perito Moreno Glacier

Enjoy a unique excursion to the iconic Perito Moreno Glacier. You won’t just view the glacier from a distance – you’ll take a catamaran ride to the front of the glacier and do a short hike on the ice itself. (Crampons will be provided; this is a non-technical and non-strenuous walking excursion. We can also arrange more challenging and strenuous treks on the glacier.) Afterward, visit the viewing areas for great views of the glacier before returning to your estancia for a traditional Patagonian asado dinner.

Accommodations: Estancia Nibepo Aike

*Includes: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12:

Free day on the Estancia: Hiking, Horseback Riding, Ranching Activities, or Relaxation

Enjoy a day to explore your estancia. This is an outstanding area for hiking and horseback riding, and the staff at Nibepo Aike will take you riding or help you find the best trails to hike. There are also typical ranching activities that vary by day, such as sheep-shearing.

Accommodations: Estancia Nibepo Aike

*Includes: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13:

Depart for Home or Your Next Destination

Today you will say goodbye to your local guide and head to the airport for your flight home or to your next destination.

*Includes: Breakfast

More Photos From This Trip

Popular Ways to Customize This Itinerary

  • Add a few extra nights in Buenos Aires. We can arrange a variety of activities, including city tours, culinary excursions, visits to historical sites, and active options such as hiking, biking, boating, and horseback riding. We can also arrange activities that cater to special interests, such as a Jewish Heritage Tour, architecture tour, visit to the Boca Juniors Stadium, tango class, or wine tours. We can also arrange privately guided day excursions to nearby sites, such as the town of Colonia, Uruguay (a well preserved 17th century Portuguese colonial town that is a UNESCO World Heritage site), or up to Tigre and the Delta (there are also biking excursions up to Tigre).

  • Take part in a day of polo at an estancia outside Buenos Aires: Spend the morning on a horse learning the basics of this popular equestrian sport, enjoy a traditional lunch, then put your new skills to use in a relaxed polo match in the afternoon. Great for beginners and experienced riders alike!

  • Visit one of the traditional estancias of San Antonio de Areco, about 1.5 hours from Buenos Aires. This is an area that has preserved gaucho traditions more than any other in Argentina, and the estancias offer an in-depth experience in this fundamental aspect of Argentine culture and history.

  • Take a one-night camping trip out of El Chalten to experience the Patagonian mountains in a unique way.

  • Enjoy an extra day or two in El Calafate. There are plenty of great excursions and beautiful places to visit, such as the isolated Estancia Cristina, located next to the spectacular Upsala Glacier and only reachable by boat.

  • Spend some time at Estancia Helsingfors, a first class boutique property in Los Glaciares National Park. The estancia has a stunning location and remote feel, and is a great option for those who prefer to explore Patagonia with a higher emphasis on luxury.

  • Include some downtime for rest and relaxation! Some free time to unwind or have a massage will allow you to feel refreshed and ready for the remainder of your trip. Many of our properties include excellent spas or wellness centers. We can help arrange these services or include properties that offer health & wellness amenities.

  • Extend your visit with time at Iguazu Falls or the Lake District and Bariloche.

  • Contact us to learn about more options for designing and customizing your trip.

Reviews From This Trip

5 stars

  • Very well organized itinerary providing a variety of quality activities and experiences in a beautiful pristine part of the world with stunning scenery of mountains, glaciers, lakes, waterfalls, birds, and wildlife.
    Clifford & Anne Tyler
  • Everything about our trip exceeded my expectations - superb guides, itinerary, & accommodations.
    Karen Mahakian
  • The trip was fantastic...
    Thomas Quill

Call us to start planning your journey today:

1 (510) 548-8487

Inquire About This Trip

Why Travel with Vaya?

We're TRUE specialists

We’ve not only traveled there, we’ve lived there. Our smart and engaging specialists are all current or former expatriates with years of experience in the region.

Uplifting service

From the first phone call to after you get back, we're here for you every step of the way. We listen, create, customize and advocate for you, and design experiences that go beyond the expected.

Thoughtful travel

Our discerning sensibility and good taste go beyond just choices in hotels and top guides; we have a walk the walk commitment to the environment and are genuine leaders in conservation efforts.